New computer needed for running Sky Go

[BlueJazz]

The Sky Go app on the PC has always been buggy. I gave up in the end and keep it on my tablet where it actually works. It's just a shame it won't output via HDMI or cast.

[Magnum 475]

Isn't the answer simply to get another Mac Mini - one of the new M1 versions. There are currently some good deals on the Apple UK Refurbished store:

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/refurbished/mac

I've bought my last three Macs refurbished. They're all still in regular use either by me or the kids, including a 2013 Macbook Pro that my eldest now uses for homework.

[heisthegaffer]

Unused to use a beelink SFF PC that was pretty much just for Sky Go and Spotify. 4gb Ram etc.

Absolutely horrendous, had to restart multiple times before it worked thanks to the awful program that is Sky Go.

I then started using on a PS4 - works perfectly every time.

[CheesecakeRunner]

If the computer is just going to sit under a telly, why not rent a Sky Glass TV now?

[bristolbaron]

I bought a PS4 for exactly this purpose a couple of years ago. It came with 5 games which I’ve never played, although it occasionally gets used for Minecraft now by my son.

[Captain_Morgan]

I’d consider s/h from eBay.

A dell optiplex mini/micro with a intel i5 gen7 or above with ssd start around the £100 mark, obviously the newer the cpu generation the more expensive but longer supported life will be.

For example
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dell-Optiplex-5050-Micr...

[Tycho]

Magnum 475 said:

Isn't the answer simply to get another Mac Mini - one of the new M1 versions. There are currently some good deals on the Apple UK Refurbished store:

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/refurbished/mac

I've bought my last three Macs refurbished. They're all still in regular use either by me or the kids, including a 2013 Macbook Pro that my eldest now uses for homework.

I'd go with this or even a second hand one from somewhere like CEX as they give a 2 year warranty. I'd get the most RAM you can although my M1 Air has 8Gb and I've not had any issues with normal use or even some video/photo editing. You can always connect an SSD later.

[dudleybloke]

Android TV box?

[ilikepeas]

Will a USB C to HDMI cable work from mobile devices? I know HDMI works from a PC but they might block tablets from doing the same

[manracer]

used xbox one from ebay around £40 will do the job

[BlueJazz]

ilikepeas said:

Will a USB C to HDMI cable work from mobile devices? I know HDMI works from a PC but they might block tablets from doing the same

Blocked on my android tablet. BT Sport isn't though.

[ilikepeas]

BlueJazz said:

Blocked on my android tablet. BT Sport isn't though.

Why are Sky like this?

[Type R Tom]

An old office PC is the way to go with this, something like this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175181779457?hash=item2...

You could probably go cheaper if shopping around

[BlueJazz]

ilikepeas said:

BlueJazz said:

Blocked on my android tablet. BT Sport isn't though.

Why are Sky like this?

Even if you output from the HDMI socket of your PC, the resolution is awful, something like 720p.

[dickymint]

BlueJazz said:

ilikepeas said:

BlueJazz said:

Blocked on my android tablet. BT Sport isn't though.

Why are Sky like this?

Even if you output from the HDMI socket of your PC, the resolution is awful, something like 720p.

I thought Skygo is just 720p however you play it? Anyway it's crap and not much better on NowTV

[MissChief]

dickymint said:

BlueJazz said:

ilikepeas said:

BlueJazz said:

Blocked on my android tablet. BT Sport isn't though.

Why are Sky like this?

Even if you output from the HDMI socket of your PC, the resolution is awful, something like 720p.

I thought Skygo is just 720p however you play it? Anyway it's crap and not much better on NowTV

It's an added extra for Sky subscribers, not a replacement for Now?

[ilikepeas]

BlueJazz said:

Even if you output from the HDMI socket of your PC, the resolution is awful, something like 720p.

Sky are 10 years behind the curve, I still can't figure out why mini boxes are limited to 1080p

[MissChief]

ilikepeas said:

BlueJazz said:

Even if you output from the HDMI socket of your PC, the resolution is awful, something like 720p.

Sky are 10 years behind the curve, I still can't figure out why mini boxes are limited to 1080p

Bandwidth. They've tried it and found that in the majority of cases the Wi-Fi signal just wasn't strong enough to carry a consistent UHD Stream without buffering or pixelation.

[ilikepeas]

MissChief said:

Bandwidth. They've tried it and found that in the majority of cases the Wi-Fi signal just wasn't strong enough to carry a consistent UHD Stream without buffering or pixelation.

I'm sure about 90% of people's internet would be able to support another fire stick, UHD needs at the most 25mbps

[Captain_Morgan]

ilikepeas said:

MissChief said:

Bandwidth. They've tried it and found that in the majority of cases the Wi-Fi signal just wasn't strong enough to carry a consistent UHD Stream without buffering or pixelation.

I'm sure about 90% of people's internet would be able to support another fire stick, UHD needs at the most 25mbps

Which just shows how highly compressed / lossy the encoding is.