xfinity.com
With Comcastâs Xfinity, you can watch live-tv or on-demand content and also record the shows via DVR. Xfinity is one of the hottest TV networks in the US with over 26 million subscribers, covering a range of content from live sports to news and kidâs content.
The Flex is a streaming service that allows you to watch your favorite shows on your own schedule, while X1 is the traditional cable service that includes channels like TNT and TBS.
Many people have posted queries regarding the confusion surrounding Xfinity products. Most people who are searching for an alternative to cable TV often ask about the Xfinity Flex, while others just want to talk about X1. So, if you're not well-versed with these, I think we should clear that first. There are two main offerings: X1 and Flex. The Flex is a streaming service that allows you to watch your favorite shows on your own schedule, while X1 is the traditional cable service that includes channels like TNT and TBS.
Xfinity X1
X1 from Comcast is an amazing package that allows you to watch live TV, stream apps, and make recordings all at the same time. You can schedule recordings for any time, and it's also the most complete package on Comcast. You can search through everything to find what you want, and you can also customize with your favorite YouTube channels, Prime Video services, and Netflix shows. Moreover, you can listen to Pandora, Amazon Music, NPR stations, and iHeartRadio stations with X1.
It has a lot of features that many people love, such as voice commands, sports stats and other information such as news, weather, traffic, photos, voicemail, stocks and even horoscopes. Sure, these might seem like too much for me but that's not the case with everyone.
The latest series of Xfinity?s X1 boxes come with a receiver box and DVR which allows you to connect it to not just your television or the internet but also with your computer, tablets, phones, and home security systems.
Flex
Flex is a streaming alternative that is similar to X1. Although it doesn't have an expansive content library, it has competent features such as a RF remote control and voice-activation. It's good enough for video and music programming.
Flex can help keep an eye on the home network and control compatible devices. It's a user-friendly interface that can be displayed on your TV. Flex comes with features like smart-home support, like viewing security footage through your TV and controlling the temperature and lighting.
History
Xfinity is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation that was introduced in 2010. It markets cable television, telephone, internet, and wireless services across the country. Within a decade, it became one of the top service providers and by 2011 it became the largest cable internet service provider in the US. As of 2018, Comcast has 26.5 million customers.
Capitalizing on an opportunity
In 1996, Comcast helped found @Home Network. Under this banner, internet service was sold through Comcast's cable lines. Later, @Home merged with Excite and in 2002, the company called for bankruptcy. During this time, Comcast moved the existing user base of 950,000 to their own network.
Launch of X1
In May 2012, Comcast launched a new software and hardware platform for its television services. It's an all-inclusive service that offers extensive support for integrating your internet, television, and home security in one place. By the end of 2013, Xfinity X1 was made available across the United States.
Launch of Xfinity Mobile
In April of 2017, Comcast rolled out Xfinity Mobile. It is a wireless carrier which uses a 4G LTE network to access 18 million Wi-Fi hotspots across the country. Xfinity operates as a MVNO, leveraging its Verizon Wireless network.
Design
Xfinity's website is sleek and attractive. The graphics are well executed and the contrast between black and white is maintained throughout the site. The menus on the homepage are incredibly user-friendly - there are separate options for the header and general menus, both of which offer a wealth of options for users. The header menu featuresoptions such as Shop, My Account, Support, My Xfinity and Comcast Business. The general menu featuresoptions such as Internet, TV & Streaming, Mobile, Home Security, Home Phones and Deals.
I like the design of Xfinity's homepage because the general support is separate from its services. This allows the services to pop up more, which is a breath of fresh air in most websites.
Since we're focused on TV and streaming prowess, let's discuss that. As you hover over that menu, you get several options which include: Overview, X1 TV, Flex Streaming, Channel Lineup, Add-on Channels, and Latino. If you click on any of these pages, you'll be taken to a dedicated page that highlights that particular service. For instance, I clicked on X1 TV and I entered a new page that highlighted X1 TV's USPs and features such as - DVR, 4K Ultra HD, Movies on Demand, streaming and music in one place.
I loved how the website differentiated between X1 and Flex services. Even someone who has no information about the service can understand the difference between the two. You can easily see that both services are the same, except Flex doesn't offer live broadcast and cable networks, Xfinity Cloud DVR or Sports Zone app with live scores and stats. Everything else is similar in both services.
Content
There are a few things you can watch on cable TV, but not all of them are available through streaming. Similarly, Comcast's X1 and Flex offer different streaming options that cater to different content needs. With X1, you get the full cable TV package, while with Flex you get a specialized streaming option that is perfect for your preferences.
Xfinity X1 TV offers over 200 channels with half of them being HD channels. Although Flex does not support Hulu, Disney, CBS All Access, and ESPN linear channels, the availability of content between the two platforms varies drastically. I?ve already explained the difference in live TV content availability and Cloud DVR capabilities between X1 and Flex.
With Xfinity X1 TV and Flex, you can subscribe to additional services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. This presents you with an opportunity to expand the content library. Since X1 also provides access to Disney, Hulu, and CBS All Access, you can watch a wide range of live channels and on-demand content which can range from epic Marvel movies to Hulu Originals.
Xfinity Stream on Demand
Xfinity Stream offers a whopping 20,000 programs, making it the most tempting on-demand option out there. Compared to the competition, which only offers a fraction of that number, this is definitely an advantage. Furthermore, since the content is available on-demand, you don't have to worry about recording it - this is a huge plus.
Desktop/Mobile experience
The X1 television displays a visual guide which helps you to choose titles by reading the descriptions. The TV guide features ratings, release dates, cast details and other crucial information. If you're streaming via the Xfinity Stream app, you'll still have a responsive app that functions great. I didn't find any nagging issues while testing the app.
Before I move towards the compatibility, I want to point out that there are many services offered under Xfinity. So, if you want to receive these for more than one TV, you will need to pay the additional cost. There are extra charges for additional installation and DVR functionality. However, let's learn about a few important points:
There are many services offered under Xfinity, so if you want to receive them for more than one TV, you'll need to pay the additional cost. There are extra charges for additional installation and DVR functionality, but let's learn about a few important points first.
Recording with Xfinity X1
Shows can be previewed and recordings can be scheduled up to two weeks in advance. You can do this from any device. You can also use the X1 box to record either a single episode or an entire series. You can record up to 60 hours in HD quality and up to 300 hours in SD quality. If you want to record more, I would suggest you go for an additional hard drive with 1 TB of storage.
Compatibility
Xfinity does not support any other devices.
Plans & Pricing
The three different pricing plans for digital TV services can be bifurcated into three categories: Digital Starter, Digital Preferred, and Digital Premier. The Digital Starter plan costs $49.99 and includes 140+ channels. The Digital Preferred plan costs $59.99 and includes 220+ channels. The Digital Premier plan costs $104.99 and includes 260+ channels.
Suggestions I have for Xfinity
I don't really understand why Xfinity is putting all its eggs in the X1 basket when Flex is supposed to be the service that would hatch in the near future. I'd like for them to pay attention to turning Flex into a powerhouse and focus on their customer service - which if judged by user rating is quite bizarre.
Conclusion
I think Xfinity is doing a great job of competing with DirecTV. They have a wide range of services and are actually outperforming the bigger cable company on a streaming level. I leave it up to you to decide if they are better than DirecTV.
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