Dabby, the streaming device that merges Netflix and other services, debuts at CES 2020
An advanced search function kills app switching
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Streaming device Dabby has debuted atCES 2020, having previously hit itsKickstartertarget back in 2019. This device aims to break down the barriers between streaming services, letting you search for any video content as long as it’s legal and online, without the use of apps. You’ll need to be subscribed to any services you wish to access, and Dabby will always find the best quality video source it can.
It’s a combination tablet and dongle, and you can buy additional dongles if you want to control more of the TVs in your home. Dabby is either touch or voice-controlled, and uses an advanced AI to search for content. It’s designed to replace existing streaming gadgets, and simplify the streaming experience from app and device switching, if that’s a particular bugbear of yours.
You can even search for specific scenes in the content you’re interested in. The example shown on Dabby’s website says, ‘Hey Dabby, play the clip from Avengers where Thanos snaps his fingers’. We’d have to get hands-on to know how comprehensive this feature is, but it sounds impressive. Dabkick previously toldSlash Gearthat its system indexes thousands of video sources, which includes user-generated content like Twitch streams as well as streaming services like Netflix.
Searching all sources
Creator Dabkick says subscriptions are managed through its ‘Dynamic Credentials AI’. If you walk out of a room with the Dabby tablet, you can seamlessly continue watching on your second screen, as its proximity sensors can detect your movements.
You can also watch a show or movie with someone else in another location with a video call to simulate a co-viewing experience, although presumably that requires ownership of another Dabby tablet. The device itself has a three-hour battery life for constant viewing, or eight hours when on standby, according to the manufacturer.
The price is steep for these cool features, though: Dabby has a list price of $399 on the official website, which is on the high end for a TV streaming device, and a little higher than theplanned retail priceof $249-$299 currently mentioned on the device’s Indiegogo page. During CES, though,it’s discountedby $50 if you’re interested. It’s expected to start shipping in April. When we’ve sampled a finished unit, we’ll tell you what we think.
ViaCNET.
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Samuel is a PR Manager at game developer Frontier. Formerly TechRadar’s Senior Entertainment Editor, he’s an expert in Marvel, Star Wars, Netflix shows and general streaming stuff. Before his stint at TechRadar, he spent six years at PC Gamer. Samuel is also the co-host of the popular Back Page podcast, in which he details the trials and tribulations of being a games magazine editor – and attempts to justify his impulsive eBay games buying binges.
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