Sky is a live streaming TV juggernaut with its latest Stream box and internet-enabled Glass TV.
Having been on the market for a number of years, the firm constantly refines them for a dish-free seamless experience. The premium experience comes with a matching price tag. Sky Stream costs a minimum of £26 a month and Sky Glass starts from around £42 - £14 for TV and £28 for content.
Households will be cutting the cord on TV packages, but cheaper options abound. The Mirror's Technology Editor Dave Snelling has tried Freely, a platform that's - you guess it - completely free. The people behind Freeview and Freesat are set to launch Freely that will be built into certain TVs.
Users will need to just log onto their wifi to access live and on-demand content without paying a penny. Announced last year, Freely's official launch is arriving soon after being announced last year and the Mirror was one of the first to try it out.
Dave remarked that launching the platform was "hassle-free" with a tap of the Freely app. The Technology Editor said: "Once loaded things look very familiar with options to view a full TV guide along with getting recommendations of what to watch next."
"There's plenty of content to view on demand from all of the UK's biggest terrestrial channels along with that all-important option to launch live telly without needing an aerial."
There's one important thing to note - Freely won't be available to download on current TVs or set-top boxes. Only the latest televisions will have the new service.
Testing scrolling through channels including BBC1, ITV and Channel 4, Dave remarked it worked seamlessly. There's also a feature that pauses live action for up to 15 minutes and starts back up where you left off.
He found the user interface "clear and easy", with other episodes a few taps on the remote away. A search option lets you find your favourite shows and access platforms including BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
"Having spent some time with Freely we can see the appeal - especially if you live in a flat or don't have access to an aerial," he said. "It's very simple to use and will offer access to around 27 live channels at launch - more look set to arrive in the future."
However, it fell flat in comparison to Sky, as he noted: "Right now it can't quite match Sky for features. For example, there's no way to add content to a favourites section and you can't personalise the experience for each member of the home."
Tech deal of the week
Trends Editor Sophie Law decided to put the new SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ to the test to see how it compared against a regular hoover.
"This isn't just any robot vacuum; it's one of the smallest on the market, wrapped up in a surprisingly compact package. The K10+ is not much bigger than a dinner plate, yet it claims to pack the punch of its bulkier competitors. Its petite 24.8cm diameter body promises to glide under furniture, leaving no crumb or pet hair in its wake.
"Oh, the wonders of modern technology, what's not to love? I must admit, I was skeptical at first. How could something so small handle the messes of daily life, especially with a dog that sheds enough to knit a jumper every week? Don't let the size fool you. In my opinion, the SwitchBot K10+ has been a game-changer.
"Due to its compact size, it reaches places that a large vacuum can't, including the dusty caves under beds and sofas. It's like having a miniature NASA rover cleaning every inch of our home, navigating around obstacles with ease. Its high-performance vacuum motor and optimised duct effortlessly captured dirt from our hard floors and rugs without the tough physical work.
"That's another feature of the vacuum that is perfect for people who lead busy lives, or perhaps have mobility issues which makes hoovering quite difficult. You don't have to break a sweat hoovering back and forth, moving furniture, or trying not to get the wire tangled around various obstacles. The vacuum is the epitome of "set it and forget it". It scurries back to its charging station when low on battery, only to resume its mission right where it left off once recharged. This seamless operation means I can spend less time chasing dust bunnies around."
With Sky Stream and Sky Glass, it's more "fluid" changing channels and, not surprisingly, there's more to watch on a premium device.
"We'll need to spend more time with Freely before bringing you a full review but things definitely look promising. The service already appears pretty slick and the team say they hope to bring more features and improvements to the service in the future."
An exact launch date hasn't been announced, but is expected soon.
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