Xumo Stream Box - for beginners only

Xfinity (Comcast) recently launched its Xumo Stream Box. It replaces the older Flex device that the company nearly three years ago. That was a good box for beginners; people that were just starting out streaming and were used to Xfinity cable.

So, with this new device, the Xumo Stream Box, how is it different?

First, the interface is improved, so that's good.

Setup was actually easy. Well, it was extremely difficult, but that's unrelated to the Xumo Stream Box. Xfinity made an account error, confusing my account with my sister's, in a behind the scenes screw up. That's unrelated to the Xumo Stream Box, and was a totally different Comcast/Xfinity issue. Once that unrelated issue was fixed, setup went smoothly. Assuming Comcast/Xfinity doesn't have an account screw-up already in place, you should have no trouble with setting it up. As I said, once they fixed their screw-up, the setup went really easy.

And so ends the good news. Switching now to the bad news.

Xfinity has apps preinstalled on the device. They pick the apps. You can't remove them, you can't hide them, you can't add new ones, you can't make any customization such as what you can do on the true streaming platforms: Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Android/Google TV, WebOS (LG), Tizen OS (Samsung), etc.

I will admit that most of the apps are good apps, and apps that most people would find interesting. However, I don't want apps that I don't use there. Ever. If I don't use Netflix, I don't want to see Netflix. If I don't use Discovery+, I don't want to see Discovery+. And so on.

I wrote Comcast/Xfinity about it. They actually wrote back. They were all nice and polite and everything, but at the end of it, the system works as it works, and they hope I stay with them.

What all this means is that this is a platform for beginners. This is not a platform that people who are experienced with streaming will enjoy. They hold your hand and give you a slate of apps, and that's what you get. It's arrogant, because anyone with any programming ability would be able to toggle an Advance User mode. They have that programming ability, they just choose to not use it.

Now, is that the only thing I don't like about it? No. The device isn't as responsive as Roku, Fire TV (well, recent Fire TV devices), Chromecast, or even the cheap Walmart Onn Streaming Stick. It's an inferior device.

Is it that bad? No, not really. If this was your first streaming device, you wouldn't know how sluggish it is, because it's only sluggish compared to other devices. With nothing to compare it to, it's probably just fine. But that's my whole point. It's a device for beginners.

What if you're a beginner? Actually, since it's included with Xfinity Internet service (one is), and they will waive the setup fee if you ask nicely, it's a good way to start streaming. I do like it better than the older Flex box that I returned, but it is the least of the streaming devices I use. Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast, NVIDIA Shield, Onn Streaming Box/Stick, all are superior devices. But for a beginner, it's a good starting streaming device and platform.

My Streaming Life has been going on since I cut cable in 2011, and even existed for a few years before that. I'm not a novice. I'm no beginner. That's why the new Xumo Stream Box is not for me. But if you or someone you know is wanting to start streaming, and they have Xfinity Internet, this could be a good start.