Quick Review: Vulkano Flow from Monsoon Multimedia - Leave a comment to win one!

The Vulkano Flow is the latest and greatest from Monsoon Multimedia in the Vulkano product line. The Flow allows the user to watch and control television programming they receive at home on their BlackBerry Smartphone, PC, Mac, and soon to their BlackBerry PlayBook.

Summary of Vulkano Flow features:

• Mark channels as favorite for quick access on your mobile phone
• Watch and control your live TV on the go via Wi-Fi or 3G
• Change channels just like at home
• Browse EPG for shows and episode descriptions
• Connect to all major TV sources - cable, DVD, satellite, DVR, TiVo
• Stream high-quality video at H.264 standards at 150kbps
• Connects to set-top box analog output and wirelessly to home router (802.11n)

The Vulkano Flow is similar to the Slingbox, but it is avaiable at a fraction of the cost. Continue reading to see what it has to offer.

Vulkano Flow by Monsoon Multimedia

What's in the box?

• 1 Vulkano Flow
• 1 Power Adapter
• 1 Quick Start Guide
• 1 RJ-45 Ethernet cable
• 1 IR Blaster cable
• 1 Component cable
• 1 Composite cable

Setup and Installation

Once you take the Flow out of the box, just follow the simple setup instructions and you'll be streaming in no time. I used the included cables, and hooked up the Vulkano to my Time Warner cable box in a matter of minutes. Next I downloaded to Vulkano software to my MacBook, hooked it up to the Flow via the included ethernet cable, followed the on-screen instructions, and before I knew it, I had established my Vulkano ID and connected to my Wi-Fi network.

Next I launched BlackBerry App World on my BlackBerry Bold 9780 and searched for the Vulkano Player app. This is where you have to be careful. That search will return two different Vulkano apps. Make sure you download the Vulkano Player for Flow app for $12.99. The other Vulkano Player app is used for the previous generation Vulkano Players.

Once the correct app was installed, I entered in my Vulkano ID and password, and I was ready to view live TV.

Use and Overview

How many times have you been out and about and wanted to catch a quick TV show, or watch a ballgame? I know I have been out many times at certain events bored out of my mind, and would've loved to be able to watch something to pass the time. Now that problem is solved, I just pull out my BlackBerry and launch the Vulkano app. 

The app will run off Wi-Fi or 3G, however be careful if you choose 3G, as this will be very data intensive. Most of the time I used the app, I was somewhere that had free Wi-Fi, which for one, saved my limited data bucket, and two, provided better bandwidth for a better streaming experience. I found 3G would work, but depending on your signal strength, the picture quality could be choppy. 

From within the app, you have the ability to change the channel and view the EPG (electronic program guide) and see descriptions of shows. Take a look at the video to get a quick demo on how it works. 

Conclusion

The Vulkano Flow is available from multiple retailers, e-tailers, and MyVulkano.com for $99.99. It was kept in the sub $100 to make it more attractive and affordable to consumers, and I tell you what, it works for me. When you compare it to the cost of a Slingbox and their app, the Vulkano will save you a little more than $100.

The major drawback I have seen, is the need to buy the mobile app for each mobile device you plan to use it on, however, the PC and Mac apps are available for free. As I mentioned earlier, there is a PlayBook app in the works, and will hopefully be released in the near future, but it will most likely cost you another $12.99 to download. 

Overall, I think the Vulkano Flow is a great accessory for any BlackBerry user!

Contest: We have 3 Vulkano Flows to give away this week, courtesy of Monsoon Multimedia! To enter to win, leave a commment below. One entry per person please, and the contest ends this Sunday at midnight PST. Good luck! 

More information on the Vulkano Flow