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A Guide for Legacy Tablo Customers Considering 4th Generation Tablo Devices/Apps

Tablo David
Tablo David
  • Updated

4th Generation Tablo DVRs work with 4th Generation Tablo apps, which provide:

 

Table of Contents

 

4th Generation Tablo Apps and Legacy Compatibility

4th Generation Tablo apps are also compatible with most legacy network-connected Tablo hardware devices, once they have completed the Legacy Transition.

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TV-connected legacy Tablo devices cannot transition to using 4th Generation Tablo apps. It may be advisable to upgrade to a 4th Generation Tablo device if you would like to maintain long-term whole-home functionality.

 

TV-Connected Tablo DVRs (Tablo DUAL HDMI and QUAD HDMI) can continue to use the Tablo’s onboard interface and the legacy Tablo apps that support in-home streaming from TV-connected Tablo devices as long as those apps remain functional.

 

While It’s not possible for the newer apps to be distributed to Samsung or LG TVs manufactured prior to 2019, you don’t need to purchase a new television. It’s easy and much more affordable to purchase and connect a compatible streaming stick or box to your existing television to access 4th Generation Tablo apps.

 

Legacy Tablo Hardware Subscriptions 

An active TV guide data service subscription will always be required to use advanced features on legacy Tablo models using legacy Tablo apps.

Some of the subscription-only features current legacy customers enjoy today are not available or will not be made available in the new Tablo app experience. 

However, compatible legacy Tablo owners can try the 4th Gen app experience and cancel their subscriptions if they decide to make the switch.

Legacy Tablo hardware subscriptions are not transferable to 4th Generation Tablo DVRs, as they do not require or recognize subscriptions. 

 

Considerations For Legacy Tablo Customers

Legacy Tablo customers should review the following considerations before switching to a 4th Generation Tablo device or exclusively using the 4th Gen app experience.

 

Legacy Tablo Apps Will No Longer Be Available for Download Starting September 1st

Many of the underlying technologies used by legacy Tablo apps and services are becoming obsolete and are no longer maintainable. This is why we are discontinuing support for all legacy Tablo apps on September 1st, 2026.

 

4th Gen Apps Do Not Support Tablo Connect
The 4th Generation Tablo app and the 4th Generation Tablo do not support Tablo Connect. Owners of network-connected legacy Tablo models who rely on this feature should keep this in mind.

While 4th Generation Tablo apps don’t support out-of-home streaming today, the engineering team is exploring options that could enable that feature. If Tablo Connect becomes available for newer devices, support for legacy Tablo devices could also be added to the apps. We have no ETA for this.

 

4th Gen Apps Do Not Support Premium Service/Automatic Commercial Skip
The 4th Generation Tablo app does not support Premium Service subscriptions or Automatic Commercial Skip. Existing Tablo customers who still use this now sunsetted feature should keep this in mind.

 

4th Gen Apps Have Different Platform Support
The 4th Generation Tablo does not currently offer support for PC or MAC.

There are no short-term plans to add a 4th Generation app for PC/MAC. These platforms don’t natively support the playback of over-the-air TV in MPEG-2 format. Unlike legacy network-connected Tablo devices, 4th Generation Tablo hardware doesn’t transcode video from MPEG-2 to a more streaming-friendly format before sending it over the network. As such, playback of content from 4th Generation devices would be limited without specialized player software. The engineering team is investigating the feasibility of adapting existing 4th Generation smart TV apps for this purpose in the future.

 

4th Gen Apps for Samsung and LG Cannot Display Over-the-Air Closed Captions
Closed Captions cannot be displayed for OTA broadcasts on our 4th Generation Samsung and LG Apps. This article explains why.


4th Gen Apple TV and Mobile Apps Do Not Allow Viewing In-Progress Recordings from the Beginning
Because of player limitations, in-progress recordings cannot be viewed from the beginning on Apple TV and mobile apps via 4th Gen Tablo devices. The reasons are explained here. Completed recordings have no such restrictions. 

The limitations on in-progress recordings also do not apply to recordings on legacy Tablo devices when played on 4th Gen apps for Apple TV and iOS.

 

Features Still In Development on 4th Gen Apps
Several popular features are still in development within the 4th Generation Tablo app, including manual recording, guide screens for iOS and Android mobile apps and conflict resolution on iOS/Android mobile, LG and Samsung. 

The Surround Sound toggle is also not available for legacy devices when accessed via 4th Generation apps.

 

Transferring Recordings & Schedules 
Should you upgrade or replace your Tablo, you cannot move existing recordings or recording schedules from legacy network-connected or TV-connected Tablo devices to the 4th Gen Tablo. This is because the 4th Generation Tablo uses a different type of recording format. You also cannot transfer recordings or schedules from one 4th Gen Tablo device to another. 

However, legacy Tablo DVRs that take advantage of the Legacy Transition can still see most of their recordings in both generations of Tablo apps. Manual recordings are the exception and have limited visibility in 4th Gen apps.

 

4th Gen Devices Are Not Generally Available in Canada 
4th Generation Tablo devices are not generally available to consumers in Canada, as the integrated free streaming channels are licensed only for customers in the United States. 

Canadian customers with legacy devices eligible for the Legacy Transition can use 4th Gen apps, but the free streaming channels will not be offered.