There are some catches. The free access doesn’t include DVR functionality. You’ll also only receive guide data for 48 hours of programming versus the two weeks of a Plex Pass subscriber. This is as much about pitching subscriptions as it is supporting the community. Nonetheless, it might be appreciated if you’ve run out of on-demand shows to watch while you’re stuck at home.

You can add an external hard drive to simultaneously record and view shows, and the Sling app provides access on Android, iOS, Fire TV and Roku devices in addition to whatever Sling services you might have (if any).

The AirTV 2 is available now for $100, although it’s evident that Dish would really like you to buy one alongside one of its services. You’ll get the AirTV 2 and an OTA antenna for $49 if you get a three-month prepaid Sling TV subscription, while spending $99 under similar terms will also net you an AirTV Mini ($149 will get you two). As before, this latest AirTV box is as much a gateway to Sling services as it is a cord cutting tool.

The palm-sized device certainly isn’t the first tiny streaming dongle. Amazon, Roku and Google already offer similar products. But according to Mitch Weinraub, director of product development for AirTV, the AirTV Mini has “more memory and a faster processor than anything else in the category.”

The device plugs into your Android TV via the HDMI port and automatically launches the Sling TV app, with Netflix integrated into the interface. You can access other Android TV apps through Google Play, and you’ll have access to Google Assistant and Netflix via dedicated buttons on the remote. There’s also the OTA streaming feature. “The AirTV brand is committed to making local TV relevant and easily accessible to streamers,” Weinraub said. But you’ll need an AirTV Wi-Fi-enabled network tuner and an OTA antenna (each sold separately) to access those channels.

As with the original AirTV set-top box, the Mini is a bit of an outlier. Most people interested in local channels aren’t the ones jumping to cut cords, but the device could be appealing to those who don’t want to pay for cable. And at $79.99 (available at AirTV.net) the Mini is both smaller and cheaper than the original.