$199 TVPad-- Watch Hong Kong/Mainland Channels LIVE with NO monthly fees

Major Update: It's been a while but there are some major upgrades with the TVpad, as well as changes to the benefits of the coupon code 15819288. Specifically, the TVpad 2 is now out with firmware update 3.70. The major upgrades are:

1. Join hands with WASU to provide massive genuine videos.
2. Equipped with a new smart CPU as well as high 3D graphics performance.
3. Can be used as game console to play motion sensing games.
4. Build-in VOIP, make free calls worldwide.
5. Build-in WiFi, easy to connect to home network wirelessly.
6. Better hardware so with shorter boot time and response much faster and play video more smooth than M121S.

(sourced from http://tvpadzone.com/english/intro/model.html)

The price of a TVpad2 is $259.

In the past, the coupon code 15819288 gives $30 off. Now for the better or the worse, it will instead give a package worth $88 dollars, which includes a motion-sensing remote controller to play games with, a 4GB USB flash drive, red pocket envelopes and dozens of new apps for the TVpad2. Here is an access to the coupon details [tvpadzone.com]

Personally I prefer the $30 off, but seeing how Roku's top version (XD or XS?) is a $30 jump due to the motion sensor, I thought it was fair.

That said, make sure to read the buyer's notice before making the purchase, to be aware of compatibilities and scams:
http://tvpadzone.com/english/buy/index.html

PM me if you have any questions and I will answer based on what I know (I own 4 TVpads). All sources acquired from TVPadzone.

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Click here [tvpadzone.com] for details of the upgrades of M121S over M121. But in short:
-An all new App Garden providing large number of Apps for users to easily download and install
-Supports 3rd party apps of different cultures, including chinese, korean, and japanese
-Addition of User's Center
-CPU upgraded from TCC8901 to TCC8902
-RAM upgraded from 256M to 512M
-ROM increased to 2GB

Edit: A website [tvpadzone.com] with all information that you need to know about the TVpad in English. Visit it for summarized FAQs and other various topics including how to use the TVpad on your smartphone.

http://tvpadzone.com/

Edit: There is a new promotion for buying multiple TVpads:


TVpad Olympics "Buy and Receive" Promotion:
http://www.tvpadfans.com/forum.ph...romuid=439
English information can be found here: http://tvpadzone.com/english/buy-...-more.html
I have translated the details in English:
TVpad's Promotional Event to Celebrate the Olympics "Buy and Receive," get more value the more you purchase!

1. When you purchase 2 or more TVpads in the same order, you receive a wireless network card per TVpad.
When you purchase 10 or more TVpads in the same order, you receive ONE FREE TVPAD for every 10 TVpads, in addition to a wireless network card per TVpad.
2. All products from this promotion will be shipped via DHL, except in excluded rural areas.
3. This Olympics "Buy and Receive" promotion CAN be combined with the $30 discount code (15819288)
4. Period of Promotion: July 15th, 2012 to August 15th, 2012, Beijing time


Edit: code 15819288 will now work until 12/31/2012

For Chinese users, TVPad is a new device that allow you to watch Hong Kong/Mainland channels live without any monthly subscription. I bought it myself approximately 4 months ago and am extremely satisfied with it.

In a new 2012 promotion, the originally price has been cut from $299 to $229. You can use the promotional code 15819288 at checkout of the official site to take off an extra $30.

EDIT2 02/10/12

I made a recent purchase for some friends and realized that the coupon code is $30 off per unit, and not per order.

This is their official website (it's in Chinese): http://www.tvpad.hk/tvpad/01/

Just thought I should share a very useful product that isn't very well known yet.

EDIT 02/06/12

Wow, I am absolutely fascinated and pleasantly surprised at the large amount of interest my fellow SDers have on the topic. I made this post during Chinese New Year and it has escaped my mind since then, and coming back to it, there was a lot of excellent reads.

I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the thread and it was definitely an eye-opener. In terms of the TVPad, there are definitely pros and cons depending on the type of user you are. Here are my two cents:

If you watch your TV shows and movies frequently on your computer, then the TVPad is not for you. There are more options out there (as greatly mentioned in the wikiboard) which are obviously more cost effective and might have more flexibility in terms of functions.

TVPad's main advantages I think is its convenience. I know many of my friends (myself included) prefer to watch things on the actual television unit after spending the whole day on my computer at work already. TVPad provides that genuine feeling I used to get when I used to live in HK. Compared to an old Chinese cable package I used to get, TVPad was a huge upgrade. I think it makes a good present for parents who are less tech-savvy or more old-school.

In terms of its reliability, there are plenty of reviews out there that I think people interested might find useful. If you can read Chinese, TVPad's forum is actually remarkably active with a lot of tech support. (tvpad.hk) I know there are concerns in regards to how long TVB/ATV channels will last; I personally think it is worth the investment because of its nonobligatory nature with no monthly subscriptions. I have been using it for about 4 months and don't have too many complaints as of now.

That said, I have tried some methods mentioned and they are very excellent alternatives as well. Of all options on the list, I was especially impressed by Sopcast.

Thank you for all the wonderful responses. Hope this thread help everyone one way or another, whether it's the product or the streaming methods provided here. Feel free to PM me if you have questions about my experience with the TVPad.