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Do people even watch television in this day and age?

Depending on who you ask, your answers might differ. But chances are many still do but not in the conventional sense.

While online streaming is all the rage these days, Malaysian television network Astro has taken watching television to a whole new level.

It's hard to put the Astro Ultra Box into a box. Pun not intended.

It's not a streaming platform, yet it behaves as one. What's more, it has a cloud storage system which allows you to record more than a hundred hours of your favorite shows to be watched later.

Unlike the previous Astro decoders, this one has numerous major updates that'll give big online streaming sites a run for their money.

Here's what makes the decoder a turn on for older and younger generations alike.

The first thing you'll notice when powering up the Astro Ultra Box is how simple, easy to use and intuitive the New Home Screen is. It's a breath of fresh air!

The box is also pretty advanced in that it studies your viewing behaviour and recommends programs based on what you like. There's also a Store function which allows you to rent the latest blockbusters at an affordable rate which is really swell.

The Search function has also been given an upgrade, allowing you to find a particular program or show with so much ease. Simply type in the title, actor, director, or even a specific channel's name and you'll be able to find what you're looking for.

Be careful though, because sometimes you can also discover hidden gems that'll get you hooked for hours. Speaking of which...

Astro is now Malaysia's first television network offering its users 50,000 videos to be streamed.

From the latest films, hit television series, your kid's favorite cartoons, important documentaries and yes, even the weekend's English Premier League matches can be enjoyed in crystal clear, sharp resolutions thanks to the Astro Ultra Box.

Among the films that are available for streaming through the box's Video On Demand are Aquaman, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, The Kingdom, Mission Impossible Collection, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and more. Nice!

True to its tagline, 'Truly Yours, Truly U', what's amazing about the Astro Ultra Box is that it's a perfect companion for a person on the go.

Say you're watching a show on the television and you need to head to class, all you have to do is pause the video and turn on the Astro Go app on your smartphone and continue watching your favorite series there while commuting on the train.

Like a particular series? There's also a Cloud Storage function that gives you 200 hours of HD recording for free. Yes, you'll also be able to record multiple number of shows at the same time as well.

In case you need more storage space, you just need to fork an additional RM12 a month for 400 hours. And if that's not enough, the RM15 a month for 1,500 hours of HD recordings might be up your alley.

But wait, what if you missed the first 20 minutes of your favorite cooking show? No worries, you can simply restart the show. We're serious, you can really do that directly via the remote.

Before you sign up, there are some requirements to fully enjoy the Astro Ultra Box for what it's worth:

If you don't have an internet connection? That's okay, the Ultra Box also comes bundled with Astros broadband package with rebates of up to RM30 a month. More details on the packages here.

Installing the Astro Ultra Box is free for those who have a monthly bill of RM100 or more. But it'll cost RM199 to install the box if you're paying below RM100 for your Astro bill.

Ready to take your binge watching to the next level? Head over to the Astro Ultra Box website to sign up.

P/S: There's only one downside from using the Astro Ultra Box: You'll lose sleep. So don't say we didn't warn you!

Read this article:
There's now a new way to experience your favorite shows thanks to the Astro Ultra Box - Mashable SE Asia