Personal Aura Review
I have had my Aura since November last year and can report no significant problems, probably because I only use it to record TV with an occasional use of catch-up services and it is directly connected to a 15-year old non-smart HD Panasonic TV.
I loaded VLC on the Aura to access recordings from my HDR-Fox which only gives access to its SD recordings.
VLC on my Win10 computer and Android phone and my HD-Fox and HDR-Fox can access all the successful recordings on the Aura whether recorded in HD or SD. There is some hesitation at playback-start on the Foxes but otherwise all play ok.
The Aura does appear to have a problem telling the other units the contents of its library. Only by selecting the 'All' folder within the 'Recordings' folder can all the recorded programmes be seen. Within the 'Recordings' folder, recordings are missing or folders do not contain all the recordings that they should. (The number after the folder correctly lists the number of recordings that should be there but the actual recordings available is 1 fewer.) See attached images. Some same series recordings are not put into a folder and some recordings are not listed at all. The same is true when sing File/Windows Explorer on my Laptop; all recordings have the same file time of '01:00' but with the correct recording dates.
Within VLC on my Android I can view the Aura Live Channel (as long as I know the channel to which it is tuned); the Aura can be playing a recording at the time. I can do the same on my Laptop in a more complicated way. Both Foxes have problems complaining about unsupported formats and connection problems.
Given the number of tuners and software functionality, I am surprised that the Aura doesn't continue to record the current channel for timeslip purposes whilst playback is in operation, as my TVonics does.
I do not like the latest home page - it does not tempt me to subscribe to Disney - so wasted money there.
The Aura Search function for programmes within the guide is not good - it is much easier to search on one of my other PVRs.
It is convoluted to access the Timer list - too many button presses. It is easier on the Foxes and even better with the single button on my TVonics.
I allow the standard overnight Deep Standby times and the Aura has not failed to operate those correctly.
I do not have the Aura App on my phone.
I bought the Aura to provide more simultaneous HD and SD recording capability and to provide catch-up services. It has its quirks and annoyances as well as DLNA bonuses but, overall, it has satisfied my expectations and is a good PVR for my purposes.
Martin