Is this box of tricks all one needs now?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail....n-time-traveller.html

For a one off payment of £299 one never needs to miss a favourite programme.

I wonder how such companies as Sky and Virgin will react to this?

Surely it puts their catch-up system advantages into insignificance.

[rockyracoon]

No, you won't get any subscribed to channels on it, only what you'd get on Freeview.

[anotheoldgit]

I realise that but it does go a certain way to diminish the catch-up system they are always pushing.

[AB Editor]

"I realise that but it does go a certain way to diminish the catch-up system they are always pushing."

I thought it would be making use of them - assuming by catch-up systems you mean the iplayer/4od etc?

BT offer a similar functionality in some of their boxes.

[hc4361]

You have to plug it in to your router and it uses your broadband data allowance.

It doesn't seem to have a hard drive, so can't record.

[anotheoldgit]

hc4361

/// You have to plug it in to your router and it uses your broadband data allowance. ///

Good point, I think this will put a lot of people off buying it at first, I mean who is going to attach a cable from one's upstairs computer room's router to the downstairs Television?

Much better to wait and see if they come up with mark II, that may have built in Wi-Fi.

[ll_billym]

I have a lot of these apps built in to my LG television, which isn't really that high-end and is a couple of years old, it has an Ethernet (and WiFi) connection to my router and has IPlayer, 4OD, NetFlix, YouTube. Along with internet radio player etc. even Facebook.

I can see the benefits of this box though, probably more apps than I have got and it can retrofit to any TV, if there is a market then good luck to them but I can see integrated into TVs the way that things will continue to go, who wants another box and remote control...

[emmie]

i struggle with that thing they call the wireless, where you get Archie Andrews on, they tell me there is something called television, must be a fad.

[chelle7272]

I get catch up Tv via my tv with Virgin Media anyway

[youngmafbog]

TV is available on the web, one of our tv's uses that (via virgin 50 on an Ethernet) works great even on HD.

Wireless N will stream video ok (Ensure you have a N receiver as well as transmitter) but run Ethernet through your house is far superior and faster. Its not difficult to do, got it on all three floors in our house.

Whats a data allowance, thought that had gone (apart from fair usage)

As for sky and virgin, this is a different product so its the old Apples and Pears.

[hc4361]

I've been thinking about this.

You obviously need a broadband connection to use it so if you don't use computers it will be an extra monthly cost of broadband rental.

If you do have a computer you can already access iPlayer, 4OD and others on your pc. Not the same as watching tv, maybe, but if you live alone and have a good size screen, it's good enough.

[Zeuhl]

Is this essentially retro-fitting a regular TV into a Smart TV?

£299 seems expensive compared with buying a new (Smart) TV

[craft1948]

I watch a lot of programmes on my PC via iplayer etc...........as I have a 23" monitor it's fine.

[Sipowicz]

Size isn't everything craft! ;-)

[Postdog]

It's by Alan Sugar I think - that's a flop then....

[pdq1]

We have both Freeview and Sky on different TVs. Freeview seems fairly limited and with nearly 70 channels does not compare with Skys enormous range. Catch up is no different from I-player and you don't need much computer experience to call them up and extends much beyond 1 week.

The price is so inhibited at nearly £300 they will need to reduce this greatly to be of any use for the average viewer.

[Dodger666]

The Humax DTR-T1000 YouView box has twin HD tuners and a built in 500GB hard drive.

http://www.richersoun.../huma-dtr1000-youview

[anotheoldgit]

/// It's by Alan Sugar I think - that's a flop then...///

Postdog, you're fired!