Freeview Play

I came here looking for information on 'Freeview Play' but was surprised not to find anything.

It is supposed to be something similar to 'Youview' but cheaper.
 
A Google search for ' "Freeview Play" ' (obvious, really) produced this:

http://www.freeview.co.uk/articles/...es/freeview-play-manufacturers-announced.html

Freeview Play Manufacturers Announced

Digital UK and Freeview have today announced that Panasonic will be the first manufacturer to launch TVs featuring the Freeview Play connected TV service.

Panasonic will make Freeview Play available in its new 2015 line-up of VIERA TVs[1]. Channel 5’s Demand 5 service will also join the platform – completing the launch line-up of catch-up players alongside BBC iPlayer, ITV Player and 4oD[2].

Freeview Play combines catch-up TV, on-demand services and live television to make watching what you want, when you want as easy as possible. The service will be free from subscription and compatible with existing broadband services. Viewers will be able to search for programmes via a scroll back function in the TV guide or a dedicated apps page. This month Freeview announced a major rebrand in preparation for the launch of the new TV offer.

Ilse Howling, Managing Director, Connected TV at Digital UK, said: ‘It’s great news that Panasonic will be the first of many to bring TVs with Freeview Play to viewers. I’m also pleased that Demand 5 will be joining our line-up of great, free, on-demand players. Digital UK is working closely with manufacturers and broadcasters to develop our exciting new service and bring the benefits of connected TV to everyone, free from subscription.’

Guy North, Managing Director of Freeview, said: ‘We believe that Freeview Play will put viewers back in control and we’re delighted that Panasonic is our first TV launch partner. Freeview Play will be integrated into a number of TVs in the new VIERA range, giving people the freedom to choose across a range of price points. We look forward to welcoming more products from other partners later this year.’

Panasonic plan to offer Freeview Play recorders at a later date. Multi-brand manufacturer Vestel will follow with a range of Freeview Play products.

- ends -

Notes

[1] Freeview Play available on CX680, CX700, CR730, CX802 and CR852 series of TVs.

[2 ]Channel 4’s new digital brand All 4 will replace the 4oD brand on all platforms from the end of Q1 2015

About Digital UK: Digital UK is working in partnership with Freeview to develop Freeview Play. The company is leading on technical development of the new service, including product specification, the creation of a metadata service and a test regime for TVs and set-top boxes. The company also manages strategy, policy and service development for digital terrestrial television (DTT) in the UK and provides day-to-day technical management of the Freeview Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). Digital UK is owned by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Arqiva.

About Freeview: Launched in 2002, Freeview is a subscription-free TV service providing over 60 TV channels, up to 12 HD channels and over 25 radio stations. The service is delivered through the aerial and is subscription-free.
Freeview is managed by DTV Services Ltd, a company owned and run by its five shareholders: BBC, Sky, Channel 4, ITV and Arqiva.
 
I wasn't saying you were wrong, just pointing out that the OP already had the necessary tools at his disposal and providing context for the readers of this forum.
 
I wonder why Humax weren't mentioned in the first press releases, maybe Roksan Caspian knew more than he was letting on
 
It would need to have remote recording and a full selection of 3rd party streaming video apps for me to ditch my hdr fox t2 - but it has got my attention...
 
It would need to have remote recording and a full selection of 3rd party streaming video apps for me to ditch my hdr fox t2 - but it has got my attention...

It has my attention also :), 3 tuners would be a godsend to me, and remote recording? Gigabit LAN ports? USB 3.0 ports? Wireless ac standard? these are some features that would be on my wishlist!
 
Has anyone heard of an official release date? Humax said before the end of the year and found a few bits of information on the internet including this link
http://www.whathifi.com/humax/fvp-4000t/overview

Seems pricing will be around £230 for the 1TB version and around £200 for the 500GB version. Personally I think Humax have missed a trick as we are still with 100Mbps Ethernet and not 1Gb, also we are still with USB 2.0 and not USB 3.0.
 
Has anyone heard of an official release date? Humax said before the end of the year and found a few bits of information on the internet including this link
http://www.whathifi.com/humax/fvp-4000t/overview

Seems pricing will be around £230 for the 1TB version and around £200 for the 500GB version. Personally I think Humax have missed a trick as we are still with 100Mbps Ethernet and not 1Gb, also we are still with USB 2.0 and not USB 3.0.

Both would be a complete waste of money. usb2.0 and 100Mbps is way faster than is required for 1080p video playback and streaming and how many have a isp download anywhere near 100Mbps ? Even a 3D blu-ray bitrate is way less than 100Mbps.
Even if the box allows archiving, the data transfer rate possible from the box will be way lower than 100Mbps as the usb transfer will have a much lower priority for the cpu than maintaining the box primary pvr functions.

Having both would not impact on the box performance in any way.
 
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I agree with your reasoning, but it is still bad marketing as these features would be an insignificant extra cost.

I totally disagree, adding these features that can't be utilised is bound to produce loads of pointless customer support queries like:

My box can only write to my usb3.0 drive at speed X, why can't it do 1Gbps ? It's clear poster shopps is likely to be one of these.

As for the cost, what is your source ?. Building in cpu and memory resources to support a feature that cannot possibly be used is just plain stupid.

As for bad marketing incorporating these features that can't possibly be fully utilised is surely not only bad marketing but plain deception.

Do you know of any similar device that has usb3.0 and 1Gbps Ethernet ports ?

A ancient Foxsat-hdr running the custom firmware and connected by cat5, can easily stream up to 4 different HD recordings to other points while recording two HD programmes, why would you need more ?
 
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You forget how stupid the general public is. In their mind, USB3 must automatically be better than USB2. As to cost - of course it isn't a significant difference. All such things are pennies on the bill of materials.

Do you know of any similar device that has usb3.0 and 1Gbps Ethernet ports ?
Which, I think, sums up my point very neatly.
 
You forget how stupid the general public is. In their mind, USB3 must automatically be better than USB2. As to cost - of course it isn't a significant difference. All such things are pennies on the bill of materials.


Which, I think, sums up my point very neatly.

Eh - it just shows that anyone who has a basic understanding (including the specialised chip makers) realise it would be totally pointless. A bit like installing a speedometer in bog standard Ford Ka reading up to 150mph. Suggesting a maker installs a usb3 port in a box that can't possibly use it as a selling point, is frankly close to fraud.
 
Has anyone heard of an official release date? Humax said before the end of the year and found a few bits of information on the internet including this link
http://www.whathifi.com/humax/fvp-4000t/overview

Seems pricing will be around £230 for the 1TB version and around £200 for the 500GB version. Personally I think Humax have missed a trick as we are still with 100Mbps Ethernet and not 1Gb, also we are still with USB 2.0 and not USB 3.0.

Do you have 1GBps internet to your door? I do at work, but then I am on the university network ....

Most people would be lucky to have 20MBps so why have an Ethernet port that is more than 5x faster?
 
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