Humax released their impressive HD-FOX T2 Freeview box back at the start of the year, but it's this, the Humax HDR-FOX T2 Freeview HD recorder, that we've been really looking forward to. Humax have now finalised the details of the recorder's release, so read on for the low-down on this impressive set-top box.
Due out in July, the Humax HDR-FOX T2 Freeview HD recorder can playback and record the free High Definition TV service offered by Freeview. It features a 500GB hard drive, storing 125 hours of HD video, and roughly double that for standard definition content.
The Humax HDR-FOX T2 Freeview HD recorder will also play back mp3s, photos and video from a USB port or across your home network via Ethernet.
Pick this one up for around £349 when it launches in July.
Sky have announced a new deal this morning, bringing their on-demand Sky Player to Humax Freeview set-top boxes, expanding the number of Sky viewers by thousands.
The deal comes hot on the heels of similar ones made with 3View and TV manufacturers Cello, as well as Microsoft and the Xbox 360. However, the new partnership with the popular Humax brand is a significant move for Sky, as Humax themselves are key players in the now-lucrative Freeview market.
"Until recently, Sky Player has largely been confined to the PC screen but that is changing fast. Since last autumn, it has been available on the Xbox and this year it will roll out to more broadband-enabled devices through deals with the likes of Fetch TV, 3 View and Cello," said Sky's chief executive Jeremy Darroch.
"Just today, we're announcing a further expansion of Sky Player through a new agreement with Humax, the leading provider of Freeview boxes. And there are more deals in the pipeline."
Speaking in Cannes, much of Darroch's speech focussed on Sky's fight with Ofcom over the price of its premium sports content. The expansion of the Sky Player and the increasing move away from satellite based services seems to show that quality content is the most high on Sky's agenda.
"In providing both new and existing customers with more choice and control over how they access Sky content, we continue to harness secure and high-quality distribution platforms like Humax," said Griff Parry, Sky's Director of On-Demand.
"We know that many Sky homes also have Freeview in other rooms, and this provides a great way for them to enjoy Sky away from their Sky box. And for new customers, particularly those in Freeview homes, it provides an innovative new access point to Sky's high-quality pay TV content."
Humax's Graham North added:"The addition of Sky Player on our Freeview HD boxes ensures Humax is positioned to offer consumers an exciting way to experience digital TV, with great content and a range of home networking and content sharing features."
Sky's online TV service will launch across Humax's new range of IP-enabled high definition Freeview boxes, including the Humax HD-FOX T2.
Sagemcom have unveiled their first set of Freeview HD TV recorders for the UK, the RTI90-320 T2 HD and the RTI90-500 T2 HD.
The eagle-eyed among you may have noticed that Sagemcom were once the communications arm of tech manufacturers Sagem. Sagemcom are now a manufacturer in their own right, and these two brand new DTRs represent their first step out into the big wide world of consumer tech.
Both models have basically the same set of specs, barring the amount of storage available on each. The RTI90-500 T2 HD features 500GB of recording space, while the RTI90-320 T2 HD has 320GB. 500GB equals roughly 250 hours of SD video or 125 hours of HD, while the 320GB model can hold around 160 hours of SD video or 80 hours of HD.
Both are capable of recording and playing back the full range of Freeview + channels, including the growing number of HD channels the service provides free of charge. As both are packing in dual twin tuners, you're able to watch one channel and record another at the same time.
There's an eight-day EPG at the heart of the UI, as well as one-touch recording, series recording and one-touch access to your library of saved shows. Looking t the future, there's also an Ethernet port for a potential roll out of interactive services.
The the RTI90-320 T2 HD will be available at the end of April, whilst the RTI90-500 T2 HD will hit stores at the end of May. No pricing available yet.
Looking for a Freesat+ DTR that will be HD ready straight out of the box? Sagem's Freesat+ DTR could soon be filling that gap under your flat screen.
Available in two 250GB or 500GB models, the new boxes feature auto set-up options to help you watch HD content within minutes of plugging in the DTR.
Sagems' MD Raphael Fainac said, "Sagem is a leader in set top box technology, we provide our customers with products that they need. Our top of the range Freeview + boxes and exciting new Freesat+ DTR's will bring a festive cheer to UK households this Christmas. We pride ourselves on providing great quality and hard wearing devices that give customers a completely satisfactory user experience from purchasing to using and any required customer care."
Confused over the differences between Freesat and Freeview, and not sure which set-top box you should be getting? Fill out Sagem's handy questionnaire at www.sagemdigital.co.uk to help find the box for you.
PS3 in one room and your HD TV in another? Fear not, for the Rocketfish WirelessHD adapter is here to foil your madcap plans to run HDMI cables through walls and up banisters!
Providing your two devices are no more than 33 ft apart and are HDMI compatible, connecting a Rocketfish WirelessHD adapter to each will let you wirelessly throw 1080p HD content around the house without the need for lengthy cabling. It's also totally compatible with 7.1 audio sources and screens with 120hz refresh rates.
Currently only available to US readers, at $599.99 (circa £365) it's one of the cheapest Wireless HD options we've yet seen.
Via: Engadget
Denon has announced the launch of its DVD-A1UD universal player that will happily play all of your optical disc media including Blu-ray, SACD, DVD-Audio/Video and CD, in supreme quality thanks to its built-in HQV technology.
Neither video nor audio quality has been overlooked, so this should be a unit that pleases many.
On the video side, features include REALTA high picture quality circuitry, digital noise reduction, 1080/24p, pixel image correction, support for Cinema Scope aspect ratios, and direct source playback.
Sony's on the move again with a range of new high definition home cinema receivers.
First up is the top-of-the-range, fully networkable STR-DA6400ES. Quite a workhorse, this 7.1-channel receiver can handle a huge range of audio and video formats.
Firstly, its DLNA certified which means that it's easy to stream music, photos and video content stored on a compatible PC or home media server directly via the unit to a high definition TV. It can also access the SHOUTcast Internet radio service.
Sony has launched a range of home cinema systems in time for the holidays, so if you've got a bit of money to spare and want an all-in-one package, these are worth considering.
First up is the HTP-BD3iS, which combines Sony's BDP-S350 Blu-ray player and HT-IS100 5.1-channel surround sound system that features subwoofer, powerful S-Master digital amplification, surround sound processing, and automatic audio calibration.
The BDV-FS350 is designed for smaller rooms, coupling the same Blu-ray player with a 200W 2.1-channel virtual surround sound system with 16cm active subwoofer.
Sony's also pushing its RHT-G500, launched in the summer, which offers home audio via a stylish TV stand.
Exact pricing to be confirmed.
JVC has introduced the NX-BD3 to its line of Sophisti Advanced Living Entertainment Systems.
The NX-BD3 is DLNA-certified, meaning it is guaranteed to play back content, including full HD video, over both wired and wireless networks.
The unit comprises a Blu-ray player with Profile 1.1 and BonusView, full 1080p playback with x.v.Colour and Deep Colour, front surround speakers and subwoofer with amplifier, front surround technology that gives a 4.1 channel effect from two speakers, a SD slot, and user-friendly GUI.
Pricing and availability to be confirmed.
JVC UK
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Pioneer has announced its first home cinema systems featuring a built-in Blu-ray player.
The LX01BD features a Profile 1.1 and BonusView-compatible player including handling of 1080/24p, 12-bit HDMI Deep Colour support, dual-drive subwoofer receiver, and four satellite speakers.
The LX03BD and LX08BD take the BDP-LX08 Blu-ray player and combine it with a slim 5.1-channel AV receiver.
Sony has introduced its latest high-end AV receiver, designed to form the heart of a complete home entertainment system.
Decent connectivity is the first noticeable point, with six HDMI inputs and two outputs, enabling connection to two displays or projectors for easy switching, plus built-in decoders for Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD Master Audio, eight-channel Linear PCM over HDMI, and advanced audio quality from SACDs.
Sony has introduced its latest all-in-one home audio and cinema system, the BDV-IT1000, comprising a fully featured Blu-ray player and 5.1-channel speaker system.
The speakers have been nicknamed "Pocky", which is a thin chocolate pretzel popular in Japanese. You've guessed it from the photo, these speakers are also incredibly thin.
Sony's compact full-range speaker drive-unit is 16mm wide, with three of each unit used in the front and centre speakers, and two in the rear. The rear speakers can also be wirelessly driven.
Onkyo has announced the launch of two new 7.1-channel home cinema systems boasting THX certification and plenty of audio decoding goodness
The TX-SR706 offers 7 x 160W of power output, four HDMI ports with 1080p video upscaling and upconversion of standard definition content using the Faroudja DCDi Cinema system, plus THX Select2 Plus certified performance.
Sony has announced its new "Home theatre in a stand" system designed to be used with 32-40 inch BRAVIA TVs, though unlikely to self-destruct if you deign to put a different brand of flat screen telly on it.
It's a 3:1 system, featuring centre, left, and right speakers and a subwoofer built in to the stand, and it used S-Force PRO Front Surround technology to offer virtual surround sound without the need for rear speakers and the near-obligatory trailing wires.
Maybe I'm a heathen, or I've been hanging around Apple gear for too long, but I wouldn't necessarily say that Sharp's new AN-PR1500H is a "revolutionary design" in audio furniture. Then again, it's not ugly, and it certainly saves on space.
Sony builds upon its BRAVIA range of home theatre systems with the launch of three new products designed to make setting up a home system simple.
The DAV-IS50 is a sleek, compact home cinema system comprising gloss black control centre featuring slot-loading DVD/CD/MP3 player with surround-sound processing and an RDS FM/AM radio tuner, plus wireless rear speakers, Sony's Sports Mode which puts the announcer's voice in the central speaker, upscaling of standard definition pictures to 1080p, auto calibration system, and 450W of total power.
Onkyo has announced the availability of its £350 entry-level home cinema system, the HT-S5105, offering surround sound and high definition audio for those on a budget.
The system comprises a home cinema receiver and 5.1-speaker package which pushes out 5 x 130W of power with a 90W subwoofer. It's easy to set up, featuring colour coded inputs, cables, and aerials, and comes with the Audyssey microphone-based set-up system.
Other features include Audyseey Dynamic EQ which improves sound quality and intelligibility at low volumes, three 1080p HDMI pass-through inputs and one output, Music Optimiser for enhancing compressed MP3 audio files, and magnetically-shielded speakers.
Available now in silver or black, Onkyo's upscaling DVD player can be added for £50.
Sony has announced its latest STR-DG820 AV receiver, featuring high definition audio decoding of Dolby True HD, dts Master Audio and eight-channel Linear PCM, four HDMI 1.3 ports with 1080p/24 and DeepColour/x.v.Colour support, enhanced surround sound modes, 7 x 100W amplification, portable audio enhancement, and BRAVIA Sync.
For set up, it features Digital Cinema Auto Calibration and Digital Cinema EX which automatically sets up the optimal settings based on speaker positions.
Also newly available are the STR-DG720 and STR-DG520 receivers, with the STR-DG520 offering 5.1-channel surround sound.
Available now, prices to be confirmed.
Harman Kardon has announced a range of new AV receivers which will all have HDMI 1.3a connections, and several which will handle advanced high definition audio codecs.
The entry level AVR 154 will offer 5x30W of power, and retail for $399, followed by the 7x50-watt AVR 254 at $649, and 7x75-watt AVR 354 at $899, all with three HDMI inputs.
The two top models can decode all Blu-ray audio bit streams, feature HDMI Deep Colour support, Faroudja DCDi Cinema processing, and 1080p upscaling of all video sources.
All units have an ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier section, 192kHz/24-bit DACs, bass-management, Logic 7 processing for creating a 7.1 channel output from stereo audio input, plus lip sync correction.
Units will be a mix of glossy black, graphite, with while illumination. Details of UK release and pricing to be confirmed.
Pioneer has announced a range of new AV receivers designed to complement their 2008 KURO TV and Blu-ray player lines.
The SC‑LX81 and SC-LX71 feature the same ICEpower Direct Energy HD Amplification employed on the flagship SC-LX90, plus legacy sound-tuning in collaboration with AIR Studios in London.
Humax released their impressive HD-FOX T2 Freeview box back at the start of the year, but it's this, the Humax HDR-FOX T2 Freeview HD recorder, that we've been really looking forward to. Humax have now finalised the details of the recorder's release, so read on for the low-down on this impressive set-top box.
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