Product works and looks like new. Backed by the 1-year Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
Used: Like New
They were never sold brand new retail officially as far as I am aware, which is one of the reasons BT have gone for the return after stopping method (and because they are tight lol).
Only new because they were got from BT through a subscription but never used. Like I said they were never sold retail 'officially'. Show me a Currys/John Lewis/BT Shop/Sold by Amazon listing and I will accept I am wrong.
Well I jumped ship immediately to the Freeview Manhattan TR-3. Whilst it doesn't have an app either, it's suggested there will be one at some point this year. We'll see.
Regardless, I thought some might read my findings of the box in comparison with YV (i had a BT Retail box) with interest.
Overall, the box is very comparable to YV. I'm quite critical of user interfaces, and at one point some time ago when we moved to a house that had no digital compatible aerial, but did have a working satellite dish, it was cheaper to try Freesat+ than it was to get a new aerial fitted - but the usability of the box was so poor in comparison to YV that we took it back and got a new aerial fitted.
Benefits:
It's fast. Much faster than the BT retail box we had (which in turn felt much faster than the previous Humax box it replaced). This is probably the single biggest benefit over YV - and it makes for a much more pleasant user experience.
In some places the user interface is very similar to YV, in others not so much. But nowhere have I ever felt frustrated or lost, and where something is done differently to YV, it's been quick and painless to learn.
The remote has a direct access button to your recordings. Why this wasn't on the YV remote for me was a huge oversight.
It has built in wifi.
It is 4K capable - although that's limited to BBC iPlayer, and YouTube right now (i doubt we'll get over the air 4k anytime soon anyway) - but it's good news that it's compatible with BBC's HLG encoding for UHD content. Should be great for the European Championships later this summer. Obviously this isn't recordable.
Weird things / Not so good things:
Powering the box on doesn't turn the tv on too. I emailed Manhattan about this and they replied the same day to say it was in the next software revision in April.
You don't get any indication a recording is starting, neither on the front of the box or on screen. This is slightly annoying, it's always good to know a recording is coming up.
Booking clashes aren't handled quite so smartly. I can't quite work out what's going on but there's sometimes a case where there'll be a clash but you don't necessarily get the pop up alert.
No embedded apps other than catchup services (BBC, ITV, C4, C5) and youtube. Not an issue for me as I never used Netflix etc on my YV box anyway, as I have a 4K Apple TV unit for that.
You can't search the EPG - this is actually huge, but I think a solution is coming in an update.
But other than that I think it's a worthy comparator. It generally outperforms YV, and despite a couple of silly niggles (no search, the clashing thing, the power up thing), it's really head and shoulders above the BT retail box. If they fixed the shortcomings, it should really be game over.
Thanks @AndyBarratt - that seems to confirm the various reviews I've read
If Manhattan can deliver the EPG search (a feature that was inexplicably missing from YouView when it originally launched too) and a suitable mobile app, then a Manhattan T3R seems a likely excellent replacement for my ageing YouView T2000 should things deteriorate further with YouView.
I have just spent nearly on hour on the phone to talktalk protesting about the mobile app being withdrawn. Didn't get anywhere, obviously, but the reason I was given that support for the app was being withdrawn was that it was not used by many people. From reading the comments so far on this platform this is quite obviously not correct. This is a huge backward step in the current remote access world and YouView should be ashamed of themselves. As soon as a no subscription free view box becomes available with remote access I'll be all over it.
This is a huge backward step in the current remote access world and YouView should be ashamed of themselves. As soon as a no subscription free view box becomes available with remote access I'll be all over it.
On one hand you say its a huge backward step but than say you'll get a Freeview box with remote access as soon as one becomes available?
I'm now happy with the disagree icon, because its gone.
This is a huge backward step in the current remote access world and YouView should be ashamed of themselves. As soon as a no subscription free view box becomes available with remote access I'll be all over it.
On one hand you say its a huge backward step but than say you'll get a Freeview box with remote access as soon as one becomes available?
Seems a logical thing to say to me. What are you getting at?!
I am of an age where technology I have managed to get to work for me, and then ripped out of my grasp, is a backward step to me. If equivalent providers were to become available then yes I would welcome it. I'm not interested in 'Smart' TVs and and pay to view packages, but will encompass what works for me using my limited technological ability.
I am of an age where technology I have managed to get to work for me, and then ripped out of my grasp, is a backward step to me. If equivalent providers were to become available then yes I would welcome it. I'm not interested in 'Smart' TVs and and pay to view packages, but will encompass what works for me using my limited technological ability.
Didn't realise you had asked one. As you seem to be up to speed on all of these gizmos, what would you suggest is my best option to give me remote access to a tv box thingy that allows me to remotely set recordings etc. without paying a subscription, is reasonably simple to understand/use and doesn't cost the earth? Your recommendations would be most welcome.
There's some good unbiased advice from @Tim C in this thread that you may like to look at. If it's a bit techie for you I'm sure Tim C will answer your questions.
John.
"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." - George S. Patton
Didn't realise you had asked one. As you seem to be up to speed on all of these gizmos, what would you suggest is my best option to give me remote access to a tv box thingy that allows me to remotely set recordings etc. without paying a subscription, is reasonably simple to understand/use and doesn't cost the earth? Your recommendations would be most welcome.
Good morning gcjohn, Welcome. Very simple answer: Humax 4000/5000 Freeview Play, Panasonic Freeview Play the 150 model. I don't have the full model numbers to hand, but I'm sure you can do a search online. Also I use a Humax Freesat 1100S pvr that has an excellent remote app, more developed than the Youview app. Hope this helps you? Good luck. John L
Can't wait for the day when Youview get rid of the dreaded darkened banner when using fast forward/rewind recordings.
While the Freeview play app doesn't have remote record functionality, two of the three set top boxes featured on the freeview website do have apps that allow you to set recordings remotely, and the third box manufacturer has promised to add this later this year!
Hi Redchiz, I thought the Humax Freeview play had remote apps? Maybe it's only for streaming recordings. The Panasonic dmr-hwt150eb has a remote app if I am correct? I think the 130 model (non Freeview Play) also has similar app? The Freesat remote app I use every day & this is excellent/more advanced than Youview. You can actually delete recordings/cancel schedules from your smartphone/tablet while on the move. I was also using the Youview version from time to time until recently. John L
Can't wait for the day when Youview get rid of the dreaded darkened banner when using fast forward/rewind recordings.
Realise it's through a dish and not an aerial but the new Arris Freesat boxes have started being launched and they do have an app, only the standard box is available for now but the 500GB, 1TB and 2TB should be launching soon. With a wideband LNB it can potentially record 3 channels whilst watching a fourth.
I'm going to keep my eye on them to see how they are received and developed, I have my trusty BT2110 in one room and Sky Q in another...
Hi Redchiz, I thought the Humax Freeview play had remote apps? Maybe it's only for streaming recordings. The Panasonic dmr-hwt150eb has a remote app if I am correct? I think the 130 model (non Freeview Play) also has similar app? The Freesat remote app I use every day & this is excellent/more advanced than Youview. You can actually delete recordings/cancel schedules from your smartphone/tablet while on the move. I was also using the Youview version from time to time until recently. John L
Hi redchiz, I have just checked on Humax website. It appears the Remote app does schedule recordings. Unless Humax no longer support their app anymore? Hopefully Humax will continue to develop & support their version. John L
Can't wait for the day when Youview get rid of the dreaded darkened banner when using fast forward/rewind recordings.
I think the confusion is with the question gcjohn was asking. Yes the manufacturers have Remote apps for their pvrs. Humax, Panasonic, Manhatten then include the remote app with their product, the pvr being a Freeview Play device. Freeview Play doesn't actually make their own, as you have pointed out. Thank you. John L
Can't wait for the day when Youview get rid of the dreaded darkened banner when using fast forward/rewind recordings.
More to the point is why their is such a woeful choice in the retail PVR market. I can only assume the dominance of Sky/Virgin etc is effecting sales. You want a TV or Sound bar then there's literally dozens to choose from, want a non sub box and theirs probably a handful to choose from.
More to the point is why their is such a woeful choice in the retail PVR market. I can only assume the dominance of Sky/Virgin etc is effecting sales. You want a TV or Sound bar then there's literally dozens to choose from, want a non sub box and theirs probably a handful to choose from.
Sales of Freeview and Freesat PVRs have always been traditionally low and not many are sold. Even YouView holds to this rule of thumb. The amount of YouView boxes in circulation outstrips Freeview Play boxes by a factor of over 3 to 1, which hovers around the 3m mark. Yet of those, only 300,000 are believed to be retail sourced and of that number, how many use the retail app? Not everyone or all of them to be sure.
Plus there will be ISP users who use the retail app as well as their own because they own multiple boxes, but again, how many of those? Its also important to consider that just because a box has an app doesn't necessarily mean they are any good. It just means they have an app. The Freesat 1100S (Freesats equivalent of YouView) has always had consistently good reviews and has a malleable mobile app that comes highly recommended.
Freeview boxes traditionally not so much and its a poor market, but the latest offering, the Manhattan TR-3 has been getting excellent reviews and have promised a mobile app will be launched later in the year. If the app turns out to be as good as the box then that would be a go-er as an alternative to YouView in my view. The rest, not so much.
I'm now happy with the disagree icon, because its gone.
Comments
Only re-con from third party sellers
Product works and looks like new. Backed by the 1-year Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
Used: Like New
They were never sold brand new retail officially as far as I am aware, which is one of the reasons BT have gone for the return after stopping method (and because they are tight lol).
Only new because they were got from BT through a subscription but never used. Like I said they were never sold retail 'officially'. Show me a Currys/John Lewis/BT Shop/Sold by Amazon listing and I will accept I am wrong.
https://support.youview.com/youview-box/software-updates/latest-software-versions/
Benefits:
On one hand you say its a huge backward step but than say you'll get a Freeview box with remote access as soon as one becomes available?
I am of an age where technology I have managed to get to work for me, and then ripped out of my grasp, is a backward step to me. If equivalent providers were to become available then yes I would welcome it. I'm not interested in 'Smart' TVs and and pay to view packages, but will encompass what works for me using my limited technological ability.
Sorry @gcjohn, you didn't answer my question?
Didn't realise you had asked one. As you seem to be up to speed on all of these gizmos, what would you suggest is my best option to give me remote access to a tv box thingy that allows me to remotely set recordings etc. without paying a subscription, is reasonably simple to understand/use and doesn't cost the earth? Your recommendations would be most welcome.
The Panasonic dmr-hwt150eb has a remote app if I am correct? I think the 130 model (non Freeview Play) also has similar app?
The Freesat remote app I use every day & this is excellent/more advanced than Youview. You can actually delete recordings/cancel schedules from your smartphone/tablet while on the move. I was also using the Youview version from time to time until recently. John L
I'm going to keep my eye on them to see how they are received and developed, I have my trusty BT2110 in one room and Sky Q in another...
I have just checked on Humax website. It appears the Remote app does schedule recordings. Unless Humax no longer support their app anymore? Hopefully Humax will continue to develop & support their version. John L
Sales of Freeview and Freesat PVRs have always been traditionally low and not many are sold. Even YouView holds to this rule of thumb. The amount of YouView boxes in circulation outstrips Freeview Play boxes by a factor of over 3 to 1, which hovers around the 3m mark. Yet of those, only 300,000 are believed to be retail sourced and of that number, how many use the retail app? Not everyone or all of them to be sure.
Plus there will be ISP users who use the retail app as well as their own because they own multiple boxes, but again, how many of those? Its also important to consider that just because a box has an app doesn't necessarily mean they are any good. It just means they have an app. The Freesat 1100S (Freesats equivalent of YouView) has always had consistently good reviews and has a malleable mobile app that comes highly recommended.
Freeview boxes traditionally not so much and its a poor market, but the latest offering, the Manhattan TR-3 has been getting excellent reviews and have promised a mobile app will be launched later in the year. If the app turns out to be as good as the box then that would be a go-er as an alternative to YouView in my view. The rest, not so much.