HD Category
June 1st, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Freeview, HD, Podcast, Radio
Hot off the audio press, a brand new FrequencyCast – lots of hot news, a busy Focus, plus loads of your feedback. Here’s what we cover in FrequencyCast Show 52:
- News Updates: BBC1 HD, Freeview HD, DAB Amnesty and new iPhone.
- Focus: Getting more from your digital photos
- Hands-on: A tech-tech keep-fit bug
- Your comments and questions on BT Vision and the BBC iPlayer
You can download Show 52 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.
If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.
Links:
We hope you enjoy this packed show. If you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word…
»
May 31st, 2010 by FrequencyCast in HD
The BBC has announced that we can expect a new HD channel later this year.
BBC One HD should start broadcasting in ‘Autumn 2010′ according to the beeb. The channel will be a simulcast of main national BBC One service, and will be available on Freeview, Sky, Virgin and Freesat.
BBC One HD will be able to appear on Freeview as a result of Ofcom revoking Five’s Freeview HD licence in March.
The controller of BBC One, Jay Hunt says: “HD is the gold standard for broadcasting, and it’s right that we bring all the excitement of HD to BBC One – the most watched channel in the UK. “BBC One HD will bring families together for shared viewing of their favourite programmes from EastEnders and Strictly Come Dancing to The One Show, in incredible and vivid detail”.
»
May 20th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Digital TV, Freeview, HD
Details are slowly emerging of the first Freeview HD hard disk recorder from Humax.
Here’s what we know so far:
- Name: Humax HDR-FOX T2
- Release date: July 2010 (too late for the World Cup)
- Hard disk: 500GB (125 hours of HD)
- Price: £349
- Tuners: Twin tuner
- EPG: 8 days
The box will reportedly also support media streaming and Internet connectivity via Ethernet.
More when we have it.
»
April 1st, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Digital TV, HD, Podcast
Happy April! It’s the start of a new month, and that means it’s time for a new FrequencyCast – and this is show number 50!
Here’s what we look at in Show 50:
- News Updates: Lots of HD news, tablets, cancellations and 3D.
- Focus: Getting more from your MP3 Player
- Hands-on: Who needs and iPod or Apple’s iTunes?
- Your podline and email questions on HD, OS, Freesat and weather
You can download Show 50 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.
If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.
Links:
Download the show now – you’d be an April Fool not to!
If you like what you’ve heard, please spread the word…
»
March 18th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Freeview, HD
Considering buying a Freeview HD box? The first box out, the Humax Fox T2, costs £149.99 at most retailers, but you can save yourself £50 by opting for the new Bush DVB680 Freeview HD receiver.
This Freeview HD box is available for £99.99 on pre-order, with estimated availability on 31st March 2010.
This Freeview HD box from Bush has HDMI, SCART, Ethernet, a 7 day EPG and upscales to 1080p
Available to pre-order now at Argos: Bush DVB680 Freeview HD Box
»
March 16th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Freeview, HD
Regulators Ofcom have revoked Five’s licence to launch an HD service on Freeview by the end of the year. This action has been taken after Five appears to have failed to provide information about when they will be in a position to launch some kind of HD service, or provide Ofcom with details about what HD content would be shown on the channels.
It appears that the licence for the fourth Freeview HD slot now reverts to the BBC , although it’s not clear if they’d look to launch a second HD channel, or if another broadcaster would step in. A fifth HD channel is set to become available in 2011 – and in theory, Five could try for an HD slot again – provided they’d be able to demonstrate that they could start a service in 2012.
»
March 10th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Digital TV, HD
Virgin Media is going to be the first digital TV service to get E4 HD and Film 4 HD – news not so hot for Sky and Freesat’s HD services.
E4 HD is set to go live for Virgin customers in April 2010 at no extra cost to Virgin customers, with Film 4 HD set for “Summer 2010″
More on Virgin Media on our Cable TV page, or at virginmedia.com
»
March 1st, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Freeview, HD, Phones, Podcast
Welcome to March 2010, and to a new podcast. In this show, we get all Interactive at you – hope you enjoy and get involved…
Here’s what we look at in Show 49:
- News Updates: More Freeview HD, the end of 6 Music and a new phone from Puma.
- Focus: Getting more from your Mobile – Apps, Maps and Gadgets
- Hands-on: The latest mobile phone watch, plus the Olympus Tough
- Your podline and email questions on Freeview and Sky signal, archiving video and buying a new telly
You can download Show 49 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.
If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.
In this show, we want some interaction, so get texting on 07882 043 521!
Links:
Share and Enjoy!
»
February 22nd, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Freesat, Freeview, HD
We already have a winner for the first Freeview HD-compatible set-top box (won by Humax a few days back) – Now we have the first IDTV set with a built-in Freeview HD receiver. This telly from Panasonic also has an onboard Freesat HD receiver, optional wireless Internet connectivity and an SD card for external media.
The catchily-named Panasonic TX-P42G20B is a 42″ plasma TV supporting “Full HD” (i.e. 1080p) with a refresh rate of 600Hz – and here is our first picture:
The Panasonic TX-P42G20B Freeview HD TV is available now – we’ve found it at Comet online.
Oh – If you’re quick, you can get £60 off this (or anything over £1000 at Comet) using the magic voucher code AW60 at the Comet.co.uk checkout. The £60 off code expires on the 27th Feb 2010.
More on Freeview HD
»
February 17th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Freesat, HD, Podcast
Ladies and Gentlemen, we’ve just released a mid-month audio update looking at the release of the Humax Fox T2 – the first Freeview HD receiver in the market.
The update runs for nearly 15 minutes and also looks at the new Freeview iPhone app, and some news on BT’s wireless network. We also review your feedback to the last full-length show, including your thoughts on weather stations and lounge net-top PCs.
The show is attached to this blog entry, or you can listen at www.frequencycast.co.uk/update.html
If you’re an iTunes user, get the show from the FrequencyCast Podcast page on iTunes
Please tell your friends!
»
February 16th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Freeview, HD
Freeview HD launched in December 2009, but there was one big problem – you couldn’t buy a receiver.
Fortunately, that changed this weekend, when the first Humax Freeview HD boxes started to appear in the wild.
Yes, it’s now possible to get your hands on a Freeview HD set-top box – although HD is only being transmitted in the Granada and London areas at the moment.
The Humax Fox T2 HD
The new box supports DVB-T2, the format used for Freeview HD. It has an 8 day programme guide, auto-updates to new channels, supports digital audio, has HDMI and 2 SCART sockets and a digital audio output.
Those looking to get a little more from their kit will be happy to know that the Fox HD T2 has a USB socket which allows you to connect external storage (hard drive or USB stick) for playback of xVid video, MP3 audio as well as JPG images. The T2 also comes with an Ethernet socket that will shortly be able to connect to your Internet router to give you online services including the BBC iPlayer catch-up TV service
The price?
Considering your average standard-definition Freeview box is around £25, the RRP of the Humax HD T2 of £179 is likely to make a few people gulp (Sky’s HD box, the Sky+ HD box, is currently free, has a Sky+ recorder and can get BBC HD without an HD subscription).
Still, this new Humax looks to be a very capable Freeview HD receiver, and comes from a good pedigree of Freeview and Freesat boxes. We’re reasonably sure this will be a hit.
Available instore at some John Lewis branches. It’s also listed at Argos.co.uk
,
Very.co.uk (cheapest at the time of writing) and
Play.com.
More coverage of the Humax T2 in a podcast update due in the next 24 hours!
UPDATE: Podcast First Look released! Humax HD Fox T2 First Impressions
»
January 14th, 2010 by FrequencyCast in HD, Podcast
Carl and Pete have completed another one of their audio updates looking at the latest tech news, plus your feedback on the last show – which was all about backups.
Planned as a 15 minute quick update, this runs to nearly 26 minutes, and fans of Carl and Pete’s tech ramblings and rudeness should enjoy the mid-show argument, and the coffee break.
The show is attached to this blog entry, or you can listen at www.frequencycast.co.uk/update.html.
We’re especially keen to get you to listen via iTunes, as that helps our ratings. Please subscribe via the FrequencyCast Podcast page on iTunes.
»
January 1st, 2010 by FrequencyCast in Freesat, Freeview, HD, Podcast, iphone
Happy New Year to all of our FrequencyCast listeners!
Show 47, the first show of 2010, has just been released for your listening pleasure.
In this show, we discuss all that’s new with digital TV and technology. Here’s what we cover in this show:
- News Updates: Project Canvas, Tesco iPhone, iPlayer on Freesat, Freeview HD and BT Vision boxes.
- Focus: New Year’s Resolution – Back up your data
- Your podline and email questions on Dave, Slingbox and the BBC iPlayer
You can download Show 47 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.
If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.
»
December 31st, 2009 by FrequencyCast in HD
As we covered in our November audio update, the BBC dropped the bitrate of the BBC HD channel in August, angering many viewers.
The BBC has denied that the 40% bitrate reduction will have any impact to the viewing experience, but HD viewers aren’t convinced. HD viewers are being encouraged to sign a new petition at the Number 10 website to get the Prime Minister to ask the Beeb politely to restore the bitrate.
If you want to sign and voice your opinion on the BBC HD channel quality, the petition is on the BBC HD Petition at Number 10.
»
December 16th, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Freeview, HD, Podcast
A new podcast update has just been released, keeping our listeners up-to-date with some hot TV news, including:
- Freeview HD lauches – where are the boxes?
- BT Vision releases a new PVR
- Two new HD channels join Sky’s lineup
- Freesat gets 4 new channels
- Plus your emails on WiFi Hotspots, TiVo and TV listings
The show is attached to this blog entry, or you can listen at www.frequencycast.co.uk/update.html, or get us from the FrequencyCast Podcast page on iTunes.
»
December 1st, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Freeview, HD, Podcast
It’s the first of December and Show 46 of FrequencyCast, the UK’s TV and Tech podcast, has just been released for your listening pleasure.
In this show, we discuss all that’s new with digital TV and technology. Here’s what we cover in this show:
- News Updates: Freeview HD about to launch, o2 Joggler changes, iPlayer news and more.
- Focus: Getting online with a wireless hotspot
- Hands-on: The Chumby desktop companion, plus a new magic wand
- Your podline and email questions on BT Home Hub, mobile broadband connection, plus Freesat
You can download Show 46 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html. If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.
»
September 16th, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Digital TV, HD, Phones, Podcast
Hot off the press, over 16 minutes of tech and TV news from the team at FrequencyCast.
In this update we look at the merging of two mobile networks, what Apple’s been up to this month, Freeview HD testing, BT Vision updates, a Sky offer, the latest on iPhone sat nav applications, and a new DVD release.
The show is attached to this blog entry, or you can listen at www.frequencycast.co.uk/update.html
»
August 1st, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Digital TV, HD, Podcast
Show 42 of FrequencyCast, the UK’s TV and Tech podcast, has just been released.
In our regular online radio show, we discuss all that’s new with digital TV and technology. Here’s what we cover in this show:
- News Updates: ESPN launches Premier League service, 4 HD channels come to Virgin, half-price mobile broadband and robotic luggage.
- Focus: Catch-up TV – Ways to watch BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five shows you’ve missed.
- Hands-on: The TubeStick – the smallest Freeview receiver around?
- First-look: Truecall phone call screener as seen on Dragon’s Den
- Your questions on TV with PVRs, slow iPhones, Nintendo Wii S-Video, and the future of Ceefax.
You can download Show 42 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html. If you have an iPod or iPhone, get shows faster by signing up via iTunes.
»
July 13th, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Digital TV, Gadgets, HD, Podcast, Technology
We’ve just released an audio update to cover some stories that have broken since our last full-length show…
In our update, we look at the latest on Setanta / ESPN, good news for Virgin Media customers looking for HD, news of a product recall for the o2 Joggler, plus the end of the road for Phorm.
Enjoy the update.
»
June 13th, 2009 by FrequencyCast in Digital TV, Freeview, HD
This month, Ofcom announced details of the fourth service to be offering free-to-view HD content, when the new Freeview HD service goes live.
Bids are in and the fourth slot has provisionally been awarded to Five. That makes the lineup unsurprisingly BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Five.
Five will be offering some of their fdaytime and evening shows HD, with an HD-on-demand service overnight. Five HD aims to launch by the end of 2010.
More details: HD on Freeview.
»
