[TelstraClear] HomeMedia PVR- Demonstrations available now.

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › [TelstraClear] HomeMedia PVR- Demonstrations available now.

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#328354 10-May-2010 08:15

DjShadow: There is a Write-up on Stuff.co.nz this morning - link

What catches my eye at the very bottom is it says the unit needs a Satellite Dish ??

Of course it doesn't.

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#328355 10-May-2010 08:15

DjShadow: There is a Write-up on Stuff.co.nz this morning - link

Thanks for the link. Its good to see someone else also noticed the lag. I hope they manage to improve this. I wonder how much a slow CPU combined with java based app is a factor in this...

What catches my eye at the very bottom is it says the unit needs a Satellite Dish ??

Yeah, that was a bit random, and blew the credibility of reviewer.

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#328360 10-May-2010 08:22

ZollyMonsta:
DjShadow: There is a Write-up on Stuff.co.nz this morning - link

What catches my eye at the very bottom is it says the unit needs a Satellite Dish ??

Of course it doesn't.

"The devices do require a satellite dish"? What is the guy writing for Stuff on?

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#328370 10-May-2010 08:45

freitasm:
ZollyMonsta:
DjShadow: There is a Write-up on Stuff.co.nz this morning - link

What catches my eye at the very bottom is it says the unit needs a Satellite Dish ??

Of course it doesn't.

"The devices do require a satellite dish"? What is the guy writing for Stuff on?

PMSL !!!! FAIL !!!!

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#328375 10-May-2010 08:57

I still laugh to myself that they have an Alpha test unit in store. Not only are they constantly telling us how many problems they are having - now they can show us as well!

<2c>
Some of my other favourite quotes:
"There is currently a noticeable lag between pressing buttons on the remote and menu functions being activated" - if you have a harmony remote - make sure you put plenty of pause steps in!

"The performance will improve" - when? Beta phase, after release or in about a years time!

"could let users download programmes and access websites on their televisions in future" "Customers could use their televisions as screens for video calls and play HD movies downloaded from memory sticks" - yeah more promises - they will likely be spending most of the first year fixing bugs and improving the performance to give new functionality!

"the choice for cable customers between buying Sky direct or a TelstraClear DVR will probably come down to price" - so why have they announced a DVR and HD ticket price that is the same as Sky?

"The DVRs require a separate cable modem, rather than that being built into the set-top box. Mr Doyle says that may not be pretty, but it avoids building another point of failure into the DVR and reduces their heat output." - another point of failure - ha ha ha - talk about down selling your product.
</2c>

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#328378 10-May-2010 09:01

StarBlazer: <2c>
Some of my other favourite quotes:

"could let users download programmes and access websites on their televisions in future" "Customers could use their televisions as screens for video calls and play HD movies downloaded from memory sticks" - yeah more promises - they will likely be spending most of the first year fixing bugs and improving the performance to give new functionality!

That alone is misleading. "Memory Stick" is a Sony trademark. And it's a different standard. It's not a USB device at all. So are they

1.Saying this PVR only uses the overpriced, non-compatible with most PCs and hard to find, Sony Memory Stick, or

2.They have no clue about the different between Sony Memory Stick and USB Memory cards?

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#328383 10-May-2010 09:09

StarBlazer: "The DVRs require a separate cable modem, rather than that being built into the set-top box. Mr Doyle says that may not be pretty, but it avoids building another point of failure into the DVR and reduces their heat output." - another point of failure - ha ha ha - talk about down selling your product.

Which differs completely from my understanding which was that they were unable to source a DOCSIS3 modem for the unit (for whateverever reason that isn't that relevent here) so instead opted to stick with an external modem. It will be interesting to see if they are installed with DOCSIS3 modems or not.

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#328387 10-May-2010 09:20

freitasm: That alone is misleading. "Memory Stick" is a Sony trademark. And it's a different standard. It's not a USB device at all. So are they

1.Saying this PVR only uses the overpriced, non-compatible with most PCs and hard to find, Sony Memory Stick, or

2.They have no clue about the different between Sony Memory Stick and USB Memory cards?

Given that the article has now been updated to say that a satellite dish is NOT required, I'd imagine that the memory stick reference is yet another example of how the reporter obviously doesn't know how to write technology articles...

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#328393 10-May-2010 09:35

sbiddle:
StarBlazer: "The DVRs require a separate cable modem, rather than that being built into the set-top box. Mr Doyle says that may not be pretty, but it avoids building another point of failure into the DVR and reduces their heat output." - another point of failure - ha ha ha - talk about down selling your product.

Which differs completely from my understanding which was that they were unable to source a DOCSIS3 modem for the unit (for whateverever reason that isn't that relevent here) so instead opted to stick with an external modem. It will be interesting to see if they are installed with DOCSIS3 modems or not.

From the picture (on Facebook) it has what looks like 2 network ports - presumably 1 from the modem - does that still allow it to become a network media player/server? I wonder if the people in the shop are able to confirm/discuss or whether that is also "future functionality"!

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#328395 10-May-2010 09:42

freitasm: That alone is misleading. "Memory Stick" is a Sony trademark

Yes, it's technically incorrect but in layman's terms memory stick can refer to usb drive/flash drive/thumb drive/etc

starblazer: From the picture (on Facebook) it has what looks like 2 network ports - presumably 1 from the modem - does that still allow it to become a network media player/server? I wonder if the people in the shop are able to confirm/discuss or whether that is also "future functionality"!

My understanding is that the platform they are building on is capable of lots more than just acting as a PVR, so if you ask TCL I'm sure they will give a response along the lines of: "anything is possible in the future..." Check here for more details: http://www.digisoft.tv/products.html

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#328399 10-May-2010 09:55

StarBlazer:
sbiddle:
StarBlazer: "The DVRs require a separate cable modem, rather than that being built into the set-top box. Mr Doyle says that may not be pretty, but it avoids building another point of failure into the DVR and reduces their heat output." - another point of failure - ha ha ha - talk about down selling your product.

Which differs completely from my understanding which was that they were unable to source a DOCSIS3 modem for the unit (for whateverever reason that isn't that relevent here) so instead opted to stick with an external modem. It will be interesting to see if they are installed with DOCSIS3 modems or not.

From the picture (on Facebook) it has what looks like 2 network ports - presumably 1 from the modem - does that still allow it to become a network media player/server? I wonder if the people in the shop are able to confirm/discuss or whether that is also "future functionality"!

People shouldn't get too hung up on things like ports. STB manufactuers inblude many features and not all are used by every company deploying them. The reality is with any device like this the focus these days is on DRM. This isn't something you can blame TCL for, it's content owners demanding that all steps possible are taken to restrict what people can actually do with the content.

In regards to the built in modem it's also entirely possible that TCL may in the future decide to deploy IPTV over their ULL ADSL2+ or VDSL connections and the same box could easily be used. In some ways removing the modem adds to the compexity of installs but does mean that hardware that may not necessarily be needed in some instances is not installed at the factory.

My personal opinion is that the launch is this product is a case of too little too late. It should have been a product with a feature set that exceeded MySky, but instead it doesn't. There is potential there to do lots of excisting things since TCL have their own broadband backhaul but IMHO these features should be here now, not at a later date. So many features such as YouTube on your TV have been talked about by TCL in the past..

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#328403 10-May-2010 10:06

The satellite dish issue was my error - a typo - the sentence was missing the word "not", of course. I was attempting to point out that while the PVR does require an external modem, which may be a bit untidy, it doesn't require a dish on the side of a house. Apologies for any confusion caused. Tom P-S

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#328416 10-May-2010 10:52

tomps: The satellite dish issue was my error - a typo - the sentence was missing the word "not", of course. I was attempting to point out that while the PVR does require an external modem, which may be a bit untidy, it doesn't require a dish on the side of a house. Apologies for any confusion caused. Tom P-S

Good on you Tom for posting a correction. I personally find some posts above rude and don't like this aspect of 'geekness'. One can be a competent person without being aggressive and disrespectful. But I guess that requires other skils

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#328422 10-May-2010 11:04

I also checked it out on Sunday when there were no others there and so had a chance to talk to the rep. I didn't ask any hard questions but did find out

There doesn't appear to be a 30s skip function (or he didn't know of one). Maybe like the Tivo there will be some secret remote sequence to turn it on.

The USB port is currently disabled

The second box will cost you $10 (instead of another $15) but I forgot to ask if there is also another $10 (or less) for HD option on the second box. That actually is a nice price break since I pay $9.95 for a second analogue box on which I can't receive Food Network. I can ditch that and for the same have a second PVR.

Even if I don't go HD I might get the box since it outputs video over HDMI which has got to be better than the crappy video that comes out of the current box.

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#328426 10-May-2010 11:13

ZiglioNZ:
tomps: The satellite dish issue was my error - a typo - the sentence was missing the word "not", of course. I was attempting to point out that while the PVR does require an external modem, which may be a bit untidy, it doesn't require a dish on the side of a house. Apologies for any confusion caused. Tom P-S

Good on you Tom for posting a correction. I personally find some posts above rude and don't like this aspect of 'geekness'. One can be a competent person without being aggressive and disrespectful. But I guess that requires other skils

I too applaud you for fronting up - although ZiglioNZ you have to accept that as geeks and nerds we put significant emphasis on the details - particularly when it is a hot topic like this - it's what makes us what we are. If I forget to put a 'not' in something I write the result could be catastrophic for my customer and my career.

Sadly Tom, there have been some 'tech' articles written on Stuff et al that really do not make the grade (I do not include you or your article in this) and it makes me more cynical and likely to rant. As I am doing here! Well done with the correction and top marks for holding your hand up.

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