New Freeview SmartVU streaming device: Chromecast, 4K HDR, Android TV

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › New Freeview SmartVU streaming device: Chromecast, 4K HDR, Android TV

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BDFL - Memuneh
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#2142771 10-Dec-2018 21:19

Remeber you will still need a smartphone if you want to cast OnDemand from the TVNZ or ThreeNow apps since the OnDemand is not yet available for this device - only on the set-top box (which in turn doesn't have Netflix pre-installed or on Google Play store).

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driller2000

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#2142772 10-Dec-2018 21:20

Looks like great value device - if it can truly handle 4k streams it will be bargain. (1G worries me though...)

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#2142788 10-Dec-2018 21:46

So the advert site showed an image of Google play store. Does that work?
Kodi might be an option?

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eracode

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#2142791 10-Dec-2018 21:50

I think this is potentially bad for Sky - maybe in a small way at least.

As an example, we do not have any FTA aerial and all our FTA viewing comes via our Sky box. We don’t watch a lot of FTA but we are dependent on Sky for it.

Now that this new FV unit is here, we can reconsider our Sky + HD subscription and could quite easily cancel it. The only things I might miss would be documentaries, History Channel and stuff I like on Turbo. We probably need Sport in the winter when rugby is on - but I actually cancelled our Sport subscription this morning for the summer.

So maybe we’ll end up keeping Sky - but the thin end of a wedge is here. If there’s numbers of people in our situation, Sky may not be happy.

Sky may well catch up when their new apps and IP products are released next year - but FV has stolen a march on them in the meantime.

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#2142792 10-Dec-2018 21:50

It's a full Android TV 8.0 (apparently Android 9 is coming). I haven't looked for Kodi on this store (I did see Kodi on the store in the set-top box). You can install from third party sources too if you want.

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eracode

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#2142825 10-Dec-2018 22:42

Benoire: This disappoints me. I do not need another device to access something that I can get over the air for free

If you don’t need it, don’t buy it. However for some peoples’ situations, like mine, it’s a total godsend.

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djtOtago

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#2142827 10-Dec-2018 22:46

Does it get Prime TV?
Freeview web site would suggest not.

blingjug

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#2142831 10-Dec-2018 22:55

Appears to be one of these: http://m.himediatech.com/m/prod_view.aspx?TypeId=10&Id=172&Fid=t3:10:3

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Hasselhoffia

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#2142880 11-Dec-2018 07:14

djtOtago:
Does it get Prime TV?
Freeview web site would suggest not.

And how about the '+1' channels?

RedactedRetracted

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#2142884 11-Dec-2018 07:29

Would you be able to extract the Freeview APK from the device? I would be interested in looking into it

eracode

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#2142916 11-Dec-2018 08:25

When are these things going to be available to buy? I thought I saw a date or 'now' somewhere but can't find it again.

Googling shows that none of the retailers named on their site (NL, HN, JB, Warehouse etc) are showing any sign of this on their sites.

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langi27

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#2142923 11-Dec-2018 08:36

Its a bit of false advertising this as a 4K Ultra HD when the Netflix, lightbox, stuffpix only supports 1080p and all the streaming sites only go to 720p. For 90% of viewing your not taking advantage of the 4K features. So not much of a headline if you cant actually use it in normal viewing.

Id like to see where this box fits on the chigztech charts, there are only 2 Android ATV boxes that support netflix 4K (Mi box and Nivida Shield) and a handful that support 1080p. None of these have 1GB all have at least 2 or more.

http://www.chigztech.com/charts.html

Still, 1080p is fine for most viewing but if you have a fancy 4K HDR set and a fibre connection this wont satisfy your needs.

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#2142939 11-Dec-2018 08:53

langi27:

Its a bit of false advertising this as a 4K Ultra HD when the Netflix, lightbox, stuffpix only supports 1080p and all the streaming sites only go to 720p. For 90% of viewing your not taking advantage of the 4K features. So not much of a headline if you cant actually use it in normal viewing.

Id like to see where this box fits on the chigztech charts, there are only 2 Android ATV boxes that support netflix 4K (Mi box and Nivida Shield) and a handful that support 1080p. None of these have 1GB all have at least 2 or more.

http://www.chigztech.com/charts.html

Still, 1080p is fine for most viewing but if you have a fancy 4K HDR set and a fibre connection this wont satisfy your needs.

Interesting. So they say '4K Ultra HD' and I'm sure I saw 'Dolby Vision' in there too. Given your comment, what content going through this thing will actually be in these resolutions?

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freitasm

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#2142940 11-Dec-2018 08:54

@langi27:

Its a bit of false advertising this as a 4K Ultra HD when the Netflix, lightbox, stuffpix only supports 1080p and all the streaming sites only go to 720p.

Netflix has an option for 4K. Your account needs to be "upgraded". The first time you use Netflix on a 4K capable device the app asks you if you want to upgrade the account. It did it when I used my account on a Sony A1 and for my parents-in-law when I setup their own Sony A1.

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Apsattv

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#2142993 11-Dec-2018 10:12

Can you sniff the streams, if it what I think it is its nothing better than an android stb with an app that takes the current publically available streams and merges them together with a guide. Hence no prime, choice etc etc

If its that then it totally hackish, because surely an official service of Freeview would put together their own server platform akamai hosting etc etc

Heck next thing you know someone will put kodi on it and Sky will have sales shutdown!

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