MagicTV 3600.. my quick impression report (updated)

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46 posts

Geek

#270883 7-Nov-2009 16:49

magictv: About Freeview approval, we were told in New Zealand market, people will only buy Freeview approved product. And store will only sell Freeview approved product. To officially market and sell a OTA PVR, we must have Freeview approval. We have no other choice.

It's a shame that mainstream retailers are so restrictive in what they will sell, I guess that leaves you with little choice but to be Freeview certified. I think it is ridiculous that TVNZ (and the other companies behind Freeview) make such restrictive rules for Freeview certification and then sell Tivo which doesn't comply with these requirements through a partly owned subsidiary (Hybrid) and Telecom to avoid their own rules.

I know it probably wouldn't be commercially viable, perhaps you could get someone like Freeviewshop who sells other none Freeview certified boxes to sell a model without Freeview approval and hence without these restrictions. :)

yellow15

134 posts

Master Geek

#270889 7-Nov-2009 17:04

Most people (not people on this forum) would only buy freeview approved products as it gives you a bit more confidence.
I was choosing between freeview approved and non approved products when i bought my orginal freeview decoder and now the freeview PVR and both time after checking out most of the options i still end up buying freeview approved product even the non-approved product are usually cheaper or have more features.

HemiR

11 posts

Geek

#271027 8-Nov-2009 16:12

I was looking forward to purchasing a Magic tv, but I wont be as long as the ridiculous restrictions are in place.

I guess the long awaited and well OVERDUE topfield HD PVR will come with the same lame restrictions as its going to be freeview certified as well according to topfield Nz site.

wiredr

203 posts

Master Geek

#271030 8-Nov-2009 16:22

majictv a question,
why would you pre programm tvnz internet content into the magictv when the magictv box is an obvious tivo rival which tvnz are backing . ?

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#271031 8-Nov-2009 16:27

Kiwilad11: I am also curious about the EPG. i currently have a Kaon satellite receiver that isn't Freeview certified, yet i still get a 7 day EPG in the same format as all the other menus. so why not let the EPG on the Magic TV come through in its original format?

Because freeview broadcast a full 7 days worth of EIT data on the satellite service, but only 2-3 events ahead on the terrestrial service, which is what the magic TV is using.

EIT data is like a spreadsheet of text entries, so companies can do what they want with it. freeview don't give this out on the terrestrial service, instead forcing people to use their MHEG5 locked EPG. Why, well wouldn't we all like to know?!, but that's why the format changes on the magic tv box when you load the EPG.

Just one of the many freeview approved boneus features.

wiredr

203 posts

Master Geek

#271033 8-Nov-2009 16:35

jaxson
quote " but only 2-3 events ahead on the terrestrial service, which is what the magic TV is using ".

i think you got that bit wrong .

maccrazy

46 posts

Geek

#271034 8-Nov-2009 16:39

wiredr: majictv a question,
why would you pre programm tvnz internet content into the magictv when the magictv box is an obvious tivo rival which tvnz are backing . ?

Although I hadn't heard mention of this happening, I'll suggest a similar scenario: why would Apple use Google Maps on the iPhone when Android, which Google is backing, is an obvious rival to the iPhone? It benefits both companies.

Jaxson: EIT data is like a spreadsheet of text entries, so companies can do what they want with it. freeview don't give this out on the terrestrial service, instead forcing people to use their MHEG5 locked EPG. Why, well wouldn't we all like to know?!, but that's why the format changes on the magic tv box when you load the EPG.

Thank you for clearing that up. I didn't realise MHEG5 data was actually locked to the Freeview EPG design. wiredr, I believe he means EIT is used for the upcoming programs display and MHEG5 for the EPG.

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yellow15

134 posts

Master Geek

#271336 9-Nov-2009 16:14

okay just connected a FAT32 USB HDD to the MagicTV..

Successfully copied the video file (previously copied from my HD Video Cam) from the MagicTV's internal HDD to the USB HDD.

tomgeeknz

923 posts

Ultimate Geek

#271340 9-Nov-2009 16:23

So the instructions from the PDF I supplied work and we can watch our own converted content on the Magic TV device?

Jaxson

8042 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#271528 10-Nov-2009 09:06

maccrazy:
Jaxson: EIT data is like a spreadsheet of text entries, so companies can do what they want with it. freeview don't give this out on the terrestrial service, instead forcing people to use their MHEG5 locked EPG. Why, well wouldn't we all like to know?!, but that's why the format changes on the magic tv box when you load the EPG.

Thank you for clearing that up. I didn't realise MHEG5 data was actually locked to the Freeview EPG design. wiredr, I believe he means EIT is used for the upcoming programs display and MHEG5 for the EPG.

Yup, that's right. The Magic TV uses the freeview terrestrial/UHF service and this only has limited EIT data broadcast on it.

yellow15

134 posts

Master Geek

#271532 10-Nov-2009 09:20

thefatmould: So the instructions from the PDF I supplied work and we can watch our own converted content on the Magic TV device?

Sorry i haven't try that yet. i was going to try it last weekend but didn't manage to do it in the end.

but really i don't see why it wouldn't work?

1. it can detect my FAT32 HDD
2. it can detect my video camera in USB mode and play the video from there.
3. it can copy the video to internal HDD/USB HDD and play from one of these location

so i imagine as long as we covert the video into the correct format it will work for sure.

I'll see if i can test it in the next few days. But if i haven't got time this week, then i can't test it until end of this month so maybe someone else can try it?

Arbu

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#271900 11-Nov-2009 06:44

Hi Guys, if someone can get the PDF instructions to work that would be great. I tried several times in the weekend. Like yellow15 it detected my FAT32 HDD but found no files on the HDD after I converted them. I tried several other file types but still no luck?

Lashams

33 posts

Geek

#271905 11-Nov-2009 07:22

Hi, I had similar signal stength problems with a Homecast box I purchased. Didn't know what was wrong so assumed it was the box. Certainly no instructions in the "Problem" section of the manual to suggest it could be a problem with the aerial or cables, and since I had been getting analogue signal adequately and Prime very clearly under analogue, I never suspected these. Took the box back and tried another with the same issues. Very dispondant, I went and purchased the Panasonic digital receiver with HDD and blu-ray recorder, hoping the quality of this box would make the difference. It didn't, but the help desk for Panasonic was very good and talked me through how to check the signal strength, which was poor at the time of the image and sound scattering issues. I am checking the aerial and cable, which you may also need to do if your signal problems return. It seems it is not all channels that have the problem. Signal strength is weekest for channel 1 and 2 for me and I believe channel 7 also.

TonB

12 posts

Geek

#271926 11-Nov-2009 09:19

Hi Lashams, have you tried a signal booster in your aerial circuit? It worked for us.

Also have just experienced our first minor glitch with the Magic TV. When fast forwarding at x8 it occasionally "freezes". Pressing play and then fast forwarding again resolves the problem and it has only happened twice in three weeks so it is not a major issue.

Has anyone else experienced this? MagicTV - any comment, is this a known problem?

Lashams

33 posts

Geek

#271939 11-Nov-2009 09:38

Thanks, will discuss that option with the aerial company, as hadn't thought of that. I'm still anoyed with myself for not realising a free-to-air digital receiver is not the same as a free-view digital receiver (I'm new to this technology). The box I purchased receives free-view channels (free-to-air), but not the free-view guide (free-view only). The guide I get by comparison is rubbish, only showing three hours of programme titles for the immediate next three hours, then blank slots for the rest of the day and week. Manufacturers and sellers should be making the distinction between what is a free-view and what is only free-to-air obvious to their customers, but they are relying on our ignorance to sell products.

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