FreeviewHD PVR with internet browser

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rodloc

55 posts

Master Geek

#111062 23-Oct-2012 10:27

I am looking for a Freeview HD PVR with the capabilities of using an internet browser to watch html5 plus flash based videos. Also with a good media player if possible.

Preferably the PVR will have a dual tuner and have stuff like series link and pausing and rewinding live tv.

Would love to know if anyone on here have had any experience with a PVR with these capabilities.

Also is there any chance a GoogleTV box would come out with PVR capabilities.

Thanks in advance

PimpMyMagic

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#705572 24-Oct-2012 11:09

You might like to take a look at the Samsung BD-D8500A which is being sold on sale for about $500 these days.
While they're marketed as a Blu ray player they have dual Freeview tuners and a respectable 500GB HDD recorder. It doesn't have a browser as such, but does include facility to play a wide range of Internet Media, like Flash content, U-Tube, along with video news services like BBC World and weather information and lots of other stuff.
It has Samsung's smart hub which will stream from other sources on your Home Network in a wide array of formats or from a USB HDD or thumb drive. It will copy between most all of these EXCEPT from Broadcast recordings. For some reason it will read from external NTFS formatted drives but not write to them. (Use Fat32)
It also has comprehensive looking time shifting facilities.
Read a review here
http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsung-bd-d8500_TV-recorder---set-top-box_review.

On the down side (isn't there always one), I hate it as a PVR for some of its oversights and limitations.
While it has 2 tuners it will only record from one source at a time - the 2nd tuner is only there to enable viewing whilst recording a different source.
Worst of all it doesn't allow pre and post padding of scheduled recording times, so you can guarantee the loss of endings of most recorded programmes, due to our transmission time inaccuracies.
I found the menu system unusually difficult to navigate, due to its unorthodox approach. (I own several other PVRs). It took me weeks to discover how to erase a recorded programme. I couldn't find it anywhere in the manual but stumbled across it deep in the editing window. It seems to take an extreme number of button pushes to erase a single file.
As a Blu ray player it is region locked and I haven't been able to find any solution to this. The local distributor was entirely unhelpful and made me feel like a criminal for wanting to play overseas purchased DVDs.

Each to his own, I guess, but I didn't like it.

I am not very familiar with Panasonic products, but you might find something in their range.
Good Luck.

rodloc

55 posts

Master Geek

#706482 25-Oct-2012 19:22

Thanks for that just had a look at the samsung also noticed the E8500. Do you know what the difference between the two.

Also looked at panasonic but none of them seem to have smart tv options that the samsung have. Can anyone confirm if they have a decent web browser.

Its also annoying how the well known brands such as samsung and panasonic dont have an option that does not include a bluray.

PimpMyMagic

267 posts

Ultimate Geek

#706725 26-Oct-2012 10:34

It looks like they've made simultaneous recording from both tuners possible and improved the menu navigation somewhat. Also added a few extra smart hub apps. (Gadgets)

Significantly for you it does include a full browser and the option to add a wireless keyboard and mouse.

I still don't know if you can add padding to epg record times - I think this is highly important.

Here's one review I found;
http://www.homecinemachoice.com/news/article/samsung-bd-e8500-smart-pvr-blu-ray-player-review/10793

Sorry, I can't really help with the Panasonic, except that I know that the models with BR playback only units are a lot cheaper.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#706732 26-Oct-2012 10:42

rodloc: I am looking for a Freeview HD PVR with the capabilities of using an internet browser to watch html5 plus flash based videos. Also with a good media player if possible.

I have a newly-purchased TV with an internet browser and YouTube player etc. Also have a PVR with a YouTube player. Both are somewhat clunky compared to my good old PC. It's not that they don't play the video clips OK, but finding what you want is a pain.

Therefore, I am about to hook my PC up to the TV via a long HDMI cable and do the same thing that way. It's just a whole lot easier.

rodloc: Preferably the PVR will have a dual tuner and have stuff like series link and pausing and rewinding live tv.

Would love to know if anyone on here have had any experience with a PVR with these capabilities.

Also is there any chance a GoogleTV box would come out with PVR capabilities.

Trying to get all of the above in a single device is going to be a real challenge. And then a new streaming video standard will emerge, and the whole thing will be obsolete. Whereas your PC gets regular updates which will cope with new standards as they emerge.

Just my 2c worth...

Cloudy

150 posts

Master Geek

#706802 26-Oct-2012 11:50

grant_k:
rodloc: I am looking for a Freeview HD PVR with the capabilities of using an internet browser to watch html5 plus flash based videos. Also with a good media player if possible.

I have a newly-purchased TV with an internet browser and YouTube player etc. Also have a PVR with a YouTube player. Both are somewhat clunky compared to my good old PC. It's not that they don't play the video clips OK, but finding what you want is a pain.

Therefore, I am about to hook my PC up to the TV via a long HDMI cable and do the same thing that way. It's just a whole lot easier.

rodloc: Preferably the PVR will have a dual tuner and have stuff like series link and pausing and rewinding live tv.

Would love to know if anyone on here have had any experience with a PVR with these capabilities.

Also is there any chance a GoogleTV box would come out with PVR capabilities.

Trying to get all of the above in a single device is going to be a real challenge. And then a new streaming video standard will emerge, and the whole thing will be obsolete. Whereas your PC gets regular updates which will cope with new standards as they emerge.

Just my 2c worth...

\

What I did was get a cheap second hand computer off trademe. Spent about $100 bucks plus postage.
We have our p[lasma on the wall and a 2 seater couch below it, the computer just sits behind the couch with mouse and key board tucked away out of sight, although wireless ones could be used if you need them.
Works well for us.

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#706832 26-Oct-2012 12:34

Yep, an old lappy plugged in via HDMI cable does the trick for me. Alternative upscale version of that is an HTPC. I don't know of any PVR that will do all that you are asking.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation