Freeview HD to debut in December

[TimberWolf]

Presumably "video recorders" (what are they called these days - PVRs?), Freeview boxes and TVs will all need replacing. There must be at least one of these per household in the country. Kerching! The picture was probably better on the old CRTs anyway!

[AtW]

The public have been encouraged to go digital long before it was necessary.

It was necessary 10 years ago. Public went digital and it gotten digital signal. If you want HD then be prepared to pay and don't whine that your CRT TV does not play it.

[AtW]

To some people that 15 quid is a lot of money.

They should not expect to get cutting edge stuff then, watch TV in SD.

What about the thousands who bought HD tvs with built in freeview which were marketed on the basis that you would not need an extra box.

And they will continue to work, only if you want Freeview HD then be prepared to pay for it, it was NOT sold as part of TV.

Why were such items marketed when the manufacturers knew they would be obsolete so quickly?

Do you work in technology field? PC sold before Xmas will have much better cheap alternative in 6-12 months.

[VectraMan]

Is there any chance Freeview boxes could get a firmware update to decode MPEG-4 or is it all on dedicated chips?

It'll require significantly more horsepower to decode H264, and the extra resolution, so no. Plus the Freeview boxes won't have the right connector.

It is a bit crap, especially for all those people that have Freeview decoders built into their "HD Ready" TVs. Maybe it'll be possible to have some of them upgraded.

[TimberWolf]

So when are we going to have to bin our radios too?

[TimberWolf]

2016? 2017?

Turn off that nasty hissy FM that's served so well & prepare for the "CD quality" low bitrate DAB crapola.

Then prepare to pay again for the improved version.

Cynical, moi?

I bet they all use masses of energy. Wonder if it will spell the end of the portable radio?

[stingman123]

I bet they all use masses of energy. Wonder if it will spell the end of the portable radio?

Get an Iphone, I bet there will be an app for that