Reply to: Freeview HD to debut in December

[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

[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?

[TimberWolf]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[Moscow Mule]

To some people that 15 quid is a lot of money.
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.
Why were such items marketed when the manufacturers knew they would be obsolete so quickly?

They all knew (if they'd done even the tiniest bit of research) that Freeview was not HD and that you need an HD source to get those TVs to show HD pictures.

They are not obsolete, Freeview isn't being switched off before the end of those TVs lifetimes (5-10 years).

[d000hg]

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

Well they won't have HD TVs then will they?

[HairyArsedBloke]

The lifetime of the cheap boxes is just over that required by the sale of goods act. I'm on my second box now and it looks like that one is playing up.

I'm thinking of getting one of those freesat boxes now.

[The Lone Gunman]

The poor public. That £15 freeview box from Tesco will only have provided them with loads of extra channels for a couple of years. Hardly a vast expense, especially when you don't have to use FreeviewHD... you don't need it and only a selection of channels will be offered in HD anyway.

To some people that 15 quid is a lot of money.
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.
Why were such items marketed when the manufacturers knew they would be obsolete so quickly?

[d000hg]

The poor public. That £15 freeview box from Tesco will only have provided them with loads of extra channels for a couple of years. Hardly a vast expense, especially when you don't have to use FreeviewHD... you don't need it and only a selection of channels will be offered in HD anyway.

[The Lone Gunman]

VHS-DVD-BluRay - it's no different. If you want progress, you have to pay...

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

I dont mind when it is new tech, but this stinks.
The public have been encouraged to go digital long before it was necessary. The manufacturers and Government have known for some time what the protocols would be, but there has been no information to tell the public which equipment would be compatable.
THIS STINKS.

I believe most of this is hard wired rather than a software fix, otherwise it would be OK.

If the UK is the only place using these protocols we are going to get shafted on kit price again.

[Moscow Mule]

Another bloody government sponsored con.
They have spent the last few years encouraging everybody to buy new digital equipment as required. Then announce that to get the new HD channels you will have to buy it all over again.

VHS-DVD-BluRay - it's no different. If you want progress, you have to pay...

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

[DimPrawn]

Cash for clunkers (set top boxes).