Mighty Gadget Blog: The latest technology news & reviews in the UK

Last Friday saw the release of Sony’s first 3DTV the Bravia HX803. We spoke about it a few months back as one to watch, well now its here, ready for the World Cup and has been backed by an advert campaign shown during the World Cup matches ( if you haven’t seen it click here)

For a quick re-cap, HX803 is available in two screen sizes, 40” and 46” and packs Full 1080p HD with LED backlighting for great contrast ratios. They also include Sony’s Motionflow 200Hz Pro technology for super smooth images, Freeview HD, Bravia Internet Video and DLNA support for streaming. They also come packed with plenty of HDMI sockets too, 4 in all. The screen itself uses active shutter technology to give you better quality 3D images with special(expensive) LCD shutter glasses.

So although content to watch isn’t so readily available, Sony is adding some options for you to get your hands on some 3D viewing. The BDV-E370 is a 3D  Blu-Ray player which comes bundled with “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" Also the PS3 has recently updated to allow 3D games playback and when the NEX-3 and 5 cameras we spoke about last month come out they have the ability to take a high resolution panoramic shot that when shown on a 3D TV such as this, the image will appear in 3D.

Available now the screens start at a whopping £1799.

Now we have Freeview HD it was only a matter of time before we’re inundated with Freeview HD boxes of all shapes sizes and flavours and obviously if you want to record your telly you’ll need an HD PVR. Dutch electronics experts Philips have released one just in time for the World Cup and just as Sky have released the 1TB version of its Sky+ HD box.

Inside you’ll get 500GB of storage to store and record all your favourite Freeview HD shows via the twin tuners. The usual routine of watching one program whilst recording another is available here too. Basically if you’re recording a SD programme you can record up to 250 hours whereas HD programmes, you’ll get around 125 hours.

Now obviously the other thing you need is Freeview HD, which at the moment is only available in half the UK so if you’re luck enough to live in an area with the HD signal the Philips HDT8520 will set you back £299.

Quite possibly the best sounding Blu-Ray player at the moment, and you’ll think so too after reading about this “blighty”-fied masterpiece.

The Samsung BD-C8500M is a 3D Blu-Ray player with everything and I mean everything you could possibly want or need in a media playing marvel. Not only will it play your Blu-Rays but inside it has a DVB-T2 tuner, yes thats right a “FREEVIEW HD READY TUNER.” Not only that it’s also packing a 500MB HDD to record it all onto and with the World Cup coming soon there’s no better way to get yourself ready for it with this.

Wait there’s more!! It also can connect to the Internet@TV platform. This allows the user to use an on-demand service including BBC iPlayer and that lovely LoveFilm movie streaming service. One can also stream media straight from your desktop,laptop or server(whichever you have) as it has Wi-Fi and is DLNA certified.

Coming Soon, around April/May time we don’t have a price on it yet but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this despite the fact it should have a hefty price tag to match the weight of spec.

Freeview HD is still in it’s first steps. Although the signal is being broadcast in some regions, the sheer lack of set top boxes available to catch the signal seems to be hindering it hitting the mainstream. Sony though have announced that new lines of TVs incorporating the subscription-free Freeview HD tuners will be launched this week.

The NX803 will be available in 40”- 52” screen sizes capable of LED backlit 200Hz images and future-proofed with 3D support. With built in Wi-Fi this model can stream media from your PC but also incorporates the Sony/LoveFilm widget, allowing subscribed users to stream movies from the DVD rental people(when it gets launched)and Skype and Bravia Internet Video(a TV catch-up service).

Also for the more budget/eco conscious, there’s the HX803 and Bravia Essential EX703. The HX803 same as the above but minus the networking options and the EX703 will have the networking options only a less responsive 100Hz screen and energy saving features. Both the latter models will be available in 40” and 46”

Toshiba have announced two new model additions to its REGZA line of TVs and also we have a bit more info on the anticipated “Cell” TV we spoke about a few months back.

Firstly Toshiba are unleashing 2 new Freeview HD/LED Backlit series to its REGZA TV lines, the WL and SL series. The lower end SL will feature LED backlit screens for that increased contrast ratio/picture quality, built in Freeview HD receiver, built in DLNA(stream video from a DLNA enabled PC) and a 100Hz refresh rate. It will come in 32”, 40” and 46” and should be available around April. The WL is the more classy affair. Again LED backlit screens, built in Freeview HD(also upscales standard definition pictures using Toshiba’s Resolution+). The DLNA feature with this one isn’t built in but comes with a DLNA wireless dongle. What else makes this better, well it comes in the bigger 40”, 46” and 55” but also has a better 200Hz refresh rate.

Now for the Cell TV. Toshiba Europe has said that we should be seeing the multichannel masterpiece later this year in the Autumn. It will also include Net Resolution+ to improve internet video quality, will also include video calling capabilities. The main new addition which will make this TV truly spectacular is that it will have 3D support.

Again we have a new set top box here for you, that when released we can all bask in the glory of HD without the need for a Sky or cable subscription. Obviously Freesat is available and quite tempting with thinks like BBC iPlayer and ITV player but unless you’ve got the know how to install the dish, you’re stumping up the cash for that and either your integrated tv or box aswell.

3View have come with this great little box that with dual tuners will be able to snap up that HD signal and also with a built in 320GB HDD you’ll be able to record all your favourite shows. Not only that the 3View box can connect to the internet, use BBC iPlayer, Twitter, Facebook etc and any other web page. The big thing it will do that most wont is have access to HULU when it gets released in the UK giving you more access to web based TV. If you think this might be hard on a remote, no worries a keyboard and mouse will be available.

No price details as of yet but 3View are looking at a release of March.

Ok so we said before about Freeview HD, when it was coming etc. Now Some masts are pumping out the signal, why aren’t there any set top boxes out there to pick this free HD signal up. Well I can’t personally explain that but what I can say is that the first set top boxes are outed and will be released next year.

Humax HD-FOX T2 should be out in Q1  next year. Firstly it’ll tune its self with its auto-tune facility, it’ll quite gladly receive the 720p yes that’s right 720p signal(not too futuristic yet) but this box will upscale to 1080p at 50Hz. It will play media from a USB drive or HDD. We don’t have the full details on file format support but one clever thing is you can record onto a USB drive to save buying the full PVR.

If you’re after a PVR version then the DVB-T2 HD has a 500GB HDD inside to store your favourite shows in HD and SD. It also keeps the 1080p upscaling, wireless network capability via UPnP and again the USB connectivity.

No prices are available yet or exact release dates but its believed the lower end HD-FOX T2 will retail at around £170

For all of those waiting for free HD TV, Freeview HD is set to be launched before the end of the year. The service will start first in the North of England and then will then unfortunately roll out to the rest of the country across the next 2 or 3 years.

Graham Plumb, Head of Distribution Technology at BBC Operations that transmission will start at Granada’s Winter Hill transmitter from 2nd December 2009, not long after the Granada region’s digital switchover.  “The plan has always been to roll Freeview HD out around the country following switchover and Winter Hill was selected as the first achievable transmitter. There will need to be a retrospective upgrade of regions that have already switched.”

For those in London, the Crystal Palace transmitter is due to be updated in December, then four other transmitters covering urban areas by spring 2010. However it hasn’t been made clear if these upgrades mean immediate switch on to the service and it’s said that London as a whole won’t get complete service till 2012 (just in time for those Olympics)

It has also been said that most people wanting to take up the service will more than likely have to buy a new set top box or TV to take the service which when it starts will only have 4 channels, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. The service will also only broadcast in 720p(still good in my opinion)