We test a new set-top box that brings
all the US’s catch-up services straight to your TV
While we’re used to seeing the BBC’s
iPlayer turn up on everything from games consoles to smart TVs, services from
the other broadcasters (ITV Player, 40D and Demand 5) are less ubiquitous.
YouView brings together all the catch-up services from the major US
broadcasters and lets you access them in one convenient box.
The Humax DTR-T1020 is also a Freeview
hard-drive recorder that does a good job of saving the programmers you can view
them later.
Humax
DTR-T1010 - Digital TV Recorders
It’s frustrating to have the latest
Sky Now movies listed if you aren’t a subscriber
Connecting the box to your TV is very easy,
but it also needs en Ethernet connection to stream programmer from the
internet. We added it to our HomePlug network and it connected straight away.
It’s the YouView service that’s really interesting, though, and makes the box
an appealing purchase for telly addicts. The dedicated blue button on the
remote brings up the YouView interface, which you navigate using the
directional keys. As you’d expert, you can leap straight into each catch-up player,
choosing from iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD, Demand 5 and Milkshake (a dedicated
children’s player form Channel 5). You can also access Sky Now, which has
stacks of films available, but costs $22.5 per month for a subscription.
Connecting
the box to your TV is very easy, but it also needs en Ethernet connection to
stream programmer from the internet
Having access to all these services on your
TV is great, though some work better than others. For example, BBC iPlayer lets
you search for specific programmers, but ITV Player only lets you scroll
through its options, so is good for browsing but annoying if you’re looking for
a particular show.
A big bonus for YouView is that it lets you
browse through content across the players. Choose the Films category, for
example, and you can see all the movies available from all the services. Each
has a thumbnail and a logo to show you which service it’s come from.
Programmers from the free services are displayed first but it’s frustrating
from Sky Now listed alongside them if you aren’t a Sky subscriber.
The only thing missing is the ability to
use the Humax DTR-T1010 as a media streamer. It’s not a cheap way to transfer
your catch-up viewing to your TV, but watching it on a big screen with a proper
remote is absolutely perfect.
For
example, BBC iPlayer lets you search for specific programmers, but ITV Player
only lets you scroll through its options, so is good for browsing but annoying
if you’re looking for a particular show
Our verdict
The Humax DTR-T1010 is a great way to bring
all the main catch-up services to your TV with a single box. It’s also a
Freeview hard drive recorder, so if you already use Freeview, you can ditch
your old device and replay it with this, so the space under your TV isn’t
stacked with lots of boxes.
It’s ideal if you watch a lot of TV across
all the channels, but would rather tune in when it suits you, not on the whim
of the broadcasters.
Features: 4/5
Performance: 5/5
Ease of use: 5/5
Value for money: 4/5
Product info
Humax DTR-T1020 Digital TV recorder 500GB
Website: www.humaxdigital.com
Price: $389
For
·
Get iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and Demand 5 on TV
·
Also works with Sky Now (subscription only)
·
Watch and record Freeview programmer
Against
- Subscription services get in the way if you’ve not subscribed
- Can’t stream files over network
|
Specifications
·
500GB hard drive
·
Ethernet network connection
·
HDMI, SCART, Composite video out
·
Remote control
·
2.75kg
·
380 x 246 x 55mm
|
