Televisions with catch up TV built in

Posted by: Dungassin on 02 December 2010

Some of the newer TV sets are appearing with internet facilities built in, but in terms of catchup TV these seem to be (on a cursory look) basically restricted to using a version of BBC iPlayer. Am I mistaken in this impression? If so, can you access things such as ITVPlayer, 4OD, etc on them?

I only ask because in the last week SWMBO has summoned me three times to show her how to work BBCiPlayer (and 4OD) on her laptop. To be honest, I'm getting a little tired of showing her the same damn thing over and over again. The woman hasn't even got it into her head how to log into her computer most of the time! So, I'm thinking of having a go at her (again) to get herself a new TV with internet built-in, and doing her catchup that way. I know I could just get her a SkyBox, but she is resisting the idea of a satellite dish attached to the house.
Posted on: 02 December 2010 by Roy Donaldson
Have a look at the sony's just now. About to get one with iplayer built in.
Posted on: 03 December 2010 by Dungassin
But, as I said, you only mention iPlayer. What about the other catchup channels such as ITV, Ch4, Ch5?
Posted on: 03 December 2010 by Occean
I had the exact same issue with my mother recently. I did look around for a TV with all the gubbins built in but ended up getting her a Acer Revo (atom PC) and made the icons huge, put links on the desktop to iplayer, 4OD, Lovefilm and ITV OD - she has finally picked it up and it works a treat & bolts to the vesa mount on a TV so its out of sight.

Otherwise I don't know what to suggest as I haven't seen anything that supports more than iplayer (except the PS3 - iplayer, 4OD and Lovefilm)

I can imagine inbuilt
Posted on: 03 December 2010 by Dungassin
I've tried the computer route with her, but she seems totally unable to get her head round them - in spite of her insisting on having her own laptop. I think I'm going to have to try very hard to persuade her to get Sky. Personally I don't want Sky (Virgin not really an option here, as cable hasn't reached our village), but at least they have their own catchup service. All my own fault really, because I showed her catchup TV after she got her laptop. Roll Eyes Smile
Posted on: 05 December 2010 by Neill Ferguson
Look at loewe Tv's you can have a hard drive built in freeview and can take the fed straight into the Tv from your satellite. The new connect has internet built in and can stream the picture to another set in the house. Seriously good products.
Posted on: 05 December 2010 by garyi
PLEX media server has iPlayer, itv catch up and the channel four one as pluggins. You can attach a mac mini to a tv and use a remote control to do the dabs.

Plex is only on intel mac though.
Posted on: 05 December 2010 by Dungassin
quote:
Originally posted by garyi:
PLEX media server has iPlayer, itv catch up and the channel four one as pluggins. You can attach a mac mini to a tv and use a remote control to do the dabs.

Plex is only on intel mac though.

Well, having recently bought SWMBO a laptop at her request, which she STILL hasn't bothered to learn how to use (even has difficulty logging on!), I'm hardly likely to junk it and buy her a Mac! Thanks, anyway. Winker
Posted on: 17 December 2010 by likesmusic
If you don't fancy springing for a whole tv, the Sony BDPS370 Blu-Ray also has a BBC iPlayer, not to mention movies on demand from lovefilm, live and archived concerts from the Berlin Phil, youtube and lots more and costs just over £100. A free app turns your iPhone into a remote, if you wish. It's a decent Blu-Ray player anyway, easy to use, and the extras make it ridiculous value for money. Oh and it streams audio. There's also google tv about to happen, which offers similar functionality (but no BluRay player and more money).
Posted on: 18 December 2010 by Mr Underhill
Dungassin,

I sympathise. I bought my wife a laptop three years ago, set up email, showed her how to login; I repeated this without success three times.

What made the difference was when my sister-in-law got a computer, and started writing lots of emails. My wife then found this box thing had a purpose.

I am not going to tell you the she has become a geek, but she does go online every night, and is now thinking of doing her bulk groceries via the web.

Personally I have just bought a cheapo Sony BluRay, mainly for the the catchup side of things. Currently they have iPlayer and LoveFilm, but I believe they are negotiating other sites.

M
Posted on: 18 December 2010 by Dungassin
Alas, my other half just leaves her new laptop sitting there doing nothing. Pity she didn't let me get a really high-end one for her, then I would have taken it for myself. At least it would then be getting some use. I fire it up twice a week just to update the Norton, Windoze update etc, and delete the crap from her email box. I suppose I could do it from my own PC, but I really am trying to stop her just switching on occasionally and getting a virus into our home network.

I think I'm just going to have to put up with loading up 4OD, iPlayer, ITV player etc for her when required.

It's not that she's stupid (far from it), but she seems to have a complete blank spot for computer terminology etc. But then she speaks five languages, and I can just about manage English (with a smattering of French, Latin and Maltese).

Winker
Posted on: 19 December 2010 by Neill Ferguson
Look at loeww TV's expensive but seriously good.
Posted on: 06 January 2011 by fasterbyelan
quote:
Originally posted by likesmusic:
If you don't fancy springing for a whole tv, the Sony BDPS370 Blu-Ray also has a BBC iPlayer, not to mention movies on demand from lovefilm, live and archived concerts from the Berlin Phil, youtube and lots more and costs just over £100. A free app turns your iPhone into a remote, if you wish. It's a decent Blu-Ray player anyway, easy to use, and the extras make it ridiculous value for money. Oh and it streams audio. There's also google tv about to happen, which offers similar functionality (but no BluRay player and more money).


Total agree - this player is a bargain. It also plays most music formats (including SACD) and has a USB port. OK there may be better quality around but for £100 it's a no brainer. Has gotten me into Blu-ray now and I can wait for the market place to mature before buying a higher quality player.

Karl
Posted on: 09 January 2011 by likesmusic
I'm really pleased with mine too Karl - tremendous value - my TV is a top end Viera Plasma V20 and I'm knocked out with the quality of the Sony through it. Checkout Lovefilm, if you haven't already, it's a really nice, hassle free way of renting BluRays. But buy Planet Earth!
Posted on: 10 January 2011 by BigH47
This year has started so well,not. Just got an e-mail our Sony 373 has been dispatched already, (ordered 2/1/11, money taken 2/1/11) it will arrive via "express" delivery in 3 - 5 days. WTF.

It better be worth the wait.
Posted on: 10 January 2011 by fasterbyelan
quote:
Originally posted by likesmusic:
I'm really pleased with mine too Karl - tremendous value - my TV is a top end Viera Plasma V20 and I'm knocked out with the quality of the Sony through it. Checkout Lovefilm, if you haven't already, it's a really nice, hassle free way of renting BluRays. But buy Planet Earth!


What's also pleasing is that Sony provide software updates on a regular basis. OK, not all the more obvious enhancements may be needed by everyone, but I'm sure that there are ‘under the hood’ improvements being applied.

Karl
Posted on: 10 January 2011 by likesmusic
.. re Sony .. if you hunt down any of the online reports from CES2011 it's evident that Sony are going for web integration with Google TV .. after all they, own a lot of content they could push out. The future looks good .. but how is it you can stream semi-HD movies live over the web from Lovefilm to a £100 BluRay player and get a decent result, yet storing and moving music to your hifi - far less data - costs and arm, two legs and your pension?
Posted on: 11 January 2011 by BigH47
Sony S -373 arrived today.
I seems to do what it says on the box, the only thing I can't test is the Blu Ray play back!
Digital output and things to try too.
A P of P to set up and update.
Posted on: 31 January 2011 by ChrisH
Its a bit late, this reply, but just to let you know the functionality of the latest Samsung LED TV's (one of which I have). Similar to the posts above, it has built in BBC iPlayer and LoveFilm apps, but so far not ITV or Channel4 possibilities.
The apps appear for downloading as they become available via Samsung Internet@TV function on the TV, so its not an impossibility that it may one day become available, just not at the mo.