Manhattan T3-R Freeview Play 4K Smart Recorder 1TB

Product Information

Press HOME and then select: Settings > Information. If the version shown is lower than 2.05, you should update. Update your T3•R over the internet While these looked spectacular, those trials come and go, and while you can’t even watch the archived versions of Blue Planet IIand Dynastiesin 4K, other BBC 4K content is sometimes added (such as the recent Doctor Who new year special in 4K). This update introduces support for ITVX and resolves known issues from v2.00.Please note that v2.01 wasn't officially released; it was distributed directly to customers who reported an issuewith creating child profiles on BBC iPlayer that wasn'tresolved by a fix in 2.00.

The latest networking libraries have been integrated for improved network performance and reliability (e.g. in a Carrier Grade NAT environment).As is usually the case with Freeview, customers will still need an aerial for the T4 and T4-R boxes to deliver Freeview channels over the air.

The Manhattan T3-R is a powerhouse. It’s obviously got processing power to spare because it zips around the Freeview Play user interface – itself a thing of beautiful simplicity – with bristling ease. It’s a joy to use, which isn’t something we thought we’d be saying about a Freeview set-top box. The Manhattan T3-R is the perfect upgrade for those looking for a smarter Freeview experience, complete with UK-focused on-demand apps and PVR capabilities. Press HOME and then select: Settings > Information. If the version shown is lower than 2.02, you should update. Update your T3 over the internet Your T3•R will update automatically overnight whilst in standby, as long as you haven't disabled automatic updates in the System Settings menu. I agree @Clem_Dye - the T3-R is probably the best PVR I've ever used too. Simple, intuitive, responsive and incredibly quiet. It makes my old Sky Q box sound like it's powered by a diesel engine!This Freeview box looks good and has impressive technical specifications including a super-fast quad-core processor for handling the likes of Ultra HD and HDR. What we really like about it, however, is the way it’s been designed with usability in mind. The Manhattan T3-R, available in 500GB and 1TB options is the brand's best yet, and can be found at prices that don't break the bank.

Audio Description could become out of sync and the volume of the main audio could dip unexpectedly.The usual features you might be used to on your Sky/BT/Virgin Media box – such as pausing live TV for up to two hours, initiating series links and making one-touch recordings – work like a breeze. When HDMI Control is enabled, the T3 also has a setting to ‘Turn Off Devices’. Turn this on and when you press the standby button on your T3 remote it will also put your TV and any other connected and compatible devices in standby too!

The Manhattan T3-R supports 4K (UltraHD) and HDR content, but for the time being, you won’t get to use it much. When content in an app (e.g. ITV Hub) was regionally restricted the error message made it sound like there was a problem with the app or T3-R. The message now clearly states it is the content that is unavailable. The T4 and T4-R will also support Channel List Management, a newer Freeview function that enables HD-swapping of channels. After the T3•R had been on for more than 48 hours the internet could stop working until you went to the Internet Settings menu or restarted the T3•R.

Design, Connections and Control

Just as Muttley follows Dastardly, picture quality follows broadcast fidelity. The best-looking HD channels, such as NHK and BBC News, look beautifully sharp and artefact-free. Detail is pronounced and there’s an omnipresent sense of texture and depth – essentially what you’ll see, or more pertinently record, looks transparent to the source. When a series episode was broadcast simultaneously on two or more channels, it could be recorded on a different channel than the one originally scheduled for the recording. Rough location of where you are could be useful to see if such things could be commonplace in the area?