I got a chance to have a look at another one of these so called “dodgy boxes” the other day. The latest and greatest offering from the the Starview creators is The Box Super USB.
My instant reaction when I saw it being turned on was the huge improvement in the graphics and interface. It really has come along way from the first Starview box. Additionally, with it came a USB stick, branded with The Box logo which can be inserted into the newly added USB port of The Box for backing up channel data and of course doing firmware updates.
The firmware update is a million times easier than the laborious R232 cable scenario. You simply copy the files from your computer to the USB stick, insert it in the USB port on The Box, hit menu, go to USB and select the file that you’ve just copied. It updates in seconds and no need for wires everywhere!
The Box Super offers the pause live TV and record functions that a lot of other devices are offering now. I unfortunately didn’t see this in action as the external HDD didn’t work with it for some reason. From what I’ve heard, unlike the Eurovox, it has two tuners, so you can view one channel whilst recording another.
Other than that it does all the usual stuff. Is it worth the upgrade? I would have to say yes, for sure!
Related articles
- http://www.tomdoyletalk.com/2008/07/07/how-ntl-upc-can-beat-the-starview-box/
- http://www.tomdoyletalk.com/2007/07/19/starview-2-aka-thebox/
- http://www.tomdoyletalk.com/2008/09/29/eurovox-ex5000-pvr-review/
#1 by John Thomas Smegma at December 5th, 2008
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I’ve even heard the next generation of cable delivery that Virgin will employ, designed to ‘doorstop’ this kind of box is already hacked, by way of the less commonly available Linux based boxes such as the itgate baby pearl being able to comfortable handle Nagravision 2….not just the Nagravision 1 system currently in use. Of course they’ll need a firmware fix when the time comes to do so, but in Ireland where Nagravision 2 is partly in use already, these boxes are working well.
It’s seemingly a never ending battle of wits between the pirate software hackers and the cable providers. But all the ‘honest’ people who keep envisaging an ITV Digital type collapse in service, as an excuse to hate on the people who use such devices, I say worry yee not. Virgin and Sky are too big for that to happen to, and with each attempt by them to stop the boxes working, the vast majority of owners get stumped and chuck their box. Only a small percentage are savvy enough to flash firmware, so it’s still a good strategy to keep numbers low and the revenue pouring in.
I personally pay for my services as I can afford to do so but, if I couldn’t, I’d get a dodgy box for sure – therefore I don’t blame anyone else for doing so. I don’t subscribe to the argument that I’m paying for their service…I’m paying for my own. If these boxes were not there, the people that can’t afford Sky wouldn’t suddenly be able to afford to subscribe. Live and let live.