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Introduction
Something novel comes this way and it ’s call EE TV . AfterEE ’s showy relaunch in October , its taking over the rein from BT and becoming the front - face consumer brand the British telecom giant is hoping will force it towards into a brighter future in the living room .
It ’s not the first EE has attempt to invade the keep room , but I imagine they ’ll hope it do good than thelast set - top box they render .
On a gloomy December afternoon , I buy the farm over to BT ’s office to see a presentation of the new service . The proof will be in the pud once customers have had the hazard to fully interact with it , but first impressions are of a slick , integrate , if familiar view for TV ’s hereafter .
Design
EE TV launches with three boxes , one of which might surprise you .
There ’s the EE TV Box Pro , which replaces theBT television set Box Profrom a couple years back .
The design is similar in that it ’s not an especially tall boxwood , with slender proportion and rounded edges . Its flatness ignominious culture gives it a discreet coming into court . There ’s the EE television set logo ( an infinity sign of sorts ) that glows green in the centre that ’s used to power the box on and off .
Around the back are the connections , which include an aerial input , but electrical engineering is not expecting that to be the main means of connection . All the EE boob tube boxes are focused on delivering content over the net through Wi - Fi or Ethernet . Much likeSky Stream , remember of the aeriform input as a back - up in case the Internet kick the bucket down .
The conception of the EE TV Box Mini shares the same aesthetic but small-scale , and EE TV sees this as the box for 2nd elbow room in the sign of the zodiac – kitchen , bedrooms , anywhere big enough to house a cover . It does n’t come up with an aerial so it ’s Wi - Fi ( Ethernet ) or bust with this choice .
Both boxes were designed by Tej Chauhan , whose workplace goes back to the other 2000s when he was the hint room decorator on the Nokia 7370 phone . And both boxes have out casing made from up to 95 % recycle plastic , with the box promotional material able to be both “ recycled and recyclable ” .
The third pick is theApple TV 4K. Yes , thatApple goggle box 4K. It ’s like any other current Apple box but bear a bespoke rendering of the EE TV app integrated within the Apple TV ecosystem . purchase an Apple TV 4 K from another retail merchant and you wo n’t get the same app , but you ’ll be able to download what EE draw as a companion variant .
The remote control is also a pointedness of difference from other Apple 4 K boxes – handsome and with more button such as fast - forward and back , a ‘ Guide ’ button , channel selection and more . For the EE telly boxes , you get the same scepter whichever model you purchase , which has the visual aspect of a more conventional remote control with its layout and button .
The outside connects to the define - top box viaBluetooth , so you could put the loge in your AV single-foot and shut the cover song which should n’t affect operation . If the remote gets lose ( say an errant child has involve off with it ) , press the logo on the unit and WPS button at the same time and the remote will chime to locate it .
Interface
Here ’s the meat of the stream sandwich EE TV is offering . The force back force behind the UI is the intention to keep things unproblematic , with lively and on - demand content immix into one unified whole .
The EE boob tube boxes are take in as more of a hot television experience , whereas the Apple TV 4 K is the more app - based option to dip in and out of apps , with the EE idiot box app bringing the ( incorporate ) live tv set experience to the Apple platform .
The aim seems to be to blur the border where live broadcast scratch and on - demand begins to the compass point of being non - existent . you may start find out a computer programme , hit the ‘ up ’ button on the remote or the guide button and see substance that ’s live on other channel , what ’s pop with other substance abuser , and subscription / on - requirement option that you may shimmy through on each rail .
It ’s an array of content at your fingertips , but not too much to be overwhelmed by . Helpfully it also indicates understandably content that ’s innocent to watch from what ’s available to bribe .
It ’s an experience I found sleek and nonrational enough once you get a grip on it . For the channel hop substance abuser amongst us , the EE TV app makes it promiscuous to sweep across apps as long as you ’re lumber in . It is like watching TV via the aerial , except it ’s over the Internet .
That may appeal to some and less to others as we seemed to haveboomeranged back to where we start . The difference is the on - need subdivision plug into the interface . I was surprised to see Orange is the New Black on one screen , but it ’s available as a leverage from the depot , which speaks to EE TV ’s linear perspective of play content into one place .
Scroll down the base screen door and you ’ll find a compounding of personalised elements or show / films popular across the service . I was told there ’ll be an editorial team who ’ll curate democratic programming across EE TV ’s contentedness partners .
There is the power to tailor-make the experience by favouriting channels but likeSky Glassand Stream , there ’s automation involved . Over time the EE TV app will empathise your preference – you ’ll see this in the ‘ My Most Watched Channels ’ rails on the base blind – with the app able-bodied to fancy what you like to watch and at what time , and in doing so put those channels to the front of the queue whenever you sit down to look out .
There are other rails available that EE say have prove popular with customers in the past tense that show films that have just started or sports event that have just began – an interesting ploy to cue people about what ’s happening now , and not having to worry about setting a admonisher .
Performance
There ’s not as much to say about the performance except to that it was spirited and fluent moving through the port . Clicking through to mental object and starting programmes was also nimble , which increases the feeling of being able to set out and kick off without holdup .
Both the EE TV boxes stand Dolby Atmos audio and what ’s line as future - proofed 4 K HDR . That ’s rather cryptical but presumptively include HDR10 and HLG support . When I ask afterwards aboutDolby Vision HDRthat too was confirmed . The Apple TV 4 K amount with both Dolby Vision andHDR10+formats , so may be the finish for habitation cinema devotees .
The EE TV Box Pro is the only one that can commemorate capacity for those that wish to keep hold of programing with enough tuners to record four channels simultaneously and 1 TB of reposition . Apps such asNetflix , Apple TV+ , Discovery+,Prime Video , and a few others are supported . EE also expect the overhaul to be update often as it pluck out , so if there ’s an app or feature that ’s not currently useable , it may be in the grapevine for a succeeding update .
To get the EE TV box you will want to BT Broadband contract to go with it , which I imagine wo n’t be as tempt for some . I can understand the reasoning behind it , but if we are heading towards a future of content give up over IP , limit the broadband provider is an own goal my Word . The EE TV proposition feels in the first place direct towards BT customers as a resolution .
That say , EE is in the physical process of meliorate its broadband amphetamine to be the fastest of any UK provider , though I ’d imagine speed will depend on where you live and the insurance coverage in that area .
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FAQs
disregardless of which box you go for , each one will require a £ 30 energizing fee . You ’ll also require to have BT Broadband to get the box on contract bridge .
