Telstra’s attempt to take over the loungeroom will take its next big step forward tomorrow with the official launch of the T-Box, their IPTV-enabled PVR.
The T-Box will set potential buyers back just $299, which is really decent for a twin HD tuner, 320GB PVR with integrated IPTV content. That integrated IPTV content will include over 1400 SD movies from a variety of studios, plus seven channels of news, sport and entertainment plus video on demand, incorporating thousands of hours worth of content, including NRL and AFL matches and 24/7 news. You can also access YouTube, directly from the device, so you should never run out of entertainment.
The BigPond TV content is all unmetered for BigPond Internet customers, although strangely YouTube content still is. At launch, there won’t be any HD IPTV content available, but Telstra have promised that it’s definitely part of their roadmap, and we’ll be seeing it in the future. The box, meanwhile, is capable of upscaling SD content to look decent enough on your HD screen.
Here’s a rundown of the technical specifications:
Length: 210 mm
Width: 205 mm
Height: 58 mm
Weight: 780gDual HD DVB-T tuners
Video Output:
HDMI port (HDCP compatible)
Mini Din to Composite and ComponentAudio Output:
1 SPDIF optical connector
1 RCA Audio connector (Left + Right)Broadband Connection:
Wi-Fi: 802.11g/n
Wired: 10/100 Base T Ethernet port (RJ45)320GB Personal Video Recorder – T-Box has a 320GB hard drive for storage for free-to-air recording and Movie downloads. This equates to roughly 30 hours of HD FTA recording or 100 hours of SD FTA recording.
Remote Control: RF
Digital Media File Formats
Supports real time steaming of BigPond® TV
Supports BigPond® Movies video-on-demand via progressive download
Resolution: Up to 1920×1080 with up and down scaling provides optimal screen presentationKit Contents
Telstra T-Box digital set top box
T-Box remote control (including battery)
Power supply
TV aerial cable (2m) and adaptor
HDMI video cable (1.25m)
Min DIN to composite/component cable (1.25m)
Ethernet network cable (3m)
Getting Started Guide
User Guide
Telstra have announced that they will be rejigging their data allowances on their bundle plans tomorrow. Depending on how much they actually add to the data allowance, this could actually be a pretty enticing offer. It’s certainly a well specced machine for the price, which should make it pretty attractive to the millions of homes using BigPond for their internet connection already.
[Telstra]
Kieran
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 3:49 PMwow, that’s ugly.
James
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 4:17 PMHi guys, I happen to work for ******* and i can tell you that our new plans that we are releasing really really are going to blow everyone away – FINALLY we are going to be good :)
The Flash
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 9:31 PMSurely you jest!
woodsdog
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 4:24 PMThe plans are looking fairly good…
http://www.buckscoop.com.au/forums/deals-bargains-coupon-codes-discounts-promo-codes-vouchers-cashback/24595-telstra-phone-net-bundles-159-month-139-month-available-16-june-2010-a.html
meant to come out today but they had problems as per whirlpool anyways… I’m even half keen… and I hate Helstra!!! I’m on TPG 150GB…
Paul C
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 7:43 PMDesign by some blind students in Albania with a ridiculously large 320Gig HDD! Well it took them 10 years to make – 320GB was huge then. Can’t wait to see the plans – Telstra and Good deal are words I have never heard so together so far – but one can hope.
Seriously – why don’t they just give us cheap internet instead this crap! Or at least drop the download caps like the rest of the world. We already have Foxtel IQ/ Apple TV and Soon Google TV and maybe even Hulu we don’t really need Telstra TV.
James
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 8:53 AM@ Paul C,
i know the HDD size is v small, if i was in charge of the project it would be at LEAST 1 TB, i mean it IS 2010! But that aside, this is actuactly going to be ok i think, we are (going to be) releasing 80 new IPTV channels that you will be able to watch on it, plus anything on BigPond, Free To Air and (eventually YouTube), ALL unmetered.
so that is alot of unmetered content – comnine this with the 200GB download at 20, 30 or 100mbps and i think that it is a good deal for $160 a month.
but yea, please let me know what you think of all this so i can pass comments along – believe it or not, alot of us here really do care about making the customer experience better, and giving value to them.
Paul C
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 12:26 PMThanks for your comments James,
The product is looking better now – $160 seems fair if like me you are already paying for Foxtel and internet – This is a cheaper option if all the shows I have where available on the device. IPTV seems a bit of a waist – It would be far better to have a Hulu like service (I have used Hulu on a number of occasions and found it fantastic). IPTV is OK for now since you can also record your shows and is basically the same as Foxtel anyway. Does the 200GB include off peak/ on peak times and also Uploading?
I am in the process of looking at a new ISP for when I move, I would seriously consider this product if 200GB was shaped – no further charges/ Upload was not metered and 200GB is not off/on peak times.
Cheers
Bobbobboy
Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 12:33 PMSo James. Will this PVR let us skip ad’s or will it be Freeview crippled ?
James
Friday, June 18, 2010 at 3:03 PM@ Paul C, mate you do realise that both the Foxtel IQ/IQ2 also has a 320gb HDD?
James
Monday, June 21, 2010 at 5:36 PMit appears as though there are two James here, I’m the one from Telstra (dont know about the other one).
Anyway,
@ Paul C;
The plans are shaped to 64kbps, however we are working on this, to have it shaped to 512kbps, and in about 18 month, 1.5mbps (or whenever we can handle it :P)
Unfortunatly the uploads are STILL considered in the 200GB :( which sucks cause i really want to seed torrents….that are completly legal of course :)
We are working on removing uploads from the total, however might be some time.
You also get a home network gateway (802.11n) and install for free
Finally, there is no on/off peak as far as i know
@ Bobbobboy; Yes you can skip adds at a good speed, and PLEASE dont get ANYTHING with “freeview” on it – Its a scam to make you watch ads :P + is crap
tbox nothing
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 1:34 PMBEWARE EVERYONE….TBOX is ONLY for EXISTING Bigpond subscribers…..it DOES NOT WORK for non-subscribers….I found out the hard way, thinking I could use it to record and replay free-to-air broadcasts !!! Don’t anything else Telstra have got to say about being used without the need to subscribe to Bigpond…else the only thing you will do is return it to place of purchase.
Seamus Byrne
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 1:38 PMThey actually let you buy one without already being a Bigpond subscriber? They didn’t actually ask? Well, you’ve used fake details to post this message, so we can’t exactly follow up on the problem. Sounds pretty weird you’d be sold one without checking your account details were in order.
Chuck
Wednesday, July 7, 2010 at 11:01 PMCan I just ask all those that have had a bad experience with Telstra and those that simply chose to ride the negative wave about the company to please give them another chance. Ever since their new CEO began their has been a sweeping culture change within the company. Just call their call centre which is in Australia now to get a feel for the new service culture. I do not work for the company but am happy to be a customer of theirs again after 10 years.
Stephen
Friday, July 9, 2010 at 3:53 PMI have had the T-BOX now for 2 weeks. I think this is the first positive thing that telstra has done in a while. I am yet to stream a movie as I have not been home enough to do it, hoepfully htis weekend coming.
For me I can only use Telsra where i live on the outskrits for Brisbane as the other telcos don’t provide a service. This T-BOX has come at a time when i wanted to look at a Media PC and now I don’t need to as this is a better option.
The only thing I am not 100% sold on is the trailers, were watching one and it kind of fast-forwards now and again. Obviously a streaming issue at this stage.
All I can say love it so far.
jim
Monday, July 19, 2010 at 1:58 PMAny one know when the T-Box will be updated to allow users to play thier own movies via USB interface? The intention to do this has been announced but not the date.
colin
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 9:48 AMi’d be a lot more impressed with iptv if the HUNDREDS of spare adsl2 ports were not locked away due to the large number of RIM’s in my decent sized country town…
like i’m going to wait for a movie to buffer. its bad enough with youtube.
smadge1
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 5:47 PMLooks like Bigpond knocked $50/month off my existing 100GB plan, so I’ve signed up for the T-Box, which will only cost me $11/month. only 200GB of the internal 320GB HDD is used for storing recorded free-to-air TV, but you can plug in a USB HDD as big as you like.
smadge1
Monday, July 26, 2010 at 6:01 PMalso, I’m hoping that they add ABC iView support to it at some point, even if it’s metered.
kym penhall
Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 11:19 PMDisaster! Having spent four hours trying to get this to work we attempted to watch a movie this evening. It froze roughly three-quarters of the way through. When we contacted Telstra we were told not to expect that movies would work on a Saturday night because of “congestion”. I do not expect to pay such a fee for a service that is clearly unable to be delivered. We will be contacting Telstra ASAP and suggesting that they can come and remove their Tbox and reimburse us for the expense.
anthony adams
Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 2:06 PMhi i am strongly considering the t-box. I currently have a mystar box (regional version of foxtel iq) and the only channel i watch on it is ‘[V] Hits’ which proves v expensive. Is there any way of watching this channel or a similar music channel on the t-box?? Cheers =)
anthony adams
Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 2:29 PMeven being able to play internet radio through it would be awesome? Or does anyone no how to play internet radio through a stereo without having to have a computer on 24/7? Cheers again
jo
Friday, October 8, 2010 at 9:17 PMIF you are considering a T Box DON’T bother…. after paying $50 for a movie voucher, downloading the movies THEN I got the message HDCP compliant TV connection required. Rang Big pond.
told we have a copy right issue with Intel and are working on it, we can give you a refund and you can TRY downloading again, or disconnect your HDMI cable and TRY to connect via a composite cable maybe that will work. I’ll pay the $11 per month for the next 2 years because I couldn’t bother, the Box has gone into the bin.