Although Freeview HD transmissions are now available in certain UK regions, we've yet to see the launch of any supporting set-top-boxes.
Fortunately for those planning ahead, UK-based manufacturer 3view has lifted the lid on a Freeview HD-capable receiver scheduled to arrive in stores in March 2010.
The 3view set-top-box, pictured below, features a duo of DVB-T2 tuners, allowing users to receive high-def Freeview broadcasts from the likes of BBC, ITV and Channel 4, as well as the existing array of standard-def Freeview channels.
Armed with a 500GB hard drive, 3view offers full PVR functionality and bolsters its high-def credentials with support for full-HD 1080p output over HDMI.
3view claims to have spent over three years developing the box, but that lengthy spell of time hasn't been spent focusing solely on Freeview transmissions. Hoping to offer an "interactive TV experience", 3view has pushed the boat out and created a web-connected set-top-box that appears to be a jack of all trades, on paper at least.
Making use of the receiver's Ethernet connectivity, 3view's patented interactive EPG features online channels such as YouTube - allowing users to browse the video-sharing website via their remote control. There's also support for web applications - of which ebay, twitter and facebook are said to feature as default. Not keen on remote input? The 3view box allows the user to connect an optional keyboard and mouse.
Want more PC-like functionality? 3view features a pair of USB ports - both of which can be used to playback audio/video files in the H.264 or Windows Media formats - and the box supports UPnP media sharing, too, for remote playback of PC-based content.
Looking ahead, 3view also tells us that video-on-demand services such as iPlayer and 4OD will be appearing on the box at some stage.
There's no mention of pricing, and no real-world indication that all of the above will work as suggested, but we're certainly intrigued.
