An opening look at Virgin sky Q rivals right down to a TiVo box
Virgins was years ago so it’s time for a massive update. Here comes the Virgin V6. Virgin is the latest TV player and recorder that promises 10 times more power than the previous generation. New tricks include 4 K and HDR compatibility, and the ability to accommodate six programs at the same time, as well as streaming and download to mobile devices.
Trusted Reviews Hands-on Virgin V6
With sky already offers something similar in sky Q is the fight to your home entertainment take over about to heat up. I have a quick look on the Virgin V6, at the opening event, and then again a little later for a detailed hands-on session. Here are my first impressions.
Trusted Reviews Hands-on Virgin V6
Virgin V6 design
A Virgin first was a picture of the V6 on Twitter, online consensus published, that there is a big, ugly thing.” Seen it in the flesh, I can confirm that the V6 is not so great. At only 23cm wide it is half as large as the Virgin older TiVo box and lower profile looks just a little clunky compared to the sky Q.
Apart from this, it is not very nice. There are a lot of matte black plastic. The keys – channel upwards, downwards, are channel standby – from the Center, the display is. You could easily confuse the V6 for a modem from the 90s.
Thank God, hide’s way, rather than infrared If you want – the new remote control with RF signals communicated. Stick it in a closet and shut the door and the remote control will work well. It too good store, but – there is a new feature that helps you to find your remote control, that can be very useful. Hold the Kanal-Up button on the main box for 10 seconds and the remote beeps loudly, is that you know that it cushions tucked under. Tap any button on the remote control to turn off the alarm.
All connections are located on the rear panel: coaxial in 3.5 mm audio output, HDMI 2.0 (with HDCP 2.2), USB 2.0 (for future use), optical out, and Gigabit Ethernet (as well as dual-band Wi-Fi). Virgin tells me that you need to make Internet speeds of 100 Mbit/s, the most out of the device. Curious, I was told there is future-proof support for Dolby Atmos keep this box. BT recently announced that’s certain sporting events will be transmitted in 4 K with Dolby Atmos – if something takes off, the V6 will be ready.
Virgin V6 features
The headline feature of the Virgin-V6 is compatibility with 4 K UHD video. The only content to make use of them come from Netflix and YouTube. In contrast to sky and BT 4 K not Virgin currently offer in terms of content.
The newest 4 K TV has Netflix and YouTube built, but is seeking Virgin, the box is designed to apps, pointing upward and they are stubborn the V6 will be loaded faster. We see us – I’m going to play next week with the interface. Currently, there is no trace of Amazon video or TV now, but you can get BBC iPlayer.
The box is also compatible with HDR, although not immediately. Virgin says it will be a downloadable update if more HDR content are available. I can confirm this: when I use for my hands-on session arrived, Virgin was watching the game with 4 K and HDR attempt on iPlayer the BBC. planet Earth II looks stunning as well as always, but this was the first time I’ve seen it in 4 K and HDR, and it’s beautiful. Are still at the beginning, it considered the Virgin V6 fit for the future.
Another important development is the ability to record six broadcasts at the same time. No one else offers this level of flexibility – only you can record at the same time even the mighty sky Q four TV shows. Need this many? Virgin says it does not expect that everyone will make full use of this opportunity, but it’s for peace of mind. Buy another V6-box and you can bump it up to 12 simultaneous shots. Each box V6 offers 1 TB storage, 500 hours of standard-definition pictures or 100 hours of HD.
Each Virgin V6 should units with other V6, as well as the existing TiVo boxes work. This means that you can upgrade without losing your old recordings. The boxes as a mesh network do not work – have all to establish the Virgin Media Hub – but be able to establish a Multiroom system and share images anywhere in your home.
And not only your home, either. The V6 you can images for iOS and Android devices via the TV anywhere app stream. You can stop a program in the living room and in the bedroom. In my demo, it worked without any problems. The interface also has a section to half watched programs, so you can see everything, you have yet to stop. And the best is you can programs on your phone or Tablet download the app. Content rights reasons you can store up to 30 days – only programs on your portable device and it goes up to 48 hours, once you have started something to watch. It is a little annoying, but not uncommon – the newly announced offline Netflix downloads work in a similar way.
Virgin V6 interface
Has a revision of the software, and it’s also not exclusive to V6 owners.” Owners of existing TiVo box will get an update.
Who knows the original box TiVo will know, as the screen is dominated by walls of text. The latest TiVo interface is tile-based, with large images for each program.
The search function is now much smarter and works on TV and catch-up services, as well as Netflix. There’s also the new serial link + function, a clever way to catch TV episodes. Bookmark a series of dragging, and the field is automatically in other episodes–notably on a different platform. If you miss a special episode to catch up, but it’s available on Netflix, the interface is still find it and put it all in the same menu for easy access.
Most importantly, it is faster. Fought the old TiVo interface with basic menus and scrolling, but now, click path and will keep up the cursor.
You get the Virgin Media store in the February 2017. This is where you buy, download and keep the movies – and get a DVD in the post. This is very useful for the days when the Internet will not only work together.
Virgin V6 – mobile apps
I have already mentioned, the Virgin TV anywhere-app and an ability to stream and download pictures from the V6. But it’s more able.
Can the app as a remote control. You can use it, change the channels or a full QWERTY keypad – easier than by tapping on the number keys on the traditional remote control. You can also use, to find programs and then “flick” it on the V6-box with a wipe.
In addition to the TV anywhere app Virgin has a special kids app, aim, called children of pre-school age in life. It has more than 1,500 hours of cartoons and TV shows for download, as well as interactive games and picture books.
It’s safe, too: it’s all age-appropriate without advertising or in-app purchases. There’s even a function lock, where children have to answer a security question before they can exit the app, which means you keep the small way of inappropriate content. In contrast to the TV anywhere app this works on 3 G / 4 G networks.
Early judgment
The Virgin not how much does TV V6, but it’s a massive leap from the existing software and hardware that has rocked the company for years.” I need a thorough play via the interface to see if it really so fast and smooth looks an experience as native claims, but for now it as Virgin es has managed to offer their home entertainment in a modern and really useful service to develop. Watch out, sky Q…
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