Samsung STB-E7500 3D Dual Core Smart Hub Set-Top Box with 500GB HDD and Built in Wi-Fi (New for 2012)
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Brilliant unit, great value, By
Paul Jenkins - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Samsung STB-E7500 3D Dual Core Smart Hub Set-Top Box with 500GB HDD and Built in Wi-Fi (New for 2012) (Electronics)
I'm no gadget geek, merely an averagely competent computer user, so I was a little apprehensive about buying what is in my book quite a sophisticated piece of equipment with a wide range of capabilities, particularly the functions available through link to the internet and to my computer. I am delighted and massively impressed that in a few days I have been able to access all the functions I want to use with relatively little difficulty.My tv is a 26'' Samsung LCD which is only HD ready so I knew I would not get the full HD effect, nevertheless the picture is a massive improvement in clarity, sharpness and depth and I am very pleased with that. Recording 2 programmes at once is an important feature as we are catering for a range of ages in the household and that works fine. I can confirm that it is possible to start watching a programme that has not completed recording, something we like to do often, particularly so we can fast forward throught the commercials.
The only criticism is that the layout of the guide and the processes for recording and deleting are very hard work indeed and it must be possible to improve this. I am comparing with a 7 year old Panasonic dvd recorder which we had been using which was really simple to navigate around. However, a small price to pay for such an otherwise excellent product.
My main problem in setting up was getting the connection to my broadband hub wifi to work. But I found out eventually, after some helpful advice from Samsung customer support, that I needed to resite the hub to the room that the unit is in, probably because our house is an old cottage with very thick walls and the unit sits in an oak cabinet. I think this was a problem specific to our house and not a problem with the unit. Once this was resolved we were up and running with access to YouTube then as of today the app for bbc iplayer has become available, which was a key selling point for us and I'm pleased to say that it works really well and is simple to use.Also using the Allshare software (this is available via a download on the Samsung website - google Allshare)to access photos saved on my copmputer.
Overall I am very pleased with the unit and would strongly recommend it.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Just brilliant, By
D. Henderson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Samsung STB-E7500 3D Dual Core Smart Hub Set-Top Box with 500GB HDD and Built in Wi-Fi (New for 2012) (Electronics)
I had been looking at this for a while and was a bit put off by some of the negative reviews but eventually took the plunge when found a cheap one on Amazon Warehose. Usual super fast delivery from Amazon.The box itself was a breeze to set up. I must admit I'm a bit geeky and love fiddling with settings etc, Nevertheless, it couldn't have been easier to set up the basic functions. It connected wirelessly immediately and took about 5 minutes to download updates via wireless connection. After some reviews about the absence of certain Apps, I can confirm that BBC iplayer, lovefilm, Netflix , YouTube and Acetrax (not an exhaustive list) are all present and work fine (lovefilm is the only one I can't confirm as I don't have an account with them). As a Freeview recorder it works very well, with slick features and pop up screen info telling you when a recording is about to start or finish and asking whether you want to check that programme info times haven't altered (I have never checked and so far has not missed anything). It has the ability to easily edit recorded programmes to cut advert breaks out of films etc ( a really easy to use and neat app IMO but I suspect as it loses it's novelty I will probably just FF these bits).
The one critiscism I would have is that whilst it lets you record 2 channels at once and pause/ rewind live TV etc, you can't rewind a channel you have been watching unless "timeshift mode" has been enabled. It's easy enough to enable timeshift- just press play or pause and it not only allows you to rewind the channel you are currently watching but it also enables you to rewind even if you change channels several times as iti stores them in its "history". I have in the past accidentally switched channels on other STB's, forgetting I was in time delay and lost the thing I was initially watching. With this Samsung STB, it will still be there. The only suggestion I would make as a presumably easy firmware update, is to have the option to set the "Time shift" mode to come on automatically, rather than have to enable it first ( most other freesat/freeview recorders have this set as default.
If you're looking for an easy to set up and use freeview recorder, then this would meet your requirements but I think you would be missing the point of this box. It took me a full day to investigate all of its functions and I still haven't covered them all.
Some of the functions are as follows:
It will stream video very well (as good as my apple TV) from my iMac using Serviio as a streaming app. I can't comment on the all share as I no longer use Windows. You can set a favourites channel list in any order you choose and change the channel numbers if you choose.
Some reviews have criticised the method of getting to the recorded TV but I think it's pretty good. You press the "home" button which brings up 5 basic menus, choose the "Allshare" menu and you are immediately presented with a neat screen layout of all the new and recent files that have been accessed - this could be recently streamed videos, recently recorded TV shows, audio tracks or even photos. You can also set up a playlist containing your favourite files. You can also dig a little deeper to access older files by scrolling down the mini menu on the left to get to either videos, photos, music or recorded Tv and access any of this media content on anything linked to the box that it can recognise (it recognises all my NAS drive files whether they be photos music or video in varying formats - my video files for example are a mix of mp4 and MTV files). Even better you can add a HDD to the rear USB port and not only will it recognise files on this but if you ask it to format the drive, it will also use it to record TV or to use it as it woul the internal HDD for its live TV Timeshift function. This makes the storage capacity effectively limitless.
The audio output, I found after a bit of fiddling and researching, will indeed be DTS 5.1 channel surround but this really depends on the source. Although BBC HD claims to be (and is shown up as ) 5.1, in reality most TV showsagave 2.0 channel. There is occasional HD audio material in 5.1 but this is the rare exception. The Samsung does, however play5.1 as I confirmed by streaming video content I knew was 5.1.
The other menus allow you to change video output (ie to 1080i 720p or 1080p etc), set the box up as a wireless access point, set up divx (which I don't use) add a keyboard or mouse etc, etc.and see what recordings you have scheduled (again this is not exhaustive).
I couldn't get the remote to control my new Panasonic TV which was a little disappointing but switching the Samsung STB on automatically switches my TV on and to the correct input for the Samsung (presumably via Anynet link).
Other features which work well - 3D, Picture in picture (can change size/position or... Read more
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Good hardware..........flaky software/firmware, By
Mr. David M. Rust (Andover, Hampshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Samsung STB-E7500 3D Dual Core Smart Hub Set-Top Box with 500GB HDD and Built in Wi-Fi (New for 2012) (Electronics)
1st one sent back as it didn't record scheduled programmes from the guide, Intermittent surround sound on HD channels and also BBC iplayer and Lovefilm are not available yet even though the logos for both are all over the packaging. Will update this once I have received the replacement unit. Amazon were fantastic in re-ordering the items & rearranging collection of the faulty unit. I only hope Samsung can redeem themselves with the second unit. Fingers crossed.Update. Right 2nd unit arrived, this one is now working! Much better. Still no BBC iplayer or lovefilm apps, hopefully this will happen in a update.
Update 2. BBC iplayer and lovefilm apps now added. Still pleased.
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