HUMAX Aura Android TV 4K Freeview Play Recorder with Google Assistant and Chromecast - 2TB

Product Information

The update will happen automatically in standby mode. Alternatively, you can access the update manually through the settings menu. That said, if you have your heart set on a single-box solution for your TV recording and video streaming, the Aura is a solid choice. Freeview Play takes the nation’s most popular TV platform to the next level by offering easy to access, catch-up TV. With over 70 subscription-free channels and 20,000 hours of on demand TV available, there's always something to watch on Freeview TV. However, notable by its absence is Netflix. Humax is acutely aware of this hole in its streaming service armoury, and we’re told discussions are ongoing – but as yet there’s nothing to report. Built on Android 9 (aka Pie) with integrated Freeview Play, the Aura behaves like an Android TV when it comes to operation – much like the new Chromecast with Google TV.

Unfortunately, red flags started flying when Netflix wasn’t preinstalled and were only raised when the Google Play store announced that the Netflix app wasn’t supported on this particular device. The Now TV app would install, but on launch sent up an error message saying that the service wasn’t available through this device. You can just about get away with not supporting one of these services. Missing both is a big mistake.Along with an HDMI 2.1 port, there’s optical digital audio output, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB ports (one of which is 3.0), and terrestrial aerial loop through. Dual Wi-Fi is standard. On paper, it’s a potent combination, with Android giving Humax a leg-up with Google Assistant voice control, Chromecast streaming plus the load of apps in the Google Play store. Just how strong is the aura that surrounds Humax’s set-top box? Design Dive into the settings and there are plenty more features to have a look at. One I’d recommend is ‘Dynamic Refresh Rate Scaling’. The Aura scales the resolution of each app to the resolution of the TV (in this case 4K). I found it was too annoying with its constant blinking and oftentimes crashing.

To access entertainment, change the volume, get answers on screen and more, just ask Google. Supplied with a voice activated remote, there’s no need for a separate Google speaker. In terms of firmware, Humax states that it will be upgrading numerous aspects of Aura’s performance, from video and audio enhancements to an improved UI experience. When Brian May plays his solo at the end of the piece, it’s like he’s making his guitar sing. Again, the sense of place is captured brilliantly in a credible rendition of the sound of the old Wembley Stadium full of 72,000 people clapping in time and singing along to Radio Ga Ga. However, these minor points aside, anyone looking for an accomplished PVR that can also add a sophisticated smart platform to their TV is sure to be delighted. As a result, the Humax Aura comes highly recommended. One feature that will certainly be appreciated by parents with little ones to amuse is the aforementioned Kid’s Zone. This is a content-protected area with a cheerful UI that allows kids and parents to browse together for things to watch. Helpfully, thumbnails have clearly marked running times.Humax has had great success with its What Hi-Fi? Award-winning FVP-5000T set-top box and, four years into its life, a replacement was long overdue when the Aura launched in 2020. For both specs and looks, the Aura was the upgrade we had been waiting for. The picture quality through the Freeview Play tuners in both SD and Full HD is every bit as good as that of the FVP-5000T. Watching Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is on BBC2, we get some inviting shots of a French antiques market on a cloudless summer’s day. The cobbled streets and stalls are bright and colourful, but with a realistic sense of tonality and texture. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 27th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) Featuring a high capacity, 2TB hard drive, it's easy to record, pause and rewind live TV. The extra-large capacity storage holds up to 1000 hours of TV - enough to be able to catch up on all your favourite TV even after an extended break away. With the pause and rewind function, interruptions from phone calls are no longer an issue - simply pause the live TV and resume when you're free again. The same HDMI connector on the TV was used for the other boxes along with the same cable, except for the TV’s built in Freeview. The two pictures are from the Humax Aura and the SkyHD(the picture with the (

The latter is actually a rather cool addition to the mix, and for parents could prove a godsend. Its clean, thumbnail driven interface helpfully gives prominence to programme running times, while a Search function only delivers appropriate results.While the Aura is spot on for sound, we still recommend that you buy the cheaper but still brilliant Humax FVP-5000T while you still can, and add a Google Chromecast with Google TV if you also want streaming. The experience won’t feel much more split than the Aura already does but, more importantly, the smart offering will be more complete and a little better for picture quality too. Google Assistant is integrated into the remote control, allowing users to benefit from Google Home services – simply press the button to activate voice control and ask an unlimited number of questions such as finding out the weather or travel information, choose favourite types of content, change channel or volume – or connect to smart home devices to play music, switch on the lights or heating, and much more.

Taking voice control one-step further, Google Assistant also works in controlling a wide range of smart home devices, such as lighting, thermostats and cameras. Use voice control to set the ideal viewing environment, with the lighting and temperature just so. The Humax Aura’s three Freeview Play tuners bring access to over 70 non-subscription live TV channels and over 20,000 hours of on-demand entertainment through the catch-up services, with BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 and My5 all present. Those tuners allow you to pause and rewind TV, as well as record up to four channels while watching a fifth one live. The obvious alternative is the Manhattan T3-R, which isan excellent Freeview Play PVR that benefits from a well-designed and intuitive user interface. It has all the connections you'll need, including Wi-Fi, Freeview HD tuners,a built-in hard drive for recording programmes, anergonomic remote, and support for 4KUltra HD HDR on its YouTube and BBCiPlayer apps. Thanks to Freeview Play there's also a complete set of UKTV on-demand services, which are fully integrated into the TV guide. There’s more here than just regular television and movies. The Google Play Store and Stadia give you access to thousands of excellent video games (just add a Bluetooth controller), while Google Assistant can also be used to control your smart home gear including lights, heating and smart speakers. Freeview Play: all the telly, all the timeSpeaking of recordings, the Humax Aura has three tuners so you could in theory record up to four channels simultaneously while watching another – you can also pause and rewind live TV as it’s happening. There are two versions of the Aura set-top box with a 1TB and 2TB version, the former is good for up to 500 hours of standard definition or 250 hours of high-definition content, while the latter doubles that to 1000 hours of SD and 500 hours of HD.