Er, you work for Astro like TallJustin? So you mean only that particular WD model runs well on Astro PVR?
Have you tested for other brands?

blargh! My mistake, centre Cut is for hd only where the box cut the left and right part of the screen to show full screen on sdtv instead of letterboxes.

Ur using sdtv?

---

Added on June 2, 2010, 1:22 amother models wont work, even if it's the same brand. TallJustin? Umm sapa tu?

This post has been edited by lapaq: Jun 2 2010, 01:22 AM

yo.. about the FOX HD thingy... is it coming from reliable source??

how did u said Astro confirm these things... are u working with em??

No..........i am using a Panasonic Plasma HDTV.

Well, there is no different at all when I select these in HD channel.

yup that is it. It is designed for hd programs in 16:9 to be croppwd to 4:3 in sdtv while still maintaining the aspect ratio and shown without the black bars.

WOW...........Only 1 day..........or i think less than 24 hours.......this new thread v5 already reaching Page 9 !!!!

Congratulations !!!!!

just wait for an announcement lah. Don't speculate. Just a few more days what. If nothing happens then it's not true lah.

Its not FOX HD..the confirmed one was FX HD..
The FOX one is SD..
Someone who attended the roadshow and announcement at Mid Valley today stated FOX SD will also be coming..
He said this at the end of the v4.0 thread..
I went on Astro Facebook and ask astro..
They have confirmed FOX SD will also be available from 16 June 2010 same days as HD channels launch..
They also said FX HD and FOX SD will ot be the same channel..
FX will ot be available on SD and FOX also wont be available on HD
Thats the latest info

here's the post
http://www.facebook.com/index.php?lh=bf6d4...665245&comments

This post has been edited by dxjb: Jun 2 2010, 01:32 AM

How did you manage to test it 2 months before it launch?
Could you explain further on why other HDD won't work?

Wonder FOX SD is aired in 4:3 or 16:9 widescreen?

Thanks for the reply, Justin. Appreciate it. I guess RM10 a month for B.yond PVR is for the ability to record using two tuners instead of one on B.yond.

The following paragraphs is my deduction and customer feedback, but I understand if you take it as a personal attack.

I personally think that the reason for the recommendation for the WD AV HDD is to discourage subscribers to buy the HDD and instead get B.yond PVR. The price is practically the same yet by paying for the B.yond PVR you get 200 GB more and the dual-tuner. The reason is to sell more B.yond PVR while the 320GB stock is still sitting in the warehouse. We all know that HDD size and price change a lot within six months but Astro can't possibly keep changing the B.yond PVR to newer drives each month.

Astro tech people I spoke to at Mid Valley said I can't change the internal HDD of B.yond PVR to a larger one either unless the B.yond firmware allows it to. But there's already a WD AV 2TB 3.5" HDD (drive only) out there, designed specifically for PVRs. Granted it costs more than B.yond PVR but I predict future owners would want the ability to upgrade easily.

Tivo allows for this and that's why they left the upgrade options open. They go so far as to include an e-SATA port at the back of their Tivo HD units; B.yond PVR does not have an e-SATA port at the back. And Tivo certainly did not specify that the HDD has to be from WD nor did they say that it must be an AV HDD. As a point of reference, Tivo US records in MPEG-2 bitstreams higher than 8Mbps that the B.yond HD channels on air. For Tivo to not demand that the HDD be of a specific model means they understand what their customers demanded. Even Sony doesn't dictate which SATA drive you can use with the PS3; as long as data can flow uninterrupted, it is a valid drive. Using PlayTV/Torne boxes (connected via USB), users can turn the PS3 as a PVR in Europe, Australia and Japan.

I believe that it is wiser for Astro to leave the choice of external/internal HDDs to the subscribers. They can have a recommended list to cover their asses, but leave the decision to the consumers. If the consumers are not satisfied with the quality of their recording, they can change to a recommended drive.

EDIT: I was told by the Astro tech person at MidValley that FX HD would be in the Family package, AXN HD in the Variety package and that Chinese HD channel in Dynasty. He didn't say when but I guess the 16th is as good as any launch date.


fuad

This post has been edited by writesimply: Jun 2 2010, 01:48 AM

other hdd wont work simply because the byond box software has be hardcoded to only accept specific model of the hdd. the wd my passport av has been tested and proven to be very stable in every possible condition. I.e. Tested to be fully compatible. Also the fact that the power requirement is very stable and is able to work with non stop recording for a very long time.

This doesn't sound "compatible", it sound more like "you can only use this WD model...."

To me, this really doesn't make any sense....
Why Astro is limiting the customer for ext HDD choices? Some more only on a particular HDD size?
320GB?! How many we need to buy??
Even some laptop already equip with >320G already lo ......

Hmmmm, I think I better hold-on first .....

Writesimply

mate, I don't take any offence to that, well said and some very valid points.

fuad,

your deduction is not entirely correct. I can say that much. Ask yourselves this question. Out of 3 mil Astro customers, what's the percentage of customers who would require an upgradable pvr box? The answer? Personally i only see a small fraction. Those as techie as you and me will never really need it simply because we have our PS3, HD media player HTPC and etc to play our bluray, HD Movies and etc.

Ask yourself, what would an average joe use it for? To record indefinitely and fill the hdd within the first week N never delete anything?

Having 500gb is more than enough for today's customer. If one day Astro decided to fit a PVR with a 1 TB hdd it can be done just like the PS3 and xbox 360, those who bought first will get only 500gb and those who bought later will get 1TB. Astro just need to update the software.

Malaysian is not ready to have that options yet especially when it comes to astro. Then again, as astro said it during the launch event, they are going to add more hdd in the list to be compatible with byond in the future. Just let them do the testing and ensure that consumer and the company interest is protected. That is all.

This post has been edited by lapaq: Jun 2 2010, 02:14 AM

I should clarify by "valid points" I'm refering to your technical points. I don't agree with the assumption that we would release a new decoder to completely supercede one that is 6months old only. We would loss money by doing that as we wouldnt be able to clear out the stock of the first b.yond which is still in production and will continue to be manufactured

which part of the below post don't you understand?

WHAT???!! where's the funding go?
ok, that's it... the lot of you better look for new jobs next week.



you just KNOW some people are going to complain about this

This post has been edited by SiriuslyCold: Jun 2 2010, 02:25 AM

Justin,

is this true for AXN HD? what's the sense AXN HD in Variety while AXN is in basic..

sorry mate, I don't have a clue about pricing and channel packaging? Ask me a technical or a "how do I...?" question and if I don't know the answer I will find out for you

its more or less guaranteed that AXN HD will be on family package..
Astros FB already confirms this..However, its FX HD that will more likely be put in the variety package as it is only stated as a Preview Channel for the time being..
Enjoy it while it lasts unless u already are a variety package subscriber
Yes all 3 HD channels will go on air on 16 June 2010..