SPECIAL PROJECT (P). Record your favorite shows, look for shows you've missed in the last few days, and have direct access to Netflix, HBO and Youtube. Plus many more. On TV and on the phone.
We tested the new Vodafone TV mediabox (the successor of the former UPC) and we still present "what can" this box.
Especially since now, for the holidays, there is also a price offer (you have it below). With the new Mediabox, you're no longer just a "cable subscriber," as you used to be. You can "take the TV with you", because you can watch the programs wherever you are, on your phone or tablet, through the Vodafone TV application. In the same subscription.
What did we like?
There are two major benefits:
1. The spectacular image quality (also supports 4K) and the range of features related to the programs: you can "turn back time" and see the shows of the last week (for what we do at Paginademedia.ro, it's more than useful), register programs you like, make a "watch list" for later, etc.
2. Virtually any TV with HDMI input turns into a Smart TV with direct access to Netflix and HBO.
And a third, very important: you can see the programs and content on your phone and tablet.
What would we have liked?
The time should also appear when the programs are displayed (the application shows what's next and at what time, but we don't see the current time). We would have liked the change of programs to be a little faster.
Find all the Conclusions, with detailed Pros and Cons, at the end of this review.
Before, a clarification: this review was made by Paginademedia.ro at the request of Vodafone TV.
It should be noted that during this period there is a special Christmas offer: 9.90 euros for new subscribers and 7.90 euros per month for those who are Vodafone customers.
Let's take each aspect in turn:
1. What the Media Box looks like
Compared to the old mediabox (from the “weather” of UPC), but also compared to the Horizon boxing, the new “box” from Vodafone is incomparably smaller. If we put it next to the old mediabox, it is about twice as thin and four or five times as small!
Remote control - note the presence on the remote control of the dedicated Netflix, HBO and Amazon Prime Video buttons, with direct reference to it.
Photo: New MediaBox, much smaller than "classic"
2. Installation
It installs very easily, lasted a few minutes. Very important: the box connects with a UTP cable to the router, because it needs internet access. Basically, the TV signal cable, the net cable and the power supply and the media box were "online".
The mediabox offers a number of settings (for example, up to 4k resolution), brightness, and a selection of channels that you want to record automatically.
We have selected all the channels so that I can give the time back whenever it is needed, and on any channel (in my opinion, the most important advantage).
3. Home page
Access the mediabox's "Home Page" by pressing the "Home" button on the remote control. What we see here: My MTV - the list of shows you have selected to watch later or which you have already recorded, the list of LIVE TV shows and the windows to HBO GO, Netflix, Prime Video and Youtube. Navigating the menu is intuitive.
4. The most important chapter: what does the Media Box do? How we watch and how we (re) watch TV shows
From the beginning I noticed the quality of the image. "Glass", as they say, for HD programs. There are also three 4K channels in the package (Look, EuroNews and Insight). Netflix, HBO or Youtube 4k content can be viewed at the highest possible level of your TV (if you have 4K, the most visible is on these channels).
New to show information: a simple OK on the remote control shows not only the program data (show name, season, duration, genre), but also a "bar" like on youtube or Netflix, so you know if the show has just started or is in the end.
Here are the important options. Just click OK and the recording functions appear:
- "From the beginning": if you missed the start of the program, you can play from the beginning of the show (at the stations where it is available)
- "Record season" or "Record episode": no explanation needed.
- "Add to watchlist": the program is saved and you can watch it anytime in the next seven days.
The registration options are more than useful, especially in our case. Until now, I used Horizon or the classic MediaBox for recordings for Paginademedia.ro, but the options of the new MediaBox are far beyond the old systems.
Another white ball: when browsing between stations, the MediaBox also shows you the following programs, with large Thumbnails, like on Netflix, for example. All you have to do is press the "up" or "down" arrows on the remote control and enter the program listing directly.
How do you see what was on a TV station yesterday? Or the day before yesterday? Or a week ago?
Just as simple: turn on the remote control and "Play", if the program allows (there are TV stations or programs that do not have this option).
However, the MediaBox records all stations automatically, and the recordings remain in the system for one week.
5. Netflix, HBO, Youtube on TV and on the phone
Because any TV with HDMI input becomes virtually a Smart TV, you have access to all the applications of such a device directly from the Home-Page.
The most popular applications are here: Netflix, HBO, Prime Video, Youtube. If you already have a Netflix subscription, you are logged in from the Home Page and no longer need to enter through the TV application (if you have a Smart TV).
6. Take the TV with you
That's the way it is, because the subscription that comes with the 4K MediaBox also automatically offers the Vodafone TV application. In other words, you can also watch TV on your phone or tablet, no matter where you are.
We watched "What Romanians say" while we waited in the car and the image was "crystal clear". Interestingly, you can also select the programs you want later from the phone application. And you can see them on the phone or on TV when you get home.
For the test, I started looking at Zootropolis on the phone and continued home. MediaBox synced with the application and retained the playlist. Moreover, you can immediately switch to watching from the phone on the TV very easily: as on youtube, just click on the "link" window.
7. Conclusions: What are the advantages of the new MediaBox? And what could be improved?
Broadly speaking, Vodafone TV's new MediaBox clearly offers options that other major TV service providers in the market do not have available. Or at least we don't know how to be. From our experience with the Vodafone TV Media Box, the benefits it offers go far beyond the things that could be improved.
The price of the package from the holiday offer: 9.90 euros per month for new subscribers and 7.90 euros for those who already have a Vodafone service.
In short, Pros and Cons:
PRO:
- Exceptional image quality and 4K support. Basically, "take out" the best of the TV you have. HD programs look flawless
- Turn any TV with HDMI input into a Smart TV. Moreover, you are no longer just a "cable subscriber", but you can see the programs on other devices as well.
- the multitude of options it offers for viewing: in our opinion, the most useful is the fact that it "gives time back" and you can review the latest programs for up to seven days
- recording the desired programs, but also scheduling recordings for future shows
- you can record the entire season of a show or series. The recording functions are intuitive and can be easily accessed from the remote control of the device.
- the visible display, with thumbnails, of the programs that follow on a TV station
- Direct access to applications such as HBO, Netflix or Youtube, at the touch of a button on the remote control. The applications are very easy to find on the Home Page of the device.
- the ability to download programs from the VOD offer so you can watch them in no-signal areas (like Netflix)
- mobility: watching programs and movies both on TV and on your phone or tablet, no matter where you are
- watching multi-view programs (from phone to TV)
- much smaller size compared to old devices
CONS:
- Lack of time to display information about TV programs: The time the next program starts appears, but you do not know what time it is when you watch. Especially since, in order to be as small as possible, the new Media-Box does not display the time either (for the old Media-Boxes, there is a time display and the TV channel).
- relatively long channel change time: it's about three seconds from the moment you press the button on the remote control until the station changes. We're not saying it's instantaneous, but we think it would go a little faster.
- a connection problem that the old Media-Boxes did not have. The Vodafone TV device appears as "unknown" on the HDMI input, therefore it cannot be controlled by the TV remote control and at the same time it cannot appear with an Icon in the TV menu bar for easy access.
The old MediaBox (from the time of UPC) was recognized, appeared in the menu bar as a source and could be controlled with Smart Remote (at least in the case of Samsung TV). Vodafone TV has said it will "investigate" the situation to see if it can be implemented in the future.