Connect with us

Technology

Watch out Sky – UK rival offers even more things to watch for free this year

Avatar photo

Published

on


Freely might have got off to a slow start, but this major rival to Sky and Freeview is definitely improving at a pretty rapid rate. At launch this online platform, which uses the web to beam live and on demand content to TVs, only had a handful of channels and was available via a small number of new televsions. Since it’s origianal launch back in 2024, things have got better for those wanting to switch to Freely with more compatible tellies being added to the list along with a recently released PLEIO Puck which brings this streaming platform to any screens in the home.

Now there’s even more good news coming this year. Freely recently confirmed that it is boosting its channel offerings in 2026 thanks to a new partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery UK & Ireland.

Starting very soon, those with Freely-powered devices will get six free-to-air linear channels added to their living rooms. These blockbuster updates include Quest, Quest Red, Food Network, DMAX, Really and TLC.

The new channel line-up will now bring viewers some of the UK’s most popular British factual entertainment series. These include shows such as The Yorkshire Auction House and Richard Hammond’s Workshop.

From this month, it will also be bolstered by a new-look TLC service. This is promising homes a broad mix of entertainment with hit scripted comedies The Big Bang Theory and brand new spin-off Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, as well as unscripted series including the highly-anticipated return of Mock the Week and new show Zero Stars, with comedians Roisin Conaty and Sara Pascoe.

This update also comes hot on the heels of the recent announcement that Hearst Networks EMEA, Bloomberg TV+, Talking Pictures TV, Gemporia and Local TV will also join the free streaming platform.

CNN Headlines, a channel featuring the top stories in global news has also recemtly joined Freely on channel 305.

All of these new additions mean Freely will soon carry over 70 live channels via Wi-Fi, alongside more than 75,000 hours of on-demand content.

Speaking about the news Deep Halder, CCO, Everyone TV, said: “These additional channels have so much to offer the Freely audience, further expanding the line-up for UK homes who are increasingly choosing to stream live TV. From global news delivered by CNN to the extensive portfolio of entertainment shows from Warner Bros. Discovery, who recently announced some exciting linear-first commissions of fan favourites including a new-look Mock the Week coming to TLC next year. Viewers will be able to easily and seamlessly access these brand-new shows, all in one place, for free, on Freely.”

If you want to join the Freely revolution you will need a compatible TV or a Freely streaming device. Manufacturers making Freely screens include Hisense, Panasonic, Toshiba, Bush, TCL and Sharp.

The only thing to check is your broadband speed as all content comes via an internet connection and not an aerial.



Source link

Technology

Sky gets a surprise new TV rival and it launches in the UK next month

Avatar photo

Published

on


Sky might rule the roost when it comes to premium TV, but it has yet more competition to fend off. Vodafone has just announced that it will be joining the streaming revolution next month with the arrival of a new device that will let homes watch over 150 channels without needing an aerial or satellite dish.

Just like Sky’s Stream box, Vodafone TV is powered by the web and will come packed with services including Netflix and HBO Max.

The latest Freely platform is also baked in, offering live TV without needing to fork out for a monthly subscription.

Those who sign up for Vodafone TV will get a compact plug-in hub that will offer that wide range of content along with extra features such as impressive 4K picture quality, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos audio.

There is another bonus as well. Vodafone says that, along with TV, the device will also offer users the chance to play over 300 games plus there will be access to additional apps thanks to compatibility with the Google Play Store.

“Vodafone TV is a new entertainment hub that brings live TV, On Demand, streaming, gaming, music, and a huge range of content apps together in one place, without the need for a dish or aerial,” the company explained.

So when can you get it? Vodafone TV will be available from October to new and existing Vodafone customers with a home broadband, 5G Broadband or mobile plan.

This makes Vodafone the only Mobile Network Operator in the UK to bundle TV with mobile and mobile broadband giving customers more flexibility.

There’s currently no word on price, but hopefully more will be announced in the coming weeks.

This launch now means Vodafone will go head-to-head with other firms that also offer broadband and TV bundles. We’ve already mentioned Sky, but EE, BT, TalkTalk and Virgin Media also offer similar services.

With more competition around, there will be more choices for consumers and maybe plenty of deals to help lower prices.

If your TV deal is coming to an end, it could be a good time to shop around.



Source link

Continue Reading

Technology

Roku launches a better way to watch TV for free and it’s available now

Avatar photo

Published

on


Roku is taking aim at the big-screen TV market with a new range of tellies featuring a major display upgrade. Made in partnership with Sharp, the latest Roku TVs now come equipped with mini-LED technology, promising deeper contrast, brighter pictures and more precise lighting than standard LED screens. Roku is also boasting that its smart Audio provides built-in sound post-processing for clearer, fuller sound straight out of the box.

To help bring plenty of content into living rooms, the sets run Roku’s smart TV operating system, giving owners easy access to popular streaming services such as Netflix, as well as free entertainment from Freely and the Roku Channel.

For those not aware, Freely offers access to over 60 live channels without a subscription whilst the Roku channel includes shows such as Bondi Rescue and Gordon Ramsey’s Best Restaurants.

Other extras include universal search, personalised recommendations and automatic software updates, all from a simple, customisable home screen.

There are two screen sizes to choose from – 50in and 55in – with prices starting from £329.99. The new Sharp Roku TV mini-LED range is available from argos.co.uk.

Mini-LED is a type of LCD screen technology that uses thousands of tiny LEDs to provide the backlight. Because these LEDs are much smaller than those in traditional displays, they can be controlled more precisely, delivering brighter images, deeper blacks, stronger contrast and improved HDR performance. It sits between standard LCD and OLED technology.

Speaking about the TV upgrade, Rob Woollard, Director, Retail Partnerships at Roku UK, said: “This launch builds on the strong momentum we’ve seen across the Sharp Roku TV line-up. Bringing Mini-LED picture quality into the range shows exactly what this long-standing partnership is about: pairing great hardware with an easy, award-winning streaming experience.

“It reflects our ongoing ambition to keep raising the bar on picture quality with Sharp.”



Source link

Continue Reading

Technology

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 review: My new best buds

Avatar photo

Published

on


Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 review

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 review (Image: Sennheiser)

What we love

  • Premium build and nice case
  • Impressive audio
  • Good battery life
  • Batteries can be changed
  • Lots of sound customisation

What we don’t

  • Some connectivity issues
  • Weird charging port placement
  • Expensive

Sennheiser is on a serious roll. The German audio firm recently launched its brilliant Momentum 5, which are without doubt among the best over-ear models I’ve tested this year. Now it’s back with a new pair of earbuds — and once again, Sennheiser has knocked it out of the park. The MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 feel premium from the moment you prise them from the box.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 offer supreme sound (Image: SENNHEISER)

Even the charging case makes an instant impression. It has a reassuringly solid build with a lid that snaps open and shut with a satisfying click. There’s also an embossed silver Sennheiser logo on top, adding another touch of class.

It might sound odd to get excited about a charging case, but I’ve tested plenty of so-called premium earbuds that look and feel surprisingly cheap. That certainly isn’t the case here.

The classy design continues with the buds themselves. They have a nice weight without feeling bulky, while my silver review pair certainly stands out from the ever-growing crowd of boring black and white wireless earbuds.

Sennheiser includes a selection of ear tips in the box to suit all ears, while its companion app features a clever sound test to help you find the right fit and stop sound leaking in.

Once the MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 are firmly in your ears and the music starts playing, the premium experience continues.

Sennheiser has packed a 7mm TrueResponse dynamic transducer into each compact bud — and it shows.

These earbuds sound fantastic. There’s plenty of bass, but it never overwhelms the rest of the track, while vocals and instruments remain crisp and well separated. Even busy songs never descend into a muddy mess.

There’s plenty to play with in the app, too, including a full EQ that lets you fine-tune the sound to your liking.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 come in numerous colours (Image: Sennheiser)

Then there’s the excellent active noise cancellation (ANC), which does a remarkable job of blocking out the world around you.

I’ve worn these buds on the busy streets of London, the noisy Underground and even on a plane, and they’ve handled all environments brilliantly.

In fact, the ANC is almost too good. When walking around town, I’d recommend switching to one of the ambient modes that lets outside sound in. At one point, I nearly got clipped by a car because I simply didn’t hear it approaching.

Audio quality gets another boost from Snapdragon Sound and aptX Lossless support, while Dolby Atmos with interactive head tracking adds another layer of immersion when watching compatible movies and TV shows.

Calls have also been improved thanks to a redesigned eight-sensor system featuring six microphones, which helps keep your voice clear.

Battery life is impressive, too. You can get around 12 hours from the earbuds before they need a top-up from the case, with around 40 hours of total listening time.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 review

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 review (Image: SENNHEISER)

Run them flat and an eight-minute quick charge can add up to another hour of listening.

Perhaps best of all, Sennheiser has fitted user-replaceable batteries in both the earbuds and charging case.

That could make a big difference to the lifespan of these buds, potentially keeping them going long after many rivals would have ended up in the drawer or headed for the bin.

So, are they perfect? Not quite.

My first gripe is the USB-C charging port. It sits on the bottom of the case, meaning you have to lay it flat to charge. It’s not a deal breaker — especially as wireless charging is also supported — but it’s an odd design choice and one that reminds me of the criticism levelled at Apple’s infamous wireless mouse.

The cream-coloured case supplied for my review also picks up dirt surprisingly easily, so you’ll need to give it a regular clean if you want it to retain that box-fresh look.

My biggest frustration, however, is Bluetooth multipoint, which allows the buds to connect to two devices at once.

Unlike AirPods, which seamlessly switch between my MacBook, iPad and iPhone, I’ve had several problems moving audio between devices.

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5

Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 can get mucky if you choose a light colour (Image: SENNHEISER)

On numerous occasions, after connecting the buds to my laptop, I simply couldn’t get them to switch back to my phone until I went to the Bluetooth settings and disconnected the buds..

Hopefully this is something Sennheiser can iron out with a software update — or perhaps I’ve just been unlucky — but it can become seriously annoying.

Those niggles aside, I’ve got very little bad to say about the MOMENTUM True Wireless 5.

They look fantastic, sound superb, offer excellent battery life and give you plenty of options to fine-tune the audio.

At £249, they certainly aren’t cheap. But sometimes you really do get what you pay for. If you’re a Sennheiser fan and have the budget in your bank, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 come highly recommended.

In fact, they may just be my new best buds.



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending