Jump directly to the content
PICTURE PERFECT

Brits can instantly boost the picture quality of their Freeview TV box today – check hidden setting now

See the important steps you need to follow below
a woman sits on a couch watching a tv with the freeview logo on the screen

TWO major Freeview boxes have received a significant update that improves a number of features including the picture quality.

The Manhattan T4 and T4-R devices are popular choices among telly lovers, the latter enabling users to record their favourite shows.

Owners need to update their boxes now
2
Owners need to update their boxes nowCredit: Amazon / Manhattan
Manhattan's boxes are popular among Freeview fans who want to record locally
2
Manhattan's boxes are popular among Freeview fans who want to record locallyCredit: Amazon / Manhattan

Manufacturer Manhattan has fixed a number of issues and promised another update will bring more popular features in a matter of weeks.

But for now, the biggest change is to picture quality, which improves how standard definition (SD) Freeview channels and on-demand content look.

The firm says viewers should notice "enhanced sharpness and detail for a better viewing experience" with a "step up in picture clarity".

There's also improvements for the HDMI compatibility.

Read more about Freeview

Elsewhere, a number of glitches that could cause the system to hang or crash during recording and playback - including when booking series recordings or fast-forwarding at high speeds - has been resolved.

Another bug that's been solved would happen deleting a series recording while an episode was recording, which caused in the recording to never stop.

Manhattan says there is a "rare" issue still affecting the T4R that may make the machine unresponsive when entering or exiting Sleep or Smart standby which is yet to be fixed.

"We're close to having a fix, but didn't want to delay these improvements," the company said.

"If this occurs, you'll need to disconnect and reconnect power to restart the box."

Access to the YouTube app is expected to land in the next update too, which is estimated to arrive within the next four to six weeks.

A New TV Channel Divides Viewers Early for Christmas 2024

To benefit from the upgrade, you may need to run an update on your box manually.

You'll need to be connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or a cable to your router to do this.

When that's all set, do the following with your remote:

  • Home
  • Settings
  • System
  • Software Updates
  • Check for Update Now

How to cut streaming bills with top FREE TV

Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime don't come cheap - and year on year subscription costs seem to go up.

Fortunately there are loads of free streaming TV alternatives not everyone knows about.

And we're not just talking about BBC iPlayer and ITVX.

Here are some free alternatives worth trying:

Topics