Our mini-review of the Pure DMX-50 DAB, FM, MP3 & CD micro system is now online at:

www.radioandtelly.co.uk/puredmx50.html

ITV News Channel (Freeview ch.81) is set to stop broadcasting 23 Dec 2005.

Our mini-review of the BT Voyager Digital Media Player is now online – this uses a wireless connection to stream Internet radio, MP3 and CDs to a portable player for around the home. More at www.radioandtelly.co.uk/voyager.html

New Freeview slot goes to Channel 4 – expected start in 2006 – More.

Freeview’s EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) has been renumbered – Radio stations have now moved to the 700 range.

More4 launches on Freeview on the 10th October 2005 (on Freeview channel 13).

Sky Three to replace Sky Travel on Freeview at end of October 2005. More.

Review of this high-spec, low-priced DVD recorder/player is now online at: www.radioandtelly.co.uk/sonyrdrgx210.html – this is the ideal machine for dubbing those old videos to DVD before the tapes finally wear out…

Cartoon channel Toonami has been added to TopUp TV lineup (weekends only).

Scottish Premierleague games from Setanta Sport are now available via TopUp in Scottish and Grampian Freeview areas. More.

ITV4 set for a November 2005 launch on Freeview. More.

To coincide with Big Brother, last Friday May 27th, E4 and E4+1 appeared on Freeview. E4 no longer a part of the TopUp TV lineup, and a new channel is due to be added to TopUp TV in the next few days. E4′s addition to Freeview makes Freeview an even more attractive package…
www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeview.html

BT has now released a new version of their NetGem clone Freeview box. The iPlayer+ adds support for TopUp TV, a 7 day electronic programme guide, and the ability to send and receive text messages from your TV. A software upgrade for existing owners of the original BT iPlayer is also available. We’ve added a page on how to upgrade.

If you’ve not yet seen this box – check it out – it’s probably the best specified Freeview box around.

http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/iplayer.html

Tuesday May 31st 2005 sees the start of the final Hitchhiker’s radio series, The Quintessential Phase. This is based on the last book, ‘Mostly Harmless, with a few changes to tie up some loose ends. The last four series are available on CD and cassette, and a new book of scripts is due in July.
http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/hitchhikersradio.html

New version of the popular and powerful Freeview iPlayer is now available. The iPlayer+ has all the features of the original NetGem and BT iPlayer (such as Internet and email access, mp3 playback and USB support), and adds the following: Top Up TV card slot and onboard software, Seven Day Electronic Programme Guide (EPG),
Caller ID with call log, and the ability to send and receive SMS texts over a home landline

Until July 1st, BT are offering £10 off this new model. We hope to have a review of this model soon.

More at radioandtelly.co.uk/iplayer.html

We’ve now added a page of info on the Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio shows. It’s at:

www.radioandtelly.co.uk/hitchhikersradio.html

Series 4, the dramatisation of “So Long and Thanks for all the Fish”, is now running on Radio 4…

British Eurosport has been added to TopUp TV’s lineup, as of 31 May 2005. This replace E4.

E4 and E4+1 are now free-to-view on the Freeview platform – this is to co-incide with Big Brother. More.

The Year of the Guide continues… unless you’ve been living on prehistoric Earth, the fact that the H2G2 film came out a few days ago can’t have escaped your notice. OK – so it’s different to the book, radio series and TV show, and some of the cast are a little unexpected – but it’s actually a rather good film, and well worth the
trip – even just to see what all the hype is about – plenty for fans to get their teeth into, and an entertaining movie for those that don’t know the story. Feel free to disagree in our forum!

Oh – and on the subject of the radio series – tomorrow night (Tuesday 3rd May 2005), sees Series 4 (So Long and Thanks…) making its appearance. Radio 4 at 6:30pm – don’t miss it!

Finally on this theme, there’s a stack of new material now available – books, CDs and action figures… see radioandtelly.co.uk/hitchhikers.html for the latest. The BBC is also running a sale on Hitch-hiker’s material.

New channel from Channel 4, "More 4", is set due for an October 2005 launch. More.