Unlike the 40GB and 160GB Sky+ boxes, this HD version has basic navigation controls on the top of the chassis. The front panel is minimalist in terms of design, but does retain the trademark circular LED to indicate playback. The Sky HD box also includes an interactive card slot on the right-hand side.
Sky's HD service will launch in early 2006 and will support 720p/50 and 1080i/25 resolutions. The HD broadcasts will be a premium service offering a combination of sports, movies, entertainment and documentaries in high-definition. From launch, 100 Premiership football matches per season will also be broadcast in HD. Existing channel packages will be viewable in standard definition.
The HD box will offer Sky+ PVR functionality, enabling users to pause and rewind live TV, as well as record TV shows onto hard disk.
Crucially, this box will NOT be restricted to HDCP-enabled DVI and HDMI connections and WILL output HD video via analogue component connectors. These have been added to the Sky HD box to ensure maximum compatibility with TVs that don't meet the new EICTA 'HD-ready' specification.
The new HD box is one of two new products announced by Sky. The other is the strangely-titled Sky Gnome, a wireless receiver, enabling you to listen to your favourite Sky TV and radio channels (or pre-recorded content) in any room of the house, within a typical range of 30 metres from your Sky box. Sky says that it works with all Sky boxes and doesn't require an extra subscription charge. See www.sky.com/gnome for more info.
Get more information about Sky’s HD service at www.sky.com/hd
For those who were worrying about lack of component support, no need to worry!
