Free Unveils box 29.99 € 4K and Android-compatible TV – Le Parisien

Daniel Rosenweg | March 10, 2015, 5:14 p.m. | Update: March 10, 2015, 6:43 p.m.

Xavier Niel, head of Free (Iliad group), presented Tuesday morning a new box compatible with the format of ultra high-definition digital images, also called 4K. This “mini 4K” is its name, offers Android TV and voice recognition learning remote for € 29.99 per month.

Details of an expected announcement

. “13: 37″ appears on the giant screen in the auditorium of the Paris headquarters of Free. Another code, like love Xavier Niel, head of Free? Suddenly, the countdown starts: 13.37 seconds later, the lights come on, Xavier Niel went on stage and reminded that he will soon present “a real surprise, available at the output of the conference.”

images of extreme delicacy

The “surprise”, it is a box entry, substitute the Crystal totally revisited. Main innovations: “This is the first box compliant 4K, the Ultra HD” says the boss founder of Free. A compatible box, so with the new format of images that offers images of extreme delicacy.

Video support, Xavier Niel then outlines the contours (all black) and content her new baby before an audience of 300 journalists. “Narrowed” said Xavier Niel, the new TV box (there is a second box for the Internet) can be controlled with a new radio remote control (devices can be ordered even stored in drawers or cupboards), capable of voice recognition. “It is said: Luc Besson film, the screen will display all movies Besson, as Lucia …. We want photos of Marion Cotillard? Same thing, “explains Xavier Niel.

The first triple play 4K box with Android in the world

This possibility is that the Freebox is actually running under Android, al latest version says ” L “or” Lollipop, “and provides access to the Internet and to the google store and its thousands of downloadable applications. Android TV is also integrated allowing such access to suggestions. Free boss wants to justify this choice: “” We have three reasons to bring Google in the box: the most common operating system is the one that offers the most rich applications and is compatible with many other devices. ” Exit the standoff (and advertisements clippings) 2013 with Google, owner of YouTube? ..

“This is the first triple play box 4K running Android in the world” s’ enthusiasm Niel

This “Mini 4K” is rather well equipped. compliant fiber, ADSL, VDSL …, it also has an integrated “femtocell” a home network amplifier for Before you can use the box in case of bad mobile network. Finally, the box is still compatible with Canal + and Canal Sat. A bunch of 200 TV channels is included. In contrast, the Blu Ray drive, the hard drive, are reserved to the box Revolution

The price remains the same as the Crystal.. € 29.99 per month ttc no obligation

Bonus: the mobile phone offers € 15.99 per month instead of € 19.99 for box owners extends to four packages per box. Finally, those who want two home box only pay € 1.99 more if they already have a revolution.

So a good deal?
A good deal, no doubt. The best deal is to see.

4K useful? Tomorrow fail. For now, the high-speed Ultra broadcast program are still the exception, and the park of these new TVs, even if it grows, remains confidential because of still higher prices. Then, VOD (video on demand), the largest film supplier in 4K today is Netflix, which it escaped no one that, for now, still refuses Free open its doors. Free .. Unless soon no announcement of the new on that side …

Finally a fast wifi. The new box offers the latest wireless standard, faster (450 Mbs / second), which can be interesting for all homes with multiple screens (TV, tablet, computer …).

Simple interface. This is the highlight of Free: its interface is still simple and fast, it remains in this evolution of the Crystal, and it is not a minor point

The new remote, more. The Free remote radio already operating (not iinfrarouge) an advantage when you want to hide your TV box. The new box provides more voice recognition. We will not complain … if it works fine. A so check.

A good price? For € 29.99 per month (TV, internet, fixed phone), the Mini-4K remains under the ceiling of € 30. But at this price, not Blue Ray player, no hard drive, reserved for the Revolution box that is not 4K but is charged € 37 / month. € 29.99 € 4 is more than the new box “Miami” Bouygues, available since January to its subscribers, and month-end for others. A box which rotates, it also Android, but version “J”, the preceding one. Still, for all geek seeking a 4K-compatible box, the “Mini 4K” is to date the only offering on the market.

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