Philips preps Freeview HD set-top pair

First box out next month

Updated Consumer electronics company Philips is preparing to release a pair of Pace-made Freeview HD set-top boxes, due to go on sale in the coming months.

April will see the arrival of the DTR5520 HD, a receiver which will followed a month or so later by the HDT8520 HD, a 500GB hard drive-equipped DVR.

Both units will pick up Freeview HD content broadcast in 720p or 1080i resolution and upscale it to 1080p.

They have USB 2.0 ports, but Philips didn't indicate whether they're used for presenting content on connected devices, for providing extra programme storage, or simply for diagnostics.

The boxes also have Ethernet ports.

Philips didn't say what it will charge for the boxes. ®

Update
This just in: the receiver is expected to cost £159, whilst the Freeview+ HD box (the recorder) will likely be £299.