Emtec Movie Cube

This versatile little box has a lot of tricks up its sleeve, though it’s basically a hard disk that plugs into your TV. Video, pictures and music can be stored and played from the disk, from USB storage or via your network, connected via Ethernet or optional Wi-Fi (though it uses files and folders rather than a universal plug and play – UPnP – server). It also has a TV tuner so you can record or play back analogue and digital Freeview (complete with program guide).

Although it’s got a broad range of features the interface annoyed us in places. For example, you can’t choose programs to record directly from the program guide – you have to see when they’re on then set the scheduler manually. There’s also an internet radio feature but it’s a chaotic list of thousands of stations, with no search feature.

The breadth of connection options means the Cube will probably do most of the things you want and the price isn’t bad, considering its features, but the implementation could be improved.

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