Humax has added a host of new pay-as-you-go content to its Aura Freeview Play Recorder via a major firmware update.
The update to the on-board Android TV operating system means users can now access the Apple TV app, which means the Apple TV+ streaming service and iTunes content are now available.
The Humax Aura is one of the better Freeview Play set-top boxes available. At its launch last year, Humax noted that it was the first such model to combine Android TV, Freeview Play and 4K HDR support.
Firmware update 9.21 also adds support for Sky’s NOW service, which makes it possible to watch a smorgasbord of Sky TV content through a paid monthly subscription.
The Aura box already supported Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BT Sport and Google Play Movies, but the missing elephant in the room remains Netflix, which continues to be inaccessible through the platform.
Aside from more content, Humax has added a number of tweaks and functionality enhancements. The menu gets a more dynamic “Top Picks” recommendations guide, while the “Now & Next” section has more enhanced menus that are easier to navigate through, the company said. Users can access their recently used apps more easily too by pressing and holding the Apps button on the remote.
The improved video upscaling should help to sharpen edges and reduce blur, producing a more “defined” video performance, Humax promised. On the audio side, enhancements there make it possible for users to apply more lip sync fixes on apps such as YouTube and Amazon Prime Video. The HDMI port now gains support for passthrough of additional audio formats such as DTS, DTS HD and Dolby TrueHD (with Atmos). These features are also enabled when using media player software such as Kodi, Plex and VLC, Humax said.
The full list of updates and fixes for the Aura box is available on the Humax website. The company said the update will be pushed out automatically when the device goes into standby. If that doesn’t happen, users can get it manually through the settings menu.
