Tag: astro

Astro B.yond IPTV

Remember my Astro B.yond TVC Commercial shot last year?

After the launch of Astro B.yond and the launch of B.yond PVR (Personal Recording), Astro has launched the new Astro B.yond IPTV. Astro B.yond IPTV is a service that integrates regular/linear Astro channels with HD (High Definition), PVR (Personal Voice Recording) and Video On Demand, which also includes high-speed broadband and voice capabilities delivered via a fibre line powered by TIME. It comes with a top box with 500gigabytes capacity to store TV programmes.


Astro B.yond IPTV is brought by the partnership of Astro and TIME. Astro B.yond IPTV bring you the one and only line you’ll ever need with the best of 3 worlds in 1 service; Astro TV (HD, PVR, VOD), High Speed Fibre Broadband and Voice.

I was invited to their sneak preview at the newly opened Doubletree Hotel by Hilton.

In the sneak preview, we were shown features of the Astro B.yond IPTV. The PVR is one interesting feature. It allows you to record, pause live TV, rewind and forward a recorded programme. Series link is part of the PVR feature. It allows one to automatically record all episodes of a TV programme. Imagine being able to record all of Simpsons and Family Guy!


PVR menu

Unlike the IPTV of another telco, the PVR menu doesn’t lag. Surfing channel to channel is a breeze unlike the other IPTV. The other IPTV strangely takes some time to change channels.

The main highlight for me is their flexible broadband package. Lowest rate is RM128 for 3Mbps per month. Astro B.yond IPTV customers will be able to enjoy free high speed fibre broadband and VOD services until 30th June 2011. During the sneak preview, all pages were loaded at lightning speed!

Each Astro B.yond IPTV home will have a dedicated bandwidth of 100 Mbps, which is large enough to support 2 concurrent Astro B.yond boxes, each of them simultaneously recording up to 2 HD channels while watching either one of the HD channel or the recorded HD content and downloading the third VOD programme in HD, while leaving 30 Mbps, which is 30 times faster than the standard 1 Mbps, to support all connected devices such as laptops, tablet devices, mobile phones and games consoles on Wi-Fi within a single household.
Video on Demand (VOD) content is available on this IPTV platform. There will be a VOD library containing dramas, wellness and children series. The library will be expanded over time. It is now provided on complimentary basis until the second quarter of 2011. With VOD content, you may play any VOD content at any time and manage the playback of the show by pausing, forwarding and rewinding it at your convenience.

In view that the IPTV is provided by fibre, Astro service will not be affected by the rain. If you’re wondering why the old Astro services are affected by rain, this is because the transmission of content is by way of satellite. Once it starts raining, the signal between the satellite and your Astro dish will be affected by the rain.

VOD will also not affect your broadband speed as these services are provided via dedicated bandwidths for VOD.


Broadband packages

I was given an opportunity to try one of the test units of Astro B.yond IPTV at the venue. It is just like our normal Astro but with additional features. It now has more HD channels.

While playing with the test unit, I found this function.


Wow, you can logon to Twitter using Astro B.yond IPTV? This is interesting! TV and Twitter into one screen! However, this feature is still under testing and is not available yet. 🙁

Astro B.yond IPTV is now being rolled out in various parts of Malaysia. It is now in certain parts KL Golden Triangle, Bangsar and Sri Hartamas. You can check out Astro’s availability page.

For more information visit:

Website: http://www.astro.com.my/iptv/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Astro
Twitter: www.twitter.com/astroonline

Astro B.yond TVC Commercial

Remember the Astro B.yond TVC that I was talking about? Well, it’s out!

It was first shown in the Astro B.yond Bloggers’ Night. I forgot to bring my camera on that night hence no post about it. -_-

Anyway, here’s the video!

The bloggers that are featured in the TVC are as follows:

Astro B.yond

One of the newest technological advancements has arrived in Malaysia. Finally, Malaysians can now watch High-Definition (HD) broadcast, all thanks to ASTRO.

HD channels present a sensory viewing experience with sharper pictures, more vibrant colours, cinematic surround sound, and a wider screen – giving audiences crystal clear details and colours like never before. It delivers details that are five times greater than that of regular Standard-Definition (SD) programming (the standard shows we are watching on Malaysian TV are SD), and it comes with the 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound.

ASTRO has launched the HD service under its brand name ASTRO B.yond. HD broadcasting had been around ages ago. Australia started its HD broadcasting since 2001. If not for ASTRO, HD broadcasting would not have seen light in Malaysia.

On HD content, ASTRO will start with four HD channels – ASTRO Supersport HD, HBO HD, National Geographic Channel HD and HISTORY HD on 18 December 2009, followed by ESPN HD in January 2010. FIFA World Cup 2010 will also be in HD. It will be so clear until you can see the sweat of your favourite footballers!

With HD content, you can watch shows on HDTV like this. Experience sharper images!

Customers can sign up for ASTRO B.yond at www.astro.com.my/byond or call the ASTRO customer Hotline 1300 82 3838.

Customers have a choice to sign up at an additional service fee of RM20 per month and a commitment of 12 months. As part of the new B.yond service, customers will get the new B.yond box, new smart card, new outdoor unit dish, HD Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable and new remote control. New set-up installation fee will be waived in exchange for the existing box.

Astro B.yond TVC Shoot

Last week, I participated in the Astro B.yond TVC shoot at Desa Park City. Other bloggers such as Beautifulnara, Kimberlycun, Kyspeaks, Saimatkong, ShaolinTiger, SixthSeal, Sultan Muzaffar, Tziaaa and RedMummy were involved as well. We were given slots to introduce ourselves and also our new year resolution for 2010. Other questions were also thrown to us during the shoot.

Being in front of a camera is no easy task for me. I cocked up a few times. The poor cameraman had to refilm me over and over again.

When speaking in front of the camera, I had to ensure that my English is perfect. No grammatical mistakes etc. However, it was not easy. I think I did screw up a bit. Now I understand why former Ms. Singapore, Ris Low screwed up her interview with leopard preenz and boomz.

Also, it was bloody hot. We had to speak under the sun. Since the videos are shot in HD, I bet you can see our sweat dripping off us.

Anyway, here are some pictures from that day!


Sultan Muzaffar


So ‘ngam’ caught Kimberlycun, SixthSeal, and RedMummy sipping drinks. Many thanks to Nicholas Chay for buying us drinks.


BoootifulNara


Kimberlycun before saying “My resolutions is…..”


ShaolinTiger in a “compromising position”.


SixthSeal hiding underneath the umbrella


KY after being asked “So how does HD taste like?”


Tziaaa..I BET, I BET, THAT SHE WOULD GET THE MOST CLICKS ON HER LINK!!!


Azaria, our director for the day, sitting in front of a monitor to check the progress. Eric Yong was here to ‘8’ as well.


Me. One of the camera chaps was nice enough to shield me from the sun.


Lolling!!!

I heard the TVC will be out on YouTube. Will let you guys know once it is out!

Astro B.yond Bloggers Night

To celebrate the advent of Astro B.yond, ASTRO will be organizing an event called Astro B.yond Bloggers Night on 13th January 2010 at Modesto’s, Desa Sri Hartamas from 7:30pm till 10.30pm.

Refreshments will be provided for and there will be total of 3 units of Astro B.yond set comprising 32” LG High Definition TV, Astro B.yond box, new remote control and new outdoor dish to give out along with free subscription to Astro B.yond channels!

There will be also be a game called “Murder in the Details”. The winner of the Murder in the Details will be given a HDTV! Stay tuned for the announcement of the Murder Mystery Game on ASTRO’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/Astro).

Also, two best post-event coverage will get a chance to win a HDTV. However, in order to qualify for the prize, all bloggers must be a Fan of the Astro Facebook page.

Nuffnang is looking for 100 bloggers to attend the exclusive event. To be eligible to attend the event, all you need to do is to blog about the event and email to your full name and blog URL to astroB.yond@nuffnang.com.