Manhattan has released another significant software update for their T4-R and T4 Freeview boxes – this time focusing on something many users have been asking for: improved picture quality, particularly for standard-definition channels.
The Version 1.08 update, which started rolling out this week, brings enhancements to video quality across all content.
But perhaps more importantly for T4-R users, Manhattan has finally confirmed that YouTube is coming to the box soon, with the app currently in final certification and expected to arrive within 4-6 weeks.
However, there is one ongoing issue that T4-R owners should be aware of: the boxes can occasionally become unresponsive when entering or exiting Sleep or Smart standby modes.
Manhattan says they’re close to having a fix, but didn’t want to delay these improvements. In the meantime, they recommend using Energy Saver mode if you’re leaving your box unused for extended periods to avoid any missed recordings.
Beyond these headline changes, the update addresses numerous stability issues and introduces new HDMI control options that should make the boxes play more nicely with various TV brands.
Let’s take a look at everything that’s new and improved in this December update.
Manhattan T4 and T4-R: A Quick Refresher
Launched in June 2024, the Manhattan T4 and T4-R represent the latest generation of Freeview boxes from the British manufacturer, taking over from their popular T3 series.
At its core, the Manhattan T4 is a straightforward yet capable Freeview Play box. It gives you access to more than 100 live TV channels through your aerial, alongside the full suite of UK catch-up services like BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and Channel 4.
As I noted in my Manhattan T4 Review earlier this year, the box offers snappy performance and an excellent programme guide, though some catch-up apps could be faster: “It’s a solid choice for upgrading your Freeview experience, though the lack of major streaming services like Netflix might limit its appeal for some users.”
Step up to the T4-R, and you get everything the T4 offers plus comprehensive recording capabilities. Available in 500GB, 1TB, and 2TB versions, it can store up to 1,200 hours of your favourite programmes, depending on the model.
The T4-R impressed me enough to earn an Editor’s Choice award in my review, where I particularly praised its intuitive interface, clever recording features, and innovative guide filtering options.
As I concluded then, “For those invested in the Freeview ecosystem who want the best possible recording experience, the T4-R stands head and shoulders above the competition.”
New T4-R / T4 Features and Improvements
These are all the fixes, changes and improvements to the Manhattan T4-R and T4, included in the December 5, 1.08 software update:
Picture Quality Improvements: Manhattan has enhanced video quality across all content types. The most noticeable improvement is in standard-definition (SD) content, which now benefits from enhanced sharpness and detail.
These improvements should affect everything you watch, whether it’s live broadcasts, recordings (on the T4-R), or streaming content, delivering clearer and sharper images across the board.
Input Activation Setting: A new Input Activation setting has been introduced to provide more precise control over HDMI-CEC interactions.
Previously part of the Activation Sync feature, this has now been split into a standalone setting based on user feedback. You can find these options under Settings → System → HDMI Control, where you’ll now see three distinct controls:
- Activation Sync: Controls whether the box activates connected devices like TVs and soundbars when in use, and whether it turns off when your TV is switched off (enabled by default)
- Turn Off Devices: Controls whether the box turns off connected devices like TVs and soundbars when it is switched off (disabled by default)
- Input Activation: Controls whether the box turns on automatically when you turn on your TV with its input selected, or when you switch your TV to the box’s HDMI input (disabled by default)
T4-R Specific Fixes
System Stability During Recording: Several critical issues that could cause the system to hang or crash during recording and playback have been resolved. This includes problems when booking series recordings or when fast-forwarding at high speeds.
Series Recording Deletion: A bug where deleting a series recording while an episode was recording would cause the recording to never stop has been fixed. This ensures that deleting series recordings now works as intended without affecting ongoing recordings.
Scheduled Recordings Menu: Previously, navigating to the Scheduled section of the Recordings menu after long-run recordings could cause the system to crash. This stability issue has been resolved, allowing safer navigation of the recordings menu.
Internet Channel Stability: The T4-R could crash after watching Channel 209 Ketchup TV for more than 10 hours, and Channels 253 Trailblazer and 256 Odyssey would freeze instantly upon loading. Both these issues have been addressed (but please don’t put your kid in front of Ketchup TV for more than 10 hours straight in order to test this…)
HD Channel Recording: An issue where users were unable to set recordings on HD-swapped channels when one of the channels was hidden (for example, 101 BBC One HD hidden and attempting to record on 1 BBC One HD) has been fixed.
Recording Information Display: Recordings and scheduled recordings could previously display incorrect programme information. This has been corrected to ensure accurate programme details are shown.
Fast-Forward Playback: The T4-R would fail to quit playback automatically and instead stayed on the last frame when performing a 64x fast-forward to the end during recorded content playback. This has been fixed.
Common Fixes For T4-R and T4
System Stability
Standby Mode Wake-up: Both boxes could previously fail to wake up from Sleep/Smart standby modes due to an EPG module issue. This has now been fixed, ensuring more reliable operation when coming out of standby states.
Freeview Play Data Collection: Several issues related to how the boxes collect enhanced data from the Freeview Play service could cause system crashes. These stability problems have been resolved.
HDMI & Display
Samsung TV Compatibility: When connected to Samsung HD TVs from 2012–2016, the HDMI connection could drop out intermittently when the resolution was set to Auto or 1080p. This compatibility issue has been resolved.
Menu Display Issues: When turning on the box and trying to use the user interface (e.g. pressing HOME or TV Guide), the menu could flicker in and out, requiring users to disconnect and reconnect the HDMI cable or restart the device. This has been fixed.
Resolution Problems: With some TVs, the boxes could intermittently start in 720p resolution and the user interface would not display, even though channels and volume were functioning. This has been corrected to ensure proper resolution selection at startup.
HDMI Control Compatibility: HDMI Control features occasionally failed to function when connected to certain models of LG and Sony Bravia TVs. These compatibility issues have been resolved.
Standby Behaviour: The boxes could return to standby after waking from networked or active standby and turning on some TVs using the HDMI Control Activation Sync feature. This behaviour has been corrected.
Power Recovery: After a power cut, the boxes could wake up connected devices unexpectedly instead of returning to their previous standby state. This has been fixed to ensure proper behaviour after power restoration.
Audio Improvements
Audio Description: Audio Description (AD) was not working on live channels unless the buffer was rewound. This has been fixed to ensure AD works correctly from the start of viewing.
Audio Output: When watching an HD channel with 2.0 audio and Dolby enabled, the boxes signalled and outputted 5.1 audio over HDMI with sound only from the left and right speakers. This has been corrected to ensure proper audio output configuration.
Channel & Tuning
Regional Channel Tuning: When Freeview Play Channel Management was enabled and retuning in areas with signals from multiple regions, the boxes could tune the wrong regional channels. This has been fixed to ensure correct regional channel selection.
Hidden Channels: Hidden channels could appear in the Genre view of the TV Guide, and the boxes could crash when trying to add a reminder for a programme on one of them. Both issues have been resolved.
IP Channel Management: Freeview Play IP channels could be deleted, but they would reappear after the box was turned off and back on again. This behaviour has been corrected.
Search & Programme Information
Search Results Display: Programmes on some channels, such as GREAT! channels, were missing broadcast data and actions in search results, even though they were present in the TV Guide. This has been fixed to ensure complete information is displayed.
Results Ordering: Search results were not reliably displayed in chronological order. This has been corrected to ensure consistent chronological ordering.
Hidden Channel Results: Programmes on hidden channels were still visible in search results. This unintended behaviour has been fixed.
Navigation Focus: In search results, focus could disappear after pressing BACK to exit the extended programme information, requiring additional navigation to regain focus. This interface issue has been resolved.
Programme Images: Default images for programmes, based on their genre, were not displayed when no internet connection was available or a broadcaster had not provided an image. This has been fixed to ensure appropriate images are shown in all situations.
Minor UI & Functionality Improvements
Video/Audio Messages: “No Video” or “No Audio” messages could appear in some signal conditions despite audio and video functioning correctly. These false error messages have been eliminated.
Genre View Navigation: Pressing OK to watch a programme currently airing in the Genre view of the TV Guide would do nothing. This has been fixed to ensure proper response to user input.
Web Remote: Issues with the volume and mute buttons on the web remote have been resolved, ensuring proper functionality of these controls.
HD Channel Reminders: Setting a reminder on HD-swapped channels (e.g., 101 BBC One HD) could incorrectly switch to the SD version. This has been fixed to maintain the selected HD channel.
Remote Control Compatibility: The boxes would unexpectedly respond to some buttons on certain Philips remote controls using the invalid “0x00” slave address under the RC5 protocol. This unintended behaviour has been corrected.
Known Issue and Future Updates
As mentioned, there is currently an ongoing issue that T4-R owners should be aware of. The box may occasionally become unresponsive when entering or exiting Sleep or Smart standby modes due to a power management driver issue.
While Manhattan says they’re close to having a fix, they didn’t want to delay the improvements in this update.
If you encounter this issue, you’ll need to disconnect and reconnect power to restart the box. As a workaround, Manhattan recommends using Energy Saver mode, which isn’t affected by this problem.
This is particularly important if you’re leaving your T4-R unused for more than a few days, to avoid any missed recordings.
To change to Energy Saver mode, go to: Home → Settings → System → Standby Options → Standby Mode → Energy Saver.
Looking ahead, Manhattan has confirmed that the next update, expected in 4-6 weeks, will include both a fix for this standby issue and the long-awaited YouTube app.
YouTube support has been one of the most requested features since these boxes launched, so it’s encouraging to see it’s finally in the final stages of certification.
How to Update Your Manhattan T4-R or T4
Users can update their devices in two ways:
Over the internet:
– Ensure your device is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet
– The box will update automatically overnight while in Standby, unless automatic updates are disabled
– To update immediately, press HOME and select: Settings > System > Software Updates > Check for update now
Using a USB stick:
– Download the full instructions and update files from Manhattan’s website
– Follow the provided instructions carefully to complete the update
To check your current software version, press HOME and select: Information.
If you missed the updates and fixes included in the previous version – 1.07 – check them there.
- Order Manhattan T4 Freeview Player
- Order Manhattan T4-R 500GB Freeview Recorder
- Order Manhattan T4-R 1TB Freeview Recorder
- Order Manhattan T4-R 2TB Freeview Recorder
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Thanks for this article. I upgraded my T4-R to Version 1.08 about 4 weeks ago and I’m pleased to say that the previous instability problems I had appear to have been resolved. I’ve had no crashes/reboots/hangs or missed recordings since. I’m using Smart standby mode. Looking forward to the addition of the YouTube app in the next release.
I’m hoping Manhattan will implement a screensaver feature, or provide a ‘black’ screen, when playing back audio-only recordings i.e. radio. Currently I seem to be left with a very bright and stationary Manhattan logo in the middle of the screen, which might not be very good for OLED TVs.
I’ve experienced the T4-R becoming unresponsive when entering or exiting Sleep mode etc soon after I bought it in October. It has also randomly rebooted several times when I’ve been watching TV as well.
To be honest I’ve not noticed any improvement in the picture quality or any of the other improvements mentioned in this article but if the box becomes more stable then it’s got to be a good thing. Continued updates and manufacturer support was one of the reasons why I chose the T4-R instead of continuing with Humax.
After a couple of months of use with the Manhattan, I still miss my old Humax PVR 4000t (hard drive failed after many years of good service), it was so much easier to use, the remote was straightforward compared to the T4-R remote and without all those fiddly little extra buttons. Also the Humax needed less processes to go through when say, for example selecting a programme to record with much more use of the “OK” button. In short I just find the Manhattan frustrating to use and not so intuitive as my old Humax.