UK firm 3view - geddit?!? - has unwrapped what it has labelled the "world’s first web-connected set-top box" able to receive free-to-air terrestrial HD telly channels.

3view's dual DVB-T2 tuners mean it should pick-up Freeview

The catch? It won't be available to buy until March 2010.

Freeview HD went live across parts of London and Manchester just day ago, but requires a new tuner – DVB-T2 – to receive the signal. The 3view STB has not one but two of these tuners, allowing you to watch one live HD broadcast while recording another.

Speaking of recording, the 3view STB has either a 320GB or 500GB HDD inside and HD shows can be both paused and rewound in real time.

The STB’s Ethernet connection allows you to access a variety of web-based widgets, including Facebook, You Tube and Twitter. An optional keyboard and mouse will be available for surfing the web through the device’s Opera-based browser.

Two USB 2.0 ports have been integrated into 3view, providing you with an easy way to watch personal photos or videos on your HD screen. The STB supports the MPEG 4 video format. ®