Simmer down, UKers -- it's not nearly as good as it sounds. Sure, seven HD channels is seven HD channels, but aside from Real Lives HD, you'll be getting six channels of (mostly) the same stuff. Reportedly, the half dozen other high-def additions will simply "bolster Sky Movies," offering viewers the ability to watch horror, sci-fi, action, family, comedy and other genres by simply flipping the station. We suppose it's a good sign to see Sky ramping up its Sky+ HD lineup, but can we get a little more variety the next time you folks get the itch to expand?

[Thanks, Adam]

We've got some experience with glitchy HDTV/DVR set top boxes, but it looks like things are even worse over on the other side of the pond. With almost all their HD customers only recently buying sets for the world cup, many are using the digital connections and experiencing a lot of problems like picture and sound dropouts. Specifically cited is the implementation of HDCP, as many have been able to get around the problems by switching to analog connectors.Of course this doesn't do much for customers expecting a sharper picture out of their digital hookup or maybe have spent a lot of money on a digital cable they can't use, but SkyHD and even some TV manufacturers may have to update their software for this to be fixed.

Glitch ridden high-def rollouts are becoming all too common, particularly for the "lucky" few who were able to get their service installed prior to the World Cup, but this may explain why some service providers are so unwilling to even enable the HDMI or DVI outputs on their boxes. If it doesn't work, there is a resulting shifting of blame between the provider and TV manufacturer while the customer's problem continues. Same problem with rolling out CableCard, neither side wants to take responsibility for making it work if there's a problem.

For our UK readers, you can finally pre-order high definition service from Sky. A quick rundown:

• Launch in May
• £299 to buy the box
• £10 per month subscription fee

Check the official website for more details or our previous post. Thanks to Ashley and choare for the tip!