When you find a CD-i player with a 'trial run' sticker on it, it's always interesting. Philips Research was always experimenting with CD-i players, modifying them with different chips to test new future possibilities and features. This prototype was definitely ahead of its time. Around 1996, Philips Research built a prototype of a CD-i 470 player with a built-in modem. To do this, Philips removed the CD-drive and built the modem inside the CD-i 470 shell. A 'telephone' port was added to the back of the system and a custom ROM was developed. Philips Research built their own first of a kind internet set-top-box, based on CD-i technology!
As this prototype was based on a CD-i 470, most part still looks like a CD-i 470. On the back of the player, you see the 'telephone' port, which can be connected to the telephone network.
When you look closely you will notice that the front panel of the CD-drive is glued to the shell and in fact no CD-drive is behind it anymore. Below you'll see the well-known Philips trial run sticker, which they used more often on their prototypes and engineering samples.
When you start the CD-i player you'll see a screen with this message: "Welcome to the Internet browser to go online select logon below" - In the settings there is a large list with hard code english cities and phone numbers, so you could choose your dial in number. The default homepage redirects you to http://www.cd-online.co.uk/.
So this CD-i player is a modified player for use as an internet-only CD-i player. On the picture above you'll see the insides when you take off the CD-i player shell. Below, the modem print is taken away (the top one of the picture above, the left one in the picture below, so you can take a look what's underneath)
In the picture below the Digital Video Cartridge print board is removed. There's a sticker on it with "Custom rom "2mb high""
Unfortunately, these types of players don't function anymore, although the homepage is in possession by CDinteractive (dormant). It's interesting though as the software is not located on a disc anymore, there's no CD drive inside. The custom ROM has the internet browser inside to enjoy the CD-Online services. The hardware infrastructure inside is based on the CD-i 470 which is, except for the CD-drive, still in tact.
[Thanks, Philips Research, Tuur, mfbfreaks.com]