Share Your Ideas with Verizon

[#1]

How long will we have to wait for Verizon FIOS to upgrade their existing clunky oversize "set top" boxes to allow Picture in PIcture (PIP)?  Since we are told the existing set top boxes cannot provide PIP, why not just offer us PIP hungry customers a different box, like the Scientific American's. 

Its high time for Verizon to not drop the ball on this one. If the existing boxes cannot handle such a simple function that Comcast customers in my area have had for years, I will be forced to switch to Comcast to resolve this. I bought a TV with PIP functionality deliberately, like so many others have. If the digital age involves rolling back technologies, why did we switch again?

I am forced  to presume Verizon FIOS wants me to rent yet another box and split the signal before it enters my set top box,, and live with SD and a limited channel lineup and no guide. Nope. Its like we are still in the stone age. Why is there a PIP button on my remote, anyways? 

Its also high time to abandon the name set top box.  If a single customer can get the set top box on top of the existing flat panel high definition TV, please post a picture so we can all get a good laugh. 

[#2]

If your TV has PIP functionality you can just split the coax and use the TV's digital tuner to receive your local over-the-air channels in HD.  This wouldn't give you every channel, but it would be an option.

If Verizon were to enable PIP it would be through the box and it would not matter what TV you use.

[#3]

But not the 1990's definition of PIP... something more sophisticated... 1,2,3,4,5,6,7.... video windows on a screens... you pick which ones... just went to a design meeting today Please jack up the vote volume.... will help me in the cause.

[#4]

Just do it already.  ADD PIP!

[#5]

About the set top box: why isn't fios transmitted throughout the house wirelessly through a router similar to a wi-fi router? Each TV router could have up to 6-10? Signals/wavelengths/channels? For each TV router "channel" there could be a "tiny receiver" maybe the size of a fist or smaller. These "tiny receivers" would have a relationship to the TV router like that of the little antenna you put on your old PC to communicate with the WI-if router.

So the TV router does the work of 6-10 set top boxes plus sends and receives this work from the "tiny receivers." This would allow Verizon to still make extra money per "tiny receiver." However, the user has only a small piece of equipment per TV to contend with. This would also allow the account holder to set a password that protects a mass-broadcast function, which allows the user to put the same programming through to every TV at once (so when you are home alone or cleaning or something, your TV show follows you AUTOMATICALLY! You don't even have to touch the remote once you have the TV's on. When you have an event at your home, a music channel or your web content (through the Verizon media manager) can be sent through every TV and you only have to use one remote to change the entire house.  So everybody would win. And the "channels" or whatever, would be far removed from your WI-fi so as not to cause an issue with that. In fact, the TV Router could be combined with the Internet router. Notice that Verizon would send the combo router out to a person, and say "look you only have this one service, but when you want to get the other one, just call, and you won't have to wait for equipment." So it would minimize shipping costs and be a silent marketing tool. It is there, but they can't use the service. Hmm..Lets get the TV connected or hmm... lets get a laptop and connect the internet. 

This means when technicians come to the house for initial set-up, it will rarely be necessary to drill a bunch of holes. There will be one large piece of equipment to carry in/out and set up, then there would be a case or bag of tiny receivers. Easy easy.  Cheaper shipping if a receiver becomes defective. Much less space would be taken up on the vehicles driven by the technicians. Everybody wins.

The only downside is if something happens to the combo router. There would have to be some sort of 24 hour delivery program. But it's possible that the other savings on shipping would eclipse this cost.

And this is what happens when you are unemployed for a really long time....

[#6]

I'm a new Verizon FIOS customer (from Comcast).  Missing PiP on the DVR is huge.  I can't believe it's not there.  I had PiP with my Comcast DVR for over 5 years.  I almost switched back to Comcast over this & the poopy Guide interface.

Point of clarification: The Comcast Scientific Atlanta DVR has 2 tuners & PiP is handled independently of a TV functionality. 1 input, 1 output.  A single Comcast remote handled everything.

My thoughts on Verizon/PiP requirements are:

1) Add it yesterday (seriously)

2) Make connectivity simple.  No splitters.  Single input/output.  That's the way the Comcast DVR worked: 1 COAX input to the DVR, 1 HDMI/S-Video/Composite Video output to the TV.  The DVR handled PiP.

3) 1 Remote to handle all PiP functions.

Thank you.

[#7]

 mlrodriguez

Not all homes are so wireless friendly... some chicken wire in the wall... or lots of brick... make things difficult.  But we continue to look at wireless option for in-home wiring.  Share your dream.

[#8]

PIP is just one function, the killer app is multi-media control and distribution.

As TV become ubber-large (whole wall display?), we should be able to have multiple small virtual screens on one large flat panel display. 

I'd like to see 2, 3, 4, 10, 15 windows on the screen. I position them and size them basically like Windows 7 (drag by corners). Maybe I show all the cable news feeds during an election cycle, and I can zoom in on one that has some interesting program. Maybe multiple sports programs. Maybe I put a weather channel in the upper corner when there is bad weather about.

Maybe a static picture or two, a slide show in one area of family photos.

Some can be really small, others larger. You should allow me to feed in my own audio/video signals so I can bring in a DVD/Blu-Ray to one of the windows, maybe some Closed Circuit security cameras around my house, maybe the output from a computer or two. I should be able to route these to other locations and TV around the house. Send the slide show to all TVs, ir other flat panel display on the wall in various locations.

The idea of a TV blurs with displays used for art or photo slideshows.

Imagine, a whole wall display that connects as a video phone to grandma across the country. We get a full scale image of grandma's living room that appears as a virtual extension ov our living room.

Somebody stop me!

[#9]

Looks like no more votes are allowed. Tried to vote and it doesn't register (does on other suggestions).

[#10]

i would love PIP for fios tv especially for sports programming for NY ty for listening

[#11]

@CRobGauth - that's because you already voted. I see you on the votes list as of 4/27. If you click the # on the votes, you can see who has voted. I think I found you on about the 3rd page or so.