Re: Feature requests(s)
geoellis
Enthusiast - Level 1

As a former Dish Network user there are features available on that system that I think will be extremely beneficial to the FIOS UI.  Some have been mentioned, but here's my 2 cents.

1) Yes, the Guide needs to be modified in many ways.  Program info accuracy, magnification, etc.  Agree with all that has been said.

2) Comprehensive program information is very helpful.  Original date aired, synopsis of the show/movie, episode #, etc. 

3) A progress indicator or time marker is very helpful when fast forwarding or rewinding DVR material.  This is effective for rewinding and then forwarding live material as well.

4) A simple and concise category section that gets you to like programming at the touch of a button.  For instance, one click of the remote gets you to the section listing Movies, Sports, News, etc.  When you click on a category it lists the available programming.  They key here is the one-touch approach.

5) Caller ID availble on-screen.

I enjoy the FIOS TV service and especially love the clarity of the picture and programming available.  Proper enhancements to the user interface would comparatively make it almost perfect.

Media Manager Video Issues
HookEm2
Newbie
I also have  Home Media HD-DVR software (1.6), as well as the latest version of Media Manager (7.2.58), yet Media Manager does not give the option to play video that resides on my pc. If this isn't available until a future release, it would save subscibers a lot of time and aggravation if the the Media Manager didn't read "Press OK to access your videos, photos and music."
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Re: Media Manager Video Issues
vinnyv07
Contributor - Level 1

The main issue for Verizon is to provide more drive space to the customers that want it. 160 gig is way too small when you are trying to record HD.

I currently use my Xbox 360 to stream video from my computer to my Tv upstaires. There is nothing like it in the world. If they would add that to their media center it would be great. Let's get this going!

Oh....yea....please fix the HUB error.

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Re: Feature requests(s)
fiostvman
Enthusiast - Level 3

Does anyone with inside knowledge of Verizon know if Verizon is considering any of these suggestions seriously.?

All great suggestions.

Biggest issue for me right now is

1. Poor SD pic quality on HDTV

2. Small hard drive space on DVR.

Other issues I can live with for now.

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Re: Feature requests(s)
blegs38552
Contributor - Level 1
Where do you live that you get MSNBC? I am in central New Jersey and this is not available on our FIOS netowrk.
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Re: Feature requests(s)
TimSykes
Specialist - Level 2
Any non cablevision area. cablevision has a exclusive contract for MSNBC until late this year or sometime in 2010.
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Re: Feature requests(s)
zooky
Contributor - Level 1
A way to see what reminders have been set PLUS the ability to set repeat ability.  e.g. daily, weekly, etc.
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Summary of requests
CapnTrips
Contributor - Level 3

In my efforts to provide a periodic compilation of the various feature requests, here is a current summary:

 

(1) MORE RECORDING CAPACITY! Either via Hard Drive upgrade or an external hard drive (eSata, USB, Home Media/Media Manager PC link). This is BY FAR the most-requested capability.  PLEASE do this!;  

 

(2) IMPROVE the program guide.  There are many threads detailing problems.  Chief amongst them are:

(a) “New” program flagging frequently wrong (and should display on compact listing);

(b) Insufficient useful info (generic program descriptions rather than specific episode description, INCORRECT info on recurring shows (Sports teams, guests etc from YEARS ago frequently listed!), team names on Sports, Actors on movies, "New" vs. "Rerun", Original air dates, etc.); 

(c) Improve flexibility in setting recordings (allow +/- 1, 2, 5 minutes tailored to each scheduled recording);

(d) Improve the "intellligence" of the DVR/Giude, such that if there is a conflict, it will only fail to record a program DURING ACTUAL CONFLICT and will record the available protion, even if only partially;

(e) Improve the functionality & stability of the "Favorites" function.  Too often "Favorites" are not saved or are seemingly arbitrarily re-written;

(f) Not updated with dynamically changing schedules (like playoff games in sporting events, or games and awards shows running long);

(g) use the full 16:9 aspect ratio of HDTVs, thereby allowing more than 90 minutes - perhaps 120, 150 or even 210 minutes of guide data;  

(h) Allow the setting of "reminders" rather than only recording;

(i) Provide a "smart" DVR that can locate and automatically record a program that may have been skipped due to a conflict.  An example of such capability:

 Say, for example, that you want to record a series like Top Chef on Bravo that airs several reruns per week, and often several each day.  The DISH DVR schedule list would show every scheduled recording as highlighted and every rerun or repeat in gray.  This way, you could go to the list of scheduled recordings, cancel the scheduled recording, and the next rerun of that same show would automatically highlight as it would now be scheduled to record. You could look at the entire list of the show and decide which one you wanted to record, select it, and the DVR would cancel the rest and turn them gray.  This was also very helpful if you wanted to know why a particular show did not record.  You could go back several days and look to see why it didn't record because it was either canceled or a rerun. 

(j) improve the Parental Control functionality, such that blocked stations will not even display in the guide if so tagged by the user.

Time-of-day blocking.  FIOS-Internet has this capability

Individual Show Blocking.

Add Content Descriptor Filtering: violence [V], fantasy violence [FV], sexual situations [S], coarse language [L] and suggestive dialogue [D].

 (k) Access program lists by category via one-touch commands (i.e. access sports listings by pressing the "star", movies by pressing the "heart", etc. - or provide a new remote with color buttons for this, or some other solution.

(3) IMPROVE Home Media (Multi Room) DVR functionality:

(a) stream ALL standard formats of audio AND VIDEO.  Allow streaming of DRM-protected files (this is, after all, PERSONAL USE and perfectly legal!); 

(b) Allow multiple DVRs in one house to be Multi-Room DVRs and to communicate and share recordings with one another;

(c) Allow all STBs (HD and SD) in the house to schedule and manage recordings on the MRDVRs; 

(d)  When playing back a recorded program on the DVR, allow direct entry of a time to skip to (rather than having to tediously fast-forward); 

(e) Allow direct control of each tuner in the DVRs rather than “automatically” swapping tuners whenever a channel is changed.

(f) if a program is Paused when a channel is changed, upon return to that channel, have it remain at the paused time, rather than “resetting” to the live feed;

(g) Have the DVR extend recording as necessary for programming that runs over its scheduled time.  (I’m not certain whether this is a DVR or Program Guide issue); 

(h) Fix the glitches with playback of recorded programming.  Documented in other threads; 

(i) In Home Media DVR capability, allow HD recordings to be played back in SD on SD boxes to SD TVs; 

(j) Allow the user to select whether to save the “most recent” or “oldest” shows when selecting the number of episodes of a recurring series to save;

(k) Improve the funcionality of "Reminders".  Have them pop-up at the BOTTOM of the screen rather than in the center;

(l) Allow the guide to show listings by channel rather than by time

 

(4) Activate (or program) the PIP capability in the DVR.  

 

(5) Allow "Pause" to hold its position when you switch channels and return to it, rather than immediately releasing to "live".  Related, allow switching from viewing a recorded show to LiveTV and BACK to the recorded program resuming where it had been left off using the "Last Channel" function.

 

(6) Provide a better visual diplay of the recording space used, like a status bar that shows how much of the hard-drive is full and how much of it the current program is consuming; 

 

(7) Activate the A/V jacks on the front panel of the machines;

 

(8) Allow display of selected channel video when streaming MUSIC via Home Media DVR (Allow the user to toggle from viewing the music playback screen to the background TV picture).  

 

(9) Provide sound volume leveling across the channels.  Many channels come in at varying volumes.   

 

(10)  Add a sleep timer; 

 

(11)  Enable the IR port; 

 

(12) Downconvert HD recordings to SD for SDTVs. 

 

(13)  DO NOT CONVERT the broadcaster's signal.  Allow the option for the STB to pass the signal natively to the user's A/V system for subsequent processing and display.  THIS IS ANOTHER KEY ITEM!  The current processing of SD signals by the STB's is AWFUL!  Allow user's to use their high-end equipment to get the best picture they can.

 

(14) Improve the stability of the DVR with respect to saved settings.  Frequently they reset for no apprent reason (480p vs. 480i, aspect ratio setting, etc.);

 

(15) Provide on-screen CallerID.  This should be trivial, since the STB is integrated with the Verizon Phone system.

Re: Feature requests(s)
Tomonion
Newbie

A few more wishes:

1. How about having the "featured" channels loop like "all channels" does in the guide and when using the + or - channel button?  Right now, once you reach the end you have to enter "2" or something like that to get back to the lowest channel number in your favorites list.

2. Is it me or does this make other people crazy: When using the guide, the channel numbers in the guide are shown in increasing order from top to bottom on the screen and using the UP arrow button lowers(!!!) the channel number and using the + channel button shows the next lower(!!!) screen full of channels, BUT if the guide is not being used, the same + channel button gives you the next HIGHER number?  Can't we pick which direction the channels are shown on the guide (ala Dish) in order to make this more logical (at least to me)?

3. I've connected my DVD recorder to the S-Video out jack to archive some shows but the output is not full screen (black bars all around).  I need to set my TV to 4:3 to have the correct aspect ratio.  My Dish STB had fullscreen output (yes I know only in SD), but it still looked great.  I understand at this time this is a problem with all Motorola STBs.  Too bad.  

4. Even the fastest fast forward/rewind speeds are not very fast.

I haven't played with FIOS TV for that long, but I'm happy I switched from Dish.  Hey, based on what other people have posted, wouldn't it be funny if Verizon incorporated all of our wishes but nobody knew because they were "all undocumented!"
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Re: Feature requests(s)
prisaz
Legend

@Tomonion wrote:

A few more wishes:

1. How about having the "featured" channels loop like "all channels" does in the guide and when using the + or - channel button?  Right now, once you reach the end you have to enter "2" or something like that to get back to the lowest channel number in your favorites list.

2. Is it me or does this make other people crazy: When using the guide, the channel numbers in the guide are shown in increasing order from top to bottom on the screen and using the UP arrow button lowers(!!!) the channel number and using the + channel button shows the next lower(!!!) screen full of channels, BUT if the guide is not being used, the same + channel button gives you the next HIGHER number?  Can't we pick which direction the channels are shown on the guide (ala Dish) in order to make this more logical (at least to me)?

3. I've connected my DVD recorder to the S-Video out jack to archive some shows but the output is not full screen (black bars all around).  I need to set my TV to 4:3 to have the correct aspect ratio.  My Dish STB had fullscreen output (yes I know only in SD), but it still looked great.  I understand at this time this is a problem with all Motorola STBs.  Too bad.  

4. Even the fastest fast forward/rewind speeds are not very fast.

I haven't played with FIOS TV for that long, but I'm happy I switched from Dish.  Hey, based on what other people have posted, wouldn't it be funny if Verizon incorporated all of our wishes but nobody knew because they were "all undocumented!"

1. Agree

2. Should be able to change Assending or Desending order in the guide. Yea drives me nuts the down button goes up.

3. Yes the box aspect ratio is the same no matter what output you use so 16:9 is small on  S-Video or Compostite.

4. Each time you press the fast forward button the speed increases at a multiple, so this does work. Fastest could be faster. Or better yet skip to the beginning of the buffer. VOD I have noticed only has one or possibly two speeds?

I am sure that if features or changes are made they will be well documented. At least here.:-)

Message Edited by prisaz on 03-23-2009 08:49 PM
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