While I understand the need to push out new versions of the firmware on set top boxes (STB), I don't understand why things like the channel guide had to be changed. If someone told you that it was an improvement to make the guide look like Windows 7's "Aero" theme, they were lying. There is significantly less information on the screen & it's slower to respond when keys are pressed on the remote.
After 30 years in the IT field, I've found that the best design is usually the simplest design. At least give us the option of keeping the old guide.
@JeffLT wrote:While I understand the need to push out new versions of the firmware on set top boxes (STB), I don't understand why things like the channel guide had to be changed. If someone told you that it was an improvement to make the guide look like Windows 7's "Aero" theme, they were lying. There is significantly less information on the screen & it's slower to respond when keys are pressed on the remote.
After 30 years in the IT field, I've found that the best design is usually the simplest design. At least give us the option of keeping the old guide.
I would disagree with you in regards to effort. I like the new img, and it may be the hardware you have it running on. If you have a 2500 or 6200 box, it may be like attempting to run Windows 7 Aero on a 386. Well that my be an exaggeration, but you get my point. I have made modifications to my Win 7 desktop because I am a classic type of user. You may also need to make adjustments to your STB or DVR output. You may wish to reach out to Verizon tech support for assistance and see what they can do in regards to hardware if you have older boxes such as the 2500 P1 or P2, and even the 6200 series.
See justin's post in this thread.
http://forums.verizon.com/t5/IMG-1-9/Slow-Slow-Slow/m-p/362521/message-uid/362521#U362521
Don't mean to complain, but I'm new to FiOS TV, not to FiOS itself, I've had Internet and Phone service since it came available in my area. I'm coming from DirecTV in hopes to save some money. IMO this equipment is crap. They gave me the latest equipment from Cisco with 1.9 code on it. If this IMG is an improvement I can't imagine what it was like before. The menu layout is not intuitive at all. It runs real slow and doesn't respond well to the remote. I had to put tape over one of the STB IR sensors because of interference from my LCD TV, the remote would not work with the STB until the TV warmed up. The Multi-Hub feature doesn't work and when I call support they know nothing about it and say you can't watch programming from all your DVR's on any TV. The other day I was getting poor performance with my internet connection (which never happens) and the DVR's and STB's are so dependent on the internet connection they work even worse than before. I'm about to cancel the FiOS TV and stay with DirecTV. The iPhone app doesn't allow you to add time to a recording. This is a problem when you want to record a sporting event that always runs over it's scheduled time. I don't have any of these problems with DirecTV. The savings are not worth the headaches to me.
Many are always reluctant to any kind of change. That being said, I'd suggest giving it a try. Our iPad 2 VZ app
has what I'm told will be the same on screen program guide as IMG 1.9 and yes, it was different and
took some time to get used to, but now it feels natural and the pros outweigh the cons in DVR management
as well as the program guide. Sometimes change can be a good thing...just sayin;...
I'm new to Verizon FIOS TV, and I just switched from DirecTv too. I have to agree that the 1.9 IMG is ridiculous. I cannot imagine how bad 1.8 was if 1.9 is an improvement.
First of all, I don't understand why the SD and HD channels are separated by 500 channels. I guess it would make sense if EVERY SD channel had an HD counterpart, but they don't. So if I'm channel surfing, I have to surf through a bunch of repetitive channels just to find what I want to watch. And let's say I find something in SD that I want to watch. Does the guide tell me if that station is available in HD, too? Probably not.
Second of all, the guide options are way too limited. I can make the guide only show me HD channels, but then I will be blocking out my SD channels that aren't available in HD. I can make the guide show me only the channels I'm subscribed to, but I can't do both HD only AND subscribed channels at the same time.
DirecTV has a much better design. All the channels, SD and HD are listed together. I can filter the channels so that SD duplicates that are available in HD are not shown. That way, my kids don't have to jump from 250 all the way to 770 while surfing the kid's channels just to catch 3 channels in HD. Also, channels that I'm not subscribed to are shown, but grayed out. It's a great selling tool for DirecTV because I can see what I'm missing on those channels and I'm more likely to add those channels to my package. But at least I can tell that a channel isn't available before I click on it. That's infuriating.
Honestly, I don't think Verizon understands how important the user interface. I'm seriously thinking of switching back to DirecTV because the guide is too painful to use. It's just not conducive to channel surfing.
If you are watching an SD channel for which an HD simulcast is available, it will show a message on the info bar letting you know, and you can switch to the corresponding HD channel by pressing C.
Budge:
I agree with you completely. I switched from DTV to Fios over a year ago, and several of the guide details, such as the ones you correctly pointed out, are so silly.
While you apparently can tell when tuned if there is an HD counterpart under 1.9, and then switch; I have been posting for over a year that there should be a simple toggle, like DTV, to just hide any SD channels for which there is an HD counterpart.
The SD and HD should be side by side anyway, just like DTV, because looking for programs in the 300's and then adding 500 to look again is ridiculous IMO....who thought of this and why??
All channels should be grouped by type, like DTV, not movies/sports/SD/HD scattered all over the place.
I too was a DTV user. Started when they had TIVO built in. When they first went to their own Guide and DVR controls it was abysmal. After several tweeks it became what it is today which is an excellent guide. Hopefully Verizon will head down the same road.
This is my 2nd go round with them. The last time I tried(2 years ago) I hated it. I felt the guide was wrong on many levels. After using it for the past 6 months, ver 1.8, I am satisfied with it. Looking forward to 1.9 (maybe this week?), and with the the very vocal Verizon community, hopefully there will be the little adjustments made to make the guide great. For now I am anxiously waiting for 1.9. After we are all on the same playing field then we can make it prettier.
Just my .02
The 'C' button option alone will make 1.9 worth it!
For those who don't know, watch am SD channel, hit 'C', it finds and switches to the HD channel.
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