So I got this great idea (which starts out slow, then turns into a burning desire and doesn't end until I've got every tool pulled into the house and I've made a mess in just about every room). Get the picture.
After I got into a huge fight with Verizon I got on a kick to send them back all of their STB's and use a Tivo Roamio and Mini's to replace all 7 STB's. Saving around 50 bucks a month. I bought a Roamio with loyalty lifetime svc for 500 bucks literally with rolled change (so to me, no real sunk cost). Then I grabbed 3 mini's with BB gift cards and 1 additional mini with amex gift points. Total real cash spent so far: 90 bucks. I now have 5 TV's of Tivo and need 2 additional mini's running on a cable card for 4.99 a month. To me that's a pretty big coup.
So far I've only set up the Roamio and set it lose on the family. I was surprised that they've picked it up pretty quickly. They can at least watch TV with it so I'm pretty happy. I did switch the guide over to "grid" as I really never like the traditional Tivo guide and really wanted it to look as close to what Verizon was providing.
So after about 2 weeks here is a very short list of what I think Tivo should add to improve their device.
1. Find a way, app etc to re-integrate FIOS caller ID on Tivo. This is something that my wife was not happy about losing. I would think it's just a matter of figuring it out and putting it into the code. Would be a great feature enhancement. Have to imagine there are a huge number of FIOS users out there on Tivo.
2. This is the biggie. Fix this one and your making the world a better place with regards to CATV. With FIOS you get all the channels as SD from 1-499 and then it starts all over again with the HD's at 500-1000. It's VERY annoying that you often wind up viewing a show in SD when it's available in HD. All the TV's in our house are now HD. FIOS handled this by providing the RED C button on the remote. If you tuned to a SD channel and there is an HD equivalent hitting RED C will take you there That's only slightly helpful. I use it, my wife never does. Very annoying to see them watching SD shows when HD is available. Especially when it's being displayed in 4:3 I often tell them to "use the entire tv" as I grab the remote and hit the RED C button. You don't want to know what they tell me. I've heard that some CATV companies will automatically switch you to the HD version if you select the SD version. I'd like to see Tivo do the exact same thing. Since my wife can only remember the 2,4,7,9,11 and lower channel numbers, I'd like Tivo to take her to 502 when she enters 2 so she can watch the channel in HD. I understand the argument about needing those for SD TV's, but Tivo know's it's outputing 1080 so any SD that has an HD should be the channel that gets tuned no matter what number is put in, 2 or 502. It's just logic and programming. Maybe you need to set up a mapping table to tell it how to respond, but it should be done. This is a big one and Tivo would be hailed as a hero as I have not really seen many STB's that do a good job of handling SD & HD programming. Like I said, I heard that CV boxes might autoswtich but I have not seen it in action. Now, it's not as easy as just remapping the entire lower end. Some channels are only available in SD and can't be remapped. Some are only available in HD so a user programmable map really is the way to go. I remember on the old SA boxes (pre HD) they would allow mapping so you could map a channel to another channel. This is basically what needs to happen on Tivo.
3. This one is really no big deal, but since I'm telling Tivo how they should fix their stuff (and of course they are going to get right one this! :D) I might as well add this one. On the bottom guide, I'm missing that stupid red line from the FIOS STB's which tells you how far along you are in the show you are watching. Sounds kind of stupid, but it was really something I started using after a while. You flip to a new channel, see a show you are watching and want to know, is it 5 minutes in or 50? I believe on Tivo you have to look at the data (start and finish times), look at the clock and start doing math. The Bar gives you a quick visual indicator. Something Tivo should do to enhance their product...
So that's really it for only using our Roamio for 2 weeks. Can someone get back to me with a date when these items will be available? You know I'm kidding, but it would be nice if Tivo would also see the value in these enhancements and consider implementing them. Could you imagine trying to convince someone at Verizon to make something better? Ha...
Anyway, feel free to critique my enhancements. There are probably better ways of doing what I am asking, or add UI enhancements that you'd like to see. Maybe I can bring it up with Tivo Margarette when I apply for a job as UI Experience Specialist, internet division. I always find myself trying to customize and enhance things. You should see my XBMC. It barely resembles a standard XBMC but everyone in the house, including my SD afflicted Spouse uses it with ease.
Cheers,
Roveer
After I got into a huge fight with Verizon I got on a kick to send them back all of their STB's and use a Tivo Roamio and Mini's to replace all 7 STB's. Saving around 50 bucks a month. I bought a Roamio with loyalty lifetime svc for 500 bucks literally with rolled change (so to me, no real sunk cost). Then I grabbed 3 mini's with BB gift cards and 1 additional mini with amex gift points. Total real cash spent so far: 90 bucks. I now have 5 TV's of Tivo and need 2 additional mini's running on a cable card for 4.99 a month. To me that's a pretty big coup.
So far I've only set up the Roamio and set it lose on the family. I was surprised that they've picked it up pretty quickly. They can at least watch TV with it so I'm pretty happy. I did switch the guide over to "grid" as I really never like the traditional Tivo guide and really wanted it to look as close to what Verizon was providing.
So after about 2 weeks here is a very short list of what I think Tivo should add to improve their device.
1. Find a way, app etc to re-integrate FIOS caller ID on Tivo. This is something that my wife was not happy about losing. I would think it's just a matter of figuring it out and putting it into the code. Would be a great feature enhancement. Have to imagine there are a huge number of FIOS users out there on Tivo.
2. This is the biggie. Fix this one and your making the world a better place with regards to CATV. With FIOS you get all the channels as SD from 1-499 and then it starts all over again with the HD's at 500-1000. It's VERY annoying that you often wind up viewing a show in SD when it's available in HD. All the TV's in our house are now HD. FIOS handled this by providing the RED C button on the remote. If you tuned to a SD channel and there is an HD equivalent hitting RED C will take you there That's only slightly helpful. I use it, my wife never does. Very annoying to see them watching SD shows when HD is available. Especially when it's being displayed in 4:3 I often tell them to "use the entire tv" as I grab the remote and hit the RED C button. You don't want to know what they tell me. I've heard that some CATV companies will automatically switch you to the HD version if you select the SD version. I'd like to see Tivo do the exact same thing. Since my wife can only remember the 2,4,7,9,11 and lower channel numbers, I'd like Tivo to take her to 502 when she enters 2 so she can watch the channel in HD. I understand the argument about needing those for SD TV's, but Tivo know's it's outputing 1080 so any SD that has an HD should be the channel that gets tuned no matter what number is put in, 2 or 502. It's just logic and programming. Maybe you need to set up a mapping table to tell it how to respond, but it should be done. This is a big one and Tivo would be hailed as a hero as I have not really seen many STB's that do a good job of handling SD & HD programming. Like I said, I heard that CV boxes might autoswtich but I have not seen it in action. Now, it's not as easy as just remapping the entire lower end. Some channels are only available in SD and can't be remapped. Some are only available in HD so a user programmable map really is the way to go. I remember on the old SA boxes (pre HD) they would allow mapping so you could map a channel to another channel. This is basically what needs to happen on Tivo.
3. This one is really no big deal, but since I'm telling Tivo how they should fix their stuff (and of course they are going to get right one this! :D) I might as well add this one. On the bottom guide, I'm missing that stupid red line from the FIOS STB's which tells you how far along you are in the show you are watching. Sounds kind of stupid, but it was really something I started using after a while. You flip to a new channel, see a show you are watching and want to know, is it 5 minutes in or 50? I believe on Tivo you have to look at the data (start and finish times), look at the clock and start doing math. The Bar gives you a quick visual indicator. Something Tivo should do to enhance their product...
So that's really it for only using our Roamio for 2 weeks. Can someone get back to me with a date when these items will be available? You know I'm kidding, but it would be nice if Tivo would also see the value in these enhancements and consider implementing them. Could you imagine trying to convince someone at Verizon to make something better? Ha...
Anyway, feel free to critique my enhancements. There are probably better ways of doing what I am asking, or add UI enhancements that you'd like to see. Maybe I can bring it up with Tivo Margarette when I apply for a job as UI Experience Specialist, internet division. I always find myself trying to customize and enhance things. You should see my XBMC. It barely resembles a standard XBMC but everyone in the house, including my SD afflicted Spouse uses it with ease.
Cheers,
Roveer
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire