Could YouView please post a release note for the update? I can only spot two changes: recordings now grouped by series and the ability to hide channels. I think we had all been hoping for rather more but I dare say there is quite a bit that I've missed.
Folders, skip and hidden channels - the three of the biggest feature requests people have had, all delivered just 3 months after the boxes went on sale.
On the bad side: Update On Demand Players now seems to be hanging and needs the box to be power-cycled to recover.
Edit: Belay that. It just seems to be taking an awful long time now. Suspect it it actually timing out after failing with one of the services not playing happily with the new firmware (is my guess based on my experience as a software engineer).
Also on screen message to advise users if they press say play after they have pressed the "TV" button, so they can see they need press the "PVR" to make those buttons work.
One thing to note however, is if you have set your remote to control your TV as well, this functionality doesn't work!
If you hit OK on a recording as well the programme info you also get a playbar and can use the cursor keys to position to the point from which you can start playback,
Unfortunately this useful functionality is still not available on the playbar you see when actually viewing the recording. A half-cock change in my opinion or did they genuinely misunderstand what was being asked for?
Plus they seem to have removed the option to replay from the start so forcing you to use the more fiddly playbar scrolling method.
Here are the improvements I have noticed in the software update out today (30/10/2012):
skip function, 60s forward, 15s backwards
EPG: secure channel hiding (great start but really still need channel reordering or sticky favourites lists) - use it by going into the guide and pressing the yellow button
EPG: duration shown of highlighted programme in the guide
EPG: minor adjustment to layout of programme name within its table cell
better font and highlight contrast in guide etc
recordings list: series rollups (although general folders would still be nice too)
recordings list: one button delete of recordings
recordings list: one button resume of playback of recordings
recordings list: press ok on recording now gives info that includes a slider that allows you to easily (re)start a recording from an arbitrary minute
recordings list: padlock symbol next to items locked against auto delete
faster startup time of around 100 seconds from high eco mode
faster startup from low eco mode too
inactivity automatically go into standby time - new option to set this to 12 hours instead of the maximum of 4 hours before
if TV button on remote has accidentally been pressed then produces reminder on screen rather than leaving you wondering why remote is not appearing to work
Settings to hide the Adult Category channels and/or to PIN protect them. Good move,
Actually I misread what that option does. It hides the adult on demand category *not* the broadcast channels so you still have to use the manual hiding method for those.
Thanks for the update Youview. Heres a few observations.
Series Folders: Good addition, However it would be helpful to have info on the series number to distinguish between multiple series . For example Doctor Who Series 6 and 7 etc. I've also notice that not all series programs have been collected into folders, in my recordings this applies to recent episodes of Merlin, which are still displayed separately.
General performance: Images seem to load faster when browsing on demand sections like TV, Drama etc Maybe its down to the internet connection? However it does seem noticeably nippier
Channel Hiding: You can add further channels to the list but the only way to get a channel back is by restoring them all then starting all over again! Tell me I am missing something, please?
Here are the improvements I have noticed in the software update out today (30/10/2012):
skip function, 60s forward, 15s backwards
EPG: secure channel hiding (great start but really still need channel reordering or sticky favourites lists) - use it by going into the guide and pressing the yellow button
EPG: duration shown of highlighted programme in the guide
EPG: minor adjustment to layout of programme name within its table cell
better font and highlight contrast in guide etc
recordings list: series rollups (although general folders would still be nice too)
recordings list: one button delete of recordings
recordings list: one button resume of playback of recordings
recordings list: press ok on recording now gives info that includes a slider that allows you to easily (re)start a recording from an arbitrary minute
recordings list: padlock symbol next to items locked against auto delete
faster startup time of around 100 seconds from high eco mode
faster startup from low eco mode too
inactivity automatically go into standby time - new option to set this to 12 hours instead of the maximum of 4 hours before
if TV button on remote has accidentally been pressed then produces reminder on screen rather than leaving you wondering why remote is not appearing to work
surround sound now available via S/PDIF
>> if TV button on remote has accidentally been pressed then produces reminder on screen rather than leaving you wondering why remote is not appearing to work
Wow much better EPG guide layout. I can clearly see the highlighted programs in the guide now on my 28" CRT tv - big change! Also the edit channels list is a welcome edition, and the highlighted program info at the top of the EPG is very helpful, with beginning and end times, and also program duration in easily readable text.
disappointed youview did not impliment the search. one feature which is crucial for modern PVRs. i hope the backwards epg is sorted or improved. key features making me consider returning the box
Here are the improvements I have noticed in the software update out today (30/10/2012):
skip function, 60s forward, 15s backwards
EPG: secure channel hiding (great start but really still need channel reordering or sticky favourites lists) - use it by going into the guide and pressing the yellow button
EPG: duration shown of highlighted programme in the guide
EPG: minor adjustment to layout of programme name within its table cell
better font and highlight contrast in guide etc
recordings list: series rollups (although general folders would still be nice too)
recordings list: one button delete of recordings
recordings list: one button resume of playback of recordings
recordings list: press ok on recording now gives info that includes a slider that allows you to easily (re)start a recording from an arbitrary minute
recordings list: padlock symbol next to items locked against auto delete
faster startup time of around 100 seconds from high eco mode
faster startup from low eco mode too
inactivity automatically go into standby time - new option to set this to 12 hours instead of the maximum of 4 hours before
if TV button on remote has accidentally been pressed then produces reminder on screen rather than leaving you wondering why remote is not appearing to work
surround sound now available via S/PDIF
The reminder should appear if you press a PVR button such as play (unless you have also setup the remote to control the TV in which case this does not work).
Comments
1: Folders for what you have recorded.
2: Tv Signal & Quality via the settings. hidden channels tab.
3: Edit Channels via Guide.
That's all I see so far.
Now showing 7.10.0 and a manual check says it has the latest version.
Do we know what was included ?
Auto standby time: New 12 hour option.
Not much to dislike there.
Edit: Belay that. It just seems to be taking an awful long time now. Suspect it it actually timing out after failing with one of the services not playing happily with the new firmware (is my guess based on my experience as a software engineer).
One thing to note however, is if you have set your remote to control your TV as well, this functionality doesn't work!
Unfortunately this useful functionality is still not available on the playbar you see when actually viewing the recording. A half-cock change in my opinion or did they genuinely misunderstand what was being asked for?
Plus they seem to have removed the option to replay from the start so forcing you to use the more fiddly playbar scrolling method.
Either flag up folders with unwatched programmes or offer the option to turn off series folders.
Series Folders: Good addition, However it would be helpful to have info on the series number to distinguish between multiple series . For example Doctor Who Series 6 and 7 etc. I've also notice that not all series programs have been collected into folders, in my recordings this applies to recent episodes of Merlin, which are still displayed separately.
General performance: Images seem to load faster when browsing on demand sections like TV, Drama etc
Maybe its down to the internet connection? However it does seem noticeably nippier
Mine doesn't do that.
Was looking forward to getting Dolby Digital back.