New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Evening Folks,

I've recently signed up to VM and I must confess to being somewhat disappointed with the TiVo experience thus far. I am hoping that most of the issues can be fixed (or worked around). I've been a sky customer for a long time and I wasn't able to get it in my new flat so I've switched...appreciate there may be too much of an element of comparing it to sky here but I never had any issues there.

I have the Big Kahuna bundle. The TV selection is great and I love all the HD content but I do have some queries..

- The TiVo box is very sluggish indeed, simply scrolling channels seems to take an awfully long time
- Is it possible to set the guide so that it doesn't always start on channel 100? It's annoying that it doesn't start on the channel I am currently on (I know I can press OK but I prefer the full guide)
- I have set up a favourites list but every time I set to view favourites, it works for a short while but then reverts back to the full list
- There don't seem to be many shortcut keys eg to add a channel to favourites without going to a nest of menu
- Creating a series link records new and repeats by default, so I rack up a lot of episodes very quickly. I know this can be changed but it seems incredibly convoluted to have to go through so many menus to change every show
- On Demand is crap and very slow to find shows, box sets are also surprisingly limited
- How do I set a reminder rather than "remind and record"? I don't want to record everything I set reminders for...so I then have to cancel and delete the recording etc..

I know some of these are arguably nit-picking, and have no doubt been covered before, but they all add up and it really does have an impact on the user experience and I'd like to change it as so far the thought of this for another 17 months is somewhat disheartening!!

Thanks :)

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Hi and welcome to the forum,

-The full guide will always start from 100.
-I have been using TiVo for a long time and don't feel it sluggish at all, but if you are used to the way that Sky worked it may well seem slower.
-The miniguide will always revert back to default after a certain amount of time. I usually put mine on HD. Nothing can be done about that though.
-If you go to Settings-Recordings-Default recording options you can change it to New only. However sometimes the info may be incorrect and shows might not be flagged as new in the guide. This is less of a problem now than it used to be.
-Unfortunately, due to the nature of TiVo and it becing designed for recording and storing shows that was the only way that reminders could be implemented. Before VM TiVo didn't have any reminders at all. Also because it has the three tuners it can easily cope with recording multiple recordings.
-On demand does have a big selection of catch up and TV Shows/movies, having never really used Sky though I can't compare. It does stream straight from the servers though and doesn't need to download to the box first which is a benefit.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Thanks for the reply and for indulging a moaning old fart.

I was doing some digging on my gripes and it seems I'm not the only one but it also seems that they are there to stay as you mention. The TV guide and not remembering my preferences around favourites list is quite frustrating, probably the most frustrating thing actually, especially when not all the coloured buttons seem to have a fucnction in the menu. Press yellow for favourites for example would be great.

The main thing I find sluggish is with things like on demand. Seems to take a long time to populate the screen and the fact it doesn’t seem to categorize by show and then episode..instead just showing one massive list of episodes of everything...probably doesn't help! It does seem to have plenty to watch though, probably just a case of getting used to it

Thanks for the tip about recording new only by default, that's really handy.

I don't really understand the logic behind it being designed for recording so it doesn't do reminders, it would make sense in the event of a clash but otherwise seems odd. I never had this issue with my Sky+ box. I've since Googled it and I see that's also here to stay so again I'll just have to get used to that!

Thanks for your time. Any tips on getting the most out of it would be appreciated, particularly shortcuts etc as I seem to be spending a lot of time navigating menus.

---------- Post added at 22:20 ---------- Previous post was at 22:13 ----------

I was just reading a post on the VM forum about the point I raised about it not remembering my favourites and reverting back to default and the reason given is that it's considered a "multi user" system and showing "my" favourites would spoil the experience for others.

I do see that as a valid point in those types of scenarios, but it's not in my case so this seems a classic case of a developer deciding what's best rather than what people would like....there is a case for both so surely a setting to "remember my preferences" wouldn't be too much to ask? My mrs and I simply add channels to our favourites list and we'd prefer it to only show those channels all the time...or at least not have to go into menus to change it to favourites. Alas, not something I will spend TOO much time worrying about, not with all these episodes of Only Fools to enjoy!!

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

You remind me of someone else who used to be on this site, similar posting style, funny that....:smokin::welcome:

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

+1 lol

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

I don't understand the reason for reminders, when all three tuners record; just record everything.

Reminders made sense on the V+ box, because although it had 3 tuners, only two of them recorded. You could use the reminder on the third tuner to avoid missing the show. When you record everything, you never miss a show.

I'm sure things seem different to what you're used to, and some you just won't like. But also look at a few great things that the Sky box doesn't offer, which I find almost essential now:

Whishlists: Set a recording for any show you want, even though it's not on the EPG or doesn't air for several months in the future. Set a Whishlist for any actor, Director etc. or any keyword; it even picks these up if it's on a radio channel.

Automatic resolution of recording clashes.

Series links don't expire (though Sky may have introduced that recently)

Other, non essential but extra functionality are

Suggestions; it automatically records shows Tivo thinks that you may like based on recording history and what you thumb up or down.

Full series, season and episode info, with the ability to set up a recording or Whishlist directly from that.

Direct link to youtube for a show that you may be interested in

Netflix app

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

l know you don't understand the need for reminders PB but in our household we do.:)

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Well done, that neatly sums up TiVo's faults to a tee. It does have some good points but I wish they would address those.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Yes l quite agree that the TiVo isn't perfect by any means but its a darn sight better then most other STB's despite its irritating faults.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

:clap:

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

What ones do you think are better, just curious?

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Well it would be nice if these were available.

http://www.amazon.com/TiVo-Digital-R.../dp/B00E8HIN78

http://www.amazon.com/TiVo-Digital-R.../dp/B00E8HGWIK

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Yeah agreed but no doubt VM would ruin them too.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

What have VM ruined so far on Tivo then?

You need to be specific as to what the US Tivo has that VM has screwed up. Bear in mind the closest US model is the Premier and that has functionality that UK broadcasters simply won't allow.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

..Which were mainly caused through VM actually listening to their customers!

Unfortunately, the customer does not always know best...:erm:

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

You better not let your boss hear you say that.;):D

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Same question to you OB; what exactly did VM ruin on Tivo, compared to the US model?

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Suggestions is the 1 thing they have killed but due to a recent update in the past couple of weeks looks like it may be in some sort of repair.

Get rid of the 50 items at max limit and get daily updates instead of weekly and you may well be getting to somewhere near what it should be.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

The speed of the UI, it's awful. Especially since the last 'update' with apps taking longer to open, moving on to other screens etc.

The colour, that garish Plum.

Suggestions, which were working fine then VM screwed them up for a long time.

The constant iPlayer issues, that VM like to blame the BBC but works fine on their other platforms and also Smart TV's etc.

Slow app development, we were told hundreds were coming by VM.

The hundreds of known issues/faults some of which are still completely ignored by VM.

Do I really need to go on?

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Apologies to Mad Max, who hates red text.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

:2up:.......;)

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

I never said anything about ruining only it's core functionality, so why bang on about it?

VM have taken what could have been a great product, and made it worse in my opinion.

Unless as you are suggesting it is TiVo that make all the changes to it in the UK too for VM and they have nothing at all to do with it?


I could go on and reply in loads of red text but in my opinion what I have listed has ruined TiVo, you think what ya like.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Browsing On Demand is probably the worst experience I've ever had on any STB period.

I also hate how it doesn't bookmark your position On Demand if you only get part way through a show (has this changed or is it still the same ?)

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Pretty much. VM submit requests to TiVo (for example, the purple colour scheme is VM-specific), but TiVo do all the core software development. Cisco and Samsung write the hardware-specific bits. VM do develop some of the smaller apps, but all the "big name" ones like iPlayer, Netflix and YouTube are provided by those companies themselves.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

You said VM would ruin the new Tivo Roamio if they ever got them


I was pointing out what was core Tivo functionality and what were VM add-on's

If it's VM's add-on's that you are dissatisfied with, why insinuate then, that they would ruin the Roamio if VM ever got them?

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Past history and experience.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

As mentioned above, TiVo's core functionality has not been ruined by VM. The core stuff works fine. Well mine does anyway.

Most of the programming is done by TiVo themselves in the US at the request of VM. Also the extra apps are mostly developed by the companies directly. ie Netflix, iPlayer.

Since switching to the HTML5 software my TiVo is faster and also had no more issues with iPlayer since the new version.

Personal prefernce I'd say but, in no way can you say that VM ruined TiVo.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Well there's no risk of that. I've explained why previously.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

I know; this all stemmed from Den's link in post 12!

It was illustrative; paultrademark seems to think that VM will screw up whatever kit eventually replaces Tivo. He just lacks any evidence to illustrate that.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

They fiddled around with the Suggestions to produce a worse result, and quite a few glitches resulted when they made changes to accommodate user complaints (although they seem to have been resolved now).

The Suggestions really ought to be restored to the way they used to work and VM should tell people who don't like the suggestions to simply turn them off!

My main complaint, however, is the speed. My TIVO used to operate fine until VM started meddling with it, but now everything takes quite a long time.

---------- Post added at 12:37 ---------- Previous post was at 12:33 ----------

There are still problems with the i-Player although it is much better than before. It still buffers when on HD some of the time.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

The last major update introduced a complete code re-write for Tivo to make it easier to add apps. This was done by Tivo, not VM.

http://www.slashgear.com/tivo-on-xbo...sted-11337096/

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

I pay my TiVo monthly fee to VM for my service. And I don't see the same level of issues on the US version of our box!

I need to contact VM about any issues with the TiVo, not TiVo themselves.

There was no major issues with the original version of TiVo in the UK, so when VM manage to get a deal with them, there is so many issues?

---------- Post added at 18:50 ---------- Previous post was at 18:43 ----------

Anyway this is way off topic, am not going round in circles or getting told off by mods.

I'll stick to my view and you stick to yours PB.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Well so much has been added to or change on TiVo since it first launched.

You may contact VM but when VM want something changed or added it gets sent to TiVo in the USA to implement.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

These look really cool. I hope they make their way this side of the pond some time soon.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

They won't. American boxes are different from European ones in many ways and simply wouldn't work here.

Re: New to VM...and a few questions!
 

Well, whoever did it made a hash of it, unless of course this was just coincidence, which I don't rule out altogether.

It was immediately after a big update that my wife started complaining that it was taking much longer for the 'Home' page to come on and everything seemed slower.

Quite a big coincidence, I think, so I don't really believe it had nothing to do with the update!