TiVo : Reminders on Virgin Media's TiVo

[andy_m]

You know what? I thought I really wanted custom global padding. I thought Virgin had created huge problems with their 1 minute/4 minute solution. I was actually quite angry about it. Actually, it works really well, not yet missed a programme because of it and no longer have to put up with missing the end of (BBC) shows. Sometimes, when a company doesn't listen to it's customers, and doesn't design by committee, it's capable of producing working solutions. Rarely, sadly, does it remember that lesson.

[carlwaring]

I agree, to a point, andy. However, most of my viewing is of the Sky/Satellite channels and these rarely need any padding. So I will, personally, more appreciate this new update where I can turn of global padding completely and only add it onto the channels (as you said, mainly the "big four" terrestrial ones) that need it.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by andy_m

Rarely, sadly, does it remember that lesson.

Because as with anything, people have a tendency to just complain about stuff. When things work as they should they stay silent.

So which ones are companies going to pay attention to?

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by andy_m

Sometimes, when a company doesn't listen to it's customers, and doesn't design by committee, it's capable of producing working solutions.

The company does listen to its customers, but can't always do what they ask when they ask. Only so much can go in each release, and configurable defaults didn't make the cut until 15.3

We actually did design the -1/+4 by committee . We analysed all our own recordings to find which fixed padding times would work best on average.

[andy_m]

Yes, and the point to both of you is that you got it right. Stop wasting time and resources giving the squeakiest wheel the grease-produce what you think is the best product and it will be.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by andy_m

You know what? I thought I really wanted custom global padding. I thought Virgin had created huge problems with their 1 minute/4 minute solution. I was actually quite angry about it. Actually, it works really well, not yet missed a programme because of it and no longer have to put up with missing the end of (BBC) shows. Sometimes, when a company doesn't listen to it's customers, and doesn't design by committee, it's capable of producing working solutions. Rarely, sadly, does it remember that lesson.

Originally Posted by andy_m

Yes, and the point to both of you is that you got it right. Stop wasting time and resources giving the squeakiest wheel the grease-produce what you think is the best product and it will be.

The thing is, the default padding worked for you, but it would have caused problems for me as I have all three tuners recording different channels reasonably frequently. Currently, I go into every recording/series link I set and delete all padding, change the keep Until and Max number of shows settings. . Occasionally, if I don't have any clashes, I may add some padding to BBC shows, but that will be a miniscule amount to change the settings for, compared to the amount I have to change now. Custom defaults ought to have been there from the get go.

[andy_m]

I have all three tuners in use quite regularly too. I don't worry about it any more, let TiVo manage things, and watch it pick up repeats of those shows it needs to.

[carlwaring]

Exactly right, andy.

Just make sure that the show that don't usually have a same-week repeat have a higher priority than those that do

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

I agree, to a point, andy. However, most of my viewing is of the Sky/Satellite channels and these rarely need any padding. So I will, personally, more appreciate this new update where I can turn of global padding completely and only add it onto the channels (as you said, mainly the "big four" terrestrial ones) that need it.

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Exactly right, andy.

Just make sure that the show that don't usually have a same-week repeat have a higher priority than those that do

Slightly unsure from the above posts, so could you clarify for me; do you currently take the padding off for non terrestrial channels, or leave the 1 + 4 padding on?

[carlwaring]

By now, I know which channels need the padding and which don't. However, unless there is a good reason not to, and certainly for one-off recordings, I will generally leave the padding on there as it's a PITA to change it; I have >50% space available and usually delete stuff when I've watched it anyway.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by passingbat

The thing is, the default padding worked for you, but it would have caused problems for me as I have all three tuners recording different channels reasonably frequently. Currently, I go into every recording/series link I set and delete all padding, change the keep Until and Max number of shows settings. . Occasionally, if I don't have any clashes, I may add some padding to BBC shows, but that will be a miniscule amount to change the settings for, compared to the amount I have to change now. Custom defaults ought to have been there from the get go.

I agree with you, passingbat. It's OK for those people who don't record much, but I too frequently have three tuners in use and if all of them are set to over-run by 4 minutes, that stuffs the next hour's recordings that you want to do.

It was a good idea to have the -1+4 as a default, but the ability to change it for all recordings should have been provided. That is all that was wrong with that idea.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It was a good idea to have the -1+4 as a default, but the ability to change it for all recordings should have been provided. That is all that was wrong with that idea.

However, each change is progressively more than the last one

The TiVo software never had a global custom setting as far as I'm aware, so to deal with UK schedules, the quick solution was to change it to -1+4 as that was a simple number value change within the existing code and work towards adding the custom option.

So that is what is coming in the next update

[paultrademark]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

So that is what is coming in the next update

Great news