Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2010) Vol. IV

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

It does seem to be different in style to the one shown on the VM website. I also find it strange there is no LCD display for channels etc!

Personally I have never seen much point in having LCD channel numbers on the fascia of the box, I don't think the Sky Digital boxes have them even with their endless channels. The box looks very sturdy like the other cable boxes SA/Motorola have made over the years and have an american rather than european look but I guess it's the UI and programmes you will be looking at.

The Tivo remote looks smart though.

[Perfect Choice]

I note somebody posted that the pictures of that Tivo box were taken in October so sounds like this was a pre-production box under test?

One thing I notice and hope is not the case is that black plastic looks very cheap and rough. I would expect VM to produce in the same high quality “gloss like” black as used for the 50MB modem as would look so good together. Any views on this?

The lack of a LCD display does not concern me and as others have stated who have V+ units in their bedrooms, it would actually help.

Definitely looking forward to getting one of these as soon as we are able to register an interest. Have a 3D TV and 2 children who will be happy to test every feature they can find (if they can force the remote control out of the hands of dad!).

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by Perfect Choice

I note somebody posted that the pictures of that Tivo box were taken in October so sounds like this was a pre-production box under test?

One thing I notice and hope is not the case is that black plastic looks very cheap and rough. I would expect VM to produce in the same high quality “gloss like” black as used for the 50MB modem as would look so good together. Any views on this?

The lack of a LCD display does not concern me and as others have stated who have V+ units in their bedrooms, it would actually help.

Definitely looking forward to getting one of these as soon as we are able to register an interest. Have a 3D TV and 2 children who will be happy to test every feature they can find (if they can force the remote control out of the hands of dad!).

The case looks similar to the V HD box to me, the fascia isn't piano black like the V HD but it dosen't appear to have an LCD display so maybe that's why. I can understand them wanting to make it sturdy though as it may end up doing the rounds with several customers over the years.

[muppetman11]

Will VM introduce a new V+ box that runs TIVO software as it seems crazy to have a VHD box and a premium TIVO box that costs the earth. Sky have a 1tb PVR that costs but also offer a free Sky+ HD box.

[mersey70]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Will VM introduce a new V+ box that runs TIVO software as it seems crazy to have a VHD box and a premium TIVO box that costs the earth. Sky have a 1tb PVR that costs but also offer a free Sky+ HD box.

I would guess releasing a V+ that runs Tivo would defeat the object of launching the new STB. It would be nice if the existing V+ became the standard box, at least to XL customers as the V+ subscription is included with XL anyway.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by mersey70

I would guess releasing a V+ that runs Tivo would defeat the object of launching the new STB. It would be nice if the existing V+ became the standard box, at least to XL customers as the V+ subscription is included with XL anyway.

Not really a new V+ would just have the software and not all the internet connectivity.

[tweedie]

I hope the Tivo wont cost too much £150 max if its going to be another "rent" the box situation.

I just hope they offer a self-install as I cant justify wasting money and technician time to simply unplug 3 wires then plug them back in.

---------- Post added at 10:19 ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 ----------

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Not really a new V+ would just have the software and not all the internet connectivity.

Any upgrade to the current Virgin software would be welcome

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Will VM introduce a new V+ box that runs TIVO software as it seems crazy to have a VHD box and a premium TIVO box that costs the earth. Sky have a 1tb PVR that costs but also offer a free Sky+ HD box.

Am sure the existing epg and stbs will still be around. TiVo will be a premium service over and above the normal Virgin TV service so not everyone will want it.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Stephen

Am sure the existing epg and stbs will still be around. TiVo will be a premium service over and above the normal Virgin TV service so not everyone will want it.

You would think they would want everyone on the same EPG otherwise it becomes a nightmare for support.

[alwaysabear]

Surely it would make sense to put the new Tivo software on the VHD box as it has an Ethernet connection and does support Tivo.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

You would think they would want everyone on the same EPG otherwise it becomes a nightmare for support.

Not really as it will be TiVo that will be supporting and looking after the TiVo service.

If it has a monthly cost just like the american service then not everyone will want TiVo, and the old boxes presumably won't be able to support the new TiVo epg.

[BenMcr]

As the Liberate contract is due to end within the next couple of years I'm sure there is probably a plan to do something at somepoint

[Felim_Doyle]

Originally Posted by clinteastman

Do you not find it incredibly slow? Also I hate using the remote for text input, that one thing the TiVo is miles ahead in, the peanut remote has a fold out Qwerty keyboard. That feature alone is enough for me to change (although it does mess up my Harmony One setup).

I bought a remote keyboard for my Pace Di4000-N V Box on eBay a few months ago (£0.01 + £4.99 p&p) which works as expected with e-mail and other text based features of the STB but the Search facility uses a different, incompatible interface, an inconsistency that I have raised elsewhere on the forum previously. It strikes me that using separate middle-ware routines for the Search interface wastes precious memory in the box and is annoyingly counter-intuitive as the arrow keys and coloured buttons, for example, don't function as they do normally.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

As the Liberate contract is due to end within the next couple of years I'm sure there is probably a plan to do something at somepoint

Thanks for that Ben , Im desperate to get one and will shell out an upfront cost but wouldn't be to happy with a monthly charge on top especially when the box is never mine.

[lawe]

They certanly know how to tease us. Just wish they would come out and say how much and when.
Don't they know Santa will be busy!