TiVo TiVo Picture Quality - Page 20

devilincarnate · 17-05-2011, 16:43

To all those with the PQ issues this is a good read:

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...ty/td-p/500443

Perfect Choice · 17-05-2011, 16:46

A fault has been found affecting PQ! Just beat me to it devilincarnate!!

See copy below and link to the statement posted on the VM forum at 3pm today. So those of you who have been affected (including me) haven't gone mad and need our eyes testing, there really is a filtering issue on upscaling SD channels which creates the softening affect. It will be a firmware fix to come out later this year.

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...ty/td-p/500443

Thanks for taking the time to read this message.

Nick has been keeping the TiVo team here at Virgin Media on top of all the hot topics raised on the forum and this particular discussion on TiVo box picture quality has been one that has had us a little perplexed. As some of you may be aware, we started our testing process for the TiVo box last year, and gradually started to roll out the service from the end of last year, before making the product more widely available from April. During this time we've issued numerous software releases to ensure the product is something we can be truly proud of.

However, despite following a rigorous testing process, following an investigation prompted by this thread, we've now discovered a small filtering issue affecting the upscaling of SD channels which can lead to the TV picture on those services looking softer than those produced by our V+ boxes on some TVs. The good news is that filter settings exist within the firmware, meaning that creating a fix is a case of issuing a software update, and hence won't need any sort of box replacement.

We'd like to thank those eagle-eyed members of the forum who've brought this issue to our attention and we are now working with our hardware partners to resolve this issue which will go into a software release later in the year.

As this update also contains new features, it will be a few months before we're able to release it, however we appreciate some of you with certain set-ups where the issue is more pronounced may wish to get the issue resolved as soon as possible, so we'd like to invite some of you to join our beta trial panel. It is important to understand that by joining this restricted group you will receive software at an earlier stage of development which may contain other issues, but at the same time we'd love some of you on board to help make this great product even better. The only caveat is that you will be required to undertake regular 'homework' assignments testing new functionality and you agree to certain restrictions on public discussion.

Once again, may thanks for your combined efforts in identifying this issue and we hope you're really enjoying the rest of the TiVo product.

Please send private messages to Nick if you would like to be put forward to joining the beta programme; note that we have restricted places and may not be able to accommodate everybody.

Stephen Featham

Director of TV Technical Operations

Digital Entertainment, Virgin Media

OLDGOLD · 17-05-2011, 19:16

Massive congrats to VM for;
a) investigating the issue following customer's complaints about the PQ
b) for identifying the problem
c) for communicating this so clearly and transparently on the forums
d) inviting customers to be involved in further testing

Top marks!

I personally don't have any real issue with the PQ, but I'm still really chuffed with the steps they have taken/are going to take!

WDLaserjetGLOVER · 17-05-2011, 19:19

It's great when an organisation actually recognises our existence.
Well done Virgin Media.

kgollop · 17-05-2011, 20:52

Great news, hopefully the new firmware won't take too long.

spankysmagicpian · 17-05-2011, 21:02

I might consider it now that the picture quality is nearly resolved.

devilincarnate · 26-05-2011, 14:39

Just seen this over on the VM TIVO Forum.

Quote:

Hi all,

We've had a great response from you for our beta tester applications. We will continue to accept applications until 23:59 on Friday 27th May.

Please note that those that have registered already outnumber the number of places we've allocated on the trial for the public. Selection is not first-come, first-serve, so if you'd like to be considered I would encourage you to apply.

We will send a e-mail to all applicants in the first week of June to let you know the next steps.

Thanks,
Nick

http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/...ty/td-p/500443

26-05-2011, 23:45

What picture problem? I'm dead happy with mine - i cant tell the difference between Tivo and V+ SD - both make Sky+ look rubbish

scgf · 26-05-2011, 23:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by JethroUK

What picture problem? I'm dead happy with mine - i cant tell the difference between Tivo and V+ SD - both make Sky+ look rubbish

Haven't you heard? Lol.

Maybe you need to tell VM that there isn't an issue and they have no need to provide a fix in a later firmware release.

It was just my eyes. Everything's fine. We're all stupid.

Lew · 26-05-2011, 23:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by JethroUK

What picture problem? I'm dead happy with mine - i cant tell the difference between Tivo and V+ SD - both make Sky+ look rubbish

See the pics in this post. How noticeable the problem is seems to depend on a few things; how big your TV is, how far from the screen you sit, and whether your TV is overscanning the picture or not.

27-05-2011, 00:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew

See the pics in this post. How noticeable the problem is seems to depend on a few things; how big your TV is, how far from the screen you sit, and whether your TV is overscanning the picture or not.

Mines 42" and we sit about 3 meters from it - but it's 1080i only and i notice few mentioned softer picture in 720p so i'm not sure whether progressive scan is more affected

devilincarnate · 27-05-2011, 00:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by scgf

Haven't you heard? Lol.

Maybe you need to tell VM that there isn't an issue and they have no need to provide a fix in a later firmware release.

It was just my eyes. Everything's fine. We're all stupid.

Oh the picture quality of a box is the be all and end all of the world. There are much more significant things in the world

scgf · 27-05-2011, 10:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

Oh the picture quality of a box is the be all and end all of the world. There are much more significant things in the world

Absolutely agree. If the choice were between defeating world poverty and improving picture quality I'd go for with beating world poverty every time!

When you are choosing from a few boxes to attach to your TV I don't think other things really matter too much because your choice won't change anything significant going on in the world.

Assuming all else is well in your life it is a choice you can make without impacting too much on world events. If my life were a mess, I think picture quality would be the last thing I would be bothered about. I think I have a pretty sound handle on these things.

IMHO picture quality is paramount when making a choice of TV and ancillary equipment, all else being well. If this weren't the case, and others didn't agree, then HD would be dead in the water. I take it you don't have HD?

27-05-2011, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by jobbie8

My TV is Sony KDL40V3000, 40inch, sd pic is not as sharp as my samsung V+, which is a shame for a new product like tivo

Same for me on a Samsung 40" SD PQ soft and misty, HD acceptable but not as sharp as V+

But getting used to it,

---------- Post added at 09:36 ---------- Previous post was at 09:30 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by scgf

Absolutely agree. If the choice were between defeating world poverty and improving picture quality I'd go for with beating world poverty every time!

When you are choosing from a few boxes to attach to your TV I don't think other things really matter too much because your choice won't change anything significant going on in the world.

Assuming all else is well in your life it is a choice you can make without impacting too much on world events. If my life were a mess, I think picture quality would be the last thing I would be bothered about. I think I have a pretty sound handle on these things.

IMHO picture quality is paramount when making a choice of TV and ancillary equipment, all else being well. If this weren't the case, and others didn't agree, then HD would be dead in the water. I take it you don't have HD?

Outstanding Post

27-05-2011, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

Oh the picture quality of a box is the be all and end all of the world. There are much more significant things in the world

You can't defend poor picture quality of a PVR in a discussion about PVR's with a 'throw away' line

Doesn't matter how much you like Tivo - Sometime you just gotta take one on the chin

Quote:

Originally Posted by scgf

Absolutely agree. If the choice were between defeating world poverty and improving picture quality I'd go for with beating world poverty every time!

When you are choosing from a few boxes to attach to your TV I don't think other things really matter too much because your choice won't change anything significant going on in the world.

Assuming all else is well in your life it is a choice you can make without impacting too much on world events. If my life were a mess, I think picture quality would be the last thing I would be bothered about. I think I have a pretty sound handle on these things.

IMHO picture quality is paramount when making a choice of TV and ancillary equipment, all else being well. If this weren't the case, and others didn't agree, then HD would be dead in the water. I take it you don't have HD?

Tivo PQ doesn't affect me at all - maybe cuz I'm old - but you are of course absolutely right