General Virgin TV (2024) - Page 46

nodrogd · 22-08-2024, 18:50

ATM there is no forced upgrade when you renew, unless you want to take options that are not available from the V6 like SkySports+, Paramount+ or Disney+.

TimeLord2018 · 22-08-2024, 19:03

Apple TV+ isn't on V6 either, very much deliberate by Virgin.

Mr K · 22-08-2024, 19:58

Suspect the majority of punters aren't that interested in apps, and just view live TV or recordings. The V6 wins on this.

The 360 is a cost saving for them, as they don't have to pay the Tivo licence. The only thing they are 'upgrading', are their profits.

**Paul** · 22-08-2024, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K

The only thing they are 'upgrading', are their profits.

Well that is one of the points of being a business.

OLD BOY · 22-08-2024, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K

Suspect the majority of punters aren't that interested in apps, and just view live TV or recordings. The V6 wins on this.

The 360 is a cost saving for them, as they don't have to pay the Tivo licence. The only thing they are 'upgrading', are their profits.

Except that you ignore the fact that old boxes cannot cope with newer technology very well, if at all.

We need to keep up, or be disappointed.

jfman · 22-08-2024, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Except that you ignore the fact that old boxes cannot cope with newer technology very well, if at all.

We need to keep up, or be disappointed.

The V6 and the 360 are the same box.

If you mean a Stream that's a clear downgrade based on the functionality Mr K describes - notably recordings. Name a single function a Stream has that a V6 doesn't?

Mr K · 22-08-2024, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Except that you ignore the fact that old boxes cannot cope with newer technology very well, if at all.

We need to keep up, or be disappointed.

Disappointed by what? Quality reliable recordings, not buffering streamed quantity OB. Tivo enables people to seek and record the tv they want. The 360 is a downgrade and lacking many of Tivo's functions. The word word 'upgrade', has always fooled many...

The V6 is capable of running these apps. VM choose not to, as they want the punters on the cheaper, inferior Horizon platform.

epsilon · 22-08-2024, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

Apple TV+ isn't on V6 either, very much deliberate by Virgin.

But surely they realise that it is just encouraging customers to use their smart tvs for streaming apps. Or even to use one of the many devices specifically designed for apps, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast etc. Those customers will get a better understanding of how they don't have to put all their eggs in one basket and rely on Virgin to provide all of their entertainment.

OLD BOY · 22-08-2024, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K

Disappointed by what? Quality reliable recordings, not buffering streamed quantity OB. Tivo enables people to seek and record the tv they want. The 360 is a downgrade and lacking many of Tivo's functions. The word word 'upgrade', has always fooled many...

The V6 is capable of running these apps. VM choose not to, as they want the punters on the cheaper, inferior Horizon platform.

All I can say to you is enjoy it while you can.

epsilon · 22-08-2024, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Except that you ignore the fact that old boxes cannot cope with newer technology very well, if at all.

We need to keep up, or be disappointed.

You keep saying this about the V6, in full knowledge of the fact that it can be changed into a TV 360 box simply by changing the software.

OLD BOY · 22-08-2024, 20:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by epsilon

But surely they realise that it is just encouraging customers to use their smart tvs for streaming apps. Or even to use one of the many devices specifically designed for apps, Roku, Fire TV Stick, Chromecast etc. Those customers will get a better understanding of how they don't have to put all their eggs in one basket and rely on Virgin to provide all of their entertainment.

No, because the advantage of using a Virgin box is that you can bookmark programmes on the various streamers as well as live TV (so called these days) while it remains.

epsilon · 22-08-2024, 20:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

All I can say to you is enjoy it while you can.

Enjoy it until you realise that you might be better off with a Roku stick and Now TV if apps and streaming are your thing.

---------- Post added at 20:46 ---------- Previous post was at 20:44 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

No, because the advantage of using a Virgin box is that you can bookmark programmes on the various streamers as well as live TV (so called these days) while it remains.

So learn how to use Just Watch and similar aggregating services.

OLD BOY · 22-08-2024, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by epsilon

You keep saying this about the V6, in full knowledge of the fact that it can be changed into a TV 360 box simply by changing the software.

Well, I know that because I have Horizon on the V6. However, I know that some people have had problems with that transition, and I don’t know whether the TiVo technology is causing the problem with some of the latest apps.

I am not discounting that this might be the result of a purely commercial consideration. Whatever the reason, I am talking about the impact on the consumer.

---------- Post added at 20:48 ---------- Previous post was at 20:47 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by epsilon

Enjoy it until you realise that you might be better off with a Roku stick and Now TV if apps and streaming are your thing.

---------- Post added at 20:46 ---------- Previous post was at 20:44 ----------

So learn how to use Just Watch and similar aggregating services.

What about watchlists?

RobboEdin · 22-08-2024, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr K

The V6 is capable of running these apps. VM choose not to, as they want the punters on the cheaper, inferior Horizon platform.

Unless you are an expert on the relative performance capabilities of the different operating systems, TiVo and Horizon, running on the (same) hardware, that statement is simply a guess to make your point.

It is quite possible that Horizon has the capacity to drive many more apps than TiVo because it’s not wasting a lot of capacity on TiVo-specific functions that Horizon doesn’t have.

epsilon · 22-08-2024, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Well, I know that because I have Horizon on the V6. However, I know that some people have had problems with that transition, and I don’t know whether the TiVo technology is causing the problem with some of the latest apps.

I am not discounting that this might be the result of a purely commercial consideration. Whatever the reason, I am talking about the impact on the consumer.

The Tivo technology isn't causing the problems, the absence of the will to design apps to work in the Tivo environment probably is. With many apps written in HTML5 these days, there is very little work needed to adapt them to different environments. If I have an URL for a simple HTML5 app, I can pretty easily add it to my smart tv, even if it is designed for another environment.

That said, any firmware upgrade runs the risk of bricking the device.

Quote:

What about watchlists?

Just Watch etc have similar features. Relying on Virgin to provide aggregated watchlists isn't a particularly sensible thing to do. You are surrendering control of your entertainment to them. It's only a matter of time before other streamers refuse permission for this sort of aggregation, as we have already seen with Netflix.