TiVo : Tivo Not Making Any "Suggestions"

[andy_m]

It was never the case that the old software only recorded shows that had already been thumbed, or just those from freeview channels (that's only been the case since the update), although I accept I never once saw a movie. Interestingly, when you go to browse tv and collections, there is a suggestions folder in tv, but not in movies, and so I always assumed that the lack of movie suggestions was deliberate.

The 50 limit makes suggestions useless, as far as I'm concerned, however. Whether you like the new implementation or the old one, the fact is that it is very easy to have 50 shows you have little interest in. Make that a folder of nearly 300 shows and you're much more likely to make use of it. I never check suggestions now, whereas it used to be the best thing about TiVo as I was concerned.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by andy_m

Interestingly, when you go to browse tv and collections, there is a suggestions folder in tv, but not in movies, and so I always assumed that the lack of movie suggestions was deliberate.

The old algorithm inadvertently gave more weighting to programmes in series, which put standalone movies at a disadvantage. 1 or 2 thumbs on movies had no effect. It could record movies as Suggestions, but only with some ardent thumbing.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

The old algorithm inadvertently gave more weighting to programmes in series, which put standalone movies at a disadvantage. 1 or 2 thumbs on movies had no effect. It could record movies as Suggestions, but only with some ardent thumbing.

To my mind, the system should be geared around the thumbs. This way, if you liked, say, Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica, the system would pick out other programmes and films with a similar genre (in this case, science fiction). It should not bring you in at the middle of a series, or just record a one off programme from that series, but it should record all the programmes in the series and maybe advertise it at the top of the home screen on the TIVO to alert you to it.

I'm afraid that although a late convert to Suggestions, just as I was beginning to take notice of it, the thing was totally corrupted! I do hope VM have a re-think about this, and soon! Done correctly, it's like having another TV channel 'on demand' that is geared to your likes.

[trickytree]

In my second week of Suggestions since doing a thumb reset and I think it is nearly there.

I have 3 issues that I can think of :-
1) Seems too heavily weighted now to recording things that have no thumbs where as original S1 Tivo had a nice balance of thumbs and not. Personally I'm not really bothered about thumbed recordings but I can see why others are.
2) I am only getting 1 or 2 suggestions a day, sometimes none. My original S1 Tivo used to be busy through my working day and through the night when I was not using it recording all manner of stuff.
3) The 50 limit seems pointless. Just use the rest of the available space like it was intended. With me getting on average 1 suggestion a day 50 would take close to 2 months to fill!

Final comment is it is clear the software is screwed on older installed Tivos and without a reset of thumbs there could be many people out there experiencing the same issues I was for months.
I'm by no means saying it is perfect now but it certainly is better.

[gulf4uk]

HI

Tried the various menus but how do you turn suggestions off on TIVO its filling the box with nothing I want .Even things I already seen or repeats

thanks

Tony

[spiderplant]

Home -> Help & Settings -> Settings -> Recordings -> Suggestions

Though it doesn't really fill the box. Suggestions will never stop your planned recordings from taking place.

[gulf4uk]

Thanks the reply been through all those settings made no difference at all still
records everything we don't want ..

[MalteseFalcon]

Are you certain the suggestions option is set to off? If it is off, then check your series links for new and reruns, new only and everything. After that, a call to CS is probably in order.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by gulf4uk

Thanks the reply been through all those settings made no difference at all still
records everything we don't want ..

Then they aren't Suggestions. Perhaps you've accidentally set up a WishList that is more general than you intended. What icon is displayed next to the unwanted recordings?

[spiderplant]

Has anyone noticed an increase in the number of Suggestions being recorded recently?

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Has anyone noticed an increase in the number of Suggestions being recorded recently?

Yep there has been more 2/3 times more this week SP

[trickytree]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Has anyone noticed an increase in the number of Suggestions being recorded recently?

Yes loads more.
I read on the Virgin forum someone received an email stating they had made changes to the suggestions and hoped they liked them.
I was getting suggestions I could count on 1 hand where as today I have 2 pages of them for this week.
Some with thumbs but most without so they are true suggestions.

Not sure how relevant they are just yet but certainly looks improved a year or more later I see after I last posted on this thread!

[alwaysabear]

Yes same here , about three times as many. Has something changed SP?

[denphone]

Yes l have just checked and there is certainly plenty more there.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Has something changed SP?

Yes, the dial has finally been turned up, though still not to the levels of the good old days. We're going to monitor it for a while, and may make further adjustments later.

Thanks for the feedback.