Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by LexDiamond

Thanks for the summary. I always manage to miss the beginning of shows so this is very useful.

No problem , think I may give that Luck a watch , there seems some ok shows coming on Atlantic this year.

You can use the never miss service to be reminded when a show starts , apologies of you already know.
http://epgservices.sky.com/nevermiss/

[LexDiamond]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

No problem , think I may give that Luck a watch , there seems some ok shows coming on Atlantic this year.

You can use the never miss service to be reminded when a show starts , apologies of you already know.
http://epgservices.sky.com/nevermiss/

Thanks. i actually only discovered that after I had posted. Very useful as alot of shows seem to have a season pt 1 and a season pt 2.

Luck is the one that stood out for me too. But there are a couple on there that I will definately give a try as my main two shows for the last couple of months have been Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire so something not crime/gang related will be a breath of fresh air.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by LexDiamond

Thanks. i actually only discovered that after I had posted. Very useful as alot of shows seem to have a season pt 1 and a season pt 2.

Luck is the one that stood out for me too. But there are a couple on there that I will definately give a try as my main two shows for the last couple of months have been Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire so something not crime/gang related will be a breath of fresh air.

Did you switch your BB and phone to Sky ?

[LexDiamond]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Did you switch your BB and phone to Sky ?

Not yet. My VM contract finishes in April so I will order end of next month.

[muppetman11]

BSkyB launches new iPad app and hails 2012 as 'year of the tablet'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...redirect=false

[LexDiamond]

Not really big news as FX did this a while ago but The Wire is beginning from S1 ep1 on Sky Atlantic tonight. Worth watching if anyone missed the earlier airings on other channels.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by LexDiamond

Not really big news as FX did this a while ago but The Wire is beginning from S1 ep1 on Sky Atlantic tonight. Worth watching if anyone missed the earlier airings on other channels.

How bizarre I noticed this on the Sky+ app this morning it was under the Showcase section , it's one programme I haven't watched so I've set a series link on Atlantic HD.

[LexDiamond]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

How bizarre I noticed this on the Sky+ app this morning it was under the Showcase section , it's one programme I haven't watched so I've set a series link on Atlantic HD.

One of the best HBO shows ever IMO. I made the mistake of watching S1 on VM vod and became addicted. I'm watching it again

[Doz007]

Muppetman, do you happen to know what's happening with Sky's plans to let you access the Planner and control your box using the Sky+ app?

I noticed it mentioned as coming soon on the app store about a year ago now but haven't heard anything mentioned since

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Doz007

Muppetman, do you happen to know what's happening with Sky's plans to let you access the Planner and control your box using the Sky+ app?

I noticed it mentioned as coming soon on the app store about a year ago now but haven't heard anything mentioned since

Before I start this is purely speculation , however it has been stated so from Sky staff who have good standing on the forums.

The Sky planner is supposed to be available on tablets/smartphones while on the move also available in any outlet using The Cloud under what people are calling Sky Anywhere available at more than 5,000 places , not sure of the timeframe for this. A new look to the EPG has also been rumoured with new features (advanced search) supposedly one. Give this a read

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1601801

This video suggests things to come , you can see Sky box on desk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZee9-PrNX0

[Doz007]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Before I start this is purely speculation , however it has been stated so from Sky staff who have good standing on the forums.

The Sky planner is supposed to be available on tablets/smartphones while on the move also available in any outlet using The Cloud under what people are calling Sky Anywhere available at more than 5,000 places , not sure of the timeframe for this. A new look to the EPG has also been rumoured with new features (advanced search) supposedly one. Give this a read

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1601801

This video suggests things to come , you can see Sky box on desk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZee9-PrNX0

Excellent post muppetman, thanks for that!

I've never even heard of those NDS guys before but going by that video, they look like they'll be shaping the future of TV UI's.

Do you think Sky may have scrapped their plans to expand on the Sky+ app then? I've just had a quick google to make sure I was remembering correctly and found the link below.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1453411

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Doz007

Excellent post muppetman, thanks for that!

I've never even heard of those NDS guys before but going by that video, they look like they'll be shaping the future of TV UI's.

Do you think Sky may have scrapped their plans to expand on the Sky+ app then? I've just had a quick google to make sure I was remembering correctly and found the link below.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1453411

No these updates will arrive apps seem to be increasingly important to Sky http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...redirect=false it's just a matter of when , there appears to be quite a few advancements on the horizon. I remember someone on the forums stating only some of the Sky+HD boxes use NDS , I believe the old Thomson ones aren't compatible.
http://www.nds.com/
http://www.nds.com/Software_Solution..._STB_Software/
http://www.nds.com/Software_Solution...VR_Technology/

NDS have some nice looking innovations did you see NDS snowflake. http://nds-snowflake.com/
Pretty nice looking in my opinion.

[Doz007]

The TiVo app for iOS is excellent & the ability to directly control your box, really adds a whole new element to the standard TV Guide apps. I'm looking forward to Sky's take on this as long as they don't leave it too long, which I don't think they will given their forward thinking approach when it comes to smart phones & tablets.

The snowflake UI you linked to is certainly different and graphically very attractive but i'm not sure how usable it would prove to be over prolonged periods. When you say that NDS doesn't work on the old Thompson boxes, are you saying all more recent Sky+HD boxes are capable of running that snowflake UI? It seems like it's going to be very resource intensive.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by Doz007

The TiVo app for iOS is excellent & the ability to directly control your box, really adds a whole new element to the standard TV Guide apps. I'm looking forward to Sky's take on this as long as they don't leave it too long, which I don't think they will given their forward thinking approach when it comes to smart phones & tablets.

The snowflake UI you linked to is certainly different and graphically very attractive but i'm not sure how usable it would prove to be over prolonged periods. When you say that NDS doesn't work on the old Thompson boxes, are you saying all more recent Sky+HD boxes are capable of running that snowflake UI? It seems like it's going to be very resource intensive.

No I think Sky use some form of NDS media highway software see link in my previous post now but I believe this won't run on the old Thomson Sky+HD boxes which run Open TV middleware , snowflake probably is way off in my opinion. The two below are NDS work I believe so something similar could be possible.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEtcPtATRUY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmYCc0mpvtw

[Doz007]

Thanks again MM,

That DirectTV HD guide looks super slick to navigate, this kind of buttery smooth UI is missing from all the EPG's we have in the UK.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfLyS...eature=related

I really like the look of the German Sky guide from the little glimpse we get in that 30 video. Do you have any links to a more in depth look at the German Sky EPG in action? I'd love to see more to make a better judgement.

Edit: Found a better video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfLyS...eature=related