Digital Spy interviews Sky+ programmers about Dual Recording and loads of other stuff

kevmac

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/article/ds11834.html

Sky+ Dual Record Preview



_17:36 BST, Tuesday 23rd September 2003 -- by Alan Jay

“Dual Record is coming to Sky+” - a mantra that we have all heard for many months. Well today I saw an exclusive preview of the new Dual Recording Sky+ box.

As many of us have speculated on what this might look like the answer is simple and elegant and apart from one bit of “cool” exactly what you would expect.

As the marketing people always like to say it does what it says on the box. It records two programmes at once. When doing so you can – (a) watch either of the two programmes you are recording (b) watch another previously recorded programme (c) look at the EPG (limited to 48hrs of data not 7 days) and select other programmes to be recorded and look in the planer.

If you are recording two programmes one after the other on two different channels where one programme finishes and the second starts (ie you could currently record both of them) then the system will record with the guard time on both programmes – so if you have programme A and B the extra two minutes before and after the programme will now be recorded on both programmes provided that the Sky+ box is either in stand-by or on one of the channels being recorded. (Sky+ won't change channel if on another channel).

The “cool” bit is if you have a number of programmes and then try to set a third recording the standard screen says – to record this programme you must delete and lists one of the streams – but in addition you can push the "advanced" red button to see all of the programmes in conflict on grid to allow you to delete the particular programmes on either input and the system rearranges things to your requirements. Hard to describe in words and I am working on screen shots as when I took out my camera I was told that the screen grabs would be on their way to me soon (so watch for the update).

So that is it – dual record works; you can still access the EPG while dual recording, Sky+ recorded programmes and it all seems easy to use.

What else is in this release? The only major item is save live pause to planner. This works by alowing you to save from the initial paused moment on into the planner. If you have more than one programme in the buffer you can save each of them separetly into the planner by rewinding into that programme.

The only question left is when will we all be able to see this? Well that is the big question so far the product has been in field trials for over 2 months and unfortunately a couple of bugs were found – not in the dual record functionality or use – but in one of the other parts of the system. As Sky see it one of the great advantages of Sky+ is its direct integration into the rest of the digibox OS and EPG unfortunately this can mean changing something in the Sky+ recording functionality can have knock on effects in the rest of the system, and that is what they have recently found.

As you probably realise Sky were pretty confident that they would have working release software sometime ago - the September Magazine lead time was such that they were confident when they gave the go ahead for the Sky+ promotion that all would be well. Unfortunately some bugs were found in the field trials. The bugs have been found and it has goning back into field trials. The question of how long this will take is unknown but they want to deliver software that works and has the fewest possible number of problems. They know nothing is perfect but they have found a number of minor problems and they felt that it was better to fix them than to release something that they already knew needed fixes in the relatively short term.

So here is the bad news - the chances are we will not see Dual Recording in September and there is a chance we won’t see it in October. They want the software to work and I know we would be the first to agree broken software that crashes the box is not something we want, but equally when I am told that they have been using the current dual record software without problems for the last couple of months I do wish we could have it too.

What else do Sky have up their sleeves coming next year we can expect some of the following:
The A-Z search will be extended to 7 days and you will be able to enter full names of programmes not just the first letter.
The Amstrad Sky+ box is coming along nicely and may (or may not) appear before Christmas.
There are no plans for larger hard disk in the box or upgrades - price is the driving factor this year and the 40Gb drive gives them the best price performance.
Remote booking via SMS will happen next year they are working on how to make it work and as far as cost goes it is something that they are not looking to make money out of but they probably won’t be subsidising it either.
Series Links – Sky have an internal team looking at Series links and telling broadcasters when problems arise so that they know of the problem and if there is time have the information fixed.
Series Links – currently when you request to record a programme that doesn’t have a series link if one is subsequently added by the broadcaster it is not added to the item already in the planner to record. In the future it will gain the new attribute.
The £1 install offer on the web is likely to continue for a little while and not something that is going to be ditched in the new future.
Recording Premiership Plus can currently only be done 48 hrs in advance – this should be extended to 7 days next year. This is a general problem with their Box Office booking system and they are generally changing it to deal with the iussue of people being on holiday etc.

So that is it for this time. Sky’s development team are busy working on the future developments of Sky+ in fact this release has taken so long to get through field trials that the next release of the software is already in Quality Assurance (before going to field trials). No commitments as to what is in that release but the new subtitle without going via the setup menu should be in that release.

Sky’s big campaign for Sky+ starts next month and for any of you without Sky+ there will be promotional material in this months Sky magazine in addition Sky have a big ad campaign due to start in October. Their target this year is to sell 200,000 units and the Sky+ team seem confident that that should be achievable.

watty

Remember that if you are just watching BBC and other free channels you can get better systems than Sky+ for once off payment, either Echostar etc or PC based, or Analog in PVR with DVD R or DVD RAM.

Expect mixes of Satellite, analog, HardDisk and DVD in shops this autumn. This is why Sky is cutting prices on Sky+

Same choice as Digibox.

If you want Sky pay channels with Digital Direct recording, then you have to buy the monopoly box where the T&C say Sky decide ANY TIME which features it has and which features you have to pay a monthly rent on.

The EU should put a stop to such predatory marketing:
1) Sky + should be fully functional apart from Pay TV if no sub is paid (At the moment it does not record non-Card channels (BBC3 in Ireland etc), nor record even FTA without a sub.

2) Sky should be forced to sell a CAM so that LEGITIMATE subscription cards will work in other Satellite Recievers and PVRs.

Sky having a virtual monoploy in UK and Ireland is a disgrace.
It raises prices, reduces choice and stifles innovation.

chernobyl

Originally posted by watty
Sky having a virtual monoploy in UK and Ireland is a disgrace.
It raises prices, reduces choice and stifles innovation.

You dont like it...so do something about it!
Or do you even have a subscription to sky?


Why do you keep harping on about "make a CAM available" watty?
Sky cant simply just run with a CAM, the digibox software is also a key component and how do you develop software that will run on any STB and offer all the features that the software gives on a digibox?

It cant be done and it wont.

LFCFan

I take it Dual Recording and all this extra stuff will just require a software download?

kevmac

Watty,

I've made this point before: you are a hardcore satellite user who obviously know your stuff but Sky+ is designed for mass audiences - so keeping it simple is the motto.

Can you imagine Joe Public trying to use your equipment on a daily basis?

LFFfan: Dual recording wil be an automatic over-the-air upgrade. You'll know you have it when the box goes into standby and when tou turn it on it is on channel 998 or 999.

Mossy Monk

Originally posted by kevmac
You'll know you have it when the box goes into standby and when tou turn it on it is on channel 998 or 999.

i am sure it will be announced in here within minutes of someone noticing on their own Sky+ box.

Sky+ is looking more tasty by the day. pity there isn't dual output so 2 seperate things can be seen different televisions

LFCFan

Sky+ kicks ass. It's impossible to miss anything anymore. The Series recording feature alone is worth the money for the box.

watty

All I'm saying is that there ARE other consumer living room ordinary people products that are better or as good as Sky+

But they are only a valid choice for BBC / FTA channels. Sky won't let you use a subscription with them.

This is a marketing not technical issue.


I do have a Digibox for BBC Interactive etc, I do from time to time have a Sky sub.

I just want people to be aware that Satellite is NOT synonomous with Sky. If you are only watch FTA there are easy to use alternatives.

My PC based system definately does NOT fall into either the cheap or easy to use category!

What if the NRA built lots of motorways but you where only allowed to drive NRA badged Fords through Toolbooths, any car would work on the non-toll roads, but most people thought you could only buy the NRA badged car.

Sky are a MARKETING company.

They don't own the Satellites.

They don't make the Digibox / Sky+

They don't make much programming.

They simply want to extract €600 per houshold and completely control how you watch and pay for TV.

DO READ the Sky+ "Terms and Conditions" before you buy or sign a contract. They are disgraceful.

I'm happy for anyone to have a Sky+ I might even get one myself some day. But the owner /viewer should realise they have 100% OWNSERSHIP of a box that SKy has 100% control of the features and charges for the features forever.

This does NOT apply to any other living room Product. Even Tivo you can change features and buy a once off Lifetime" epg info sub.


The Sky Digibox uses embedded CAM and proprietary SW precisely to lock users in and have reason to not allow users to use other products.

A Manufacturer can't add any extra features or user control. The Digibox or Sky + must not just have Sky SW and CAM compatibility, but have NOTHING more either.

YOU will only be able to have a combo DVD palyer /Sky box (or Sky+) or DVD recorder etc built in if Sky decides. It is NOT up to Pace or any other Digibox manufacturer.

watty

TV and Satellite TV does not automatically mean Pay TV.

ShaneOC

News Flash:

Gardaí in Limerick today had to arrest a man following complaints from neighbours. The man had created a soap box entirely from Satellite dishes (non-sky) and had climbed up cursing the evil Mr Murdoch and trying to explain how utterly simple it was to connect 17 dishes to a PC. Mr Watty, head of C.O.N.F.U.S.E. (Campaign On behalf of Normal Folk Using Sky Everywhere) was asked by RTÉ to give an interview but refused saying he would not talk to them until they started broadcasting FTA or introduced a FTV card scheme and set up a scheme to reimburse the people of Ireland who had been forced to pay twice for RTÉ TV. Experts do not expect "The Watty Tribunal" to ever come to fruition.

DMC

As much as Watty is right, thats most excellent Shane!

Icehouse

LOL - v. good Shane. Guess Watty needs to update his hymn sheet, as we know too well where he's coming from with regards to $ky/non $ky sat (and how right you are Mr. Watt sir).

Anyways, this link may be be of interest to Watty and others (or not!)
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.10/tv.html

watty

Brilliant Shane!

Your'e hired as PR spin doctor for C.O.N.F.U.S.E.!

Now, where did I put those hats the wife knitted for the house elves .....

Mossy Monk

excellent. well done Shane

byte

/me roffles

Good one, Shane! Nice to have a bit of humour every now and again in here!

Capt'n Midnight

SKY could put the encryption hardware on a CAM - this would allow customers to buy a box that could SEARCH for new channels. Most non-sky boxes have a button to flick back to the last channel (=PET HATE). Again most non-sky boxes allow you to HIDE or MOVE all the Dross that you are never going to watch or subscribe to... The point about a CAM is would allow users to choose the features the want.

The main problem with a CAM is that users could watch other satellites or other non-EPG channels on the same satellite and bypass all blocked channels advertising themselves.

Sky and Microsoft - spot the difference...

PS. If you want the EPG - just buy a second hand digibox...

sceptre

Originally posted by watty
Now, where did I put those hats the wife knitted for the house elves .....

Oh good. Someone who's older than I am read that book.

watty

When you are older you can read ANY book.

Only teenagers and young adults get embarissed about reading Enid Blyton's "five finderouters" or "famous five" etc.

DMC

I read them too. Secret Seven was fine when yer 7 or 8.

Sceptre, how do you know that Watty is older than you?

Maybe this chat should be moved elsewhere...

watty

Maybe I mentioned watching 405 line TV BEFORE there was an RTE?

Why does he think I'm older?

sceptre

Originally posted by watty
Why does he think I'm older?

You've mentioned doing useful things like working in the 70s. The only things I did in the seventies were washed out after my nappy was changed so I can assume that watty is older than sceptre.

watty

Ah... so even if I was a TV nappy model in the 70s you wouldn't have been watching TV in 1960s.

I might have watched TV in 1950s too. But only when the curtains were closed and probabily about 3 programmes a week.

My dad says our first TV was watched through a mirror in the lid lifted up at 45deg. The tube was mounted vertical not horizontal like modern TVs. I don't remember that though. And I have seen such a thing in a book.

By 1971 I was reparing TVs. Learnt enough to do the Radio Amatuer Exam by this without having to pay for night classes.