New EPG coming to Sky+HD - Beta about to launch

rogue.goofball

Which Thursday were SKY referring to? I think we got the new OS / EPG last Friday 6th July. How can I actually check if I am on 49.20 or 49.21 - though I doubt that release change would do anything for my stability issues

energy1942

warlikedave wrote: »

We are on 49.21 at the moment - here is a bit of info on why 49.20 was pulled so quickly btw

I wonder what "moving to the next software release" will mean, could it result in removal of the new blue button card trick?

warlikedave

rogue.goofball wrote: »

Which Thursday were SKY referring to? I think we got the new OS / EPG last Friday 6th July. How can I actually check if I am on 49.20 or 49.21 - though I doubt that release change would do anything for my stability issues

Thursday two weeks ago - that was the last update ive seen from the sky team so I cant give ye any more info :P

hellboy99

My box just got the update, looks a lot better now like this

twinklerunner

warlikedave wrote: »

Thursday two weeks ago - that was the last update ive seen from the sky team so I cant give ye any more info :P

A couple of things I've noticed about the new epg .. that I don't like:
1. When you press 'help' to access subtitles, they are now below 'Audio Description' - why was this changed I wonder ?
2. Sometimes, though not always, when you go to a radio station (on the epg) the info box is blank - similar to how it now shows if you press i while watching a tv channel through 'other channels'

Craigels

When are we likely to get the on demand service

warlikedave

twinklerunner wrote: »

A couple of things I've noticed about the new epg .. that I don't like:
1. When you press 'help' to access subtitles, they are now below 'Audio Description' - why was this changed I wonder ?
2. Sometimes, though not always, when you go to a radio station (on the epg) the info box is blank - similar to how it now shows if you press i while watching a tv channel through 'other channels'

I can't answer those questions on why it happens but the first issue was never mentioned by any beta tester as an issue. As for the info box on radio channels that issue was brought up and I'll bring it up again on the Dev forum since that issue was fixed previously.

warlikedave

Craigels wrote: »

When are we likely to get the on demand service

there has been no mention of it thus far on the sky forums from sky but anytime plus (showcase I think it's called now) could be on it's way.

warlikedave

49.22 on its way folks

10-07-2012 06:54 PM
Version 49.22 will be distributed in the early hours of tomorrow morning to this group and a further small group of customers. It resolves a single problem where setting a manual recording of a radio channel to "COPY" in planner would cause the copy operation to fail. in due course this will replace 49.21 on the DR stream.

Thanks,
Sky Guide Development Team

dublinbusdude

Both Sky HD+ boxes are on 49.21 now (mine & my bros in the bedroom first a few weeks ago, and the one in the sitting room last nite)

crosstownk

I've been watching this thread on and off for a while but I'll admit that I haven't read all of it.

I've an old Thomson HD box - the one with component out as I need this for my elderly but excellent 50" plasma which is a HDTV without HDMI and HDCP. I'm using a HD Fury for Apple TV and PlayStation 3 through a HDMI switch box but I'd prefer not to use the switcher for Sky HD. I'd prefer to keep it on it's own dedicated input which is via component.

Today I tried to force an update and nothing happened. I did a quick Google and read a few bits on other sites that basically state that there will be no update for the older Thomson boxes.

Can anyone confirm if this true? I'm not really too bothered but I'll take the new EPG if I can get it.

crosstownk

crosstownk wrote: »

I've been watching this thread on and off for a while but I'll admit that I haven't read all of it.

I've an old Thomson HD box - the one with component out as I need this for my elderly but excellent 50" plasma which is a HDTV without HDMI and HDCP. I'm using a HD Fury for Apple TV and PlayStation 3 through a HDMI switch box but I'd prefer not to use the switcher for Sky HD. I'd prefer to keep it on it's own dedicated input which is via component.

Today I tried to force an update and nothing happened. I did a quick Google and read a few bits on other sites that basically state that there will be no update for the older Thomson boxes.

Can anyone confirm if this true? I'm not really too bothered but I'll take the new EPG if I can get it.

It's true alright. No more updates for the Thomsons. If I recall correctly they didn't even get the Darwin update.

warlikedave

crosstownk wrote: »

I've been watching this thread on and off for a while but I'll admit that I haven't read all of it.

I've an old Thomson HD box - the one with component out as I need this for my elderly but excellent 50" plasma which is a HDTV without HDMI and HDCP. I'm using a HD Fury for Apple TV and PlayStation 3 through a HDMI switch box but I'd prefer not to use the switcher for Sky HD. I'd prefer to keep it on it's own dedicated input which is via component.

Today I tried to force an update and nothing happened. I did a quick Google and read a few bits on other sites that basically state that there will be no update for the older Thomson boxes.

Can anyone confirm if this true? I'm not really too bothered but I'll take the new EPG if I can get it.

I cant confirm it for certain dude but I doubt the Thompson box will be updated - sky have mentioned that amstrad, pace and Samsung are on the upgrade path but there is nothing set in stone for Thompson..There was mention of it but sky did not even mention that a beta or testing of your box type was on the cards

crosstownk

warlikedave wrote: »

I cant confirm it for certain dude but I doubt the Thompson box will be updated - sky have mentioned that amstrad, pace and Samsung are on the upgrade path but there is nothing set in stone for Thompson..There was mention of it but sky did not even mention that a beta or testing of your box type was on the cards

Cheers. I won't bother forcing the update anymore so. If it happens it happens and if it doesn't well no matter. The EPG is not the 'be all and end all' for me. Content and PQ is way more important.

Thanks for the quick reply.

dickdasterly

Got the new EPG today and it is a thing of beauty compared to the old one. Think it is only rolling out on the amstrad HD boxes.

Here a link with all the info

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/45369/sky-to-update-epg-may-preview

warlikedave

crosstownk wrote: »

Cheers. I won't bother forcing the update anymore so. If it happens it happens and if it doesn't well no matter. The EPG is not the 'be all and end all' for me. Content and PQ is way more important.

Thanks for the quick reply.

At least the card trick will work perfectly with the old EPG mate :P

warlikedave

dickdasterly wrote: »

Got the new EPG today and it is a thing of beauty compared to the old one. Think it is only rolling out on the amstrad HD boxes.

Here a link with all the info

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/45369/sky-to-update-epg-may-preview

It is currently beta tested (im a beta tester and tested this baby :P on the sky dev forum) and been fully released for amstrad boxes - Samsung and pace boxes will be getting it too but the timeline for their release will differ to an extent

Rizzo the Rat

I got the new EPG a couple of weeks ago. All working OK except for the Quick Links function. It is not available on either of my HD boxes. Is there something you have to do to activate Quick Links? I checked in the "Customize" section and there was nothing there mentioning it.
Thanks

An Tarbh

This EPG has been a disaster for me, yeah it looks good but that's been the only upside so far. My box keeps freezing on me at random intervals. It happens when I change the channel, when I try and watch a recording or if I'm browsing through the mini guide. Each time I just get a blue screen and have to reboot the box but while it fixes the problem initially it keeps on happening. I tried a forced update to see if that would restore the previous EPG but having read previous posts here that won't work, even when completed the same problems keep occurring.

Before I have to ring Sky I was wondering if anyone else had similar problems and what if anything they did to overcome them?

Thanks.

Brian h

An Tarbh wrote: »

This EPG has been a disaster for me, yeah it looks good but that's been the only upside so far. My box keeps freezing on me at random intervals. It happens when I change the channel, when I try and watch a recording or if I'm browsing through the mini guide. Each time I just get a blue screen and have to reboot the box but while it fixes the problem initially it keeps on happening. I tried a forced update to see if that would restore the previous EPG but having read previous posts here that won't work, even when completed the same problems keep occurring.

Before I have to ring Sky I was wondering if anyone else had similar problems and what if anything they did to overcome them?

Thanks.

Hi An Tarbh,

Sometimes a planner rebuild can solve issues with watching recordings. Have a look HERE to see how it's done. Make sure you read the warnings carefully before you proceed!

An Tarbh

Brian h wrote: »

Hi An Tarbh,

Sometimes a planner rebuild can solve issues with watching recordings. Have a look HERE to see how it's done. Make sure you read the warnings carefully before you proceed!

Thanks, I did that and so far so good in relation to the recordings aspect. I recorded The Newsroom last night and since the rebuild haven't had an issue with watching it, I had when I tried to watch it before. We'll see about the other issues in the meantime.

rogue.goofball

Hi Tarbh,
I'm having similar problems... havent doen the rebuild. Box freezes at least once a day. I have noticed that if I am recording something and try to anythign fancy (like pause/rewind live tv), then it sticks. Sometimes it works itself out after a few minutes, mostly it needs a long reset :mad:

warlikedave

Another Update of Interest - Related to Way EPG is setup for easier access:

Hi all,

Firstly, thank you all for your continued interest and for the enthusiasm you are showing in commenting on the enhanced EPG. We’ve had some specific feedback from customers with visual impairments and we wanted to address that feedback in this post.

We’re committed to enabling all customers to make the most of Sky and did consider customers with visual impairments in the development of the new EPG. We consulted with accessibility specialists Nomensa, who conducted user-testing with a group of people with visual impairments, and RNIB experts who were also asked to provide feedback. This testing provided feedback that suggested the design of the enhanced EPG was more accessible for customers with visual impairments and aspects like the font, contrast and the yellow highlighting were particularly well received. Most participants believed this was a significant improvement to the previous EPG. Based on this feedback we also made other changes to make the EPG easier for blind and partially-sighted customers, like swapping the order of the Audio Description and Subtitle option from the ‘help’ button, for example.

However, as with any new development, there were some recommendations from visually impaired users that we were not able to implement in the new EPG and it may be these elements that are causing some of our customers concern. As a result of your feedback we are going to conduct further user-testing on the new guide with a group made up of people with a wide range of disabilities. Where possible, the recommendations from this further testing will be incorporated into future versions of the EPG, to be released over the next 6-18 months.

As we’ve said before, no interface is perfect for everyone and we don’t have any plans to stop improving ours, so thank you for your feedback.

Sky Accessibility Team

Also

twinklerunner wrote: »

A couple of things I've noticed about the new epg .. that I don't like:
1. When you press 'help' to access subtitles, they are now below 'Audio Description' - why was this changed I wonder ?
2. Sometimes, though not always, when you go to a radio station (on the epg) the info box is blank - similar to how it now shows if you press i while watching a tv channel through 'other channels'

To answer question one specifically:

This testing provided feedback that suggested the design of the enhanced EPG was more accessible for customers with visual impairments and aspects like the font, contrast and the yellow highlighting were particularly well received. Most participants believed this was a significant improvement to the previous EPG. Based on this feedback we also made other changes to make the EPG easier for blind and partially-sighted customers, like swapping the order of the Audio Description and Subtitle option from the ‘help’ button, for example.

I'm still digging to see if anything about question 2 is posted and if not Ill post up a thread on that issue over at the dev. forum

twinklerunner

warlikedave wrote: »

Another Update of Interest - Related to Way EPG is setup for easier access:

Also

To answer question one specifically:



I'm still digging to see if anything about question 2 is posted and if not Ill post up a thread on that issue over at the dev. forum

Many thanks for the reply

Jpmarn

rogue.goofball wrote: »

Hi Tarbh,
I'm having similar problems... havent doen the rebuild. Box freezes at least once a day. I have noticed that if I am recording something and try to anythign fancy (like pause/rewind live tv), then it sticks. Sometimes it works itself out after a few minutes, mostly it needs a long reset :mad:

It looks like you should plug out the box and plug back in after a minute. This reset can solve a lot of problems. It is not guaranteed to solve every problem.

John mac

warlikedave wrote: »

At least the card trick will work perfectly with the old EPG mate :P

No it dosn't . never worked for these ,

just remove the card and it reverts to the uk epg..

boccy23

:mad:

An Tarbh wrote: »

This EPG has been a disaster for me, yeah it looks good but that's been the only upside so far. My box keeps freezing on me at random intervals. It happens when I change the channel, when I try and watch a recording or if I'm browsing through the mini guide. Each time I just get a blue screen and have to reboot the box but while it fixes the problem initially it keeps on happening. I tried a forced update to see if that would restore the previous EPG but having read previous posts here that won't work, even when completed the same problems keep occurring.

Before I have to ring Sky I was wondering if anyone else had similar problems and what if anything they did to overcome them?

Thanks.

I have been having exactly the same problems. And no unplugging it does not work.

When I try Live Pause, it freezes. When I try to play back I got a blue screen. Disaster.

Got onto Sky and despite their best efforts so far, absolutely no joy.

In order of sequence we have tried:
1/Rebuild
2/Forced update
3/Full system reset (i.e. lose all programmes)
4/System sync with Sky center

They are now trying to see if it my card but have heard nothing back.

If they don't sort it soon, me and my €80 a month are hoing bye bye. :mad:

jakdublin

Anybody else having problems recording with the new EPG? I can't record. Have to do my sky-plussing from my iPad or iPhone. :mad:

Pat Gleeson

Rizzo the Rat wrote: »

I got the new EPG a couple of weeks ago. All working OK except for the Quick Links function.

The Quick Links function is not available on the 'All Channels' section of the EPG. You have to scroll across to one of the Genre tabs (e.g. Entertainment) to see Quick Links. Took me a few minutes to figure this out

An Tarbh

boccy23 wrote: »

:mad:

I have been having exactly the same problems. And no unplugging it does not work.

When I try Live Pause, it freezes. When I try to play back I got a blue screen. Disaster.

Got onto Sky and despite their best efforts so far, absolutely no joy.

In order of sequence we have tried:
1/Rebuild
2/Forced update
3/Full system reset (i.e. lose all programmes)
4/System sync with Sky center

They are now trying to see if it my card but have heard nothing back.

If they don't sort it soon, me and my €80 a month are hoing bye bye. :mad:

I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and ring, nothing I seem to do be it from suggestions here or things I've tried myself are working. I reset the box just there and as soon as the box turned on and I changed the channel the screen went blue. I've also had 2 recordings fail as well. I'm not exactly filled with confidence contacting given that all of the above options have failed for you.