UPC Horizon Set Top Box trial

Achilles wrote: »

That'll come in handy... means you can use your phone to control the device with the appropriate software.

Also you may also be able to repurpose the remote as a bluetooth remote for a PC. :-)

True... thought I can't imagine myself using the keyboard a whole lot tbh.
I'm gussings as well it's RF rather than Bluetooth. Just saw this in the manual:

Set top box supports both infrared and RF

Achilles wrote: »

Bluetooth is a radio frequency. :P

yeah yeah!! yOu know what i meant!

breeno wrote: »

I took the plunge and its arriving Tuesday. Is it possible to have a video on my phone and play it through the box on my tv through dlna?

Yes.

breeno wrote: »

I took the plunge and its arriving Tuesday. Is it possible to have a video on my phone and play it through the box on my tv through dlna?

I know this is not the specific question you asked but I assume the same applies to sending video to the horizon box from a phone, although I have not done it.

A DLNA non horizon specific app may work without needing their app.

For viewing horizon generated video on an iphone and it is not jailbroken there is a special horizon app. Your phone needs to be connect via wifi to the horizon unit. If not iphone then no, although an android app is planned for this year.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=80975159&postcount=100

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=84185516#post84185516

Achilles wrote: »

That'll come in handy... means you can use your phone to control the device with the appropriate software.

Also you may also be able to repurpose the remote as a bluetooth remote for a PC. :-)

Deffo not Bluetooth , it says its rf based which would be much easier on the device than Bluetooth. No point using Bluetooth for the type data being transmitted

zg3409 wrote: »

I know this is not the specific question you asked but I assume the same applies to sending video to the horizon box from a phone, although I have not done it.

A DLNA non horizon specific app may work without needing their app.

For viewing horizon generated video on an iphone and it is not jailbroken there is a special horizon app. Your phone needs to be connect via wifi to the horizon unit. If not iphone then no, although an android app is planned for this year.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=80975159&postcount=100

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=84185516#post84185516

That's not what he means. The Horizon box can be used as a client for viewing media on other devices via DLNA.

He wanted to know if the new box can play video from his phone if shared out via DLNA which it can.

Also in regards to bluetooth I was only being facetious!

The one feature I'd love to see added, is using the Horizon iOS app to control the Horizon box.

I haven't yet seen the Horizon box EPG yet (damn you, alphabetical user callbacks), but I'd love to be able to use the Horizon app to pick what to watch. It certainly would be a lot better (faster to display, less jumpy, no drop-outs in audio) than the existing HD EPG.

I had to tell the sales rep that Android has a much higher install and user base than iOS... couldn't give me an answer when I asked why only the iOS apps are available as of right now. Ahh well.

Achilles wrote: »

I had to tell the sales rep that Android has a much higher install and user base than iOS... couldn't give me an answer when I asked why only the iOS apps are available as of right now. Ahh well.

It's a bit annoying that all these companies focus on iOS alright when Android has the higher install (i've always been Android for my phone, but also have an iPad and a Nexus 7 and a Xoom2). The app wouldn't be developed here though so I dont' think the sale staff would give 2 hoots about it tbh!

DylanII wrote: »

Did anyone else get the same email again today about being invited in the next few days to order online?

I got it yesterday and again today?

I've received it three or four times now at this stage. Just ignore it, they're obviously still working out some kinks.

who_me wrote: »

I don't know, as I don't yet have the Horizon box. I know you can set a recording (which doesn't work for me with my existing HD box), or watch the programme on the iOS device (if it's one of the current 45 channels being streamed) but I'd heard nothing yet about being able to switch channel.

To me, it's the obvious way of doing it, as it doesn't block the screen for everyone, like a on-screen EPG would.

As far as I know, well, up till yesterday when the new software was pushed to the box, the Remote record feature wasn't yet working with the Horizon Boxes!

Just FYI

Got the email with the two packages on it today. Glad to hear you can keep your current package and just receive the box but can anyone clarify if you need to enter a new contract? earlier on it seemed you didn't whereas more recent posts suggest you do?

grimm2005 wrote: »

Got the email with the two packages on it today. Glad to hear you can keep your current package and just receive the box but can anyone clarify if you need to enter a new contract? earlier on it seemed you didn't whereas more recent posts suggest you do?

The UPC REP clarified a lot of things a few pages back including that nobody on the trial would be entering a new contract

Here you go no new contract

Hi folks,

We just want to clarify a few things regarding the Horizon TV trial currently being discussed:

On Wednesday morning we sent the first batch of invitations to those who successfully registered for our trial. The remaining invitations will be sent early next week. So if you haven’t had the invitation yet don’t worry, you will soon.

This trial is to get feedback on Horizon TV from our customers and to test all of our processes. Some participants will be asked to call us to sign up and others will be directed to our website. We’ll also offer some participants a technician installation (for free) and others will be able to install the new box themselves. The feedback you provide not only on Horizon TV itself but also your journey in signing up and receiving the new service is invaluable in ensuring all teething issues are ironed out before we officially launch.

As a result of comments posted here we’d like to clarify the following:

- Everyone who was accepted onto the trial will be invited to participate.
- You will not be required to sign up to a new 12 month contract when you participate in this trial.
- We have a range of bundles available which our Horizon agents will be happy to discuss with you to find the best option for your needs and your budget.
- Any loyalty offers that were applied to your account before you subscribed to Horizon TV will be continued.
- If you were told yesterday that you weren’t able to get Horizon TV, we are working on this and we will be calling you back shortly to process your order.
- To thank participants for their support we’re giving them a credit of €102. We’re also providing the Horizon box for free and waiving the activation fee, all of which will be explained in the invitation.
- We cannot confirm yet how long the trial will last. But rest assured that you will be able to continue enjoying great entertainment in your home from UPC throughout the trial and after we launch.

We hope this clears up any confusion regarding the Horizon TV trials.

We are extremely excited about Horizon TV and believe you will be too when you have it installed in your home.

If anyone who has already signed up has any questions please feel free to PM UPC: Reps with your account details, and we will be happy to discuss further.

Thanks.

kippy wrote: »

I read, on this thread I think, that the reason there isn't an Android app yet is because it is far more straightforward to write an app for iOS, mainly due to the fact that there are only a handle of screen sizes and hardware platforms that it runs on. It probably supports the "checks" that the software does in a far more straightforward manner as well.

Having dabbled in development for both platforms this is an excuse that lazy coders use. The newer Android APIs handle alot of the screen stuff themselves automatically without much emphasis on the coder to specify the layout, this has been the case since the Android 3.0 fork and up.

Granted it'd be an issue with older Android devices but then all they have to do is make certain devices non compatible on Google Play Store.

It's a weak excuse to be perfectly honest with you, you'd think they'd want to be hitting the larger install base first instead of going for the niché market.