IMG 1.7 Experience

[Justin46]

As of this morning, Tuesday 9/29/2009, the new 1.7 level of the IMG is available in North Texas (and I presume also Calfornia). I thought perhaps it might be a good idea to have one thread where we can identify new, improved, or fixed items in the IMG.

I have not yet had time to really explore and see what is new, but here is what I know so far:

1) The level is 1.7 Build 09.82

2) It is on both my SD and HD STBs, although it took a call to the FSC and some time before it appeared on the HD DVR.

3) The STBs were left powered on last night, they were powered off after the update.

4) My Favorites survived the update intact.

5) My recordings on the DVR survived the update intact.

6) The Guide is still in 4:3 format, displaying 90 minutes of programming, don't really see any changes yet.

7) VOD works, seems to be slighter faster starting up, but that may be my imagination.

😎 I don't notice any changes to the Widgets, although I rarely use any of them.

That's about it for now. Hopefully others will chime in with their experience.

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Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[Justin46]

One thing in the Guide that I think is new is something called "Full Info". When you hit the Info button twice to look at the Program Information for a program there is a selection titled "Full Info" which seems to give a somewhat more complete description of the program.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[Justin46]

Well, I have found one thing that the update did that I don't like.

I keep the display on all of my STBs set to display the clock. The SD STB still does that after the 1.7 update, but my DVR has been displaying only the channel number. This happened in the past with a new IMG level but I thought Verizon had figured out how to not do it anymore, obviously not. The fix is simple though, just go into the menu and:

Menu ==> Settings ==> Set-Top Box ==> Front Display ==> change the setting from Show Clock to Show Channel Number, get out of the dialog and then go back in and change it back to Show Clock.

At least it is working for now.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[Justin46]

I am not sure whether this is related to the 1.7 upgrade or not, but earlier, just after the upgrade, I was unable to use the Remote DVR function to view my DVR from the web as I had been able to with 1.6.2. I just went in on the DVR and went through the activation process for Remote DVR and it now works. Could be a coincidence or maybe I lost the remote access when the update occurred. I hope someone else can determine for sure.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[Justin46]

I notice that in the Menu under Settings ==> Set-Top Box there is an option to turn off the screen saver. Was that there on 1.6.2? If not, then those of you who are concerned about burn-in on your TV now will have the option to turn off the screen saver. While I never turn off my STBs I have decided to turn off the screen saver just to be safe.

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Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[tsauter1]

No there was no previous option to turn off the screen saver. Which I found odd when they first institued the screen saver.

[Justin46]

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@tsauter wrote:

No there was no previous option to turn off the screen saver. Which I found odd when they first institued the screen saver.

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Thanks, I didn't think there was but wasn't sure. The option is available on both my SD and HD DVR (really all Verizon STBs I presume), I have turned it off on both and that seems to work.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[Justin46]

In my first post I wrote the following:

"6) The Guide is still in 4:3 format, displaying 90 minutes of programming, don't really see any changes yet."

That statement is true on my QIP6416 DVR and I think all 6xxx boxes, but several users of 1.7 on 7xxx boxes have reported that the Guide is stretched full screen when viewing HD channels. Still only 90 minutes displayed, some people apparently like the stretched appearance, some don't. As far as I can see there is no option on any STB to stretch or not stretch the Guide display.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[CharlesH]

It is true.  Customers with 6xxx series boxes will not have a stretched while customers with 7xxx boxes will view a "stretched" guide.  This is in prep for some exciting IMG enhancements down the road!

[matcarl]

I hope the exciting things down the road don't have to do with anything stretched and distorted. Boy am I glad I have the older boxes. Who would want a stretched guide?

[Reaper]

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@matcarl wrote:

I hope the exciting things down the road don't have to do with anything stretched and distorted. Boy am I glad I have the older boxes. Who would want a stretched guide?

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My guess is that this is a mile marker on the way to Verizon implementing a true 16:9 guide, with more hours of programming in the guide.

[jolt2010]

I have a QIp 7100 and received the update to 1.7.

I have a 65" Mitsubishi DLP and the guide looks horrible, not worth any new features that they may have added.

It looks like my guide is on "Vision Impared Mode". If you look at it for too long, like while working with phone support, your vision will start to get blurry.

There is nothing support can do to help with the resolution issues at this point.

Basically, I think it sucks.

I read a couple of post about a milestone into new features.

Thats like driving around in a primered car telling everyone "Wait until you see the paint job".

Until you get the paint job, your car still sucks.

[Justin46]

Thanks for the feedback jolt2010. Since I have the 6416 I don't see that, plus my LCD is only 40" so even if I did see it I suspect it would not be quite so overwhelming.

Question: Is it just that it is so big and stretched, or are there other differences you can see compared to the Guide on 1.6.2? When I see it on my TV it looks exactly like the 1.6.2 Guide did as best I can remember.

I am guessing that there is some technical reason why they did not stretch the Guide on the 6xxx boxes, but it is truely amazing to me that Verizon did not include an option to set the Guide to stretch or 4:3 on the 7xxx boxes. Here's hoping that they see enough complaints to add an option (quickly). Then once they delivered a true 16:9 Guide covering a longer time frame with perhaps more data displayed I suspect everybody would be happy.

Thanks again.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[Justin46]

I just found something that I think (emphasize think!) is new in the Guide in 1.7. If you go into the Guide:

Guide ==> Help ==> Self Diagnostics ==> Start ==> OK

At the end of the test it lists your TV packages, like: FiOS TV Essentials, FiOS TV Extreme, HD package, Movies, National HD, RA, Sports, Video on Demand (this is what mine shows, I guess yours might be different, and what might RA be?)

New? If you are not getting something you think you should this might give you a clue why.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[mploc]

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@Justin wrote:

Thanks for the feedback jolt2010. Since I have the 6416 I don't see that, plus my LCD is only 40" so even if I did see it I suspect it would not be quite so overwhelming.

Question: Is it just that it is so big and stretched, or are there other differences you can see compared to the Guide on 1.6.2? When I see it on my TV it looks exactly like the 1.6.2 Guide did as best I can remember.

I am guessing that there is some technical reason why they did not stretch the Guide on the 6xxx boxes, but it is truely amazing to me that Verizon did not include an option to set the Guide to stretch or 4:3 on the 7xxx boxes. Here's hoping that they see enough complaints to add an option (quickly). Then once they delivered a true 16:9 Guide covering a longer time frame with perhaps more data displayed I suspect everybody would be happy.

Thanks again.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

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It's big, stretched, just ugly.  And it's not just the guide, it's every menu, every one!  Like really Verizon.  At this point, I just have to laugh, because obviously I expect too much from them.

[Justin46]

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@mploc wrote:

It's big, stretched, just ugly.  And it's not just the guide, it's every menu, every one!  Like really Verizon.  At this point, I just have to laugh, because obviously I expect too much from them.

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Wow, this is the first I have seen anyone mention that, the reports I have seen have only said "Guide" but maybe they were using that word to refer to the entire IMG. As far as I can see, everything within the IMG is still 4:3 with bars on the side when using the 6416 DVR, and pretty much looks just like it has in the past with some additions here and there.

I really wonder if Verizon actually intended to do that on the 7xxx boxes? Surely usability testing would have shown that up as a poor choice, or at least dictated that an option to set the IMG to either stretched or not stretched be included. Or does Verizon not do usability testing at all?

Thanks for the update.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[mploc]

No people, it's every menu.  Even the little (now big and stretched) channel bar at the bottom of the screen that pops up when you change channels.

[JonBenal]

Yeah I have the same issue with the guide being stretched and as someone said in "vision impaired mode". It's not just the guide too as someone mentioned, it's basically anything coming from the box that isn't programming. I called tech support and they've been great, but haven't been able to resolve the issue. Currently they said they're going to speak with the developers and see what the deal is. They did mention that the most likely cause is it's due to the anticipation of a full 16:9 guide. Just wanted to make my issue known, hopefully this will them help resolve sooner.

[Justin46]

JonBenal,

From what I have seen posted from a Verizon tech, this was done on purpose.

I think it is good that you called tech support, the more direct complaints they get about this issue the greater the chance that Verizon will fix it quickly. There are Verizon tech support people here on the forum, and they do a great job I think, but there is no better way for Verizon to know about issues than for people to call tech support and report them. At least IMHO....

Thanks for your feedback. And everyone should keep in mind that this issue apparently only affects the 7xxx boxes, not the 6xxx boxes (which I luckily have . )

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248

[jolt2010]

I can only see 8 channel entries in the Guide, in the past there were more.

When the channel is higlighted, it is 3 times the size of the other displayed channels in the menu, this is because of the channel /show description.

Also, now the Guide appears cropped off on top and bottom.

Menu, Guide, and Info are the things I notice as "different".

Also, I just tried going into On Demand and its cuts off and goes blank for about 6 seconds before the screen and sound come back. This also happens when I hit the Exit button to go back to watching TV.

Now it takes longer to "Page" in the guide, but the picture in the guide is the same size.

In the past I have seen some pixelation on my screen and some sound  sync issues.

Usually a power off and on resolves these issues.

I have not experienced any issues since the "upgrade".

I know, I know...they are not problems, they are features.....  🙂

[Justin46]

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@jolt2010 wrote:

I can only see 8 channel entries in the Guide, in the past there were more.

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Someone who was looking at this thread yesterday has pointed out to me that the previous level of the Guide, 1.6.2, also displays 8 entries at a time. He is still on 1.6.2 and verified that before contacting me. I of course cannot go back to see what 1.6.2 displays.

So it would appear that there is no difference in the number of channels displayed in the Guide between 1.6.2 and 1.7.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416, IMG 1.7, Build 09.82
Keller, TX 76248