Sept 2020 Fios DVR and Guide Update

[Scott804]

This week Fios pushed out interface updates for their TV services. After nearly 3 hours in chats, I was finally told that there is no way to roll back updates once loaded and they base new update options based on posts in the forum. Below are my complaints that they will only fix with enough support on here, if you have the same issues, please mark the post. 

1. They removed the chapter function for recorded programs on the dvr (the up arrow that would allow you to move to any 10 min marker in a program).

2. The new Now and Next function causes latency when switching channels. Even after setting it to 0 seconds. 

3. They removed the ability to view a single channel lineup in the tv guide. In the past I would just hit guide a second time to see the next 5-10 shows on a single channel. 

4. Finally, I just find the prettier guide view harder to actually read and process. Not sure if it is the number of channels,  dark screen, or just that it is too busy.  Turning off the background video helped a little, but not much. 

[BradBetty]

I have to wonder, was the latest update even tested before release?  Several problems exist, some already mentioned on this forum:

1.  Response time for all functions is unacceptable.  Frankly that alone is enough to make me consider leaving Fios.

2.  The back color of the Guide and size of channel logos, makes some of them not able to be read, making the Guide totally useless.  (Take a look at 505, 521 or 554 on the Guide, what channels are they?)

3.  Wonder why you thought it was a good idea to remove the color coding for sports and movies?

4.  The little display to continue watching while navigating the guide is sorely missed and one of the features I loved. 

5.  Over all too many clicks required to navigate.  

Recommendation:  one simple update would have been nice, a way to view and select channels by network name in alphabetical order would be helpful.  After all most advertising for shows these days calls out the network not the channel number.  

Call me crestfallen over Fios.   😞

[satchmo281]

This is a lazy rip off of the ugly guide Comcast has had for years. The previous guide was much better in most ways in respect to my viewing habits. This release was not well thought out. It removes a lot of functional

- Removing chaptering from recordings means you have to fast forward through potentially hours of video at the miniscule maximum 8x speed (other providers allow higher speeds). 

- The page forward feature in the guide is gone. Obviously this was a mistake and was completely missed. You can still page backwards once you have moved forward but it takes you all of the way back to the current time. Obviously this was a mistake and was completely missed and a removal of functionality. We are now left with only the right arrow on the upper portion of the remote to move forward instead of paging forward through the guide.

- The bland look is awful and obviously has lost the extremely useful color coding feature.

- The transparency feature is useless (a waste of time for whoever implemented this). Even with the Opaque feature turned on, there is no way make out what you are watching in any way. Also, the transparency feature is inconsistent with how they manage other situations where you want to continue watching your current program.  For instance,  when you go in to the DVR functions you still have the "old" capability to watch your program. 

- Filling the screen with how far I've skipped is annoying and is why I have turned off banners. I know how I have my Skip feature set up. I don't need to be reminded every time I hit one of the buttons. I have not found a way to turn this off.

- Maybe worst of all might be the performance.  I can hit the buttons and do three count before the guide responds now.

This release was not well thought out. It removes a lot of functionality and with additional latency problems that have been introduced make the guide something I would rather not interact with. This might be just be the  push I need to cut the cable.

[Chirurgeon]

And if a person has vision issues, the type is too small. My mom, who has macular degeneration, has a very hard time reading the new guide. And I agree with all the other issues.

[4viewers]

Very frustrated with the new guide.

My husband has vision issues as well. We miss the color coding he used to find movies. The text is so small he can’t read the guide. Totally frustrating.  He has lost his independence to find something to watch

If anyone finds a way to revert to the old guide or make any kind of meaningful visual display adjustments, I would love to hear it.

Like many others, this is the first time I have posted to the forum.

Maybe Verizon can revert back until the figure out all these user interface shortfalls. We also miss the PIP so you could watch while you search.

[cange30]

Why is the new guide on one set-top box and not on the other two tv set-top boxes I have? 😳

[dodzter1]

@cange30 Consider yourself lucky. LOL. Unless you want the "new and improved" guide. 

[Lorelei39]

The new guide is horrible.y husband has vision problems and can't read it. The lack of differentiation by color is a huge loss. You can't even see the full description of a show without multiple steps. It is just the worst. Why update something that had nothing wrong with it?  Worst move possible

[JoPie1]

I hate the new FIOs guide. It is sluggish.  You cannot see what you were watching when searching through the guide.  The go back (last) feature is not working.   Someone at Verizon fix this mess.

[BigR1]

I agree with everything posted. This new guide is AWFUL. I’d like to see Verizon explain to ALL their current customers how this upgrade is beneficial and why it is so some better than the old guide. Up until now I have not regretted my switch from COX two years ago. Now this new upgrade is starting to make me wonder if I should look around. In my opinion this so called “upgrade” is a major “downgrade”. Come on Verizon, give the customers what they want and reinstall the old guide.

[ak1760]

 My husband and I are not fans of the new browser guide look and functionality.  Issues we have:

 - white font is really hard to read.  eyes blend into screen and is irritating. Miss having sports/movies/kids stations etc in different colors to call them out.

- Really dislike that when you browse other channels that the small box of what you are currently watching is no longer shown.

- "last" function is so slow. hate having to go to another screen before seeing the last channel

- Absolutley HATE that we have to "dismiss" ads for other shows when we are browsing

- seems to cut off the end of the show when I DVR them.

 - Video and audio go out of sync quite frequently

- can't scroll "fast" anymore with the page up/down button

Not happy at all with this new guide.  

[plaut]

Absolutely terrible - please at least give us the option of reverting to the old guide.

My biggest gripe, in addition to no chaptering, no live PiP, and the useless pop-up when skipping, is that the detailed program information is at the top of the screen whereas the selection of the channel is in the middle.  That means you have to keep looking back and forth to see what is actually on on a given channel.  The old guide would expand the currently selected channel in place which was so much better....

[Viewer54]

I hate that you removed the chapter function! It takes forever to fast forward through a recording and find what I want to see. Sports, talent shows, etc., NEED this feature. Also, if we fall asleep on a show we want to quickly get back to where we left off. This and the visual clutter disrupts sports when you skip forward have ruined the watching experience.  We WERE happy with Fios, but now not so much. Please correct soon or we may just be content with streaming services through our computer. 

[JLS31]

You started exactly our frustration with the new Fios changes.  Removing the chapter guide (up arrow that allowed the 10 min DVR scroll) is enough to make us want to switch carrier services.  I am a teacher and don't have time to forward 30 seconds at a time.  Didn’t Verizon do any testing with these changes?  The new guide is much too difficult to read.  The Now and Next is such a waste.  I am so frustrated and have wasted so much time trying to figure out how to go back to the previous version that was so much better.  

[Theoldemann]

Here's a trick I found works pretty well for long rewinding or fast-forwarding.  On the DVR menu in Configure and Upgrade hit the skip and/or replay, set it to 5 minutes, hit Exit on the remote and then just click the Next or Prev button six times and you got a half hour.

[Dan781]

I have a Guide problem probably associated with the update. I have my Guide set to display subscribed channels only. The HD version of the local Fox station (513) does not appear in the Guide even though it is clearly part of my subscriber package.

[clem21]

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@Dan78 wrote:

I have a Guide problem probably associated with the update. I have my Guide set to display subscribed channels only. The HD version of the local Fox station (513) does not appear in the Guide even though it is clearly part of my subscriber package.

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You may need to call customer service and have them reset your account. That usually clears up that kind of problem.

[Kmill2]

Does anyone know how to get the channel logos to load? All I see is a tv symbol for every channel. Please help. I’ve rebooted the stb several times.

[Murphs56]

What in the world happened? I used to be able to cycle through at least a week of programming quickly by using my remote so I can record a show in the future but now the new guide only lets you cycle through a few hours. 

[Customerin11552]

Keep spreading how bad it is and maybe they will change back.  First time since I switched to Verizon 7 years ago I am considering switching back to Optimum.

[mfs564]

This is the worst UI update I have ever seen in my entire life. I used to love FiOS. The new UI is profoundly broken and entirely unusable. I will be canceling if this update is not completely and totally reversed to the previous version. 

[LaylaG]

Agree it is far too busy and latency an issue all around. I have yet to dive in but what I see so far is not an improvement.