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. 

[Uaglio]

Are you kidding me FIOS? This is horrible. Unusable. 

[Dislike]

Absolutely hate the new guide. Hard to read and I can’t get rid of it. I would love it if Verizon changed it back or made it possible to make it smaller or get rid of it.

[Empion]

I do NOT like the new guide at all.. It’s too busy and poorly designed. It was much better when you could see one channel at a time, it had a higher end feel. This new guide reminds me of when I used to have Optimum. Please bring back the other guide Verizon..

[bigmak1]

This new guide version is terrible!!

There was nothing wrong with the previous version.  Now the screen is cluttered with useless items, such as +30Sec skip, see what's on, pause, CC, audio, channel options, Parental control.  And it takes up half the screen, and remain far to long, (even after setting guide display to 2sec).  The only productive feature added was the "start over", but doesn't need to be displayed with every press of the OK button.  Could have been placed in the up cursor menu.

In addition, the response times are slow.  I feel like i have Altice again.

I hope someone from Verizon reads this and all the other people who have taken the time to posted their dissatisfactions.  For ever 1 post, there are 10 people who probably feel the same and haven't had a chance to post.

PLEASE REVISE THIS GUIDE!!

[FTirico]

Yes I agree this is an absolute imbecillic "update". When you skip/fast forward now viewing a dvr recording half the screen has nonsensical information plastered all over the tv screen. Is it necessary to display with an "arrow" and verbiage of 10 seconds that you just pressed the skip button to forward 10 seconds. Are you kidding me? Did James Dolan just acquire Fios? How asinine can Fios be? May be time for a Fios boycott.

[NJFiosFamily]

The James Dolan comment is spot on. I left OptimumTV because of their awful guide and lack of multi-room DVR. When I heard they improved their DVR years ago I went back and couldn’t last one month because the guide was still awful. Way to replicate that great experience Verizon. 

[bigmak1]

9 pages of responses to this guide up date in less than a week.  what does that tell you about its popularity?

[LaurelMd]

29 pages on October 8.  Horrible doesn’t describe it.  Disgusting comes close

[FrancescoVac]

Whoever designed this should be fired. Along with whoever approved this as an “upgrade” of the old guide. 

1. Putting the live tv behind a guide? Why? Did no one  notice you can’t actually see the live tv? So dumb. Put it back up on the corner.

2. Take away the color coding of shoes? Another dumb design. Makes everything harder to scan.

3. the ridiculous overlay info at the bottom of when you change channels.

4. Sluggish on a good day.

Absolutely horrendous design. This needs to be changed back right away. Spectrum starting to look real good right about now. All the money I pay and this is what you give us.  

[leiman83]

I got the email from VZ, but I haven’t seen changes yet. My DVR and 2 STBs are about 7 years old. Is that why I’m not seeing it yet?

[Woodturner1]

Totally ruined the guide🤬🤬🤬🤬. Not easy to see it forget about reading it. Can’t adjust info bar timeout any more. WTG Verizon on taking what works and ruining it. 

[Googan]

This is what happens when you allow programmers to make improvements.

-No colors

-No channel logos

-No running clock

-No Live TV window

Do I have to explain why removing these features made things worse;

MUCH WORSE!

[jakselefante]

Agree with everything on this thread. 

Particularly would like to note:

1. It is really difficult to quickly scan the new ui of the guide for something to watch

2. Prior to the update you could click the up arrow key it would bring up multiple channels on the right while watching what's currently on the tv on the right 

[Mis_Guided0920]

All the above especially #4. This guide is especially hard to read and retain. It sacrifices the prior macro guide view which had easily readable text for a new, romper room, inefficient zoomed in view with no color coding. Verizon needs to either reinstate the old Guide View or make using the old Guide view an option in Settings. I will not renew my 2-year contract until this is resolved. And if it takes too long, I’ll go to the competition. 

[KirbyBoston]

Just piling on so perhaps Verizon listens. My wife spent 4 mins with the new guide and started investigating Comcast. She said she can’t watch TV anymore and I can’t “channel surf” as easily. What was a means of stress relief is now stress inducing. Maybe she has a point. 

Issues:

- speed/latency

- small font

- overly busy layout (images that add no value, “live” labels)

- lack of prior navigational aids like color coding

- too many clicks to do previously simple tasks

- too much promotion of other “next” stuff overlaying the screen and interrupting my ability to enjoy what I just selected in the moment 

Stop trying to be Netflix and instead be the best cable TV provider.  Support ease of navigation and surfing. I don’t always want to sit and binge for 6 hours so make the 25 mins I do have the fastest path to quick entertainment.  You serve a different need in my life than streaming services and I will continue to pay for both but your role as cable provider is in jeopardy now because you fail to understand this. 

Fire the consultants, fire the design team, fire the marketing team and give us back that which we had optimized to suit our needs or lose us to Comcast and streamers forever. 

[DVU]

You should provide us with a feature to roll back this changes. This is update that does not fix anything and instead made a lot of customers upset. 

[cat52]

I agree with all of the posts here. The New guide is not an upgrade good.  Too many great functions were eliminated including

No chaptering

Removing category colors

Can't see the current program while in the guide

and the guide itself it so hard to read

Seriously Verizon, please reconsider these changes. Nextflix is looking like a good alternative now.

[Wikimtb1]

Just wanted to let Verizon know that I too created an account on here just to complain. Please roll back the old guide as at least an option.  You’re on par now with Altice, and they’re about as modern and up to date as RKO radio studios. Come on Verizon, for $239 a month, you should start paying us to deal with this garbage. You are pushing a lot of customers away. I’m about a week away from cutting the cord altogether. If that was your mission you succeeded. You’ve gone back 15 years.  This update is utter garbage and whomever approved this should really be reevaluated. 

[DavBrook]

Here is a work around for skipping forward long distances. Use the microphone button on the remote to say “skip forward 30 minutes” or whatever time you want. You have to say “skip” not “move”.

Still not as good as the old chaptering feature. Verizon obviously does not test its new interface with users. This reminds us all to move to streaming, as cable is a near monopoly service. 

[MikeyDee1]

This new guide is terrible. Harder to read and see info. No more color coding for different categories which I loved.  who's the genius that put this together. Just awful. 

[Jman33]

The guide is terrible. Verizon I want the old one back. Very unhappy.