Sept 2020 Fios DVR and Guide Update
Scott804
Enthusiast - Level 2

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. 

1 Solution
Nilsa_VZ
Community Manager
Community Manager

Please disregard that this topic has been marked as solved. This post was marked as the solution in order to float it to the beginning of this thread for increased visibility.

Dear Verizon Customers,

Thank you for bringing these concerns to our attention. We are listening to you and based on your feedback, we have made SOME additional changes to the new Fios TV Interface with the APR 7.8 update. Here are the interface updates:

  • User Interface Improvements
    • Guide legibility improvements
    • Free To Me filter renamed to Subscribed
    • Episode font size updated to fit more characters
    • 2 ½ hour guide skipping with prev/next buttons
  • Video On Demand updates
  • Fixes/Improvements

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You will see the above mentioned Fios TV interface changes roll out from 12/09 through 1/13.

Additional responses:

Coloring: Here is another way to navigate to channel groups that used to be colored:

The channel neighborhoods are still organized by the genres you're familiar with.  While in the main Guide, press the Guide button again to apply your filters and move over to the Jump To function.  Now you can jump your guide to specific channel neighborhoods.  If you have Fios TV One with a Voice Remote, while in the guide you can also say “Jump to <channel neighborhood>”.

Last Button: The button labeled "Last" on our remotes for 1100 and 4100's can be configured to operate in one of 2 ways. You can either jump back and forth between your last 2 watched programs, or you can have it bring up the "Last Watched Rail" which contains more of your most recently watched content, including VOD and DVR shows.

Access Menu>Settings>System>Television>Last Watched Rail to enable and disable the Last Watched Rail.

If the "Last Watch Rail" disappears, please use this workaround: Reboot the box or boxes on which the issue is seen to check if that fixes the problem. If it still appears bothersome or comes back, please disable the last watched rail.  Access Menu>Settings>System>Television>Last Watched Rail to enable and disable the Last Watched Rail.

We are aware of the Last Watched Rail issue reported in this Community and we will have a fix in place with the next release.

 

Guide Banner: You can disable the Guide Ad banner setting via the following:

Main Menu>>settings>>Notification>Guide Banners->Disable

 

Lagging / Slowness / Sluggishness:

If you are still experiencing lagging, slowness or sluggishness when interacting with the set top box after the latest update (APR 7.8), please elaborate on which specific functionality is exhibiting this behavior (ex. Navigating Menu/Guide/On Demand, channel surfing, DVR etc.)?

Please feel free to provide any additional details which will be useful and assist the development team as they further investigate.

 

As always, we greatly appreciate and value your feedback.

Thank you.



Community Manager
Community Manager II

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1,202 Replies
llebpmacm
Enthusiast - Level 2

And if you have certain medical issues (like I do), the movement of the guide triggers bad things happening. I've been talking to Comcast today. I hate them, but cannot continue with this guide. And could it be any slower to change a channel?????

Mike33331
Enthusiast - Level 1

Horrendous.  Single scrolling function gone, color icons gone, delay, too hard to read, clarity worse, banners cover8ing up the screen.  This was a mistake because its not an improvement, it was change for the sake of change.   Like Microsoft when they buried all of the most helpful buttons three levels down.   It is profoundly frustrating to use which has made me turn to other alternatives.  So now I am paying for a service I cant and don't use.  I don't think I can do that.  How about you figure out a fix like ebay did with the option to go to the "classic" version of the site.

I swore I would never go back to Comcast as long as I lived.   Maybe this is just the end of cable for me.  How about ya just fix this so-called "up grade"?

leedr
Enthusiast - Level 2

totally agree.  looking back at Cox cable....

Billyboy41
Enthusiast - Level 1

The new guide is absolutely terrible.  The BOLD TEXT for items in the guide make it very difficult to readthe bar that pops up any time you look to go forward or backward, move to a channel is annoying and slow.   Overall performance is very very slow - missing key strokes, numbers when changing channels. 

What is really bad - I am at my daughters house today (she is on FIOS) and her guide has NOT changed yet.  It is the old one that works fantastic, as expected and like it should. 

We need to have (at a minimum) the option to revert back to the old guide and functions, or just revert for all people.   I am very dissatisfied with this change and get more frustrated with it every time I pick up the remote.  

Please change it back!!   

Mandoran
Enthusiast - Level 1

You would think if a company like Verizon rolled out an update it would be an improvement but this update is a step backwards. It took away functions that were very user friendly and functional and replaced them with nothing.  This new guide is awful.  They should roll it back to the previous version.  

kyote67
Enthusiast - Level 1

I absolutely agree!!! It looks antiquated and the graphics are so small, it’s hard to read. Plus it is not user friendly. I hate it!!!!

Pretzelman1
Enthusiast - Level 1

Agree. Guide very difficult to read and follow. 

Razzle1
Enthusiast - Level 2

are there any plans on refunding Fios customers for the frustrations the new guide has created for its users?   this is a defective product and we shouldn't be charged for the companies mistakes.

FrustratedVZcus
Enthusiast - Level 1
  • New guide is horrible. Why do companies find it necessary to fix what is not broken, causing frustration for its customers and users.  Let me tell you why...these companies have employees( in this case IT, Techies) trying to justify their paychecks/existence/jobs. "Lets unnecessarily change tools and processes, so we look busy designing, changing for no reason. Then they will need us to explain how to use and troubleshoot the new **bleep** that doesnt work and didnt need to be changed to begin with.  Then they'll need us to fix all the complaints they recieve."  Leave things that work alone!!! ie color coded shows (sports, movies, etc). If its 20 minutes into show, why are shows in that 1/2 slot squeezed down to only be able to read an abbreviated portion of the title (example: at 1:54, see how much of the show title you can read of the currently running show...its so abbreviated, you have highlight the show to see what it is). Also, old guide had green coded "New" more prominant in show description.
TV-Guide-2-Slow
Enthusiast - Level 1

I have been a customer for many years and have always thought that Fios operated so smoothly. With this update, I completely understand why people throw the remote at the tv. Dealing with the downgrade of the GUI is one thing, but in the latency feels like 1980s. Next their going to send us all 14.4k modems and tell us it's an upgrade for internet because they tested them with people like us.

I hope they can at least give the option of rolling back.  In the year 2020, the interface should be smoking fast and look good. 

Please Verizon,  Please. . .

leedr
Enthusiast - Level 2

the new guide is soooo bad.  i actually went to the cox site to see what they have to offer.  thinking about switching 

vmi77
Enthusiast - Level 1

Here just to add to those who think that this "improvement" is horrible. Please give is  back the old guide. It worked well. I had not a single complaint about it.

kdm29
Enthusiast - Level 1

Please roll back the guide to the previous format.   This new one is difficult to read even on a large screen everything is smaller and busy, why would you get rid of the up arrow function allowing you to move in 10 min sections through the program.  This new guide is not user friendly and why all the big ridiculous banners at the bottom telling you the channel, show title etc - its more cluttered and distracting.   We are really disappointed and even frustrated with this new set up.  The black background is horrible - we really hope you reconsider bringing back the previous set up or at least the option to have it for those of us that do no like the new one.   

deminicus
Enthusiast - Level 2

I noticed if I am filtering by favorites (1 or 2) and select the last channel on the bottom, the guide will have the top most channel selected when I hit the guide button again. It’s supposed to be on the channel I am on but it keep displaying as if I was watching the top most channel in my favs. Also the new guide is slow and annoying to move around in. 

bob550
Enthusiast - Level 2

I've experienced the same bug when on the last channel in my Favorites list. As a workaround, I added two additional channels I don't watch at the end of the Favorites listing. 

janiste
Enthusiast - Level 1

I wholeheartedly agree with the countless subscribers that the update is worse.  Verizon, please revert OR listen to the 62 pages of comments (so far...more to come, I am sure). My thoughts on the guide function; I haven't even explored On Demand and other areas yet:

1. Button press reaction time is twice as slow.

2. Channel numbers are unreadable at any distance past 1 foot for someone over 50, heck, 40.  What's the purpose of the little arrow in the same box as the channel number?  

3. No more color-coded categories that I relied on because even on the old version I had trouble seeing channel numbers so I used the colors to find mostly what I wanted.

4. No longer able to "see" the current channel in the upper left; it is now the static pic of the highlighted channel.  I liked being able to continue to watch while I searched for other things.

5. "Filters" operation is not intuitive. 

6. "Jump to" is a waste of time...just give me the color-coding back on the main guide screen.

7.  Somehow managed to create a "favorite" but now I can't get back to the main full guide easily.  NOT intuitive.

8.  Black background with white text is difficult to read...PLEASE revert back to color-coded categories.

9.  Wasted space with the images to the right of the name of the station.  Can't see them at all and they are pointless.

10.  Don't need 7 lines of shows; would rather have 5 and be able to see more clearly.

11.  Text for info description seems smaller. 

I'm sure there will be more changes I don't like.  Unfortunately, I haven't come across a SINGLE change I do like.  Begging you, Verizon, please consider this very loud feedback from people that are willing to share it; many customers won't bother and will just leave.  This is an opportunity for you to prove you do listen to your customers.

tsp20
Enthusiast - Level 2

This upgrade may move me to cut the cord.  There is a noticeable delay when pulling up the guide.  There is a noticeable delay when selecting channels.   Everything about this upgrade is sluggish.  The rewind and fast forward are sluggish.  I have to hit the button 2 or 3 times to stop rewind.  One of he most useful features of the DVR playback was chaptering which is gone.  Another frustrating removal is being able to move 2 hours forward in the guide.  Now you can only move forward by the increment of the shows listed.  This is a horrible DOWNGRADE!  Please give us the option to go back to the old guide.  If not, I will be looking at Youtube TV or Hulu I think.

ckoury
Enthusiast - Level 1

The latest guide re-design is awful. The bold white lettering on dark black is blinding. This has to go. I hate using the guide now. It's completely unusable. It's clunky and so slow now.

Who thought this was an improvement.

Nate110
Enthusiast - Level 1

My wife and I HATE absolutely everything about this new guide and it seems our boxes are slower to react than picture laden website on dial up.  VERIZON WHY WOULD YOU FIX SOMETHING THAT IS NOT BROKEN

RC111
Enthusiast - Level 1

I agree with the comments about the poor design of this “upgrade”. VZ should call it a “downgrade”.

BillyF2
Enthusiast - Level 1

This topic is NOT solved until the entire update is rolled back. As for me... you have 30 days to roll it back or some other provider is going to receive my business.