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. 

[dmt8701]

I agree.  Update is absolutely awful.  Please roll it back!

[Mikeoldfiosbett]

I like many created an account to share my frustration with these changes. The guide feature was one of the main selling points of FIOs, along with the speed of loading. Now it is very similar to Optimum in its clumsiness and style. This is horrendous! The guide is almost impossible to view. Where are the names of the channels? I don’t want to spend 5 minutes searching for them.

the banners are absurd!

bring back the old one!!!

[MJM11]

The program chaptering feature is missing.   I use that a lot, in order to quickly go to specific places in a sporting event.   Can you please put it back?

I don't care about the thumbnails.   I would even be happy with entering a number 1 to 9 like in youtube to go to 10%, 20%, ... 90% of the program.

[Mcmul1s]

This guide is awful! There was no need to change it whatsoever. It's irritating to look at, it's cluttered, and the lack of a live picture window is annoying. Change it back! 

[capeo53]

I too created an account just to complain about this. First of all I agree with all of the above...

1 - Used to be able to filter by Subscribed. I'm fine with the option being "Free-to-me", however, the only way to have that selected as a filter is ONLY if the favorites button is also selected. Somehow EVERY SINGLE channel is now showing as a favorite when I had none before, so the filter is worthless. 

2 - Inability to actually see the program you are watching while looking at the guide. Sure you can turn on transparency, but it's so dark it's like it's not even there. Bring back the small window to watch

3 - Guide is WAY to small and condensed to be able to read it. I have to force myself to look at it and not look away. Everything just blends together and my vision is 20/20. Need to bring back the colors and space things out better

4 - With #1 in mind, I keep clicking on channels to watch a show only to be shown that I don't subscribe to it. If I could SEE the channel names I would most likely know it was one I didn't subscribe to

5 - Delayed response is ridiculous. Type in a channel number and it always loses digits so you end up going to the wrong channel. Every action is to slow to respond. Want to rewind? Sure, but it takes so long to start that it ends up going to far because you've hit the button again because you think it didn't register that you hit it the first time. Need to pause? Sure, that will work, just have whatever is happening wait for 5 seconds while the TV decides to pause before you can deal with whatever made you need to pause it in the first place.

6 - When you hit info, the pop up takes up half the screen. You could shorten that if you condensed the whole instruction piece above the info you actually wanted to see

[het100]

I echo the complaints of all  on this absolutely horrible guide update. It's garbage. So muddled, hard to read and slow in response. No colors codes, no dvr chaptering, text way too small. Can't distinguish the channels. PIP box to watch the current channel while surfing the guide is gone. The shortcuts we used to have in getting to the side mini guide are gone. There isn't a single positive change with this new guide. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Verizon, it's horrible! Please roll it back or at least give your subscribers the option to do so. 

[Rictus]

This recent interface "upgrade" is really a downgrade.

[Where-s-Horace]

The guide was fine just the way it was. Chaptering was the most valuable function of all! This really sucks. What was verizons rational for making these changes? It usually comes down to improving profit margins, but that is, of course, never given as a reason.

[VinSel]

I suspect this was not meant to be an improvement - rather it seems to be a cheap substitute.

[VinSel]

Upgrade is a misnomer.   It's a cheap DOWNGRADE.  It's like buying a 30 oz quart of milk, a 13 oz pound of coffee.

[Smiley821]

The new Fios TV Guide is the worst and not appealing to the eye at all!!! It looks so generic. I miss the color coding of the different types of shows (movies, sports, etc.) We no longer have the ability to see the current show up in the top corner while searching the guide - it's in the background which is useless. Other options to view the guide no longer exist - the only option now is to filter. The old guide was easy to navigate and find shows but now I dread even going to the guide to look for shows. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - BRING BACK THE PREVIOUS GUIDE!!!

[WorstGuideEver]

I've had Fios for over 11 years and this is the first time I've ever considered switching to Optimum/Altice. The new guide is horrible. All of the useful features have been eliminated and the new features are worthless. The channels aren't listed in the guide, just the numbers. You can no longer see what you're watching in the guide. DVR functionality is worse. And just about every function lags. This was a terrible upgrade all around. I hope Verizon fixes this quickly. I imagine that this new guide was tested before it was released. What I can't imagine is how any one at Verizon thought that it was an improvement. 

[Jakkkkkkkk]

I used a 30-second skip to watch football. The times are perfect with the 30 second clock. Until now. why would anyone think it's a good idea to put a graphic right in the middle of the television screen? Also, the solution often of changing the display from 8 seconds to 2 seconds does not work on my receiver. I have no menu option for that. There was nothing wrong with the prior guide and it was actually much better. Instead of becoming simpler and easier to navigate, every update seems to make everything more complicated.

[M-2-S]

The man who set up the new guide should either be fired or they should send him to Alaska to work the cable companies there because this guy had no clue he totally destroyed the FiOS experience with this guide

[GBTV-ONE]

The new guide (Sept 2020) is the absolute pits!  Who thought it was a good idea to remove the picture-in-picture video of the currently playing channel from the Guide?  Were there that many complaints about this feature? This could have been left as a subscriber enabled option. How about font size options (number of rows per screen) so that ALL of your viewers can read their guides. Its 2020 Verizon, where are all the user customizable guide options? We are way past one-size-fits-all UI's for media organization.  One of the primary reasons I did not move to slingTV or one of the other TV streaming services is because I did not like their flat lifeless guides. Well this guide is worse than the worst of those.  At least give us options to add back the features and functionality you removed.  And please debug and performance test this atrocious code. Since the "upgrade", all of my boxes have terrible lag and latency in all functions. Sorry, but this guide is an epic fail on all levels.

[garyr61]

the new guide is almost unusable. how/why would they remove chapters? why remove color coding, to click guide on a show I am watching and see that channels entire lineup?? That was a great feature.

now, a quarter of the page is filled with a banner...showing the channel I am on...I KNOW WHAT SHOW IS ON...I HAVE IT HIGHLIGHTED IN GUIDE. I dont need another banner telling me that..with wolf blitzers picture.

I dont need to see "for free, fav 1, fav 2" on every page

verizon..you ruined a functioning, working guide..

[dmgphd]

I agree with everything posted. This update is truly AWFUL!  There is not a single change for the better, only for the worst. Please fix or roll it back!!!

[Fairylady]

I wholeheartedly agree with all the errors & problems that the new guide has but there is one more problem that nobody mentioned. It was that we were able to see 3 hours of programming on the old guide but now with the new guide & its big fat channel logos we can only see 2 hours of programming without side scrolling. Bring back the old guide!

[Unhappyfioscsr]

The new guide is the worst one they have come out with. No functionality, no live picture in the upper left hand corner.

[guido197]

OMG  I now hate switching channels.  Why is this new guide soooooo slow?

fix it

or im going to cablevision

[Joec12]

The entire upgrade is garbage. The optics are awful. The latency is annoying. The entire upgrade should be rolled back.