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. 

[jcf135]

Doesn't FIOS employ any UX/UI developers?? The display is more cluttered and harder to read.  It honestly discourages me from flipping around to see what's on so if there isn't something very specific I want to watch I'll go to some other streaming service if I want to hunt around for something to watch.

If anyone at FIOS is reading this, please, PLEASE address the following:

1. There's no text wrapping so if the entire show name can't fit within the bar then I guess you have to guess what's on?  I'd rather have less channels displayed at once and be able to see the full name/details.

2. The monochromatic display makes it that much harder to identify content. Why take away the great color coding that was in place before??

3. Why are there a channel number, channel logo, AND show logo boxes? Channel number/logo ok fine, but the show preview box is so small that it's not worth having and just clutters up the display even more.

4. Please bring back up the box in the upper left that displays what you're currently watching!

5. Is it me or is the guide and/or remote less responsive now? I feel like there's a noticeable lag between when you press a button and something happens on screen.

[Tartanmac]

AWFUL!!  How in 2020 can we have a menu that looks and behaves as if it was created and designed in 1986? 
Among the many many already listed issues, the channel that you are watching is in full screen behind the menu! Which shows between the lines of the menu! 
When you arrow down in the menu there is screen latency while it load all those tiny pictures.

UUGGHHH the remote, the giant banner that cover me the bottom third of the screen, and play, 2x etc that appears on the screen.

[ixh]

I absolutely HATE EVERYTHING about this new Guide "Upgrade"! There is not a single aspect that is an improvement on the previous Guide interface... it is simply garbage!!!

My biggest gripes are:

1) I am so ANNOYED with the Information Bar at the bottom 1/3rd of the screen every time I press the Skip or Reverse button. It is too large, and lasts WAY TOO LONG on screen. I cannot configure it to go away faster or not show up at all like I was able to do with the previous one. I use Skip/Reverse constantly for watching recorded sports and this new Info Bar stays present on screen so long covering too much screen and dimming the picture. I can control its length of time when changing channels (via Now & Next Guide Timeout) but I can't control the Info Bar's duration when Skip/Reverse is pressed. I HATE THIS MORE THAN ANYTHING!!!

2) I also don't want to see a large icon in the middle of the screen every time I press Skip or Reverse buttons... I know I did that! It just sits there right in the middle of the screen distracting the view of what I'm watching. What **bleep** thought of that? I can't get rid of it... it's so unnecessary and idiotic!!! 

3) Not being able to see the current channel in a small window in the Guide. Why not? The silly part is that they still have it when we go to other Menu interfaces like Settings. So why not leave it in the Guide where it makes the most sense to have it? There is a large chunk of space on upper-right with a static message to "Press GUIDE for filters" where you could have put the current channel window. That whole message could be moved to one small line at the bottom of the screen

4) The channel Guide is so hard to read compared to the old one. The font and monochrome look are so awful and hard to read - and I have a BIG screen TV. The Transparent Background may have been a way to eliminate the small window picture but it's a dumb idea because you can't see the content in the background and it just makes the Guide harder to read. 

There are so many other problems, like loss of color coding, filtering guide by movies/sports/etc., but I can't write a novel here.

The Bottom line is... I want the choice to revert to the old interface because this new one stinks!!! I am very unhappy with the FiOS TV service right now and it was the main reason I subscribed.

[Grands4]

There was nothing wrong with the old guide!  It was easy to read, scroll through, the description was readily available for each program at a glance.  This new guide absolutely STINKS!  You can barely see the channel numbers, you have to search for the description.  There are too many steps to find the information you want.  This is NOT an upgrade it makes more work.   Please return the old guide.  We pay for this, why don't WE have the choice to choose what WE want!

I agree with ixh:  "I absolutely HATE EVERYTHING about this new Guide "Upgrade"! There is not a single aspect that is an improvement on the previous Guide interface... it is simply garbage!!!"   

[Grands4]

THIS HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED!  I just turned on my TV checked the guide, still STINKS!

[Nads1]

SOLVED?  In what universe is a lame boiler-plate apology and fixing nothing called "Solved"?  You tested this with users?  Did you ask your testers if they have stock in Optimum?

This update is simply awful!  Extremely sluggish, removed features I relied on, unreadable fonts, and I could keep going, but everyone before me already listed them.  Please DON'T call it SOLVED until you restore the old interface.

[JnA3]

Agree, the new guide is the Worst attempt at improvement I have ever seen for any product, ever.  Horrible view, small screen at top left gone, color code gone, on info when surfing unless you hit “info” again, or three times, sports info when surfing only shows first team playing unless you hit info again, not intuitive, black and white is hard to read .....and on and on and on. Annoying, aggravating, and did the guy who said “this version is good” get fired yet???? 

[Bea14]

Hello Verizon!!!! Can someone fix this??? Does anyone from Verizon read these posts? I WANT MY OLD GUIDE BACK!!!! TV is now so unwatchable! How can I watch tv if the guide is unreadable? I’ve chatted with Verizon several times, no assistance. 

[GUIDE1]

I called numerous times. They said it is what it is. Tech support can’t change what it does not do, only walk you through what it can’t do. Said sorry for dropping so many options from before.

what a joke

I will give them 2 more weeks then going to direct TV

[Foxxy2]

It’s awful 

[Pjboston]

A thousand times over - YES!!! This update was a horrible, inexcusable step back to 1984. Actually no - things were faster then. 

[JFM18517]

I have the same complaints that everyone one has voiced here.  Verizon needs to do something about this mess.  I can't imagine that a large number of actual customers were involved in any kind of beta testing for this terrible product.  Everything that was of any practical use has been removed.  The PIP when the guide is being used and the Chaptering during DVR programs.  What was the point of removing functionality?  I can see enhancing or adding new features but why remove things that work well.  There used to be more than one style of guide now all we have his this ugly grid that covers the entire screen.  The supposed video behind the grid is useless, bring back the PIP

[MHH2]

I dislike this new guide. The old version example if it was 4:58 and their was another program on another channel to watch it would give you the option to tune to that channel. The new.version takes through a screen that looks like you are watching a program on demand. The old guide you would be able to.open and see the date not just today but the date. If someone has dementia or Alzheimer's that may be one way of some normalcy as far as the day of the week. I was never asked my opinion on this new guide. I think this is a bunch of crap. Now I'm stuck with a new.guide that's so dark and they even removed the small box in the left corner where you would still be.able to see your current program not a still picture of it. All this money we pay for a.service that seems to be with no option to remain with the version we were happy with

[prisaz]

This new STB guide IS THE WORST!

Who approved this should be fired. I thought if I moved I would miss FIOS. Now I’m in a place where Verizon FIOS is in OUR LEASE! 
Will not sign another lease!

[prisaz]

Don’t tell me to turn it off. I want the current program in the box like it was and not behind crap!!!!

[Leerod2]

I am another user that came to the Forums to complain about the recent update of the Verizon boxes and DVR.  The boxes are much more sluggish.  I cannot think of a single part of this update that is an improvement over how the boxes and DVR used to operate.

I see that this post is considered solved but until there is a new update to fix the issues that have been expressed, the problem has not been solved.

[Southern2356]

Solved?  Here is how I am solving it in 8 mos when my contract is up. Since AT&T sports has been removed from my local area I have absolutely no reason to keep your cable service so I am solving this by dumping the cable. Now I won't have to look at this pathetic excuse for a guide after that again. Bring it back and you may be able to keep me as a customer but that will be a big maybe. 

You obviously have shown your customer base how how you feel about them by marking this thread solved. 

[Mlcharris]

This update is absolutely horrible.  The box lags when trying to change channels so I always end up at channel 8 and the guide is not providing the name of the network nor its icon.  All I see is a TV icon.  Duh we know it's  a TV channel but what network is it?  Complete fail please put it back the way it was before this horrible update I'm about ready to go back to comcast.  Really this update sucks and it's slow to boot

[lorimar58]

The new guide is terrible.  Fios needs to fix this mess.  This may force me to go back to Comcast!

[B_S_Sanders]

Not a fan of the new guide.  I won't bore you with our complaints because they're the same as you'll see on page after page after page after ...  You get the idea,

Also not a fan of the Verizon "solution" that essentially said, "We tested it on people like you and they didn't complain enough for us to redesign it."

[Simielucid]

Plain and simple, the new guide is awful. Verizon, allow us to return to the previous guide where the layout made more sense. You all have downgraded the guide and taken us back to 2008.