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Improvements to Sky Digital

What would you like to see? (May 2004)

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SP
Spencer
Sky Digi Online reports that software upgrades are on the way for Sky Digital from next month to accommodate more channels and services...

Quote:
To increase the amount of space on Sky's clogged up EPG a software upgrade to Set Top Boxes will take place throughout June in order to support additional channels and services. In line with this policy, Sky is preparing to execute a number of software downloads which will support the currently anticipated growth in the number of channels and services on the platform. The next upgrade should be completed by 1st July 2004 and a further upgrade is planned for February 2005. It is anticipated that a number of channels will launch before the initial upgrade in accordance with the existing schedule. However, the upgrade programme will have an impact on other channel launches. Sky has written to all the operators of all proposed channels to inform them of the upgrade programme. This automatically suggests that a lot of launches that were due to take place during June and July will either be delayed or brought back.


Anyway, this got me thinking... What improvements would you like to see to Sky Digital's software in future updates?

Personally I'd like to see:

Arrow One-touch on/off access for subtitles (press green for example) rather than having to trawl through menus every time you want them.

Arrow More than 20 'Favourite Channels'

Arrow A 14:9 option for widescreen programmes viewed on 4:3 sets (as with some freeview boxes).

Arrow Access to 'i' button programme information for channels other than the one you're watching via the search and scan banner.

Arrow An option to keep the programme sound, and maybe picture in the background, whilst browsing the EPG (Teletext style).

Any more?
AJ
AJ
Personally, I'm happy with the way the EPG works - it's just the line up that's a mess!

An organised Interactive Menu would be nice - i.e. services sorted to genre. A sub EPG for shopping channels would also be good - to get them out of the way of the main channels.

Box office is also a massive waste of EPG space too - they could put box office feeds on a red button application or similar - ala Sky Movies Multistart - only slightly more advanced.
GE
thegeek Founding member
AJ posted:
Box office is also a massive waste of EPG space too - they could put box office feeds on a red button application or similar - ala Sky Movies Multistart - only slightly more advanced.
Although there's already a box office button on the remote - so it's always available anyway.

I'd like to be able to hide channels I don't subscribe to from the EPG list - that would save quite a bit of time.
SP
Spencer
thegeek posted:
I'd like to be able to hide channels I don't subscribe to from the EPG list - that would save quite a bit of time.


I'd love to be able to do that as well, but I imagine Sky want to remind you constantly of the existance of their premium channels in the hope that one day you'll subscribe. Sods!
GM
nodnirG kraM
Spencer For Hire posted:
Arrow One-touch on/off access for subtitles (press green for example) rather than having to trawl through menus every time you want them.

Arrow More than 20 'Favourite Channels'

Arrow Access to 'i' button programme information for channels other than the one you're watching via the search and scan banner.

Arrow An option to keep the programme sound, and maybe picture in the background, whilst browsing the EPG (Teletext style).

All good ideas, especially the access to the 'i' button one. More than 20 favourites would perhaps defeat the purpose of the favourites list, but then again I just set my favourites to the beginning of a row of favourtie channels, ie 109 serves for 109-111, 164 serves 164, 165 and 175. And so on.
WE
Westy2
Stop the bl**dy thing crashing/freezing/switching off when you least expect it !

(Getting at least one crash a day at the mo!)
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
All I want for Christmas is for it to go BACK to the system where you pressed select once to put a programme in the planner, then a second time to set it to automatically change channel.

I find setting up a day's unattended recording is currently a long winded pain in the rectum.
:-(
A former member
Spencer For Hire posted:
Arrow An option to keep the programme sound, and maybe picture in the background, whilst browsing the EPG (Teletext style).


Absolutely the best idea.
:-(
A former member
nodnirG kraM posted:
[
All good ideas, especially the access to the 'i' button one. More than 20 favourites would perhaps defeat the purpose of the favourites list, but then again I just set my favourites to the beginning of a row of favourtie channels, ie 109 serves for 109-111, 164 serves 164, 165 and 175. And so on.


Yes, that's the best way to do it... I have my most watched channels and MTV, Sky News and , Radio1 and BBC1 Scotland so I can skip past all the ones I don't subscribe to
AS
Asa Admin
Nick Harvey posted:
I find setting up a day's unattended recording is currently a long winded pain in the rectum.

I know. Why on earth did they change that feature? I panicked at the time thinking they'd stopped Auto View altogether. Having to set it up via the TV Guide screen is such as pain. Surely more people want the second press to change it to Auto View than remove the reminder altogether?
DU
Dunedin
Good ideas already mentionned esp. the search and scan info for all channels thing.

My addition is probably never going to happen but hey- I would like a digital radio "player" to be incorporated in place of just channel numbers. This would somehow allow (not technical you understand Rolling Eyes ) the replacement of audio feed on a channel (non-radio) with a digital radio station. Some uses (for those confused by what I've just written):

Arrow Watch the cricket on C4 with commentary from 5 live sports extra, or BBC radio footie commentary for ITV matches etc.
Arrow Listen to your favourite radio show over pictures from your favourite 24 hour news channel on your TV- so you don't miss out on breaking news but get to hear those chunes!

Obviously lots more potential uses- I know you could just buy a digital radio and then mute the sound on your TV, but that's not the point!

Oh and I also realise that you need two tuners and so is probably only feasible on Sky+ boxes rather than the standards.
HA
harshy Founding member
[quote="Spencer For Hire"][URL=http://skydigital.mediabullet.co.uk]

Arrow A 14:9 option for widescreen programmes viewed on 4:3 sets (as with some freeview boxes).

Yes that's an excellent idea, whenever I take my FTA receiver downstairs, I can view channels like BBC News 24 in 14:9 on my 4:3 tv and it's much better then watching 16:9 letterbox

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