dslreports logo
 
    All Forums Hot Topics Gallery
spc
uniqs
60
DGGSLF
join:2007-04-14
Lynn, MA

DGGSLF

Member

Re: Samsung FiOS smart app issues

Update: I double checked my "video" apps on my TV today and sure enough, the FiOS TV app was now listed. I'm not sure when it was added but I did not need to update the firmware for it appear, so it looks like the issue was on the Verizon side (not a Samsung issue).

Anyway, I installed it successfully and was able to watch live TV.

I'm glad it's resolved, as I may decide down the road to return one of my STBs, especially if they add the broadcast channels (so I dont have to switch inputs).
PJL
join:2008-07-24
Long Beach, CA

PJL

Member

said by DGGSLF:

Update: I double checked my "video" apps on my TV today and sure enough, the FiOS TV app was now listed. I'm not sure when it was added but I did not need to update the firmware for it appear, so it looks like the issue was on the Verizon side (not a Samsung issue).
...

Why would it be "on the Verizon side?" The Samsung apps are maintained by Samsung and your TV or Blu-ray player pulls them from Samsung, not Verizon -- just like any other Samsung app. Once installed the app communicates with Verizon servers, but the app itself is pulled from Samsung -- just like the iPad app comes from the Apple app store, not Verizon. The reason that no firmware was required is that the Samsung Smart Hub displays available apps from what a server database tells it are available, which changes regularly. It's like the FiOS widgets. When a widget is added to the available list of widgets, there is no firmware change to the STB software.

The reason I replied with this is that often people are critical of Verizon, and most often they deserve it, but I don't believe they do in this case. IMHO.

Rattler
join:2001-04-13
Havertown, PA

Rattler to DGGSLF

Member

to DGGSLF
said by DGGSLF:

Update: I double checked my "video" apps on my TV today and sure enough, the FiOS TV app was now listed. I'm not sure when it was added but I did not need to update the firmware for it appear, so it looks like the issue was on the Verizon side (not a Samsung issue).

Anyway, I installed it successfully and was able to watch live TV.

I'm glad it's resolved, as I may decide down the road to return one of my STBs, especially if they add the broadcast channels (so I dont have to switch inputs).

It became available sometime between 03/03 PM and 03/05 AM. The selection of live channels is an odd subset of what you're subscribed to. So far, I've only watched 125, 620, 895, 899, 902 and 920.

Except for what appeared to be an internet glitch in the Philly area (repeated and frequent video lock-ups for a couple hours), the other night, it has worked very well on what I've watched. I am surprised that the WiFi link between the router and player is so stable.

I also experimented with doing a heavy D/L, maxing out my 25/25 connection (avg D/L speed was 26.9 Mbps at the computer) and it did not seem to affect the quality of an HD movie viewed through the player. I don't know if the system treats data to the player like it does with VOD (by upping the available D/L overhead) but there were no glitches in the video for the 5-minute duration of the D/L.

The HD isn't quite what it is through an HD STB but, considering the cost, it's nothing to gripe about.

One other thing that may or may not be applicable... When I got the player, (BD-E5900) it had firmware version 1054 on it. I upgraded it to v1057 a few weeks ago. Whether that is germane to the app compatibility, I don't know. So, nyrmetros, if you have older F/W on your player and the app does not show up in the Samsung app store on the player, try upgrading the firmware, if you haven't already.
Rattler

Rattler

Member

Click for full size
Thought this might be of interest...

Here's a plot of a 10-minute period of what went through my WRT54GS router while watching an HD channel on the player.

Nothing else was happening on my WLAN at the time. My WLAN goes through the Linksys but all Ethernet connections are directly to the Actiontec (primary router). I use the WRT54GS as my WLAN access point because it provides better wireless connection than the Rev. C Actiontec.
DGGSLF
join:2007-04-14
Lynn, MA

DGGSLF to PJL

Member

to PJL
PJL,

I believe it was a Verizon problem and here is why. Verizon has updated the app several times to resolve issues and if I look at the version date and number on the app that was installed on my TV today, the release date is 02/27/13.

If you read from the begining of this thread (and another thread that I opened), you'll see how long ago this issue was being worked by VZ. I also have feedback in the direct forum that VZ was working on resolving my issue, so I speak with some historical facts as a basis.

I think there may have been a week's delay on the Samsung side to get it into the app store (I assume for testing/validation purposes).

Bottom line, its working now!
PJL
join:2008-07-24
Long Beach, CA

PJL

Member

said by DGGSLF:

PJL,

I believe it was a Verizon problem and here is why. Verizon has updated the app several times to resolve issues and if I look at the version date and number on the app that was installed on my TV today, the release date is 02/27/13.

If you read from the begining of this thread (and another thread that I opened), you'll see how long ago this issue was being worked by VZ. I also have feedback in the direct forum that VZ was working on resolving my issue, so I speak with some historical facts as a basis.

I think there may have been a week's delay on the Samsung side to get it into the app store (I assume for testing/validation purposes).

Bottom line, its working now!

The information you added easily convinced me. Verizon has a terrible track record with app development -- whether it's on Android, iPad, and Samsung as you point out, but at least not on Windows 8 -- oh they don't have any on that platform -- and even their own STB widgets. They put something out that is so buggy that people get turned off by the experience. (See, I can be critical too!)