mickey
@comcast.net
| how old is this iguide?
When is Comcast planning to update thier iguide..this is the dullest thing on the planet! I had the PS3 for like 6 months and their have been plenty of firmware updates since that. Sony seems to be on top of what people want, but it seems that Comcast is sitting on a 20th century interface. C-mon already Comcast, Motorola - give us something already. All we get lately is speculation, what happened to tivo, SDV, etc..is this all on the horizon? |
|
MacLeech
The one and only
Premium
join:2001-07-14
SoCal
3 edits | 
blue iGuide |
The bigger issue is that is has to work on boxes that are 10 years old and those old boxes just don't have the horsepower for fancier guides. So, you're right it is a 20th century interface.
Running multiple guides makes tech support much more difficult, especially when you have to support several million customers and cable boxes. |
|
CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12
| Did you really just compare a cable companies guide to the PS3?
Can you even comprehend the amount of call traffic even the most innocent of changes would create? Especially when it works just as it should.
Shows you channel, information, etc. Im not sure what more it should be doing for you....
--
CableTechs.org/"Horrible People with Integrity" |
|
sansri88
Go digtal you analog laggards
Premium
join:2005-12-17
New York, NY
clubs: 
 ·Comcast
| Unless I'm missing something, that update to the guide that was rolled out elsewhere (the one with the on screen keyboard for search) would be nice to have here.
Also a slight graphics refresh like in a screen that cypherstream posted in another thread. |
|
cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
1 edit | Oh yeah this one:
I still like the J-Guide better though (HD graphic support)
I actually got a chance to use the FIOS guide yesterday. I was at a friends house in Phoenixville, PA and finally played with it. The box was a Motorola QIP-6416 I believe. It scrolled pretty fast and was colorful with easily identifiable channel logos, multiple guide views, simular DVR recordings can be grouped in folders, and had cool widgets with local traffic and weather info. Despite not having a page up / page down button, it was pretty innovative. Not once did it freeze like my DCT-6412 with firmware 16.35 on Comcast.
Anyway after Tru2Way becomes more mainstream, look for more innovative guides. Give it another year. |
|
cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
4 edits | reply to mickey
I forgot to ad... I did see a demo video online (I can't remember where), of a prototype PS3 external tuner (USB 2.0 I presume). The guide software running on the PS3 turned it into a DVR and the graphics were top notch (would you expect any less from a PS3?).
If I can find that video somewhere I'll post it. It was pretty cool, and could stream recordings or live TV to a PSP. So say you go to the John, you can take the PSP with you and never miss a moment of TV! I guess it's all wifi / home network driven. Hopefully it makes it to the U.S. and hopefully the external tuner has a cable card slot to make it worthwhile.
EDIT: I found the UK version of what I saw. It's called Play TV, but it only works with free OTA DVB in the UK. Anyway check out the video at this site:
»threespeech.com/blog/2008/01/playtv-video/
I really like the smooth scrolling / vista-esque fades/transitions & transparencies and active thumbnail views. Hopefully someone takes a hint and creates something like this in the US. If it would be ported to the US with cable card slot, I'd buy it.
»www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz_aKHw-0aA |
|
Val5945
@comcast.net
| I agree that the blue guide sucks and find it quite pathetic that with all the money comcrap makes they cant come out with something a little nicer. I had the blue guide since 05 and am getting sick of looking at it and the AD's it carries. Hopefully, in the future the j-guide will come out but knowing comcast, it will be another 4 years. Here's praying for FIOS in my area!!! |
|
pplchamp1
Great One
Premium
join:2002-01-25
East Hartford, CT | Change it so it's not blue!
Seriously, I want an HD guide.
--
I ain't got time to bleed! |
|
MacLeech
The one and only
Premium
join:2001-07-14
SoCal
2 edits | reply to Val5945
The J-guide needs an OCAP compatible box... So DCH series or newer.
Not the DCT700, 2500, 5100 (maybe), 2000, 2200, etc. |
|
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
1 edit | reply to Val5945
Enjoy your FiOS guide.. and, your inherit billing errors, poor customer service.. and all the other issues that come with FiOS!
I'm glad that people measure their desires over a guide that is "pretty"... to each is own, that's for sure. BUT, I when *I* press "guide" up pops the grid telling me what's on and that's all I care. My goal is to spend as little time looking at the guide so I can watch the programming in which I pay for.
Also, if you think companies are going to continually write and develop new software every year or two just to make it "look pretty", well.. do like Mickey said.. get a PS3 and enjoy the firmware updates.
You also have to remember something else. While YOU may want change and new stuff all the time, there is still a VAST majority of people that do NOT want things to change. They get used to something and want it to stay that way. Don't think so? Try scrambling channels and going to a box system; a change many don't want. Try realigning channels to make them easier to find in groups; bottom line is that people know to go to Discovery by hitting 37 and don't want to learn something new.
People must think it's so easy to simply "change" something. Any idea how much your wish of a "new prettier guide" costs to roll out? Countless employees, insurance, the building to put people to work, computers, software, license fees, legal, etc.
Again, press GUIDE, look at Channel 5 and see what's on at 10pm. Pretty simple. I'd rather stay more conservative and not have any more reasons why their hard work entitles them to more money each year, so that you can have a change to your guide, thank you. Try new artwork on your walls.  |
|
Chad473
join:2007-12-18
Lancaster, PA
1 edit | is it really that offensive to want a more attractive, high resolution guide? Not to mention the poor search "capability". Granted, it's certainly not a deal breaker and we'll all just make do (as you said, the ideal guide is one that only has to be displayed for the least amount of time possible), but I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting improvement. The i-guide is quite stale with a fair share of bugs and quirks. comparing some cosmetic changes to make the guide look and function better is hardly the same as migrating channels to digital when talking about 'change' to consumers. |
|
HD Boy
@comcast.net
1 edit |
Good software interfaces are not merely about being "pretty" -- a pleasing design does make for a more satisfying and successful viewing experience. A good guide also is about speed and efficient surfing to find listings. While the current iGuide may only be 3-4 years old, it is 20 years behind the times since it looks like it was designed by an aging MS-DOS code jockey for use on eight-bit computer displays of 1988. The child-like color sets available to customize the iGuide are disappointing at best. Worse, using Comcast's iGuide is slow -- the linear design makes it tedious to find specific programs.
Comcast is not a software design company and it shows. They don't have the programming talent or the vision to do this correctly, much less maintain the software and God forbid, update it every once in a while. In this respect, Comcast is more like Microsoft, than Apple.
Personally, I am a professional photographer and occasional graphic designer and use the modern Mac OS X for my business and personal computing needs, As a result, I have higher software standards that Comcast can't possibly meet. And so I hate picking up the Comcast remote. The iGuide is a visual reminder that Comcast continues to use old technology |
|
MacLeech
The one and only
Premium
join:2001-07-14
SoCal
3 edits | You're not too far off.
The iGuide is designed to run on a box with a 27 Mhz Motorola 68331 processor with 8-bit 704x480 graphics, 2 MB graphics memory, and 2 MB of FLASH memory aka DCT-2000.
See this for more details:
»www.cedmagazine.com/a-peek-under···x?terms=
The closest equivalent personal computer to a DCT-2000 would probably be a cut down video card version of a Mac LC II circa 1992.
The DCT-2000 was widely deployed and is still the basic platform the majority of Comcast customers have. |
|
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
1 edit | reply to HD Boy
While you continue to blind yourself with bandwagon statements, I'll second what was said before - and give you a free education at the same time.
The SOFTWARE has to WORK ON THE HARDWARE... |
|
patspub
join:2005-02-10
Philadelphia, PA | reply to mickey
Getting back to the original question, Philly received this I-Guide in November/2004. Don't ask me why I remember this. So when this New J-Guide or My TvGuide finally comes out will it work on DCT2000,2500 & 700's boxes??? |
|
MacLeech
The one and only
Premium
join:2001-07-14
SoCal
4 edits | 
OCAP minimum box specs |
said by patspub  :Getting back to the original question, Philly received this I-Guide in November/2004. Don't ask me why I remember this. So when this New J-Guide or My TvGuide finally comes out will it work on DCT2000,2500 & 700's boxes??? No.
The jGuide needs an OCAP (tru2way) compatible box, so that means DCT6400, DCT3400, DCH series Moto box, or better.
Moto's been a bit shady on EXACTLY which boxes are OCAP compatible... so maybe the DCT5100 might work.
The DCT2000 in comparison has a 2x2 memory configuration, 10 MIPS processor, and no Java Virtual Machine. |
|
cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs: | reply to MacLeech
Hey nice specs comparison between boxes. I knew the DCT-2000 was slow, but wow, the slowest most under performing of the bunch. No wonder I always thought the same generation SA boxes operated better. |
|
celeritypc
For Lucky Best Wash, Use Mr. Sparkle
Premium
join:2004-05-15
Caldwell, NJ
| said by cypherstream :Hey nice specs comparison between boxes. I knew the DCT-2000 was slow, but wow, the slowest most under performing of the bunch. No wonder I always thought the same generation SA boxes operated better. I didn't think there were any more 2000's out there. I had a 2000 in 1998 and it was replaced by a 2224 about 2 years later. |
|
MacLeech
The one and only
Premium
join:2001-07-14
SoCal
4 edits | said by celeritypc :I didn't think there were any more 2000's out there. It is still the most common Moto box in customer's hands. There are MILLIONs of them in use today.
said by celeritypc :I had a 2000 in 1998 and it was replaced by a 2224 about 2 years later. The 2000 is the series and 2224 is the specific model, they are the same box.
As for the numbers, DCT1abc would mean DCT1000, DWT1abc would mean DCT1200 and DCT2abc would mean DCT2000 series.
a=Modulation Technology (1=64 QAM, 2=64/256 QAM)
b=Return Path (1=One Way, 2=StarVueII RF (DCT2000 Integrated) 3=StarFone(300baud) (DCT/DWT: Not a option), 4=StarFone II (14.4kbps) (DCT 2000:SVT-II Integrated), 6=StarFone II (14.4kbps) (DCT 2000:No Diplexer) Return Path notes: RF Return is standard on the DCT 2000. Telco Return SFT-II(Option 4) is optional. Option 4 indicates both RF and Telco return. Option 3 is for DCT 1000/1200 only.
Option 6 is for DCT 2000 only (RF Return diplexer removed.)
c=Output Channel (4=VHF(3/4), 6=UHF(46-60)
So a 2224 is a 2000 series box with a 64/256 QAM demodulator, StarVueII RF return module, and channel 3/4 output modulator.
See this for more details:
»www.usbjtag.com/dct2000/newbieguide.php |
|
MacLeech
The one and only
Premium
join:2001-07-14
SoCal
4 edits | reply to cypherstream
said by cypherstream : I knew the DCT-2000 was slow, but wow, the slowest most under performing of the bunch. That has ALWAYS been the biggest complaint about the DCT2000s, but it also had the advantage of being the LOWEST COST box that was able to meet minimum requirements needed. That makes a huge difference when you're a company looking to buy MILLIONS of them.
If you think about it, the DCT2000 is about as capable as a 386 computer with a VGA graphics card, no hard drive, and a 3.5" floppy. You couldn't even run Windows 3.0 on it if it were processor compatible, maybe Windows 2.0 would've worked though. You've got 2 MB of OS/application storage space and 2 MB of memory to run it all in. If you're comparing it to video game systems, think Sega Genesis.
Every computer I've owned in the last 15 years has had more ability. Even the cell phones I've owned in the last 4 years have had more ability.
That is THE base platform the i-Guide is designed to run on.
Neither Tivo or FIOS have that albatross around their necks holding guide development back. Their BASE boxes have about 10x the performance of the DCT2000. (Although the DCT700 Verizon is using can't run the guide their other boxes have) |
|
