Contributor
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3 Messages
Updated Guide, Menu, Etc...Appearance As of December 14, 2011
I appreciate the opportunity to register my disappointment in the new "updated" Menu, Search, Guide, etc...screen appearance on Direct TV. At 7:50 am this morning my older mother called almost in tears. She had turned on her Samsung 46" LCD HDTV to watch the news and discovered that overnight the format on the Search and Guide screens had changed to a black background with white lettering. In addition, items once highlighted in orange (to correspond with the orange "Select" button on the remote control) are now blue in color. White lettering against a black background is often difficult for older people to visualize. To older eyes it cane cause a glaring effect. I immediately turned on my 50" Samsung LCD HDTV and could see where my mother and possibly other older viewers would have difficulty with the new format. I was told by Customer Service that the change is geared for much larger televisions. I pointed out that many people have smaller televisions (bedrooms) as well...what are their options? It would be nice if Direct TV provided both formats for their customers. As I wrote this my brother (a website designer) called and told me he talked to our mother and he was surprised at the choices made for the updates. I realize this world is geared toward the younger generation but us 50 year olds (and older) aren't dead yet!!!
peds48
Expert
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32K Messages
13 years ago
at first, I also did not like the color choices made to the update user interface (UI), but as with any change, it takes sometime to get used to it. Now, after about a month a a half of using the new guide, I grown out of the old one, and I am happy with the updated guide.
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derbt2368
Contributor
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1 Message
13 years ago
Time will not fix color blind issues. I am color blind and find over half of web designers could care less if their efforts can be seen by everyone. IF I CN'T SEE IT THEN I CANT USE IT.. E.G. your efforts ar for not.
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TexasBrit
ACE - Expert
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14.1K Messages
13 years ago
It's not "our" efforts, we don't work for Directv, we are all users like you.
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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mjohns8700
Contributor
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1 Message
13 years ago
I think the new guide is awesome however when you go to info' then to more info when you go to cast and crew you have lost all of the info that was on the old guide. Example: Sum Of All Fears Shows, Ben Affleck but no info on him like where and when born, his smiling face etc. just shows Actor not his character Jack Ryan. It was like that on all shows I tried.
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romad
Scholar
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116 Messages
13 years ago
Maybe it is an HD thing. The guide on my SD receiver isn't different than yesterday (Dec 13, 2011). I still use my 31" Hitachi and 13" Sony TVs that I bought back in 1988 & 1987, respectively. I figure I'll get a flat screen when the Hitachi dies. Though every now and then I regret not getting the 50" Mitsubishi back in 1988.
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peds48
Expert
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32K Messages
13 years ago
I think the new guide is awesome however when you go to info' then to more info when you go to cast and crew you have lost all of the info that was on the old guide. Example: Sum Of All Fears Shows, Ben Affleck but no info on him like where and when born, his smiling face etc. just shows Actor not his character Jack Ryan. It was like that on all shows I tried.
it will eventually load
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=199720
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
13 years ago
I think the new guide is awesome however when you go to info' then to more info when you go to cast and crew you have lost all of the info that was on the old guide. Example: Sum Of All Fears Shows, Ben Affleck but no info on him like where and when born, his smiling face etc. just shows Actor not his character Jack Ryan. It was like that on all shows I tried.
Give it a couple of days.
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ACEs are customers too, NOT employees. Answers are based on experience. I strive to give honest answers, even if not always appreciated. If you posted personal information, please edit and remove.
For official support call DirecTV Satellite 1-800-531-5000, DirecTV Stream 1-888-429-4023, DirecTV Gemini dedicated 1-888-488-4742, or AT&T 1-800-288-2020.
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
13 years ago
Maybe it is an HD thing. The guide on my SD receiver isn't different than yesterday (Dec 13, 2011). I still use my 31" Hitachi and 13" Sony TVs that I bought back in 1988 & 1987, respectively. I figure I'll get a flat screen when the Hitachi dies. Though every now and then I regret not getting the 50" Mitsubishi back in 1988.
There are no changes planned for the SD Receivers.
____________________________________
ACEs are customers too, NOT employees. Answers are based on experience. I strive to give honest answers, even if not always appreciated. If you posted personal information, please edit and remove.
For official support call DirecTV Satellite 1-800-531-5000, DirecTV Stream 1-888-429-4023, DirecTV Gemini dedicated 1-888-488-4742, or AT&T 1-800-288-2020.
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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implodinggoat
Contributor
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1 Message
13 years ago
I think the new guide is absolutely god awful. I'm young, have good eyes and a top of the line 42 inch television and I have trouble reading the menus now. My grandmother is really struggling.
Aside from that the new interface is slower than the old interface and less intuitive and the guide doesn't even go as far ahead as it used to.
How anyone could think that black on black was a good color scheme is beyond me.
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sirtyne
Contributor
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1 Message
13 years ago
I've been a lurker on this forum for the past 4 years, but I just go this "upgrade" and it prompted my first post. I'm hoping that programmers from DirecTV read this forum.
In general, I see some advantages, mostly more listings on the screen (or so it seems). BUT even on a 45" HD TV, the changes are not all positive. A few of things I don't like:
Black on White is not a good palate choice for the lists. Please go back to the blue and white/yellow.
The old Orange highlight that indicated what the Orange Select button would do was very intuitive. Please bring it back!
When fast forwarding on a recorded program, the speed numbers (1-2-3-4) and the time into the program (0:15 -- 0:30 etc) are now too small to be quickly understood. Maybe a 4 part segmented bar would be better than the now tiny speed numbers.
I have a small CRT TV on my desk in the same room as our 45" HD, so I can work in my office nook at the same time my wife is watching the big screen but still see the same program. It is getting the feed from the AV output on the HR24 HD-DVR. Every time there is a change (channels, forward, pause etc) it now pops up a window over 80% of the screen on the small TV but not on the 45", that says: "Your TV or it's cables are not HD". I can't even see the forward timeline bars or the tiny numbers on the CRT. (Yup I know that the little 12"CRT isn't HD !!!!) Please give me the option to make this go away on a secondary TV on the same receiver!
PS: Yup us 50 year olds (and older) aren't dead yet!!! In case you didn't know, the past 50 generation is soon to be the majority. I have 8 DirecTV receivers and plan on keeping them as a DirecTV customer for the next 20-30 years, unless you "upgrade us" to a new company!
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peds48
Expert
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32K Messages
13 years ago
Aside from that the new interface is slower than the old interface and less intuitive and the guide doesn't even go as far ahead as it used to.
During the first 24 to 48 hours, the new HD Onscreen Guide will continue to download and update Plug Ins in the background causing the new HD Onscreen Guide to function slower than normal. It will take 24 to 48 hours for some Plug Ins such as movie posters to be fully available.
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missionvalleyguy
Contributor
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1 Message
13 years ago
Thanks.
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Hendersrh
Tutor
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4 Messages
13 years ago
I'm hoping I have just missed it... when I pause a playing show with the new interface on my 55", it doesn't just pause with the progress bar at the bottom... it now puts a big black shadow bar at the bottom of the screen so I can't see what's under it. Yes, I know I can hit "exit" to get rid of it, but I don't WANT to get rid of the progress bar, just the big black shadow. Is there an option to get rid of that bar? It covers more than 20% of the screen at the bottom.
Thanks, Steve Henderson
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litzdog911
ACE - Sage
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46.4K Messages
13 years ago
Folks, be sure to email your feedback directly to DirecTV using the "Contact Us" link on their main web page. They won't likely read your comments here.
____________________________________
ACEs are customers too, NOT employees. Answers are based on experience. I strive to give honest answers, even if not always appreciated. If you posted personal information, please edit and remove.
For official support call DirecTV Satellite 1-800-531-5000, DirecTV Stream 1-888-429-4023, DirecTV Gemini dedicated 1-888-488-4742, or AT&T 1-800-288-2020.
*I am not a DIRECTV employee, and the views and opinions expressed on this forum are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote, or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider, or party.
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carmildav
Contributor
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3 Messages
13 years ago
This is the response I got from my email to DirecTV using the "Contact Us" link...more like an advertising for upcoming program rather than a response to a customer concern.
Subject
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Updated Guide, Search, Etc...Appearance
Discussion Thread
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Response Via Email(Q- Girlie Banaag) - 12/14/2011 06:07 AM
Dear Ms. Davis,
Thank you for writing. I see that you’ve been with us for several years and we would like to thank you for keeping your business with us.
I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties that your mother encountered with the new HD guide. I would like to personally assure you that your feedback is very important to us and we certainly do not take them lightly.
DIRECTV is very excited to bring you this latest feature. A new high definition user interface (HDUI) that will improve the appearance and usability of the on-screen guide and menu. The HD On-Screen Guide is a new, crystal-clear HD user interface. While the functionality of a majority of screens will remain the same, the new HDUI will have more visual features, higher resolution, improved performance and animations. It has lightning fast speeds, letting you scroll through hundreds of shows in seconds.
We're always looking for ways to enhance our services and we truly appreciate your feedback. Every suggestion, inquiry and even complaint are important as they help us determine what changes should be considered. I have forwarded your comment to our management, while DIRECTV cannot follow up with each customer individually, rest assured that your voice is being heard and that many of the changes we make are a direct result of the comments and suggestions we receive from our customers.
Thanks for writing again Ms. Davis. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
Girlie B. - 100202380
DIRECTV Customer Service
P. S. Football season is here! Catch up to 14 games every week this fall with NFL SUNDAY TICKET, now available at directv.com/nfl.
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