Verizon launching FiOS Interactive Media Guide
By Erik Hanson 
posted May 22nd 2007 6:25PM
posted May 22nd 2007 6:25PM
Verizon may be upping the prices for DVR usage, but now we get the chance to see what that extra fee buys you. According to Dave Zatz, Verizon is launching FiOS Interactive Media Guide -- also known as FiOS 2 -- in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with rollouts occurring nationwide via software upgrades this summer. There are plenty of features to bullet-point, including an all-new 32-bit interface with 8-bit transparency, tabbed interfaces with a better central focus, global content searches (that also include local Media Manager content like photos and music), trailers and poster art for On Demand content, and traffic and weather widgets. See our gallery below for more screencaps from the FiOS presentation.
[Via Zatz Not Funny]
Can't wait, one thing I can't stand about verizon fios is how awful their guide is. This looks like a DRASTIC improvement. Hopefully its not slow though with all the eye candy.
And when is it coming to Manhattan: in 10 years? :-(
Time Warner should have done something like this...their new "Navigator" guide is terrible.
Just bring the FiOS out here in Ohio first, then worry about the silly guide. Megapipe bandwidth, gimmie gimmie!
Great! And when will FiOS TV be available in Philadelphia? We already have FiOS.
...Oh wait, never! Comcast has a monopoly on the TV service here. :(
Try DirecTV. Screw Comcast. But yeah, when can I get FIOS TV Verizon? I'm waiting for my AT & T wireless contract to run out so I can get onto the ONE BILL plan (Phone, 3.0 Mb internet, TV and wireless phone for $140.00).
*blows raspberry*
:) i live in fort wayne! looks like we finally get something before anybody else and its about time. we still don't have HSDPA coverage from cingular and i'm not sure that we even have EVDO but i have cingular so I couldn't say for sure. hopefully this gets rolled out soon. i can't wait to get my fios 2 on.
I actually live in Fort Wayne, IN. I just bought a house. I have FIOS Internet scheduled to be installed in 2 weeks, and FIOS TV is just being rolled out in the city. I know some Verizon guys, and they were telling me about the new interface... it had a codename at the time. Now that I see the pictures... it really does look useful and slick! I just hope that the Motorola box isn't as sluggish as the Comcast HD-DVR box is...and that they really take advantage of my HD-Widescreen tv... these pictures are all for a 4:3 TV.
Elmo, I'm not even sure FiOS offers a 3MB service. I think the deal you are talking about is 3MB DSL service. So I think you are getting excited over nothing really. I have 20/5 FiOS service and it absolutely rocks. I laugh at those who think 3-5Mbit download speed is fast :-) Thats smaller than my upstream :-P
More importantly, is this media guide here. This looks fantastic. My only complaint with FiOS tv service is the bland look to the guide. Lets hope this rolls out soon to MA.
I think I had a dream that FIOS was here in Phoenix. Just the broadband. Don't give a crap about the TV service... Or the phone. 15 Mbps of fiber goodness. Yum.
Rumor has it that NYC could grant Verizon a license to provide TV as soon as June.
If they do, I'll be all over it like white on rice.
Worry on getting FIOS everywhere before upgrading it.
http://www.microsoftisawesome.com/2007/05/rouges-do-it-from-behind.html
I think its rediculous that the cable/media companies can hold back the computer industry like this.
Gorgeous GUI! Can't wait!! Their current kludgy UltimateTV-reject interface can't be gone soon enough.
That said... I guess they think everyone loves the phone pad texting interface enough to replace a full alpha or QWERTY set? Also, I'm disappointed that this upgrade will necessitate a hardware upgrade (notice the closeup on the new remote), because the Moto box they have there now sure as hell won't support anywhere near that much eye candy.
Tony C, where are you seeing that new hardware is required? From what I've read and seen, I think the point is that this new IMG runs on all of the boxes that are already out in market.
I should point out that Verizon is only charging more for NEW DVRs. Mine is staying the same price :)
Oh, and here's a direct link:
http://verizonfios.com/img/
I go to school in St. Louis and if anyplace needs new telecom services its here. Its terrible, I'm from NY and i've been a bunch of places but not even the service in 3rd world countries is as bad as Charter. Please Verizon come here before i graduate
Can anyone with the new IMG v2.0, with the high-end, dual-tuner DVR Box, tell me if you can set "Reminders" for TV shows you want to watch in advance. While strange (and basic) as this seems, the current FiOS TV Program Guide can only do this with the low-end Boxes (STBs) - confirmed Verizon tech support! Seems they felt with the high-end DVR Boxes, this wasn't needed due to having the "Record" function!
I think they're badly mistaken - I miss this - and currently I have to write onto a piece of paper, each time for each show that I want to watch! -And I pay for the high-end STB!!!
I am so disappointed and disgusted with the new interactive channel guide that I am nearly at a loss for words. From screen clutter to dvr controls that no longer work to missing information, this new "service" so misses the mark of user friendliness that I am ready to close my account when my first year's subscription expires and return to Comcast. That means Verizon has approximately two months to fix these issues and win me back.
Trying to cope with the myriad pages of so-called "intuitive menus" has introduced unacceptable delays in completing once obvious and simple operations, due in part to extremely slow response times (when entering commands). In short, this new system SUCKS. I cannot think of a redeeming feature. This rant is a polite version of the expressions that regularly fly back and forth between my wife and me whenever we attempt to use or discuss the new guide.
The only remedy I can think of is to scrap it entirely and return to the previous version. Verizon should have left well enough alone!
The comments by "psquare" hit the nail on the head. within minutes of being 'surprise attacked' by the new interactive media guide, I felt sick to my stomach at the prospect of having to use such a cloyed, hyped-up, eye-candied user interface crammed down my throat. there may be one or two valuable features to the new guide, but in general, IT IS TERRIBLE. I can only imagine a bunch of out-of-touch marketing punks in a conference room who think everything has to look like windows vista. VERIZON - you BLEW it. I want the old guide back. The new guide accomplishes nothing bu irritate me to the point of canceling my service, which I will do in 60 days if Verizon doesn't offer an option to use the old guide. I hope they get it right.