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Survey says pay TV customer service is at new heights
The American Customer Satisfaction Index has been tracking the satisfaction of pay TV customers since 2001, and in that time the results have never been as high as they were in the first quarter of 2010 -- thanks to the new players. Verizon's FiOS service lead the charge with a score of 73 out of a 100 with U-Verse close behind at 72. Dish Network was right in line behind those two with 71, while DirecTV moved in the opposite direction, as the rest of the industry, dropping three points to 68 -- which is still above the overall overage of 66 for the entire pay TV business. Not a big surprise that Charter, Comcast and Time Warner brought down the average by bringing up the rear scoring 60, 61 and 61. Although this is a trend headed in the right direction it is hardly stellar as the average for other sectors like wireless, utilities, health care and even motion pictures is considerably higher.
Verizon adds more phones to FiOS Mobile Remote and Remote DVR Manager compatibility list
Did you notice that there were some fresh devices listed when the iPhone popped up on Verizon's FiOS Mobile Remote compatibility chart last week? Sure enough, Big Red ended up dropping some PR on the matter, taking the opportunity to pimp the fact that over a quarter million users have now downloaded its two-pack of FiOS mobile apps. Mobile Remote is now available on the Nexus One, Droid Eris, and Droid Incredible -- in fact, it should work on any Android 2.1-equipped phone -- and Remote DVR Manager is live for more than 50 devices, including the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and "most" Verizon BlackBerrys. Between the two, you can control your set-top box from your couch or the other side of the world; too bad we're telling you this the day after Lost, right?
NAD to Time Warner Cable and Cox: stop lying about your so-called 'fiber' networks
Ouch. For the past few months, both Time Warner Cable and Cox had been airing advertisements that slipped the word "fiber" in there in some form or fashion, and while that's partially true, it's completely bogus according to the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The watchdog group is now asking both of these cable carriers to drop claims that they each run fiber-optic networks, noting that the accusations could indeed fool consumers into believing that hybrid-fiber networks are the same as a full-fiber one, like -- you know -- Verizon's FiOS footprint. Among the claims being disputed is this gem from TWC -- "Road Runner Turbo is zooming across the advanced fiber network." -- and Cox calling its service the "New Face of Fiber." Needless to say, both TWC and Cox were peeved, and while the former is exercising its right to appeal, Cox is cowering and taking the advice to heart. As you'd expect, Verizon was utterly elated to hear the news, with spokesman Jim Smith stating that the ruling is "great news for consumers, who've been misled for too long by Cox and Time Warner [Cable]'s false and deliberately misleading ads." Ah, nothing like a little drama between a trifecta of carriers who should probably focus their attention on things like Hulu, market slippage and creeping irrelevance. [Image courtesy of Lafayette Pro Fiber]
Verizon website shows FiOS Mobile Remote app coming to iPhone 'soon'
Hey, look at that. It's an iPhone -- on Verizon. Well, not quite. It's an iPhone on Verizon's FiOS TV support page, demonstrating that the FiOS Mobile Remote app released earlier this year isn't just for Android and Windows Mobile, but is also coming to iPhone OS at an unspecified date. That means that when it does, the lucky few who happen to have Verizon's fiber optic service will be able to control their TV box via the Apple handset. That does not mean, however, that Verizon's necessarily getting the iPhone. To infer that would be a mistake, as Verizon doesn't sell the Nexus One immediately to its left. Still... Verizon, you're such a tease. [Thanks, Gomar]
Time Warner and Verizon bring TBS, TNT content to FiOS TV Online
Verizon gave some FiOS subscribers access to on-demand content from TBS and TNT in its FiOS TV Online trials way back in August of last year, but the company has just now announced that it'll finally be launching the service for all FiOS TV customers sometime next month. That will thankfully be a free service, and will give you on-demand access to shows like The Closer, Southland, and Lopez Tonight in "HD video quality" within 24 hours after they air on television. As before, Verizon is also saying that it is working with other networks including CBS, MTV and Fox News to bring additional on-demand content to FiOS TV Online, but it's not going any further than to say that content is coming "soon." Full press release is after the break.
FiOS adds Youtube and internet radio for all HD customers
Verizon FiOS likes to try and set itself apart from the competition and the latest in the list is the addition of Youtube and internet radio support to its Media Manager software. If you already have a FiOS DVR and Media Manager installed on your PC, all you have to do is hit the update button -- Mac fans are once again left on the outside looking in on this one. The good news for non-DVR users is that Media Manager, and its video and pictures sharing features, is now available to all FiOS customers. While these features are certainly appreciated, we're not exactly sure why Media Manager is required to stream internet content. You see all FiOS set-tops are network connected already and in fact all the VOD and EPG data is delivered via IP. That aside, it is good to see more viewing options without switching inputs, because we don't know about anyone else, but we're definitely feeling some set-top box fatigue.
Verizon FiOS DVR Manager ensures you'll never miss an episode of iCarly... 'evar'
America has spoken (at least the TV-addicted, iPhone owning segment) and the cry is being heard: they want to control their DVRs from their handset! The Verizon FiOS DVR Manager sounds pretty straightforward: set your DVR! Set parental controls! Bookmark, browse, search TV programming, and more! And all from your iPhone. (Of course, plenty of Android users have been doing this for a while now.) Kind of makes that old iTunes-based media management system seem a little weak sauce, doesn't it? Of course, if you're out at dinner or in a meeting and you're being driven to distraction trying to remember if Ninja Assassin is a video-on-demand selection this month, you probably have much bigger problems than on-the-road DVR management. But that's none of our business. Compatible with your iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad sportin' OS 3.0 or later. Hit the source link to download now!
Verizon starts testing QIP7232 HD DVRs
Verizon has a new batch of Motorola set-top boxes to play with, the QIP7232 includes all kinds of green features like Energy Star Compliance and is built with recycled materials, but what is really interesting is that it has a 320GB hard drive. At first we got pretty excited about this, but then we remembered what year it was and the fact that there's no word if the eSATA port is still non-functional. So that combined with the fact that this DVR uses the same 4x3 UI as the older DVRs, pretty much busted any good vibes we had going.
Motorola software update makes 3D automatic, except for the "buying a new TV" part
It's not like a couple of button presses on a remote was the big gap between us and the perfect 3D experience but when most people can't even figure out if they're actually watching HDTV, some automated assistance can't hurt. To that end Motorola has developed an update for its latest set-top boxes that allow them to automatically detect and process 3D signals so those properly equipped can watch without having to lift a finger, and even adjusts the on screen graphics to match. No word when operators will actually deploy the new software, though odds are it will be well before you actually buy a 3DTV so we wouldn't worry too much, yet.
Verizon hopes to bring 3D programming to FiOS TV customers by year-end 2010
A smattering of pay-TV providers have already announced their intentions to start piping out 3D programming to their users (starting next week with The Masters), but up until now, neither of America's (two) major fiber operators had bit the three-dee bullet. Verizon's own Shawn Strickland, vice president of FiOS product management, has come forward today with a bit of news on the matter, and it's the kind of stuff you want to hear if you're a) lucky enough to already be in a FiOS TV market and b) one who cares about the third dimension. He notes that his company is "monitoring the early sales of 3D TVs and expects to announce a 3D offering well in advance of the holiday TV-shopping season," further saying that Verizon is already in "active discussions with a number of companies in the emerging 3D value chain." He makes no bones about the hurdles along the way, suggesting that "technological challenges remain, as technology that enables TVs and set-top boxes to adjust the set to display 3D content has not been perfected or distributed, causing a major viewing hassle for consumers." That said, we're pretty stoked about having a 3D FiOS TV offering "in the market in time for the holiday," with the company aiming for a product that has "fully automated HDMI format-switching capability that switches between 2D and 3D, not via ponderous access to the TV's setup menu." Now, let's see how many of these wishes come true, cool?
Verizon shelves plans for future FiOS rollouts, relocations to Massachusetts set to boom
'Tis fun while it lasted, yeah? Verizon's FiOS has provided a much-wanted (or much-needed, some would argue) sliver of competition in markets that were previously offered just one or two ISP options, and the wicked fast speeds available through the fiber-based service were just one big stream of cherries-on-top. We've personally noticed that the company has slowed down the rate at which it blasts out releases trumpeting new FiOS and FiOS TV markets, and now we know why: an Associated Press report notes that the operator has canned all public plans about expanding its FTTH home network, though it will continue to build-out where it had previously announced service (Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia, namely). Of course, Verizon never stated that it would be making FiOS a nationwide service, but after hitting at least some sections of 18 states, we had high hopes that it would keep on keepin' on. Unfortunately, it looks like you'll be forced to move to FiOS-heavy Massachusetts, or simply gaze endlessly from your apartment window knowing that you'll never feel the warm glow of a FiOS wire. Sniffle.
Showtime Sports Interactive debuts EBIF tags on HDTV tonight
We got out first taste of Enhanced TV Binary Interchange Format (EBIF) interactivity during these Winter Olympic games, but Showtime plans to turn things up by using it on the MPEG-4 HDTV feed during tonight's Strikeforce Challengers MMA event. Available only on Verizon's FiOS TV for now, it will let viewers pull up stats, trivia and respond to polls by pressing the "OK" button on their remotes. already have social plans for this evening? No problem, the next event with this tech is coming April 24 during the Super Six World Boxing Championship, leaving just enough time for you to recover from those wild Earth Day celebrations.
Verizon launches FiOS Mobile Remote app for Droid and Imagio
Controlling your TV from your phone isn't a new concept, but Verizon just made it a bit sexier. Verizon FiOS owners this week can nab a new FiOS Mobile Remote app for their Motorola Droid or HTC Imagio. The application emulates regular remote buttons, but also tosses in an icon-based favorites view of channels, in addition to an ability to sling photos from the phone to the big screen. The phone hooks into your FiOS box over your local WiFi, and requires you to download a widget for the set top box as well to get everything synced up. We're not exactly sure why this is limited to the Droid and Imagio right now -- we're sure the Droid Eris could handle the workload, for instance -- but Verizon does say that it's working on making additional handsets compatible in the future. Check out a video demo of the functionality after the break.
Hands-on with the interactive Olympics and web videos
Events like the Olympics usual bring new technology home -- which is a good thing -- but unfortunately these apps really show us how far we are from the interactive TV future we've been promised. There really isn't any realistic way to try out every version of interactive Olympic coverage since so many providers are only offered in certain areas of the country and some providers -- like Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Charter and most Cox areas -- aren't offering any at all. In addition to interactive TV the Winter games have actually taken a step back in regards to online video. While anyone could watch all the live videos and replays online before, the Winter Olympic coverage requires that you to prove you pay for TV before giving you full access. In the case of Verizon's FiOS TV, it allows viewers to access the EBIF interactive information from NBC Universal's channels, which is the first time we've every experienced the use of CableLabs' new interactive platform, as for how we like it or Comcast's mosaic channel, click on through to find out. %Gallery-85579%
Home security on your iPhone
We all know how the iPhone can secure itself, but you can get it to secure your entire house as well. A while back, I briefly toyed with the idea of going without a landline. It's an alluring prospect, and strikes me as satisfyingly post-modern. But one thing held me back: my home security system, which relied on a landline to connect it to central monitoring. So even though I went through a brief affair with Vonage until Verizon FiOS Triple Play pulled me back in, I had to keep a limited line connected to the house for our security system. I tried to get rid of it. Oh, how I tried. But until recently, retrofitting the system to go cellular, or swap it out with a more modern system using (for example) a secure cellular connection, always cost more than it was worth. Then our home security monitoring contract price went way up and all of a sudden, the price difference between retrofitting and acquiring a new system went down. That made getting the new system worthwhile. I went about trying to find a security system that would give me the flexibility I needed, as well as the knowledge that I wasn't compromising home security. I already ran a small security program in the house to run a video baby monitor, but for the whole house, I needed some kind of central monitoring. Enter Alarm.com.
FCC sides against cable companies restricting local sports HD feeds
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/television/FCC_Sides_Against_Cable_Restricting_Sports_HD_Feeds'; Recently cable companies, most notably Cablevision, have been refusing to share high definition feeds of sports networks they owned and cited a loophole in the FCC's regulations as justification for doing so. Today the FCC voted 4-1 to close the "terrestrial loophole" that previously only required satellite delivered programming to be made available to competitors. Verizon, AT&T, DirecTV and Dish Network are predictable pleased by the ruling, but we wouldn't assume the various MSG networks will be showing up in your FiOS guide right away. This ruling just allows the affected parties to go through a complaint process and show how they are being harmed before the FCC might take any action, and dissenting voter Robert McDowell indicated he expects to see the ruling challenged in court. Unfortunately he did not mean the basketball court, otherwise we could just tie this in with the Lebron-to-the-Knicks rumors and call it a day.
Verizon unveils new FiOS bundles with symmetrical 35Mbps pipes, heftier ETFs
As expected, Verizon is rolling out a new line of FiOS bundles for this perennially broadband-starved nation, and bumping up its early termination fees in the process. The traditional ETF for the installation-heavy service has been at $179, but now it's rocketing to as high as $360 to break from these fur-lined shackles. The new bundles of course don't skimp on the goodies, particularly with the 35Mbps up / 35Mbps down symmetrical service that should be a boon to HD video chats, big torrents and medium-sized torrents. For a limited time you can get into the "Prime" triple-play bundle (TV, internet, phone) for $90 a month, though that price will bump up to $110 a month after a year. Sweet enough to calm your fears about a $360 early cancellation penalty? Verizon sure seems to hope so -- no matter what sort of condescending looks the FCC shoots its way.
FiOS Mobile app comes to Android
Every decent DVR today supports remote scheduling via the web -- well except Windows 7 Media Center -- and Verizon's FiOS TV DVR is no different. But of course web apps don't compare to real apps like this new one for Android users. The new FiOS Mobile app features a guide for remote scheduling as well as VOD browsing so you can mark what you want to watch later, as well as parental controls and a free space indicator -- something TiVo doesn't even offer on the DVR itself. Of course there's no way to actually watch content from your DVR, and we're not surprised. Now before you get too jealous of Android users with Verizon's FiOS TV DVR, we'd like to remind you that the FiOS DVR has a measly 160GB hard drive and no external disk support, and as you can see from the screen shot, FiOS users don't have any free space left for new recordings anyway.
Verizon to double ETFs on FiOS TV contracts
You might think that if only Verizon's FiOS service was available in your area, then life would be nearly perfect. And although FiOS offers some of the fastest internet in the US as well as some of the highest quality HD and a fantastic selection, it isn't all rosy over there. In fact the service has been riddled with billing issues since its launch in 2005 and in order to take advantage of some of the great promotional offers, you're forced to sign a two year contract. Up until January 16th 2010, that ETF has been $179, and according to DSL Reports on the 17th, that fee is set to go up to $360. That's not it though, as Verizon is expected to raise the price of services another $10 or $20 a month. You can of course avoid this by not signing a contract and going month to month, but of course this'll only work out saving you money if you end up canceling, and really if you had fiber to your home do you really think you'd cancel? Us either. Regardless, if you were thinking of switching to FiOS or taking advantage of a new promotion, we wouldn't waste any time getting it before the terms change next week. And as always be sure to read the fine print before signing anything.
An inside look at a Verizon FiOS Super Headend and Video Hub
When we took a tour of one of the only two Verizon FiOS Super Head Ends (SHE) in the country It didn't surprise us to learn how much different Verizon's FiOS infrastructure is from most mutli-channel video programming distributors (MVPD) out there. After all FiOS was the first national fiber to the home video provider. But what did surprise us was how similar some things are. This isn't shocking to FiOS customers who just like many Comcast and TWC customers use a Motorola set-top, or to the TiVo and Media Center users who use FiOS with a CableCARD. Verizon entered into the MVPD business less than five years ago, which means it was able to choose to improve the design where it made sense, while sticking to what works instead of reinventing the wheel. And although not everyone can show up at a Super Headend and get a tour, everyone can click through and see a few pictures and learn a little bit about how your favorite show gets to your HDTV. %Gallery-80524%
