[wiggis]

The rollout of the new EPG appears to be delayed. Although there is no official information from Sky as to the reasons for this, there is a great deal of speculation on this forum, and a number of bug reports.

What is known :

• The new EPG has been rolled out to Thomson and Pace Sky HD set top boxes. Owners of these boxes report mixed reviews of the reliability and functionality of the new software, some also reporting poorer picture quality. Others love it, and have reported no difference in picture quality.
• The new EPG has not been rolled out to Amstrad or Samsung Sky HD set top boxes. Apart from a small number of testers working for Sky, the new EPG has not been seen on these makes of set top boxes.
• There is no public information on when the new EPG will be rolled out to Amstrad and Samsung Sky HD set top boxes.

There is no point asking on this forum, as it is clear that outside of BKSYB, no one knows the release schedule, or the reasons for the delay. Most likely reason is that Sky are ironing out the bugs before general release, but this is total speculation. If I had to hazard a guess on the basis of software release management, I find it unlikely that Sky would take a chance on putting the new software out in December (too close to Christmas), and so September/October/November are the only months left in 2009. We'll have to wait and see

Moderators : please make this a sticky, so that people don't get flamed by old timers because they dared to ask the question "when do I get the new EPG"

[ProDave]

This is just going over old ground.

My speculation:

When it was rolled out to Thomson boxes, they blamed the faults on "flakey hardware" When the same faults happened on brand new Pace boxes they sat up and took note and have finally realised there are some serious problems.

The "interview" a month or so back on DS claiming the software rollout was "on schedule" just made sky look completely stupid (remember it was due to ALL boxes by "the end of spring")

I suspect sky are now between a rock and a hard place and don't know what to do. I suspect the software team have had some serious ass kicking. At the same time those poor sods are being pressured to fix it quickly. I'm willing to bet sky are just biding their time hoping a mirracle breakthrough will happen soon, without a plan B for what to do if the fix does not come quickly.

All the time they are treating their customers with contempt, publicly denying there are any problems and telling us it is on schedule.

This will go down in history as just one more bug ridden, probably over cost and certainly late software project.

They should IMO have stuck to what they had done before, that is incrementally adding to and improving what they had. All the new features could have been incrementally added one at a time to the old EPG, including the series stacks, new skin, mini tv and ability to tune ITV HD and i'm willing to bet that approach would have resulted in far less bugs and far fewer unhappy custmers.

We all hope for some communication, but I don't expect any soon, so this will just be a "speculation" thread.

[michael37]

Gven the number of pointless "When am I getting the new EPG" threads being created (nearly 1 a day last week) I think this would be an excellent sticky.

Perhaps a mod can make this a sticky and lock it to avoid it becoming another speculation thread.

[fmradiotuner1]

Originally Posted by wiggis

The rollout of the new EPG appears to be delayed. Although there is no official information from Sky as to the reasons for this, there is a great deal of speculation on this forum, and a number of bug reports.

What is known :

• The new EPG has been rolled out to Thomson and Pace Sky HD set top boxes. Owners of these boxes report mixed reviews of the reliability and functionality of the new software, some also reporting poorer picture quality. Others love it, and have reported no difference in picture quality.
• The new EPG has not been rolled out to Amstrad or Samsung Sky HD set top boxes. Apart from a small number of testers working for Sky, the new EPG has not been seen on these makes of set top boxes.
• There is no public information on when the new EPG will be rolled out to Amstrad and Samsung Sky HD set top boxes.

There is no point asking on this forum, as it is clear that outside of BKSYB, no one knows the release schedule, or the reasons for the delay. Most likely reason is that Sky are ironing out the bugs before general release, but this is total speculation. If I had to hazard a guess on the basis of software release management, I find it unlikely that Sky would take a chance on putting the new software out in December (too close to Christmas), and so September/October/November are the only months left in 2009. We'll have to wait and see

Moderators : please make this a sticky, so that people don't get flamed by old timers because they dared to ask the question "when do I get the new EPG"

I find no change in picture PQ with the new EPG but one thing I dont like about this is the removed volume control which has made sky HD way quieter than freeview now.

Also I dont find it that slow seems to run fine on my 4E3007 box.

Another thing would be nice is when you delete a recording I would like it to say

are you sure you wish to delete this because its so easy to delete the wrong show now.

[ACU]

I would rather they fix the EPG bugs before rolling the new EPG out to Samsung boxes. I am quite happy to keep the current "old" EPG, and wait. If it takes another 6 months, then so be it.

I would be more annoyed, if the new EPG was bug-ridden and released.

[Jaycee Dove]

And I suspect that if they simply added ITV HD to the tunability of Samsung and Amstrad HD boxes 90% of all the 'when is the EPG coming' complaints would vanish.

I presume even the Sky engineers can manage that without doing too much damage.

[Christiedmc]

I have never been particularly bothered about when I get the new EPG particularly since it appears to be deeply flawed. What I DO care about is Sky's flagrant contempt for its customers and its complete falsehoods about the so called 'roll-out'. Ludicrously the only official response from Sky is that everything is still on schedule and 'as planned', and yet the only schedule they have ever confirmed was for completion by 'late spring'. What utter nonsense. Clearly its a balls-up of almighty proportions.
Why is this matter not reported on DS I wonder?? I also note in DS's interview with Sky's Gerry O'sullivan there was no mention whatsover of the EPG mess. Is no one brave enough to challenge Sky publicly on the extent of their calamitous mis-management of the new EPG?? Surely the mess that this platform is in must be newsworthy?? Or if not....ask yourself why!! Over to you DS!!

[Masteriser]

Originally Posted by Christiedmc

Why is this matter not reported on DS I wonder??

Because DS has too cosy a relationship with Sky to risk rocking the boat with "nasty" questions.

DS want to keep getting nice exclusive interviews with Sky big wigs in the same way Hello magazine wants to keep "talking" to celebrity types. As it suits neither side to destabilize the relationship, tough questions will not be forthcoming.

Or, am I being too cynical, prove me wrong DS, I will happily eat humble pie if you do.

[Tom129]

i wonder if this post will stop people from making a new thread about the new EPG

[bprentice2009]

Originally Posted by Tom129

i wonder if this post will stop people from making a new thread about the new EPG

people will still do it just to annoy others

[alien2k]

Originally Posted by Tom129

i wonder if this post will stop people from making a new thread about the new EPG

There probably needs to be a sticky with a more descriptive title - something like "Now: Thomson & Pace, Next: Samsung, Later: Amstrad" perhaps? Of course, there is some contention as to whether the new Guide should even be on the Thomsons, but the refurb Pace I now have (since Sunday) seems to be working perfectly.

It's a great shame that Sky took so long to even start pushing the Guide out only to release such a buggy version of it to their most loyal customers, because my experience on the Pace has so far been great. I'd say it's better than VM's guide, and worlds away from the old one I had on the Amstrad!

Sam

[Andrew19]

Seems to have worked though, no new epg threads for a few days :P

[Jaycee Dove]

And Sky will finally get the new EPG out to everyone in nice time for the first 'When will we get Sky 3 D?' thread - followed swiftly by the 'Sky want to charge £10 pm for 3 D TV' thread and then the 'Will Sky drop the HD sub when 3 D launches' thread.

Not to mention the 'When will we get a 3 D EPG?' thread.

[zort70]

Shouldn't this thread be called :

The New EPG - No Information Here

How Sky are expecting customers to be patient when they keep everyone in the dark is beyond me. Shall we ask for a reduction in subscription for those that do not have the new EPG, and a larger reduction for those that do and have got problems with it !

[Jaycee Dove]

Here is some info.

On AV Forums today two separate posters who had a new Samsung box fitted at the weekend were told that they (the installer) have had it on their Samsung for some weeks doing dry runs for Sky, but tests are complete and Samsung boxes are getting it this week.

As we all know Sky installers have a faultless track record so this is bound to be true.

Even though no mailshots seem to have been sent and the new EPG guide is not back on Anytime which I would think are essential if this were true.

But you never know!

[zort70]

Jaycee - shall I phone customer services and get them to confirm this, then we will have a complete set of misinformation

[Rab C]

The latest Samsung code drop was sent to trialists a week or so ago.

[BBDefender]

Originally Posted by Rab C

The latest Samsung code drop was sent to trialists a week or so ago.

Hoping to be pleased that we dont have to listen to last channel watched if mini tv is off?

[Rab C]

Originally Posted by BBDefender

Hoping to be pleased that we dont have to listen to last channel watched if mini tv is off?

That is not a bug as such so will still be there. Many people did report it as a problem in the alpha testing phases but fell on deaf ears...

[BBDefender]

Thanks for the reply Rab. That sucks. It would be the easiest thing in the world to implement.

[fazza7777]

some people have got the new epg on a samsung by the i think we should do a forced update.

[d'@ve]

Originally Posted by Rab C

That is not a bug as such so will still be there. Many people did report it as a problem in the alpha testing phases but fell on deaf ears...

Well it's either a bug or a major design flaw. A quite ludicrous one that needs to be fixed as if it was a serious bug. It certainly bugs me!

[BBDefender]

Originally Posted by d'@ve

Well it's either a bug or a major design flaw. A quite ludicrous one that needs to be fixed as if it was a serious bug. It certainly bugs me!

Totally, either have the EPG be silent if the mini TV is off (I dont know who decided that having the last channels sound still playing when your in the EPG constituted "off" at sky HQ), or have it go to the standard sky epg music.

[Andrew19]

Someone on avforums says the new epg will arrive on samsung boxes this week...

I got a dumbass reply from one of the staff:

Dear Mr xxxx,


Thank you for contacting Sky Help Centre.


For new customers, the cost of a new system including the minidish and Skybox can depend on your chosen Sky package and will include the installation of the system. With the equipment, you will also receive a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty. Please note that all boxes are manufactured to Sky specifications, and vary only in the design of the outer casings.
For information on all our Sky TV box specifications, please follow this link: http://www.sky.com/portal/site/skyco...ts/skytv/boxes
If you’re interested in Freesat from Sky, this service will give you the option of getting digital satellite television for a simple one-off payment. For further information on our Freesat service, please visit our website via the following link: www.freesatfromsky.co.uk
To join Sky online, register with MYSKY at the following link: https://mysky.sky.com/portal/site/skycom/mysky
Once your Sky account is active and you have registered with MYSKY, as well as being able to access additional offers and information, you can also view your Sky account online. MYSKY will allow you to view statements, make a one off payment, upgrade your viewing package or buy additional products.
It’s also important to remember that Sky services can only be marketed to the UK and Eire and decoders and viewing cards can only be supplied to viewers’ resident in these countries. Copyright restrictions cannot legally be relaxed for any UK residents based overseas.


I hope this helps with your enquiry.


Kind regards
Sky Help Centre
http://www.sky.com


Original Message Follows: ------------------------
Enquiry Type:

Product Information
Sky TV
Equipment (TV)
Description:

When do samsung boxes get the new EPG?

[james payne]

Good morning to you all.

Good to see Rab C alive & well , keeping us informed with the Samsung update , much appreciated.

Now unless it's been update with a more recent beta , the blue rotating light on playback (even though switched off) was still present.

As Rab stated quite a while back , this is purely cosmetic from Sky's point of view , which possibly indicates they're concentrating on more serious flaws first.

Regards James