Are uverse improvements in the works?

Cygnus_X-1 · ‎12-01-2009

Does anyone know if a uverse upgrade is coming soon or how to get it? In particular, I'm considering switching back to cable because of these problems:

1) Lack of full time picture-in-picture.

2) An extremely slow and often times unresponsive grid.

3) Poorly designed parental controls.

4) No clock on the box. (yes, I know I would need to get a new box).

It sure would be nice if I could somehow upgrade the software in my box.

Here's how I'd suggest improvements:

1) Just give me full time PIP and let me position the size and location of the PIP window.

2) If it will help, I don't need a semi-transparent grid with PIP browsing. A better solution would be to put what's currently on TV in the corner of the screen and have an opaque grid.

3) Let me turn off all channel blocking or just for a particular channel for any amount of time I want (e.g. 1, 2, 4, 8 hours)

4) Give me a new box with a clock that's synched to an atomic clock on the Internet.

Mobutu · ‎12-10-2009

I'm no help because I don't have problem #2 and I don't care about the others.

NorthLineTony · ‎09-20-2008

Don't forget that Uverse is internet protocol television, not cable TV, so if you want to check the time,

1. Look at your watch.

2. Look on the clock on the wall

3. Look on your cell phone.

4. Press the info button on the Uverse remote, or channel surf, that will give you the time.

I'm sorry but Uverse is unable to meet your demands, so it looks you'll have to back to cable if no clock on the stb is a "dealbreaker".

Cygnus_X-1 · ‎12-01-2009

I'm deducing that I should feel sorry for you for having invested yourself so much in uverse that have to try so mightily to defend the inexplicable absence of a clock. I'm sorry also that you think using the term "internet protocol television" would cow me into dropping my dissatisfaction. The fact is, I don't care if my uverse box has a small fusion generator. If it can't simply display the time, how impressed do you expect me to be?

1. What if I don't have a watch?

2. There is no clock on the way in my family room.

3. I don't keep my cell phone with me.

4. My kids usually lose the remote.

You know what, Tony? My cable STB handled all four of those situations. As a matter of fact, I could use it to tell time even when the TV was off.

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

These items were previously discussed.

http://utalk.att.com/t5/Features/GET-HEARD-Where-are-THESE-features-UVerse-OTHER-services-have/m-p/1...

RCSMG · ‎12-10-2007

At this time Uverse is working on new improvements and apps for their services. We don't know exacltly what they are and/or when they will be rolled out. Because ATT hasn't given out information like that up to this point and don't see it changing.

What we do here in this forum as try to help people with issues and questions that they may encounter. In some cases issues get resolved, and in others they don't. As far as the things you listed, it would be great to have some of them. I don't have one or two of the issues you have, but that isn't surprising either. If you really miss those features I for one don't blame you for going back to your former service provider.

I am one of the subscribers that is very very happy with Uverse. I have had to get used to not having many features that I was accustomed to when I had DTV. But there are many things that I love with UV that DTV didn't offer. When I first got the service it was pretty lean. Not very many apps/features but I was saving lots of money per month for tv and internet services. Since then I have seen lots of improvements, and I expect to see miore. I'm just sayin.

SomeJoe7777 · ‎01-30-2008

On the parental locking, there are two options for temporary unlock:

1. If you tune to a channel that is normally locked by your settings, you can enter the PIN and it then gives you a choice to unlock for the duration of the program, or unlock all channels and other restrictions for 4 hours.

2. If you go to Menu -> Options -> Parental Locking, enter your PIN, then on the left select Turn Off Locking, there is an option to unlock all channels and other restrictions for 4 hours.

My guess is that you're not seeing the "Unlock for 4 hours" options in either place. This is a known bug if you also have the "Lock Adult Content" turned on. See this thread for details. At this time there is no work-around other than to turn off the Lock Adult Content option. If you do that, you can still lock channels individually or by rating, which can keep adult programs from being viewed, but the unfortunate part is that the VOD adult content will then show the movie titles (even though the movies would not play due to rating restrictions), but it still may be inappropriate depending on your family.

NorthLineTony · ‎09-20-2008

Cygnus_X-1 wrote:
I'm deducing that I should feel sorry for you for having invested yourself so much in uverse that have to try so mightily to defend the inexplicable absence of a clock. I'm sorry also that you think using the term "internet protocol television" would cow me into dropping my dissatisfaction. The fact is, I don't care if my uverse box has a small fusion generator. If it can't simply display the time, how impressed do you expect me to be?
1. What if I don't have a watch?
2. There is no clock on the way in my family room.
3. I don't keep my cell phone with me.
4. My kids usually lose the remote.
You know what, Tony? My cable STB handled all four of those situations. As a matter of fact, I could use it to tell time even when the TV was off.

No, don't waste your time "feeling sorry" fo me. Yes, it's nice that digital cable has a clock on the box. But people do not order any kind of pay tv just so they can have a clock on the box. Do you want your STB to tell you the room tempeature and the temp. outside youyr house, too?Heck, cyggie, why not have your STB DISPLAY THE LATEST SPORTS scores and stock reports, too.

If you don't like Uverse just because of the PIP and clock issues, there's no charge for you to cancel your service. However, if you want to wait for new apps to come along like Phase 3 of THDVR, stick around. Sorry for the caps in the previous paragraph.

NorthLineTony · ‎09-20-2008

Cygnus_X-1 wrote:
I'm deducing that I should feel sorry for you for having invested yourself so much in uverse that have to try so mightily to defend the inexplicable absence of a clock. I'm sorry also that you think using the term "internet protocol television" would cow me into dropping my dissatisfaction. The fact is, I don't care if my uverse box has a small fusion generator. If it can't simply display the time, how impressed do you expect me to be?
1. What if I don't have a watch?
2. There is no clock on the way in my family room.
3. I don't keep my cell phone with me.
4. My kids usually lose the remote.
You know what, Tony? My cable STB handled all four of those situations. As a matter of fact, I could use it to tell time even when the TV was off.

BTW, it is not "inexplicable" that there is no clock.

Mobutu · ‎12-10-2009

I don't really understand the whole "clock" thing. Sounds like an excuse to be PO'd to me. I'm glad there is not a freaking clock on the danged thing. I have a clock on the mantle, I have a clock on the DVD, I have a clock on the VCR. I could use less clocks.

CGI_1 · ‎07-29-2008

Mobutu wrote:
I don't really understand the whole "clock" thing. Sounds like an excuse to be PO'd to me. I'm glad there is not a freaking clock on the danged thing. I have a clock on the mantle, I have a clock on the DVD, I have a clock on the VCR. I could use less clocks.
If you had cable all your life and were used to it, I doubt you would have the same opinion. Personally I would rather see a clock than that stupid blue lazer light that lights up my bedroom. Of course tape will fix that but at least the clock serves a function.
My 2 cents

sirmaru · ‎09-14-2008

Cygnus_X-1 wrote:
I'm deducing that I should feel sorry for you for having invested yourself so much in uverse that have to try so mightily to defend the inexplicable absence of a clock. I'm sorry also that you think using the term "internet protocol television" would cow me into dropping my dissatisfaction. The fact is, I don't care if my uverse box has a small fusion generator. If it can't simply display the time, how impressed do you expect me to be?
1. What if I don't have a watch?
2. There is no clock on the way in my family room.
3. I don't keep my cell phone with me.
4. My kids usually lose the remote.
You know what, Tony? My cable STB handled all four of those situations. As a matter of fact, I could use it to tell time even when the TV was off.

Just buy the Equity Time Insta-Set Alarm Clock for $ 17.00 from www.amazon.com. I purchased three for each of my HD TV's. It has large, red print numerals, a very small case and sets itself automatically to the correct time and adjust to Daylight and Standard time variations during the year.

It fits neatly next to each ATT STB and is much clearer than the old clocks on the Charter STB's.

Cygnus_X-1 · ‎12-01-2009

Well, I am more concerned about items 1 through 3. I very much miss PIP, and I'm sometimes ready to through the remote through the TV when the grid is slow. As for the clock, though it seems trivial, as CGI and sirmaru suggest, it's something to which you grow accustomed. Several families switched to uverse in our neighborhood and all of them that I spoke to complained about the lack of a clock.

NorthLineTony · ‎09-20-2008

Cygnus_X-1 wrote:
Well, I am more concerned about items 1 through 3. I very much miss PIP, and I'm sometimes ready to through the remote through the TV when the grid is slow. As for the clock, though it seems trivial, as CGI and sirmaru suggest, it's something to which you grow accustomed. Several families switched to uverse in our neighborhood and all of them that I spoke to complained about the lack of a clock.

So, Cyg, why don't you go back to cable? You moaned about this five months ago. Sure, it would be nice to have a clock on the stb, but don't FORGET that IPTV and Cable TV are two different "ballgames". Why don't you call 1-800-983-2811 ask for technical support and ask why there is no clock on the STB or full-time PIP.

Cygnus_X-1 · ‎12-01-2009

So Tony, why do you berate people who use these forums to ask questions? Do you own a bunch of AT&T stock or something? Why do you overlook items 1 through 3 and focus on my clock issue?

Do you think your smug question will put me in my place or something? Oooh, you got me! Gee, Tony's right. I should either shut up or switch back to cable... No, wait, I already said I was thinking about it!!

So look, this is how it is: I like uverse. But, all things considered, it is not much of an improvement over cable and I want to know if improvements are in the works. I judged that it's often better to post in forums to find out what people already know about something rather than deal with phone reps who only know how to recite things they've rehearsed. I didn't take into consideration, however, the likelihood of dealing with trolls who try inflate their self esteem.

wendigo · ‎02-12-2009

Just a friendly reminder to keep it courteous, per the forum guidelines. Disagreements are fine, please just don't let it get personal.

Thank you!

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

Cygnus_X-1 wrote:

So look, this is how it is: I like uverse. But, all things considered, it is not much of an improvement over cable and I want to know if improvements are in the works. I judged that it's often better to post in forums to find out what people already know about something rather than deal with phone reps who only know how to recite things they've rehearsed.

Unluckily we don't know exactly what is going to happen as we only get rumors, some may come true, others are just fantasy. ATT keeps things very close to the vest when it comes to changes and improvments. Even reps don't find out things any earlier, usually a week or upto a day before something comes out, the reason they're 'clueless'.

Now there have been no rumors about a real PIP, so it's probably not going to appear. You know a clock on the front requires a re-design of the DVR/STB, not too likely. SomeJoe has explained the parenal locking. Guide design is probably not going to change as phase 2 added enhancements, so they are sticking w/it for now. 99% of the time any grids, lists are very fast for me here, can be effected by available memory and memory load. Menu>options>system options>system information>system resources.

Edit: You do know you can use 'CH/PG' button to move a page at a time up/down in any list/grid?

Chris

_____________________________________________________________________

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-800-983-2811 to avoid Mr. Voice Recognition
I Call It Like I See It, Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

Cygnus_X-1 · ‎12-01-2009

Thanks for the feedback, Chris. It's not like computer software, I guess, where we can get a taste of things to come well in advance of their actual arrival. What affects memory load? I'd seen times where resources were being taxed, but I have no idea why.

I'd seen that I could page up/down, but that, too, is subject to a sometimes 5-second delay that can be consistent or sproadic. There are other things that are annoying, too, like during PIP browsing when I press "Info" on a channel to get more, and then pressing "Info" to dismiss the detail. Most of the time that brings me back to the PIP browsing. But, it often dismisses the PIP browsing forcing me to start back at my current channel.

Oh, and one more thing: I can't stand that I can't cancel a channel change once I press a number especially when I plan to switch between two channels (like between two football games). If I mess up one number (out of 4!), I have to go to some channel I don't want, switch back, and then retry my channel change. This can be especially frustrating at night.

Anyhow, I was hoping to hear some details about future modifications. I guess I'll just continue to see how long I can hold out.

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

Cygnus_X-1 wrote:

Oh, and one more thing: I can't stand that I can't cancel a channel change once I press a number especially when I plan to switch between two channels (like between two football games). If I mess up one number (out of 4!), I have to go to some channel I don't want, switch back, and then retry my channel change. This can be especially frustrating at night.
Next time you enter numbers into the remote to change to a channel and you enter a wrong number, press the DELETE button in the lower left corner of the remote to remove a number.

mibrnsurg · ‎07-15-2008

Cygnus_X-1 wrote:

Thanks for the feedback, Chris. It's not like computer software, I guess, where we can get a taste of things to come well in advance of their actual arrival. What affects memory load? I'd seen times where resources were being taxed, but I have no idea why.

I'd seen that I could page up/down, but that, too, is subject to a sometimes 5-second delay that can be consistent or sproadic. There are other things that are annoying, too, like during PIP browsing when I press "Info" on a channel to get more, and then pressing "Info" to dismiss the detail. Most of the time that brings me back to the PIP browsing. But, it often dismisses the PIP browsing forcing me to start back at my current channel.

I think recording can cause memory load, downloads (ie. Guide updates, twice a day [one more right click in the menu past system resources will tell update times]),routine maintenance the DVR performs, etc.

The Pip will only stay up for a limited time and if you stay on info longer, it will be gone on next press of info, right back to the current program. Think it's something the MS programmers aren't aware of, leave the Pip on if on info, so it goes back to the Pip.

Chris

_______________________________________________________________________

Please NO SD stretch-o-vision or 480 SD HD Channels
1-800-983-2811 to avoid Mr. Voice Recognition
I Call It Like I See It, Your Results May Vary, In My Humble Opinion
Simply a U-verse user, nothing more

NorthLineTony · ‎09-20-2008

Cygnus_X-1 wrote:
So Tony, why do you berate people who use these forums to ask questions? Do you own a bunch of AT&T stock or something? Why do you overlook items 1 through 3 and focus on my clock issue?

Do you think your smug question will put me in my place or something? Oooh, you got me! Gee, Tony's right. I should either shut up or switch back to cable... No, wait, I already said I was thinking about it!!

So look, this is how it is: I like uverse. But, all things considered, it is not much of an improvement over cable and I want to know if improvements are in the works. I judged that it's often better to post in forums to find out what people already know about something rather than deal with phone reps who only know how to recite things they've rehearsed. I didn't take into consideration, however, the likelihood of dealing with trolls who try inflate their self esteem.

I think it's best if you have tro call AT&T, do it before 6 or 8pm, ET, or else you'll probably end up talking to Bhagwan, the curry eater, or the "reciters".

I wasn't trying to be "smug", Even though you said the other issues were more important, you made it seem as though people get pay tv so there can be a clock in the house.And there's nothing wrong with self esteem. It's better than walking around with your head down.

click_clack · ‎12-29-2009

texasguy37 wrote:
Cygnus_X-1 wrote:

Oh, and one more thing: I can't stand that I can't cancel a channel change once I press a number especially when I plan to switch between two channels (like between two football games). If I mess up one number (out of 4!), I have to go to some channel I don't want, switch back, and then retry my channel change. This can be especially frustrating at night.
Next time you enter numbers into the remote to change to a channel and you enter a wrong number, press the DELETE button in the lower left corner of the remote to remove a number.

WOOOHOOOOO!!!!! Never noticed that button Tex. Thanks!!!!!

I am an AT&T employee and the postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent AT&T's position, strategies or opinion.

texasguy37 · ‎05-18-2009

click_clack wrote:

WOOOHOOOOO!!!!! Never noticed that button Tex. Thanks!!!!!

You're welcome!

RCSMG · ‎12-10-2007

NorthLineTony wrote:

Cygnus_X-1 wrote:

So Tony, why do you berate people who use these forums to ask questions? Do you own a bunch of AT&T stock or something? Why do you overlook items 1 through 3 and focus on my clock issue?

Do you think your smug question will put me in my place or something? Oooh, you got me! Gee, Tony's right. I should either shut up or switch back to cable... No, wait, I already said I was thinking about it!!

So look, this is how it is: I like uverse. But, all things considered, it is not much of an improvement over cable and I want to know if improvements are in the works. I judged that it's often better to post in forums to find out what people already know about something rather than deal with phone reps who only know how to recite things they've rehearsed. I didn't take into consideration, however, the likelihood of dealing with trolls who try inflate their self esteem.

I think it's best if you have tro call AT&T, do it before 6 or 8pm, ET, or else you'll probably end up talking to Bhagwan, the curry eater, or the "reciters".

I wasn't trying to be "smug", Even though you said the other issues were more important, you made it seem as though people get pay tv so there can be a clock in the house.And there's nothing wrong with self esteem. It's better than walking around with your head down.

I answered that question to the best of any of us subs can answer. ATT has not posted any information in the forum regarding improvements in the forum in quite awhile. But they have made announcements in articles and interviews in other mediums. As long as I have been a subs I have seen a great many improvements. We can't give you a definitive answer to that question other than to say. Yes their are improvements in the works. One is pair bonding, but none of us knows when it will rollout. Another is phase 3 of thdvr, but again none of us know when it will rollout.

If you need more info I recommend you go to the ATT news/info site and see what articles and announcements they have there. It is good that you are trying to get info before you become a sub. Just sayin.