URGE is PURGED!!! -- Music Choice App is LIVE!!!!

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

The bandwidth used is the same for the music channels used in either the app (channel 500) or the direct entry channels (channel 5101 - 5146).  Each uses around 400 kbps per channel.

[peteyboy]

Thanks TG37,400 kbps is a great number for the music streams.The sound quality and music selection are great compared to previous services.So glad urge is gone,good riddance.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

It's the same stream.  The multicast IP address is identical whether you're tuned to a music channel via the app or via direct entry, so it's the same stream from the same encoder.

In addition to the audio portion, I think technically the stream comprises a very low-bitrate video stream as well, holding only the still picture with the title/artist on it.  So the 400 kbps is the total, the audio is probably between 192 kbps and 256 kbps.

[snowcrash]

I wish that MC would update though if they could and add videos to the songs being played if it had a video.  That would just be cool in my opinon to have music and videos on all the music channels availabe.  If anything, MC just update their style or display to something different because it seems like the have had the same one of at least 10 years?  It seems like though I've listened to MC more in the past few days since it went to direct channel input than I ever did with Urge. 

[sbriand]

Wow.  What more could anyone ask?  Better music channels than "Urge", direct channel input for those who want it, and the app channel that will still stream the music when all video streams are in use.  Granted, "better than Urge" is subjective, but I think you would be pressed to find a lot of people who would vote to switch back to Urge.

[bucksommerkamp]

Count me as a happier camper here - direct entry is awesome! Thank you, AT&T!

Now, if we could just deal with that pesky blue screensaver coming up way too early in a Music Choice listening session...it defeats the purpose of having an informational screen for each song/artist.

Can a per-channel-range screensaver timeout be defined? (i.e., for MC channel viewing, no screensaver -- for the other channels, a one-hour timeout, etc.)...?

[kryptonite]

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bucksommerkamp wrote:

Count me as a happier camper here - direct entry is awesome! Thank you, AT&T!

Now, if we could just deal with that pesky blue screensaver coming up way too early in a Music Choice listening session...it defeats the purpose of having an informational screen for each song/artist.

Can a per-channel-range screensaver timeout be defined? (i.e., for MC channel viewing, no screensaver -- for the other channels, a one-hour timeout, etc.)...?

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Honestly, the screensaver is sort of redundant.  The original idea of the screensaver was to prevent "burn-in" on CRT computer monitors.

The image on Music Choice changes every few minutes, does it not?  Then, why even have a screensaver?

[bucksommerkamp]

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kryptonite wrote:

Honestly, the screensaver is sort of redundant.  The original idea of the screensaver was to prevent "burn-in" on CRT computer monitors.

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I completely agree! Anything that relies upon automatic entry of keys (macro-style) always get goofed up by the "Press OK to continue" AT&T blue screensaver.

I thought maybe they were using it as a crutch to stop grabbing video and saving bandwidth when it was active. The Music Choice billboards/graphics are pretty crappy resolution anyway, so I doubt the savings would be worth much.

What say you, AT&T? Can we have an option to disable the annoying blue screensaver?

[kryptonite]

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bucksommerkamp wrote:

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kryptonite wrote:

Honestly, the screensaver is sort of redundant.  The original idea of the screensaver was to prevent "burn-in" on CRT computer monitors.

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I completely agree! Anything that relies upon automatic entry of keys (macro-style) always get goofed up by the "Press OK to continue" AT&T blue screensaver.

I thought maybe they were using it as a crutch to stop grabbing video and saving bandwidth when it was active. The Music Choice billboards/graphics are pretty crappy resolution anyway, so I doubt the savings would be worth much.

What say you, AT&T? Can we have an option to disable the annoying blue screensaver?

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If it goes to the screensaver, the audio stops, right?

What about pressing the left or right button on the remote every few minutes?  Would that bypass the blue screen?

[bucksommerkamp]

Actually, when playing Music Choice, the audio keeps playing, you just can't see the graphics displayed for each song or artist. Not a huge deal, and I"m glad it at least keeps going (unlike Pandora, which pesters you every hour with "Are you still listening?") but hopefully they'll see that a screensaver is indeed worthless on today's LCD screens.

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kryptonite wrote:

If it goes to the screensaver, the audio stops, right?

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[Dead_Terrorist]

The screen saver has nothing to do with LCD screens..  everyone keeps forgetting about PLASMA TVs.. that is where the "burn-in" problem comes in. In fact, there have been several lawsuits filed against providers due to this affect.  Music Choice does deliver their content with lower setting to help prevent this.. however; the Screen Saver is NOT unique to a specific channel.  Think about it, if you put your TV on pause and walk away, the screen-saver pops up to protect your TV set. 

Can't have it both ways folks...

[bucksommerkamp]

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Dead_Terrorist wrote:

PLASMA TVs.. that is where the "burn-in" problem comes in...Can't have it both ways folks...

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I agree, but I should have the OPTION to turn it off if I have an LCD not susceptible to burn-in.

[Dead_Terrorist]

Don't disagree with you buck.. it would be a nice option... but put yourself in AT&T shoes... 

Say someone's significant other  decides to turn off the screen saver and happens to forget to tell anyone.. then their plasma TV experiences a burn in ... guess who gets sued?  I also have LCD TVs and while the screen saver "occassionally" become an issue, my Bravia will actually go into "power-save" mode prior to the screen saver popping up.. (apparently it has some sort of motion detector as it comes right back on when I walk into the room)...  freaked me out the first time.. had music playing with a black screen.. thought I had bought a lemon...

[Dread Pirate Ro…]

Dead Terrorist. I couldn't figure out, why.........then I googled it. Very very funny. I've never seen that guy before. He had me in a fit!!!

DPR

[Dead_Terrorist]

I used to have a link to the video in my signature, but it disappear during one of the forum upgrades..

[dhascall ACE - Professor]

DT and DPR - I have the Jeff Dunham autobiography audiobook but I have not yet read it.  He is a very funny guy.

[kryptonite]

I see a mirror of SWRV has been added to 5100. This is SD, does not take away capacity from other channels, and won't cost anything extra, outside what Music Choice costs.

In other words, remember that second channel of ESPN during The Masters?? Same thing happening here.

[garylcoleman]

We're very happy with the fact that urge is finally gone. It was the worst in every respect. Music choice is 100% better. Yes it would be nice for every music channel to have it's own ch.# but until and unless they do, BRAVO to AT&T for going back to music choice.

[aviewer ACE - Wizard]

Check out 5101- 5143

[oufanindallas]

It does.

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garylcoleman wrote:

We're very happy with the fact that urge is finally gone. It was the worst in every respect. Music choice is 100% better. Yes it would be nice for every music channel to have it's own ch.# but until and unless they do, BRAVO to AT&T for going back to music choice.

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[barlowfan2]

I love the Christian-music channel on Music Choice(channe 5132).  Great songs(both current and classic). I had this channel when I lived in the Nashville area(and had Comcast).

Thanks for switching to Music Choice, AT&T!

[dradioz]

is ATT going to allow access to Music Choice via the MC web site?

[CostaMesaCAGuy]

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garylcoleman wrote:

Yes it would be nice for every music channel to have it's own ch.# but until and unless they do, BRAVO to AT&T for going back to music choice.

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As of April 21, they are back on individual channels.  Check channels 5101-5143.

[FloriaT]

I am having a similar problem in that it starts to skip big time. AT&T acknowledges it is a known problem but is not doing anything about it.

[oufanindallas]

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FloriaT wrote:

I am having a similar problem in that it starts to skip big time. AT&T acknowledges it is a known problem but is not doing anything about it.

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huh? what skips?  What known issue?