I assume you don't have a subscription for all HD channels (Entertainment, Sports and Movies) as you appear to need that to get the HD option.
Yes, I have all 3 options also but I think I will be keeping it set for the drop-down menu to keep full control. Also, I like it. We've been pestering for long enough to have a feature like this - seems almost churlish not to use it .
Yes, I have all 3 options also but I think I will be keeping it set for the drop-down menu to keep full control. Also, I like it. We've been pestering for long enough to have a feature like this - seems almost churlish not to use it .
it's a half baked implementation though.
only giving HD option to those who happen to subscribe to everything.
it's a half baked implementation though.
only giving HD option to those who happen to subscribe to everything.
Can you not download HD on demand content if you don't have all the channels? I'm about to ditch the sport channels but don't want to only get movies in SD (Downloaded over the net).
Can you not download HD on demand content if you don't have all the channels? I'm about to ditch the sport channels but don't want to only get movies in SD (Downloaded over the net).
yes you can.
it's just that this new feature doesn't let you set HD as the default, whereas those with all the channels can.
So now if I press "TV Guide" then select "Catch Up TV" then "Sky Sports" then "All" for "Another chance to catch up on all programmes on Sky Sports" I can only read the programme description in the info box along the top of the screen alongside the small screen displaying a tv channel.
Previously I could press "i" and cue through for extra information such as programme duration and details about expiry from the "on demand" section along wih any deletion dates etc. Same with Sky Movies on Demand. Press "TV Guide" then select "Sky Movies On Demand" then "All" on the menu and now just the description of the film and no further info on expiry/deletion date etc as pressing "i". .
If I use "search" for the same sport programme or film it looks like I can get the duration/size/deletion date for the programme as before but instinctively I feel it is more convenient for users to continue to be able to view the additional info using the selection method I detailed above as per previous to this update. It is after all useful to know how long a programme is and how long you have to download or watch it via on demand due to all of the availability variables within the facility due to rights/Sky's own remit.
So now if I press "TV Guide" then select "Catch Up TV" then "Sky Sports" then "All" for "Another chance to catch up on all programmes on Sky Sports" I can only read the programme description in the info box along the top of the screen alongside the small screen displaying a tv channel.
Previously I could press "i" and cue through for extra information such as programme duration and details about expiry from the "on demand" section along wih any deletion dates etc. Same with Sky Movies on Demand. Press "TV Guide" then select "Sky Movies On Demand" then "All" on the menu and now just the description of the film and no further info on expiry/deletion date etc as pressing "i". .
If I use "search" for the same sport programme or film it looks like I can get the duration/size/deletion date for the programme as before but instinctively I feel it is more convenient for users to continue to be able to view the additional info using the selection method I detailed above as per previous to this update. It is after all useful to know how long a programme is and how long you have to download or watch it via on demand due to all of the availability variables within the facility due to rights/Sky's own remit.
It's because there is now the HD/SD choice. You need to press select to get the HD/SD choice pop-up before pressing "i" for the extra info because the size will be different according to your choice.
It's because there is now the HD/SD choice. You need to press select to get the HD/SD choice pop-up before pressing "i" for the extra info because the size will be different according to your choice.
Thanks, I hadn't taken that step as yet so I've just tried it. So that means I now have to begin downloading the programme before seeing the info about what duration/size/expiry is. Can't say that I am instinctively impressed by that modification.
*additional note
Right, I'm getting the gist of this now. If I press "select" then I can view the duration/size/expiry of sd/hd before the download. Thanks again, sorry for the mistake.
it's a half baked implementation though.
only giving HD option to those who happen to subscribe to everything.
Yes it not how I imagined it would work have worked.
The reason is that the HD only option is a global setting in the way that it works. This means that the option will always download the HD version regardless of your subscription, so if you didn't subscribe to say Sky sports in HD then when you went to download to some Sky sports content from OnDemand the box would download the HD version which you would be unable to view because you don't have the right subscription.
To prevent this from happening the HD only option is not available if you don't subscribe to all HD channels.
One thing I'm a bit unsure about is the ability of the sky box to take my tv out of standby. Sure enough with my 6 year old Panasonic tv in standby, switching on the Sky box also turns the TV on tuned to the Sky input. However previously switching off the Sky box meant that my TV automatically switched to freeview. Now it justs sit there still tuned to Sky so I have to manually switch to a different input. I'm not sure if thats a good option or not so I might turn it off later.
It doesn't work properly with my 2007 Panasonic TV either.
As you say, it stops the TV returning to Freeview when the Sky box is switched off.
I assume it's not completely compatible with the Viera Link system.
I switched it off in the picture menu!
it's a half baked implementation though.
only giving HD option to those who happen to subscribe to everything.
IIRC you don't have to have everything, but you do have to have at least Sport or Movies in HD for the option to be offered.
I agree it's still a rather silly policy!
IIRC you don't have to have everything, but you do have to have at least Sport or Movies in HD for the option to be offered.
I agree it's still a rather silly policy!
Just checked, you need Entertainment HD AND Sports HD AND Movies HD for the "HD if available" option to be seen.
Don't be sorry Dave, YOU are correct. I don't have sports but have entertainment HD and movies and I get the "If available in HD" option.
Looks like you are right then Dave, it's me who's sorry.
There's a confusing set of rules behind it at Sky's end due to the numerous current & legacy packages available in the UK & ROI that people have and the numbers of possible combinations of these. Buy and keep apparently also has some form of impact.
There was some initial confusion within Sky about the rules when we were querying it a little while ago, after some internal discussions and studying a rather detailed table, the answer the specialist gave us was the answer I gave. Seems it's not the case.
OK Im trying to get my head round this, I have the Family pack but I dont have Sports or Movies (so I obviously cant have those latter two in HD ether), does this mean that they will disable the option for me because I dont have everything in HD? or will I get the option anyway?
!
There is a bit of confusion here - it is clearer when you actually get your update.
The On Demand sections have (finally) been reorganised to stop all that HD/SD duplication within the genre tabs e.g. iPlayer or all that rooting about you had to do in the "All" section to find the HD versions because only SD versions were available from the genres e.g Sky. Now there is just a single image but with the option to download either HD or SD versions.
There is in addition a new setting under Options/Customise called "On Demand Download Format" which allows you set what you want globally. The default setting is "Always Ask". This means that when you press select on a thumbnail where both formats are available then you will get a popup from which to choose.
There are two other global settings but only "SD Only" is available to everyone. The third setting "HD when available" only seems to appear for people who have a premium HD (Sport or Movies) sub.
To answer your question, yes you will still get the option to download in HD on the Family pack via the HD/SD popup menu. It is just the global setting to download everything in HD without asking that you will be missing.
Like all these things it sounds complicated when written out but it's really very simple when you see it. Shame Sky can't issue a quick tutorial video on new features like this.
There are two other global settings but only "SD Only" is available to everyone. The third setting "HD when available" only seems to appear for people who have a premium HD (Sport or Movies) sub.
yes this is the part that is stupid.
another half baked implementation by sky, but i'm not surprised as i've seen many of these.
nice back track from sky though by adding the option to turn off that stupid backup button function they added last time.
Right, I'm getting the gist of this now. If I press "select" then I can view the duration/size/expiry of sd/hd before the download. Thanks again, sorry for the mistake.
Of course this will only work if you HAVEN'T used the option in "options - customise" to "download HD if available"
If you HAVE, then pressing "select" will automatically start the HD download.
Comments
Yes, I have all 3 options also but I think I will be keeping it set for the drop-down menu to keep full control. Also, I like it. We've been pestering for long enough to have a feature like this - seems almost churlish not to use it
it's a half baked implementation though.
only giving HD option to those who happen to subscribe to everything.
Yet again a recording scrapped because the update kicked in half way through the film!
Can you not download HD on demand content if you don't have all the channels? I'm about to ditch the sport channels but don't want to only get movies in SD (Downloaded over the net).
yes you can.
it's just that this new feature doesn't let you set HD as the default, whereas those with all the channels can.
I completely agree, the user doesn't get a say.
Many people don't care nor notice these changes
but some of us will see the benefit and we know what we're missing out on.
Anyway wait a little longer
So now if I press "TV Guide" then select "Catch Up TV" then "Sky Sports" then "All" for "Another chance to catch up on all programmes on Sky Sports" I can only read the programme description in the info box along the top of the screen alongside the small screen displaying a tv channel.
Previously I could press "i" and cue through for extra information such as programme duration and details about expiry from the "on demand" section along wih any deletion dates etc. Same with Sky Movies on Demand. Press "TV Guide" then select "Sky Movies On Demand" then "All" on the menu and now just the description of the film and no further info on expiry/deletion date etc as pressing "i". .
If I use "search" for the same sport programme or film it looks like I can get the duration/size/deletion date for the programme as before but instinctively I feel it is more convenient for users to continue to be able to view the additional info using the selection method I detailed above as per previous to this update. It is after all useful to know how long a programme is and how long you have to download or watch it via on demand due to all of the availability variables within the facility due to rights/Sky's own remit.
It's because there is now the HD/SD choice. You need to press select to get the HD/SD choice pop-up before pressing "i" for the extra info because the size will be different according to your choice.
Thanks, I hadn't taken that step as yet so I've just tried it. So that means I now have to begin downloading the programme before seeing the info about what duration/size/expiry is. Can't say that I am instinctively impressed by that modification.
*additional note
Right, I'm getting the gist of this now. If I press "select" then I can view the duration/size/expiry of sd/hd before the download. Thanks again, sorry for the mistake.
Yes it not how I imagined it would work have worked.
The reason is that the HD only option is a global setting in the way that it works. This means that the option will always download the HD version regardless of your subscription, so if you didn't subscribe to say Sky sports in HD then when you went to download to some Sky sports content from OnDemand the box would download the HD version which you would be unable to view because you don't have the right subscription.
To prevent this from happening the HD only option is not available if you don't subscribe to all HD channels.
As you say, it stops the TV returning to Freeview when the Sky box is switched off.
I assume it's not completely compatible with the Viera Link system.
I switched it off in the picture menu! IIRC you don't have to have everything, but you do have to have at least Sport or Movies in HD for the option to be offered.
I agree it's still a rather silly policy!
Just checked, you need Entertainment HD AND Sports HD AND Movies HD for the "HD if available" option to be seen.
Don't be sorry Dave, YOU are correct. I don't have sports but have entertainment HD and movies and I get the "If available in HD" option.
Looks like you are right then Dave, it's me who's sorry.
There's a confusing set of rules behind it at Sky's end due to the numerous current & legacy packages available in the UK & ROI that people have and the numbers of possible combinations of these. Buy and keep apparently also has some form of impact.
There was some initial confusion within Sky about the rules when we were querying it a little while ago, after some internal discussions and studying a rather detailed table, the answer the specialist gave us was the answer I gave. Seems it's not the case.
There is a bit of confusion here - it is clearer when you actually get your update.
The On Demand sections have (finally) been reorganised to stop all that HD/SD duplication within the genre tabs e.g. iPlayer or all that rooting about you had to do in the "All" section to find the HD versions because only SD versions were available from the genres e.g Sky. Now there is just a single image but with the option to download either HD or SD versions.
There is in addition a new setting under Options/Customise called "On Demand Download Format" which allows you set what you want globally. The default setting is "Always Ask". This means that when you press select on a thumbnail where both formats are available then you will get a popup from which to choose.
There are two other global settings but only "SD Only" is available to everyone. The third setting "HD when available" only seems to appear for people who have a premium HD (Sport or Movies) sub.
To answer your question, yes you will still get the option to download in HD on the Family pack via the HD/SD popup menu. It is just the global setting to download everything in HD without asking that you will be missing.
Like all these things it sounds complicated when written out but it's really very simple when you see it. Shame Sky can't issue a quick tutorial video on new features like this.
yes this is the part that is stupid.
another half baked implementation by sky, but i'm not surprised as i've seen many of these.
nice back track from sky though by adding the option to turn off that stupid backup button function they added last time.
I suppose we could just upgrade to the full package so we can get the 'HD when available' option right enough
Of course this will only work if you HAVEN'T used the option in "options - customise" to "download HD if available"
If you HAVE, then pressing "select" will automatically start the HD download.
It sounds like it's what they want us to do!
I agree and you aren't normally this critical of sky! You normally run someone else down for being this critical!
No, he comments when people have stupid ideas/questions about the way something should work.
This obviously doesn't work how it should.
aw well then. best not disappoint them huh. An HD if/when available option for an extra 30 odd pound per month seems such a bargain does it not lol