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Wretched adverts on epg of the Panasonic DMR-BW780
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Does anyone know how to disable the wretched adverts on the epg of the Panasonic DMR-BW780 on the left hand side of the screen?
Many thanks Pete
Many thanks Pete
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Yep, doesn't matter about the browser though, just go to:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
Which stops them on anything.
Ad-funded services that are not optional will always be resented. I suppose if Panasonic did explain VERY CLEARLY what the EPG is all about then buyers would have no defence but I imagine they kept it hidden in their marketing spiel.
Just a space where the advert would be with "Diga" within it.
Is there any Panasonic promotional material anywhere that details this ad-funded EPG I wonder? I somehow doubt it...
While many services exist that use advertising to part-fund the associated costs it is very important that people are made aware of this before handing over a substantial sum of money so they can consider the impact on their enjoyment and make an appropriate decision.
The free-market requires people to be fully informed before making a purchase for it to work in peoples interest after all.
Imagine a full-board holiday where you are required to view an advertisment on a TV screen before entering the restaurant area? Such a ploy would infuriate people who had not been made aware of it before booking.
Considering the price paid for this Panasonic gadget I would be writing to Panasonic head office and pointing out how important it is to notify potential customers of ad-funded services on products that cost a tonne of money, before they hand over the money.
You don't get adverts on the Freeview EPG, it's ONLY on the GuidePlus EPG - as far as I'm aware all other manufacturers that offer the GuidePlus EPG also provide the proper Freeview EPG as well, so you can choose which to use.
Unfortunately Panasonic seem to only provide the GuidePlus one, presumably because GuidePlus pay them to do so?.
You have no statutory right to return the set as it isn't faulty and it is fit for purpose.
So it depends who you bought it from and what their returns policy is.
Argos, for example, offer a money back guarantee (21 days?) which allows you to return products. DSG always used to as well, providing the item is 'as new' with packaging etc.
If you don't have the packaging etc, then it will be down to the retailer's discretion, but they have no legal obligation to offer you an exchange in these particular circumstances.
It's one of the reasons I never use it.
My next TV won't be Panasonic.
Sorry, but actually you're wrong. You DON'T have a statutory right to an exchange unless an item is faulty (the SGA won't apply just because you dislike the EPG).
In this case, it isn't faulty, however the retailer may offer you anexchange, which is in addition to your statutory rights and may have conditions attached such as return in original packagaing etc.
In terms of alternatives, unless Sony or Samsung have something which matches your requirements, you'll not be getting a set of equivalent quality in terms of picture or sound.
(Though I don't think either Sony or Samsung offer sound quality on par with Panasonic's sets).
If Panny start seeing a drop-off in sales, and rise in equipment returns, they'll think twice about such a crap arrangement. As they didn't make this issue clear at purchase, I'd take it all the way to court rather than accept it.
I suspect that there is a connection between this and the initial bargain purchase price. I'd rather pay the extra for a model without 'hard-coded' ads.
There seems to be a media philosophy that the public must by all means be forced to watch ads, as otherwise we might refuse to buy products. Thank Christ for PVRs, Adblock, hostfiles etc etc. I don't feel bad - I never, ever pay attention to ads, so actually I'm helping producers. I buy products without even the cost of advertising them to me!
None, I believe the Panasonic is the only one of its type on the market.
I *still* love Panasonic TVs and need and want to buy a new one, but absolutely will not buy until they stop putting the adverts in.
Maybe some of us should go into Panasonic shops and appear massively interested in a new TV or DVD recorder, until we happen across the adverts in the EPG - and suddenly be not interested any more. That said, I've read they have a shop mode that hides the ads - not sure if that's true, but if it is, it's exceptionally cheeky.
Spread the word - hit Panasonic in the sales figures and make them change their mind.
Thank you for your e-mail enquiry. Firstly, please accept my sincere apologies for the uncharacteristic delay in our response. Due to unexpected technical difficulties, we have been unable to provide as speedy a response as we would normally.
In response, I would explain that as a result of standardisation of EPG systems used on Panasonic Visual products, new UK products since Nov 2007 have been shipped with the new EPG platform.
Our R&D groups for the specific product areas defined the use of the "Gemstar" software platform for the Panasonic EPG system. This standard has, as you have indicated, an advertisement area within the navigation menu. Regrettably, this advertisement area cannot be disabled or suppressed on the software version used on the Panasonic products. We have, however, recorded your comments about this facility and will be forwarding this to our R&D group for their information.
Helpful....
Another reason to avoid a tv that does not have an option to show just the standard freeview EPG (with no adverts) is what happens if the guide plus EPG is discontinued at some time in the future?
A lot of people now have useless PVR's because the 4TV EPG they relied upon was discontinued only a few months ago.
I would certainly avoid any tv or freeview box that does not have the ability to show the standard freeview EPG
The analogue GuidePlus service was also discontinued at the end of last year, rendering many recorders useless.
It's pretty crappy not providing the proper Freeview EPG.
Whilst I hadn't registered that it was a Blu Ray recorder (apols about that, had misread and assumed it was a TV) the fact still remains that unless an item is faulty, you have NO statutory right to return an item for an exchange.
If any retailer offers to exchange a non-faulty item, then they are doing it as a discretionary policy - they legally do not have to offer an exchange.
This is true of any item you buy be it a book, clothes, DVD, or electrical goods.
As the item itself isn't faulty, then any exchange is at the retailer's discretion and may be subject to any reasonable conditions the retailer chooses to impose (e.g. must have original packaging, charge a re-stocking fee etc).
There is a common misconception that you can take back something you don't like and the retailer has to change it - which is not the case.
This is a point which I and others (e.g. Nigel Goodwin, Niall Campbell etc) have tried to make to many other posters.
Scumble - you need to go away and read the SSGA - whether you'd be prepared to accept a retailer telling you they wouldn't offer an exchange is irrelevant, under current law they have NO obligation to offer you one just because you find a feature you dislike on an item. It's a simple case of "caveat emptour ".