The colour of the programme name is a very difficult one.
Since bright white would upset some TVs = if left on screen by mistake on a plasma it will burn in to the screen = thats why the TV channels logos have been toned down.
Does the OSD Transparency option on page 60 of the User Manual help?

I dont no about the blue and yellow buttons. If I remember right when you are on some of the BBCs Interactive extra TV channels when they broadcast, they use the blue button.
Things like Wimbledon and other sporting events on the BBC often have 2 or 3 extra TV channels that you can only access through the interactive, to go back to the interactive menu you have to press the blue key on any freeview box.

Displaying a message at the bottom of the screen is very hard. Since every TV overscans by a different amount = the bottom of one persons TV is an inch above the bottom of anothers etc. Then some people might have their TV set to Cinema mode where 12% of the bottom and 12% of the top of the screen is chopped off and the result is stretched to fill the screen = often used on 4:3 broadcasts on a 16:9 (widescreen) TV.

As for what the onscreen message says and how long it stays on for, why do we actually need this message?
As long as we have confidence the machine will record what we tell it to? You can always check if the machine is recording anything by looking at the LCD (REC is lit). Also if watching live TV press the stop button to see exactly whats being recorded.

White is used for the Programme number, Date and Time of Recording. Why is it only the Programme Name that's illegible?

Yellow and Blue aren't used during the replay of the buffer or during the playback of any recordings. I've suggested yellow and blue, rather than red and green for obvious reasons, even though red and green are similarly redundant.

Well it can't be down to that, can it? because the time and date of the recording are in a lovely bright white. It's only the b****y programme name that's greyed out and practically illegible.

With reference to the on-screen reminder that a recording has started, one poster here wants it on for longer with more information, another doesn't want it at all. I tend to the 'not at all' camp, but another item in the 'Preferences' menu seems to be called for.

If more information was included, then the options 'never, 1,3 5 seconds' would suit the majority of users, would it not?

Oh, and proper chase play of a recording in progress is almost essential.

Hi spoon261,

Re the on-screen reminder that a recording has started.

I agree the reminder message is not essential.

But, as it is already built in I believe it would be better to make good use of it by at least changing the message as described and keeping it on screen for a little longer.
Moving the message to the bottom of the screen is not essential

An option to enable/disable the message should suit everyone.

Roger

Has HUMAX made any comment as to bug fixes and software enhancements?

No not yet, but I'm sure they are monitoring forums like this and working on the fixes for the first Update. This DS page is on HUMAX's external links so they know about us !

I have updated the list and I think I have added every request from everyone, if I forgot anything, please remind me.

Humax PVR9200T Software Ideas version 1.3

These ideas do not cover anything to do with things copied from PC to Humax.

i button
Has to be pressed twice to get program description = change it to only needing to be pressed once.
Make the UP and Down arrows change the Channel that program description is being displayed
Only Now and Next available = change it to at least a day

i button shortcut, while watching live TV, make the left, right, up and down arrow keys act like the i button has been pressed instead of doing nothing. But when they are pressed again let them do their normal thing so you can navigate.

Channel List button, the current program is only displayed at the moment, would be nice to see the next program as well.

Live Buffer (Time Shift)
The following should be options since I assume they will increase Hardrive noise.
Only works on one channel at a time = Make it work on two at the same time + when changing to another Channel, delete only the first channels buffer.
Live Buffer erased while watching a recording = stop it erasing it.
When half way through recording a program, make it possible to watch the recording from the beginning before it finishes recording.

Program Guide
Only 4 Channels displayed at a time = Need 5 or 6.
Date next to Programme Time is a number = need day not number displayed.
To find out a Programmes Description, the i button has to be pressed = make it automatic = stop the i button needing to be pressed.
CH + - moves the cursor to the last Channel on the menu and then moves the channel to the top = it should instead move the cursor to the Channel after the last Channel on the menu and move it to the top of the menu.

Program Guide Time Bar, currently you have to enter Time Bar mode before the Fast Rewind, Fast Forward, Instant Replay & Commercial Skip buttons work as shortcuts to Time Bar functions. Make them also work when in normal Program Guide = so you do not have to go in to Time Bar mode (don’t have to press the green button).

Find By Genre displays a type of Genre, one channel at a time for the next 7 days, no way of jumping to another channel without scrolling through 7 days of the channel before and the channel before that etc. Change it so it orders it by time and date, not channel

Schedule (Yellow Button in Program Guide menu) should have displayed OK button to Edit

Recording Schedule and Schedule in the Guide menu needs the following changing / adding
Turn the RED button in to Delete and display a RED icon to Delete on the screen.
Make the OK button go straight in to Edit function
Edit Function = Separate Start and End times and put them at the top of the menu
Make the Left and Right arrows add and subtract 1min from the Start and End times.
If the program scheduled has been edited, keep its name = at the moment it goes blank.

Change the maximum amount of Scheduled Recordings from 20 to 200

Record List and Recorded Program menus
Make RED button delete the highlighted programme and display a RED icon to Delete on the screen.
Make OK button go straight to EDIT function
The name of the recorded program should be the program name half way through the recording, this will stop the program be fore’s name accidentally being used.
Would be nice to see program description when cursor is on a program, not essential.
Program name hard to see in the Record List = change colour to white.

Preferences Menu
Add the ability for all Scheduled recordings to automatically have 1,2,3,4,5 minutes added to their start and end times.
Add the ability for a screen saver / turning the picture blank when left on menus for a certain length of time to stop it burning on to the TV screen. Also apply this rule to pausing and radio.
Add the ability to change OK button from acting like the List button and instead act like Play List button.

Recording reminders being displayed on screen when a scheduled recording starts
Add the ability to change how long the reminder stays on screen to 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 seconds
The reminder should display the name of the program, the channel its on and its start / end time.

Save the 7 Day EPG guide data so it’s not deleted when in standby mode.

PIP = Make it work when viewing a recording or when recording

Switch Fan off when in Standby if Hardrive is off and box is cold enough

Front Display, Need option to Dim it and to switch it off when on or in standby.

When yellow and blue buttons not being used for something else, make them act the same as Comercial Skip and Instant Replay buttons.

After a power cut, currently the machine powers up and switches the hardrive on for a few seconds, then turns in to standby mode and powers down the hardrive.
Stop hardrive from switching on for the above = unnecessary and could damage or wear it out faster. Of course make sure it switches hardrive on for any recordings.

Copying recordings from Humax to PC = give the file name the correct extension to describe the file format so Windows can work out how to open it.

MP3 = Increase the amount of Hardrive space that can be used to store MP3

Hi spoon261

I for one would not like to see the program guide changed from 4 lines to 5 or 6 lines UNLESS this is optional.

More lines could = smaller text and/or loss of small screen and info display.

I like the fact that I can still hear and view (on the small display) the current channel whilst I select items to record from the EPG.

IMHO bugs should be fixed first, then fixes/ease of use for existing functions then items on a wish list, time/budget permitting

Roger

Ay, there's the rub.

Wishlists are great but Humax have already had your money so there's nothing more going to be forthcoming to pay for new ideas.

You would hope they'd at least fix any obvious bugs "free of charge" though!

Cliff

Their is no reason why you can not have 5 to 6 lines and the small screen and the info display = Thomson did it.
Also if we have the info display you will be able to read the program name easily since it will be in big letters. But if you insist on the 4 line display, why is that = do you have a very small tv or very bad eye sight? You could always move closer to the TV.

Hi CJL

I agree but if Humax not only fix bugs but also some of the other items it would not do their already good reputation any harm and could extend the lifecycle of the 9200T (win for them/win for us!).

At some stage I am sure most of us will be buying/recommending electrical items and will, amongst other things, take the overall customer service/response of Humax into account when deciding what to buy/recommend.

Roger
Last edited by RJD : 31-10-2005 at 15:29

Hi spoon261

As far as I know Humax are not using Thomson software so this change could involve a disproportionate amount of work.

IMHO it would not be reasonable to expect Humax to change something that is working as intended and was known before buying the unit.

I am not against having 5/6 lines but my concern is that the screen could be less readable for the sake of not needing to scroll up/down as much.

Roger

Roger,

But sadly the "reputation" thing and promise of "increased future sales" thing doesn't really pan out in reality. Let's say that a feature takes 3 man months to develop at an engineering cost of £500/day. That's £33,750 you have to find form somewhere to justify doing the development work.

You have to make quite a few incremental sales to cover just that one feature. Let's say Humax make £30 for each 9200 they sell. They'd have to increase sales by 1,125 units to pay for that one feature alone. That is, not just sell 1,125 boxes but sell 1,125 MORE boxes than they would have otherwise.

Then come at from the other angle. Sure the "in the know" nerds like us who read DS will buy a thing like this based on whether another nerd says it will "chaseplay" or not here on DS. But that's a very small part of the Humax market. The majority who buy it will simply be someone who has wandered into Dixons/Comet/Currys on a Saturday afternoon willing to splash £200 on something to "replace the VCR that just died". They probably won't ever know what chaseplay is or why they'd want it and they're unlikely to be one of those extra 1,125 customers needed who will now buy the box because it has "chaseplay" when last week it didn't

The commercial realities pretty much guarantee that you can expect Humax to invest in work to fix the bugs but added features are merely an "unlikely bonus" that there's only an outside possibility of getting. The most likely reason the 9200 will get the "wishlist" items (like chaseplay) is that Humax already have them 80-90% finished but couldn't quite get it working right for the October launch date they were forced to go for (to make Christmas) but it won't cost TOO much extra to finish them off and get them working.

Cliff

Hi Cliff

You are proberly right but what about the cost of developing a new PVR vs extending the lifecycle of an existing unit.

Humax could always just put their next PVR in a slightly different box and emphasise the ‘new’ features.

I’m thinking of the ‘new’ Fusion 200 being basically a Fusion 150 in a different box with a few easy/cheap to produce extras.

Personally, I will be happy if Human fix the bugs and as you say any other changes will be a bonus.

Roger

I think its time to have the final draft of this list.
If their are any advanced ideas we should put them in a new list for when they have fixed the bugs and the current list of software ideas. My final draft is identical except I have made it clearer to see with sections and slightly changed Program Guide part 3.

Humax PVR9200T Software Ideas version 1.4

Most of these ideas are basic user-friendly ideas that are on nearly all other old and new Freeview machines, without them many potential customers will simply buy another manufactures product.

These ideas do not cover anything to do with things copied from PC to Humax.

i button
Has to be pressed twice to get program description = change it to only needing to be pressed once.
Make the UP and Down arrows change the Channel that program description is being displayed
Only Now and Next available = change it to at least a day

i button shortcut, while watching live TV, make the left, right, up and down arrow keys act like the i button has been pressed instead of doing nothing. But when they are pressed again let them do their normal thing so you can navigate.

Channel List button, the current program is only displayed at the moment, would be good to see the next program as well.

Live Buffer (Time Shift)
The following should be options since I assume they will increase Hardrive noise.
1. Live buffer currently only works on one channel at a time = make it work on two at the same time + when changing to another Channel, delete only the first channels buffer.

2. Live Buffer erased while watching a recording = stop it erasing it.

3. When half way through recording a program, make it possible to watch the recording from the beginning before it finishes recording = at the moment you have to be watching the recording live from the beginning.

Program Guide
1. Only 4 Channels displayed at a time = Need 5 or 6

2. Date next to Program Time is a number = need day not number displayed.

3. To find out a Programs Description, the i button currently has to be pressed = make it unnecessary to press the i button by making the program description fit on to the normal program guide screen = not on its own, but also keep the small video screen with the current program in it.

4. CH + - moves the cursor to the last Channel on the menu and then moves the channel to the top = it should instead move the cursor to the Channel after the last Channel on the menu and move it to the top of the menu.

Program Guide Time Bar, currently you have to enter Time Bar mode before the Fast Rewind, Fast Forward, Instant Replay & Commercial Skip buttons work as shortcuts to Time Bar functions. Make them also work when in normal Program Guide = so you do not have to go in to Time Bar mode (don’t have to press the green button).

Find By Genre displays a type of Genre, one channel at a time for the next 7 days, no way of jumping to another channel without scrolling through 7 days of the channel before and the channel before that etc. Change it so it orders it by time and date, not channel

Schedule (Yellow Button in Program Guide menu) should have displayed OK button to Edit

Recording Schedule and Schedule in the Guide menu needs the following changing / adding
1. Turn the RED button in to Delete and display a RED icon to Delete on the screen.

2. Make the OK button go straight in to Edit function

3. Edit Function = Separate Start and End times and put them at the top of the menu

4. Make the Left and Right arrows add and subtract 1min from the Start and End times.

5. If the program scheduled has been edited, keep its name = at the moment it goes blank.

Change the maximum amount of Scheduled Recordings from 20 to 200

Record List and Recorded Program menus
1. Make RED button delete the highlighted programme and display a RED icon to Delete on the screen.

2. Make OK button go straight to EDIT function

3. The name of the recorded program should be the program name half way through the recording, this will stop the program be fore’s name accidentally being used.

4. Would be good to see program description when cursor is on a program, not essential.

5. Program name hard to see in the Record List = change colour to white = only effects Record List menu, not Recorded Programme menu.

Preferences Menu
1. Add the ability for all Scheduled recordings to automatically have 1,2,3,4,5 minutes added to their start and end times.

2. Add the ability for a screen saver / turning the picture blank when left on menus for a certain length of time to stop it burning on to the TV screen. Also apply this rule to pausing and radio.

3. Add the ability to change OK button from acting like the List button and instead act like Play List button.

4. Recording reminders being displayed on screen when a scheduled recording starts
Add the ability to change how long the reminder stays on screen to 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 seconds
The reminder should display the name of the program, the channel its on and its start / end time.

Save the 7 Day EPG guide data so it’s not deleted when in standby mode.

PIP = Make it work when viewing a recording or when recording

Switch Fan off when in Standby if Hardrive is off and box is cold enough

Front Display, Need option to Dim it and to switch it off when on or in standby.

When yellow and blue buttons not being used for something else, make them act the same as Comercial Skip and Instant Replay buttons.

After a power cut, currently the machine powers up and switches the hardrive on for a few seconds, then turns in to standby mode and powers down the hardrive.
Stop hardrive from switching on for the above = unnecessary and could damage or wear it out faster. Of course make sure it switches hardrive on for any recordings.

Copying recordings from Humax to PC = give the file name the correct extension to describe the file format so Windows can work out how to open it.

MP3 = Increase the amount of Hardrive space that can be used to store MP3

I have posted the latest version of my list = the one in the last post, on to the RadioandTelly forum and PVRWorld forum. I have also sent it to Humax.
Please feal free to comment, copy, edit it or do anything you like with it.

Just an idea but would it be a good idea to have it kept at the top of the forum like a sticky or announcment, else it will disapear underneath all the new posts unless people keep replying to it? If you think it should be kept, please notify the people who can keep it at the top.

Here's my suggestions (from the other thread):

1) The Fast Forward/Rewind buttons on the remote should make the EPG go forward/back 2 hours WITHOUT having to bring up the Time Bar. Also, why not let the 'record' button set a reservation while using the time bar.

2) Make one press of OK in the EPG set a 'Reminder' (a pop-up that tells you a program is about to start) and clicking OK switches the unit to that channel, two presses will show a reminder but automatically change to the channel, and three presses sets a reservation/recording.

3) Let the TV/Radio button switch the EPG (or guide) from TV to radio channels (as it does at the moment with the channel 'List' screen).

4) Make the EPG use the "List" button to give a vertical list all of the programs on a selected channel, with time on the left and program name on the right (at the moment the 'List' button isn't used in the guide). At the moment the List button is not used when viewing the EPG.

5) In the "Find Programme by Name" screen, make the red/green/yellow/blue button correspond to the Find/By Genre/Previous/next options (so these were colour coded on the screen). This would save at least 6 key presses every time you wanted to search 'By Genre' or click to the 'Next' page of characters. At the moment the blue button is used to go back to the EPG screen, but the Back button on the remote already performs this function

6) Have an option in the 'Found Programme List' to list by channel number (as it does at the moment) or in chronological order (i.e. in order of broadcast time). This option could use a couple of the coloured buttons for selection, and would help with the 100 entries limit.

sdesign

Why not make your own list based on mine. Simply create a list of additions to mine. I have already emailed Humax and have got an instant response (from a human) = they are looking in to it. I am affraid, if I make any more changes or you start a rival list it will make Humax less likely to listen.
My plan is to make no more changes to my list untill the next software update.

Your last post is below with what I think about it

1) The Fast Forward/Rewind buttons on the remote should make the EPG go forward/back 2 hours WITHOUT having to bring up the Time Bar. Also, why not let the 'record' button set a reservation while using the time bar.

Dosnt my list half cover this
Program Guide Time Bar, currently you have to enter Time Bar mode before the Fast Rewind, Fast Forward, Instant Replay & Commercial Skip buttons work as shortcuts to Time Bar functions. Make them also work when in normal Program Guide = so you do not have to go in to Time Bar mode (don’t have to press the green button).

2) Make one press of OK in the EPG set a 'Reminder' (a pop-up that tells you a program is about to start) and clicking OK switches the unit to that channel, two presses will show a reminder but automatically change to the channel, and three presses sets a reservation/recording.

To complicated for average people (we are not average)

3) Let the TV/Radio button switch the EPG (or guide) from TV to radio channels (as it does at the moment with the channel 'List' screen).

4) Make the EPG use the "List" button to give a vertical list all of the programs on a selected channel, with time on the left and program name on the right (at the moment the 'List' button isn't used in the guide). At the moment the List button is not used when viewing the EPG.

5) In the "Find Programme by Name" screen, make the red/green/yellow/blue button correspond to the Find/By Genre/Previous/next options (so these were colour coded on the screen). This would save at least 6 key presses every time you wanted to search 'By Genre' or click to the 'Next' page of characters. At the moment the blue button is used to go back to the EPG screen, but the Back button on the remote already performs this function

6) Have an option in the 'Found Programme List' to list by channel number (as it does at the moment) or in chronological order (i.e. in order of broadcast time). This option could use a couple of the coloured buttons for selection, and would help with the 100 entries limit.

Dosnt my list half cover this
Find By Genre displays a type of Genre, one channel at a time for the next 7 days, no way of jumping to another channel without scrolling through 7 days of the channel before and the channel before that etc. Change it so it orders it by time and date, not channel

Yep, I see you have 1) and 6) covered.

I still think 2) is a good idea. I miss reminders from Sky. I don't always want to record stuff but would like to select a program for viewing so setting 'reminders', as well as 'reservations', would be good. Just two presses of OK shouldn;t be too complicated.
1 press sets reminder
2 presses sets reservation

sdesign

What you say about Sky makes perfect sence now.
I came from the Thomson Freeview hardrive, so I wanted the Humax to work just like the Thomson.
But I deliberatly ignored my wish since I new it was bad for non Thomson users. The way the Humax does things is different and I think better, remember we have a 160GB hardrive now, it needs to be very, very quick to set a recording. Humax have made some very big user-friendly mistakes and we all seem to agree about what they are and how to fix them.

Just read your ideas again.
Part 3 = If you use favorites this would be no good, I assume most people would use the favorites?
Just incase you did not no, setup your favorites = including radio channels = so TV and Radio are all in your favorite list. Then when in EPG mode select Group and then Favorites, every time you return to the EPG you Favorites will be selected.

You missed my point. The TV/Radio button is used on other screens throughout the 9200T software to switch between TV and Radio. This buttons functionality seems to have been ommitted from the EPG.

For example,
Clicking TV/Radio switch button when watching TV changes the TV to Radio.
Clicking TV/Radio switch button while in 'List' changes the list from TV listings to Radio listings.
Clicking TV//Radio switch button while in 'Playlist' changes it from TV recordings to Radio recordings.

So, it would make logical sense to use the TV/Radio switch button in the EPG to switch from TV to Radio. After all that's what a switch button is for. Yes, you can do it from 'groups' button options (you don't even have to make radio a favourites) but whats the point when we have a TV/Radio switch button

I abandoned the TV/Radio button when I found out that it switched off my Favorites = switches you from Favorites mode to all Channels. I also hated that when in all channels mode, you have to press the TV/Radio button to switch between TV & Radio = if your in TV mode and enter a radio channel it blocks it = you have to press the TV & Radio button to switch in to radio mode = what a pain!

I assume that if you are not using favorites, you have actually edited the main channel list which defeats the object of favorites and causes the problems your having.

My problem i have is that the clock display is really dim when on standby. I like to use the time display but can hardly see it. Any way of making it brighter in standby?
Thanks