Dear Funai: Wish List #1... Our Enduring Dream!
8/25/12 - Japanes language has no English articles "a"/"an"/"the" so I removed those for max. clarity for Japanese readers. I hope it contributes to better understanding on Funai's part, even though it might make for slightly "choppier" reading for us. They also don't have letter "l" (el) so they say and spell "IR braster," for example, while we say and spell "IR blaster" but I couldn't do anything about the hundreds of "els" in this post.
Here's our Wish List of items we'd like to see in our next HDD/DVDR. Scroll down to read items, or click an item in Jump-List to go directly to it. Wishes denied, at least for next SD model, are struck-through. Wishes granted are in red... 20% of original 39 so far.
Funai: Please note two VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY SIMPLE wishes added: #42 and #52.
Jump To:
PRIME-1. KEEP MAKING MDR515 SERIES HDD DVDRs ... Done! 53x Series introduced in Sep 2012,
1. Add Auto-Titles for Timer Rec and Day-of-Week on Timer Programs ... Done-515, but still has rec date on DVDs!
2. More Useful Layout for HDD Title Menu (Rev. 11/5/10)
3. Larger/Faster Main Processor
4. IR Blaster
5. Larger HDD ... 320GB-513 ... 500GB-515
6. 12X DVD Burner
7. Integrated HDTV-type Tuner (very important for ease of use and tuning integrity)
8. Multiple Tuners
9. Bidirectional Coax Passthru Circuit
10. Better Remote ... I like it. Four major corrections still needed.
See pic here for a good Philips design.
11. Remote with Quickly Switchable Codes for Multiple Machines
12. 2nd set of Composite & S-Video In/Out + Headphone Jack
13. Component RGB Video Input
14. DivX and Xvid Playback
15. Double-Layer Disc Recording
16. -RAM Disc Recording/Playback
17. Record DD5.1 Audio to HDD
18. New Icons and Options in HDD Title Menu
19. Dubbing Menu Option for Auto-Finalize
20. Dubbing Menu Option for DVD Auto-Play or Show Menu
21. DELETE Empty Title on DVDs ... Changed to "Empty Space"-515. However, we still want NO "empty" indication in DVD title menu.
22. New Options for Existing Hybrid (Switched) Analog/Digital Tuner
23. Cable Card (CC), USB Port and Tuning Adapter (TA) Capability
24. USB Port
25. "Delete All Chapter Marks" Option for HDD
26. Virtual Editing & Combine Titles on HDD
27. UNDO Command
28. VR-Mode Format for -RW DVDs
29. High-Speed DVD>HDD Dubbing
30. DVD>HDD Dubbing in Std Dubbing Menu
31. ELIMINATE Automatic Preview on End-Cut ... Done-515
32. Only ONE "Are you sure" Dialog To Answer ... Done-515
33. Select Frame and Time-in-Program for Index Pic on HDD
34. More Simple Text Instructions
35. New Options for Autostart Recording (AR)
36. BACKUP Copy of Timer Programs ... Partial-515 gets 1-hr power backup
37. Option to Stop Timer Program Once ... Done-515
38. Higher Audio-Volume for Digital Channels
39. Better Digital Signal-Strength Meter
- - - - - - New Items Added Below - - - - - -
40. Add SATA Connector on Back of Case for External Drive
41. Add High Def (HD) Recording in HDD/BRD/DVD Unit
42. Add Ability to Set Anamorphic Flag (Bits) on Recordings ... VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY SIMPLE!
43. Auto Clock Using NIST WWVB Atomic Clock Signal
44. Ability to Copy Titles from One HDD to Another HDD
45. Make HDD "Dockable" in Recorder
46. Allow Sequential Playback of HDD Titles
47. If We Can't Have #11, Best Solution, How About This
48. Discrete Commands for ON, OFF and INPUT in Remote Command Set
49. Add Chapter Marking During Recording or Playback and Add Chapter Hiding on HDD
50. Reduce Time-Gap Between Start of Finalize and Next Timer Rec Program
51. Electronic Program Guide (EPG)
52. Add Title Size in MB to Info Displayed in Title Menu ... VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY SIMPLE!
PRIME-1. KEEP MAKING MDR515 SERIES HDD DVDRs
Just in case Funai decides not to develop any new HDD-DVD recorders or upgrade existing ones for items in this list,
please continue to make MDR515 Series, remote and replacement parts (burners, fans, etc.) for U.S. market. It's Funai's
best recorder to date and is extremely nice unit for notoriously chintzy (cheap) U.S. consumers... great value for low price! It's come long way since Philips 3575 and Mag H2080MW8 in 2007.
Of course, we would be very pleased if you could still incorporate as many of our other Wishes in future builds as your time and resources permit!
More important to Funai, 515 Series is in market all by itself! Funai is sole supplier of HDD-DVD recorders with digital tuners for use in North America and has been since 2007.
Many Reviewers of previous versions of Funai HDD DVDRs have questioned why they never heard of them and why they're NOT in any Walmart stores where they would sell better just by being VISIBLE.
And you can't rely on my #1 "Helpful" Reviews since my previous Reviews of 513 and 515, with 850 and 750 Helpful votes, were DELETED by rogue Walmart employee (since FIRED!). Originally, he hoped his bogus "No" votes would make difference, but when "Yes" votes got to 850 and 750, he just couldn't take it anymore!
To get more National, "directed" exposure, Funai might want to "advertise" existence of this thread and have Customer Service agents suggest this thread as "User Resource" with appropriate "disclaimers" like Walmart site has in its Q&A Exchange section?
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1. Add Auto-Titles for Timer Rec ... Added to 515 but still has rec date on DVDs!
Add an entry box in Timer Programming menu for "Program Name" (like "CSI") and transfer that Name to recorded HDD titles. This would
replace current 1st line in recorded title.
Current HDD Title:
- 1st line = RecDate - RecStartTime - Ch - RecMode.
- 2nd line = RecStartTime - (Length) - RecDate - Ch - RecMode.
Desired HDD Title:
- 1st line = Name entered by user in Timer Programming Menu OR name entered by user in Edit > Change Title Name menu. If user does not enter custom title in either place, default to same as current 1st line.
- 2nd line = Same except add day-of-week.
12/23/10 - Added note: Add day-of-week to timer program listing as well as on 2nd line of recorded titles.
For DVD titles, copy 1st line from HDD titles, and delete date that currently appears in 2nd line of DVD title, leaving only Rec Length on 2nd line. Date is bad for people who copy home movies to DVD, where 2nd line will show as today's rec date but DVD title is "Our Vacation atBeach in 1975."
Current DVD Title:
- 1st line = Either same as on HDD OR custom title if changed in Edit menu.
- 2nd line = RecDate - Length.
Desired DVD Title:
- 1st line = Same as Desired HDD 1st line.
- 2nd line = Length (only).
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2. More Useful Layout for HDD Title Menu (Rev. 11/5/10)
Make HDD recorded title page display show number of SMALLER index pics PLUS title for each of those, all at same time. Long titles could be truncated (shortened) just for that title menu page to save space and fit many titles on page. Again, goal would be to allow user to see as many title NAMES as possible on one page. With smaller index pics, you could line them up on left and have titles on right of each index pic, or some other arrangement. I think we still need index pic for manual recordings that won't have custom title, so cannot get rid of pics altogether?
Also, add "Viewing Options" for HDD titles. Allow users to create Folders for assembling genres, and allow them to arrange their recorded titles for viewing in different ways: alphabetical, by rec date, by genre, list-only (no index pic), etc... similar or same as on Philips DVDR3455.
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3. Larger/Faster Main Processor
But, obviously, only if needed to
quickly handle all things users want in U.S., as listed below. Users appreciate quick response to operating commands and "bad-mouth" units that are "sluggish"... we're impatient society.
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4. IR Blaster
To change channel on cable/sat STB for coordinated timer rec programs. This is CRITICAL need for cable or satellite STB users, so they can coordinate timer rec programs with their STBs... ESPECIALLY CRITICAL to
cable STB users since U.S. cablecos are "locking down" their channels so STB is needed for all but local broadcast (OTA) channels.
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5. LARGER HDD . . . Increased to 320GB in 513/533, 500GB in 515/535, and 1TB in 537,
Large, low-power, quiet 1TB HDD. By the way, thanks for making HDD in these units so easily replaceable, upgradeable, and portable to other machines without reformatting... excellent feature not only among SDTV DVDRs, but also in comparison to more-restricted or nonexistent HDD expansion and usability options in cable, sat and standalone DVR world.
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6. 12X DVD Burner
For high-speed dub of ~8 min. vs current 16 min. for 2-hour SP rec mode title(s). And thanks, again, for making OEM DVD drive easily replaceable, like HDD, as well as making it reasonably priced ($67.99),
as described here.
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7. Integrated HDTV-type Tuner (very important for ease of use and tuning integrity)
Like in HDTVs instead of hybrid (switched analog/digital) used now... one that allows us to surf both analog and digital channels in sequence, without "switch." Integrated HDTV-like tuner would also allow us to delete single digital subchannels that we don't watch from CH+/- button memory, rather than entire channel group. Then most users would be able to get rid of many weather and other less desirable channels often comingled with good subchannels, esp. by many cable systems.
This causes MAJOR FRUSTRATION for people who are used to cable boxes and modern HDTV tuners, i.e., virtually everyone!
Switched hybrid tuner like in Mag HDD/DVDRs also has more problems with cable-QAM channels and their PSIP data that cablecos seem unable to maintain properly. Integrated HDTV tuners handle virtual channels and mapping better than hybrid tuner, which can exhibit "interference" problems from duplicate analog/digital channels or duplicate digital/digital channels,
as described here.
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8. Multiple Tuners
So one machine can record multiple channels at same time. Our OEM HDDs are designed to handle 10 video streams at same time, with appropriate (high) cache, so should be no problem hardware wise. Two or three tuners would greatly benefit MANY people who often record their favorite shows on major broadcast networks simultaneously in prime time, which now takes 2-3 in-line recorders. Autorecord could still buffer since tuner ops would have to be able to record all 2-3 tuners at same time. Could reduce to 1- or 2-hrs per tuner if that helps? Pause Live TV should be OK since it only affects what you're watching at time and, as long as you had SOME background recording buffer, we would be much better off with multiple tuners!
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9. Bidirectional Coax Passthru Circuit
For 2-way communication with service providers so users can order PPV or VOD thru coax with their DVDR 1st on coax. This allows them to tune any clear-QAM channels without resorting to splitter and suffering needless -3.7 or even -7.4dB reduction in signal strength. Also, using splitter denies STB added benefit of DVDR's amplification of incoming signal. However, don't lose amplification coax circuit currently provides?
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10. Better Remote ... New remote for 515, NC003UD.
The new remote for the 515 is better and worse. Four major corrections still needed:
- Number buttons should be at bottom so more-widely used play and edit functions are closer to top and middle of remote..
- Display and Menu buttons should be switched back to same as 2160/2160A/513 remotes, which had Display below arrows, not Menu. Also, Menu button should be named "Setup" like those earlier remotes.
- CH+/- and Skip/Replay buttons should be narrower so Play/Pause/Stop buttons can fit between them. Or put them in a 2nd circle, like this excellent Philips universal remote .
- It's too large and too thick. It should be smaller and thinner so it's easier to handle for playback and long editing sessions. See pic in link above for a Philips design that's smaller, thinner and better laid out.
Ideal remote would have:
a. Better "peanut" design (see Tivo discussion below).
b. Closed-caption (CC) button.
c. "Last" button (last channel).
d. TV volume button.
e. Chapter button (to add Chapter Mark when pressed).
f. Backlighting for buttons.
g. "Code" button for operating individual machines in multi-machine setup, as described in next item in this list.
See pic here for a good Philips design.
As far as better design, one that people seem to really like is Tivo "peanut-shaped" remote,
shown here (click "See larger image"). Tivo remote's peanut shape helps designer create buttons shaped to fit and divides remote into "sections" user can FEEL in dark (top, center and bottom). Each section has specific buttons user can remember easily. Sectioned design also allows different shapes for buttons as additional sensory clue. Tivo remote also has back-lit keys, which are sign of "refinement" and "user-friendliness." CC button on remote should allow you to select each CC type in sequence with each button press. You may be able to confine this to DIGITAL CC since most if not all analog will be gone by time you produce this "barn-burner" unit.
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11. Remote with Quickly Switchable Codes for Multiple Machines
Note: Implementing this Wish would eliminate need for Wish #47.
We REALLY need "switchable" remote for operating multiple Funai-built recorders of same model in same entertainment system. This is "enhanced" version of remote codes in current video equipment where you set machine
with embedded menu and its remote to specific control number so they're mated pair, which keeps remote from interfering with other machines and excludes other remotes form interfering with its mated machine. HOWEVER, now that remote can ONLY operate machines with that same code embedded in their OS, and it'll operate them simultaneously, which is what we need to avoid.
Enhancement needed is same embedded menu to set machine to specific code #, PLUS "Code" button/switch on remote that you can QUICKLY press/switch to set it to immediately operate same-numbered machine. This concept is similar to
Tivo remote described here.
This way, once you menu-set multiple machines with their unique code #s (only needed one time), you can then quickly set REMOTE to one of those code numbers using "Code" + "number" key combination so it operates only that same code-numbered machine. Programming code should allow ANY NUMBER since it's only program instruction to "match numbers." Some people already have six units and would have more if there were simple, code-key combo to allow virtually instant switching between units! User would also need way to identify which code number is set in remote, such as pressing Code button (without number) and currently set code is displayed either on remote or on TV.
Here's manual for JVC DVD player with 3 remote code IDs, pg 23.
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12. 2nd set of Composite & S-Video In/Out + Headphone Jack
1. 2nd Composite Out on back, with separate audio L/R.
2. 2nd S-Video Out on back, with separate audio L/R.
3. New headphone jack, front, back or both.
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13. Component RGB Video Input
With L/R audio so we can send our STB/DVR titles to recorder in widescreen instead of forced-letterbox most of them output thru composite or S-Video. Many current cable and satellite STBs and DVRs auto-format any output from their composite or S-Video outputs with letterbox (LB) bars (top and bottom), ruining widescreen programs for full-frame viewing on 16:9 HDTVs. They don't LB output from Component since that and HDMI are for viewing on main HDTV. Having Component RGB inputs, with audio L/R, would allow recording in true 16:9 WS aspect without artificial LB bars and "ruined" picture quality (PQ) since most people zoom such picture, which reduces PQ.
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14. DivX and Xvid Playback
Like Philips 3575/3576.
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15. Double-Layer Disc Recording
Ability to record on double-layer (DL) DVD discs.
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16. -RAM Disc Recording/Playback
If possible, add ability to record or at least play -RAM DVD discs.
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17. Record DD5.1 Audio to HDD
Add ability to record DD5.1 audio, AT LEAST TO HDD. (If it could also be dubbed to DVD, even better.) DD5.1 on HDD would be "killer" feature and unique in std def. recorder market! DD5.1 also on DVD would be almost unbelievable, even tho DVD standard has always allowed it!
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18. New Icons and Options in HDD Title Menu
a. Add "Resume" icon on index pic for title partially watched, like "New" indication for title never watched before. That way, people would know at glance which titles they've never watched ("New"), watched partially ("Resume"), and watched entirely (blank index pic with NO playback icon). With current method of only "New" and "blank" index pics, you don't know if you left blank ones in Resume position or watched them to end.
b. Keep "New" icon on titles just Edited but not watched yet.
c. Add an option to mark Titles as "New" again after watching them. This is for multi-person households where one family member watches a Title at a different time than another member, such as one who works and is only able to watch at night or on weekends while the other stay-at-home member watches during the day.
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19. Dubbing Menu Option for Auto-Finalize
Add option to Auto-Fiinalize when dub is complete, like dialog: "Do you want to Finalize this disc when dubbing is complete? Yes/No."
Make "No" default. (Retain Manual-Finalize op in theDisc Edit menu for those times you answer "No" to Auto-Finalize cuz you plan to add more to that disc.) You can eliminate current Auto-Finalize options in Recording menu since they're essentially useless.
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20. Dubbing Menu Option for DVD Auto-Play or Show Menu
Set bit(s) to Auto-Play 1st Ttitle or Show Menu, when dub is complete, using dialog like: "Do you want this DVD to [checkbox] Auto-Play or [checkbox] Show Menu. Use checkmark to set appropriate playback option.
Make Auto-Play default but user-switchable to "Show Menu" by pressing Disc Menu button once before or during playback.
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21. DELETE Empty Title on DVDs . . . Changed to "Empty Space" in 515. However, we still want NO "empty" indication in DVD title menu.
Make "Empty Title" AND "Empty Space" NOT show up in Disc Menu... its technical purpose is confusing and just not understood in U.S. NO user wants that Empty Title/Space in their disc menus. They can see disc-remaining time in INFO/DISPLAY screen. Options might include:
a. If technically possible, make deleting the Empty Title/Space indication in disc menus a function of the FINALIZE process.
b. Add "Delete Empty Title/Space and Finalize?" option to
Disc Edit menu. Making that dual-purpose option would be smart since Deleting Empty Title/Space currently fills up disc by Overwriting it, which is real-time operation taking long time, even at HQ rec mode, if there's lots of space left. If this is done, make sure to add note that "Answering Yes will prevent more recordings to this disc" or something like that.
c. Add Yes/No dialog in
Dubbing menu(s) to "Delete Empty Title/Space" after that dubbing process. This would still have to have note that Deleting Empty Title/SPace will fill disc so no more can be added. It also leaves Finalizing as separarate step, so not as user-friendly as a or b.
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22. New Options for Existing Hybrid (Switched) Analog/Digital Tuner
If you can't include integrated HDTV tuner per #7 above, add two options for existing tuner:
a. Option for Manual Add/Delete of All Digital Channels - Add option in Manual Channel Preset menu to Add or Delete ALL digital channels at once. This will help people trying to find their cableco's digital QAM channels as it plays "hide-channel" games, and our switched analog/digital tuner can't find subchannels if major group doesn't have XX.1 subchannel. Cablecos often start group deeper than that, such as XX.2, XX.10 or even XX.35. User could select "Add All" option rather than manually entering each of 135 channel numbers and moving checkmark from Delete to Add, and vice versa. This turns out to be fool-proof way to discover all tunable digital channels and end up with CH+/- memory of just those viable channels. Integrated HDTV-type tuner that finds and memorizes ALL channels in sequence, regardless of subchannel position, eliminates need for this.
b. Option for Auto Channel Preset > Cable > Digital. - Add Cable > Digital-Only channel preset option so people can scan in ONLY their digital cable-QAM channels to prevent "analog interference" in hybrid tuner system... which could be solved by incorporating #7 above, Integrated HDTV tuner.
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23. Cable Card (CC), USB Port and Tuning Adapter (TA) Capability
We need a2-way capable solution to current cable-company push towards both scrambled digital programming (requiring cable card) and Switched Digital Video (SDV) (requiring USB-connected TA for required 2-way communication).
Cable-card capability is absolutely ESSENTIAL as cablecos begin to scramble all channels except th"Local Broadcast" channels, which are required by US law to remain unscrambled. These are channels you can receive via antenna, so basically HD versions of ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX and PBS plus some others.
Tuning Adapters are secondary essential and result from cablecos using more Switched Digital Video (SDV). Since this is requirement specific to U.S.-cable company subscribers,
here's 2008 Gizmodo article with basic info on Motorola and Cisco TA's arriving at CableLabs for testing and approval. Article has good 2-paragraph summary:
"Tuning adapter will enable TiVo Series3, TiVo HD DVRs, and certain other one-way digital cable ready consumer electronic devices that utilize CableCARDs(TM) to access digital cable channels delivered using switched digital technology.
"Switched digital technology enables cable operators to transmit individual channels to customers on as-needed basis rather than broadcasting all channels to all subscribers all time. Switched digital technology provides more flexibility for cable operators to utilize network capacity to deliver interactive digital services, high-definition (HD) channels, broadband Internet and digital phone service. Tuning Adapter is intended to work on any Unidirectional Digital Cable Ready Product (UDCP) that has USB connector and necessary firmware."
Here's pdf data sheet on Cisco TA.
So, any new DVD recorder being designed today will have to consider ways to descramble normally delivered cableco signals (Cable Card), as well as tune SDV channels stored in "node"... and make that design as future-proof as possible with alternative design features?
Then there's "tru2way" ?
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24. USB Port
Like on Philips 3575/3576 for music and jpg pics. If possible, also allow us to load video to HDD and get video off HDD thru USB port to memory stick and/or direct to our computer (for non-copyrighted stuff, of course, like our home movies and such). Any USB port should also be usable for Tuning Adapter (TA) described above, even if it means having two USB ports, one for TA's and one for normal video/audio stuff.
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25. "Delete All Chapter Marks" Option for HDD
In Edit > Chapters menu, add option to "Delete All Chapter Marks" on thHDD (currently only available for DVDs). Then also, another option to "Add Chapters at XX min. Interval." This would simplify task of fixing chapter-related problems, like when high-speed dub moves them too close to each other and they cause playback problems.
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26. Virtual Editing & Combine Titles on HDD
Add virtual editing in Edit menu, like Funai-built Toshiba D-R550. Also like Panasonic's "Playlists" and Pioneer's "Copylists" which allow user to assemble titles for copying (dubbing) AND for editing, if desired, in "virtual" world, leaving User Data (recorded titles) intact.
Virtual editing allows all normal edit functions PLUS one important action: Merging/Combining titles. This means you can combine multiple titles into single virtual title. All chapter marks in each title are retained, and new chapter mark is inserted at each combine point.
Pioneer Copylist and its editing instructions are maintained in memory until another Copylist is assembled that overwrites or takes place of previous Copylist. Panasonic allows its users to assemble
99 Playlists and maintain them for future use. Both keep actual titles intact.
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27. UNDO Command
Another option needed is "UNDO" command, hopefully not just for last edit but for "last 10" or as many as possible. It would have to remember every edit made to title in edit session so you could keep pressing UNDO back to Edit menu?
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28. VR-Mode Format for -RW DVDs
Also like Funai-built Toshiba D-R550. This could allow people to offload titles to them and high-speed dub them back to HDD... assuming you'll change DVD>HDD dubbing to allow high-speed dub, as mentioned in next item.
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29. High-Speed DVD>HDD Dubbing
Like Pioneer DVR-640 "Disc Backup" op, except copy on HDD should be retained like any other title. Even more-restrictive Pio 640 "Disc Backup" would be very useful feature, allowing people to high-speed dub copy of existing, finalized disc to HDD so more copies could be made, also in high speed. Pio 640 system creates complete, finalized disc from Backup copy, lossless mirror image of original.
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30. DVD>HDD Dubbing in Std Dubbing Menu
Switch single-title-at-a-time D.Dubbing operation to standard menu option in Dubbing menu under existing "DVD>HDD" option. Allow user to ADD titles to DVD>HDD Dub menu from Unfinalized discs (as it is now), but ADD capability to do whole-disc, high-speed DVD>HDD dub from non-copy-protected
Finalized discs as in Pioneer DVR-640.
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31. ELIMINATE Automatic Preview on End-Cut . . . Done for 515
When doing Scene Delete on end of title. It's only Scene Delete that has
automatic Preview and has confused virtually everyone who makes end-cut cuz it shows how end will look if played back to beginning... something THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! People logically think they missed their mark, panic and try to stop auto-playback. However, it'd be nice to include procedures for making Front- and End-Cuts in next manual...
see these instructions for guide.
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32. Only ONE "Are you sure" Dialog To Answer . . . Done for 515
Instead of two. Some people get really annoyed by too much concern over their potential errors. They'd rather be "hosed" than "annoyed" so just let them screw themselves if they want!.
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33. Select Frame and Time-in-Program for Index Pic on HDD
Add option in Timer Programming menu to allow user to SELECT at what point OS picks frame for Index Pic: at start, 30 sec, 1 min., 2 min., or 3 min. after rec start (or similar timing options), Also, add Edit menu option for user to change Index Picture
on HDD (as it is for DVD now), and make that HDD pic transferrable to any DVD dubs.
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34. More Simple Text Instructions
In on-screen operating menus.
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35. New Options for Autostart Recording (AR)
a. Add Setup menu for AR with: (1) option to turn AR OFF or ON, and (2) rec mode selection for AR so users can select rec mode they want it to record at.
b. Make DTV Display menu
NOT recordable in 6-hour buffer, same as analog/TV Display menu.
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36. BACKUP Copy of Timer Programs ... Partial for 515, gets 1-hr power backup
On HDD or, better, mem-stick/flash-type device not requiring machine power, with "Restore" option when clock/timer are lost due to power outage. At least put it in less-volatile backup power component than where clock settings are stored. I'm thinking you could have "Save" button in Timer Programming menu to press after setting timer programs or changing them, which would automatically store
at least backup of thtimer programs so, if power went out or you had to reboot machine by pulling power, you would have option to "recall" last-saved programs from that backup location. This would save lot of work for some people who have set up MANY timer programs! Longer power backup component/system would also be nice upgrade.
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37. Option to Stop Timer Program Once ... Done for 515
Timer programming menu that allows you to stop repeat program one time, like next week, by pressing STOP or some such on that timer, or just add menu option to stop one time.
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38. Higher Audio-Volume for Digital Channels
Improve audio volume thru digital tuner and line inputs to HDD. Audio thru tuner and on recordings can often, but not always,* be significantly lower than straight TV audio level when viewing
digital channels and on recordings made from them. HDTVs produce higher volume on same channels. Analog audio is fine.
*Lately I've noticed my refurb 3575 sometimes has louder digital audio than my Vizio LCD HDTV... not sure what's going on with broadcast digital audio these days?
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39. Better Digital Signal-Strength Meter
That includes Quality as well as Strength,
like this one, plus SNR, errors, etc. to allow more precise aiming of outdoor antennas.
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- - - - - - New Items Added - - - - - -
40. Add eSATA Connector on Back of Case for External Drive
See Item #45 for even better idea. Add eSATA connector to back of case so users can attach external drive more conveniently. It would be OUTSTANDING if you could also make FW able to address both internal and external drive, separately. That is, add recording option to select drive to record to, and playback option for which drive you want to list titles for and play. Make external drive FW-addressable up to 1TB (or more) for people who want to upgrade their HDD as they're doing now.
If that's "too ambitious" (no matter how much "love" and extra $$$ that would bring you), at least help us "externalize" HDDs
as described here. People who want to externalize multiple HDDs for similar "dock-and-play" system have to open case, remove internal HDD, and adapt cables/connectors so they end outside case with SATA connector attached to enclosure or HDD docking station. This requires them to find way to create opening in back of case to run SATA cable outside box. You could make it MUCH easier for them if you had something so simple as open hole in back with rubber plug and grommet around edge (large enough for eSATA end connector to fit through), or perforating small rectangular section in back panel that they could punch out, or ... ?
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41. Add High Def (HD) Recording in HDD/BRD/DVD Unit
Many would like model that records in High Definition (HD) on 1TB HDD, with FW that allows user to upgrade HDD to 2TB or more.
However, since Funai already
has Blu-ray Disc (BRD) recorder technology that can also record to DVD discs in production for Japanese market, why not combine HDD with BDR/DVD burner? This would be "ultimate" recorder anywhere in world!
Having choice of BRD
or DVD burning in same recorder would satisfy EVERYONE who wants removable media for their "precious memories"... they can weigh their options on media cost and availability of playback devices for either media and choose one that's best for them!
This might not be model that adheres to your "build to low-price-point" practice, but members here would be willing to pay more for more capable and full-featured recorder.
HDD/BDR/DVD recorder would be totally UNIQUE product for N.A. market! Funai would have market to itself so product could hopefully be priced right for both affordability and profitability, and everybody would be happy!
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42. Add Ability to Set Anamorphic Flag (Bits) on Recordings ... VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY SIMPLE!
Allow users to set anamorphic flag on recordings so their aspect can be changed depending on TV they're played back on using player's TV Aspect setting (like commercial movies). Most notable need: flag (bits) to allow player to letterbox 16:9 recording for 4:3 TV.
Since this involves only adding a couple of bits to a recording's instructions, it would seem pretty easy to do with an "Anamorphic" option in either the Dubbing menu (apply as part of dubbing) or the Disc Edit menu (apply after dubbing).
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43. Auto Clock Using NIST WWVB Atomic Clock Signal
Change Auto Clock synchronization to passive system like Atomic Clocks have in North America, which synchronize their time daily from
WWVB Atomic Clock time signal transmitted by U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), located in Fort Collins, Colorado. No more channel searches so no chance to find bad or "rogue" signal that makes some DVDRS go crazy!
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44. Ability to Copy Titles from One HDD to Another HDD
Some alternatives for copying titles from old HDD to new HDD that would make do-it-yourself (DIY) upgrading to larger HDDs much easier:
a. Software program that we could run on a PC to copy all required title data from HDD removed from unit to new HDD to replace that original HDD. This would save people long time needed to copy titles from old HDD to DVDs first, then dubbing those titles back to new HDD. This would not require any new FW or hardware expense.
b. Tell us how recordings are stored on disc so that someone here could write software program to copy titles from HDD to HDD. This also would not require any new FW or hardware expense.
c. Absolute best: Add FW and output port for copying HDD titles to HDD of computer so they can be saved in their "native" format for purposes of either creating DVDs in computer or copying them to new or upgraded (higher-capacity) HDD user wants to install, maybe in external system of multiple HDDs as our
Pioneer #5 did here. Some of what's needed is explained
here.
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45. Make HDD "Dockable" in Recorder
This would be instead of Item #40 above. Make HDD internal connection like inside of hard drive dock so users can insert HDD to play or record, remove from dock and install another HDD, etc.,
similar to this Dune Base 3.0 Player. Here's
description of that player.
Funai could also sell replaceable HDDs. If made in different capacities (320, 500, 640, 1tb, etc.), I believe it would satisfy everyone. For ease of storage, HDDs should be packaged similarly to external HDD with case/cover for off-line protection or case/cover should be sold separately.
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46. Allow Sequential Playback of HDD Titles
Add to FW sequential Playback of HDD titles, like way DVD titles auto-play from one to tnext with only slight pause. This could be similar "auto-play" feature for HDD?
Better yet and maybe easier to implement, add "HDD Title Auto-Play" menu/op where user could select which HDD titles he/she wanted to play and in what order.
This would be used by many for unattended auto-copying of HDD titles to HDD of another Funai DVDR without having to "babysit" machines and start/stop each title individually.
This would be used for (1) upgrading to higher-capacity HDD and you haven't watched or dubbed all titles on old HDD yet, (2) segregating HDD titles into "genres" on larger- or smaller-capacity HDDs.
This would be ESPECIALLY GREAT in combination with "dockable HDDs" suggested in #45 above!
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47. Don't Let Remote Control PLAY and OPEN/CLOSE Buttons Turn Unit ON
IF WE CAN'T HAVE WISH #11, BEST SOLUTION, HOW ABOUT THIS:
On next remote control, either (1) do not program PLAY and Open/Close buttons to turn unit ON, or (2) give users option to disable those buttons from turning unit on, with disabling being preferred option.
Multiple-unit users need to have only Standby/On button turn unit ON. This will go long way in allowing people to use multiple machines that don't have discrete codes, like Funai's, to be operated without operating ALL units in stack by pressing PLAY or Open/Close, things we who have multiple units do all time. With no play-mode buttons able to power units on OR, better yet, those buttons disabled by user in Setup menu, we could turn one unit on manually on front panel, then operate ALL ops on that unit
without turning another unit on. (Someone has even accidentally deleted HDD titles "in blind" on
multiple units he had ON at same time after Playing on one of them.)
However, this makes life more difficult for universal-remote users. Since these DVDRs have no discrete ON command, they have to program their remotes to use PLAY to turn their units ON. See next Wish, #48, for that.
As Poll shows so far, users here are split almost evenly between eliminating PLAY as ON command and leaving it as is (% numbers shown in Poll are wrong for comparison purposes).
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48. Discrete Commands for ON, OFF and INPUT in Remote Command Set
Discrete ON: remote command to power ON unit if it is currently OFF, and leave it ON if it's already ON.
Discrete OFF: remote command to power OFF unit if it is currently ON, and leave it OFF if it's already OFF.
INPUT: remote command to select specific input (each of inputs on specific model, including L1, L2, L3 (DV) and USB, SD, etc. if applicable in future units).
With discrete ON and OFF commands, there would be no need for PLAY or (Open/Close) to turn unit ON... universal remote users would then have code that they could program to turn their units ON instead of using PLAY command as noted in Wish #47 above.
Each remote command does not have to have button assigned to it. As long it is provided in remote code command set, then it can be used to program universal remotes to perform function.
No "teaching" is needed for most universal remotes such as URC, RCA, UEI, and Harmony. Discrete ON and OFF are very commonly provided by late model devices such as DVD player, DVDR, DVR, AVR. These are simplest code to add to remote code set.
Funai does not need to add new remote code set to do this. ("New" code set is for controlling multiple units.) They can just add to existing one already provided, and use updated set on new models. For 2160, 2160A, 513 and 515, FW update would easily give us this added capability.
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49. Add Chapter Marking During Recording or Playback and Add Chapter Hiding on HDD
Add ability to set chapter marks with remote button while recording or playing back. Also add ability to Hide Chapters on HDD. This will allow people to mark commercials or other unwanted material with Chapter Mark on each end during recording or playback, then Hide those chapters in Edit so they don't show up in dubbed copies. This gets rid of commercials, etc. w/o using Scene Delete ops.
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50. Reduce Time-Gap Between Start of Finalize and Next Timer Rec Program
Reduce time-gap required between start of DVD Finalize op and start of next timer rec program from 1-hour to 15 minutes. My tests indicate that
longest time needed for
slowest combo of a 3575, DVD-RW and 10-sec recording is
8½ minutes.
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51. Electronic Program Guide (EPG)
A stable and reliable Electronic Program Guide for searching for TV programs and selecting them for recording. If Funai does not want to develop a custom EPG for this machine, an ideal "prepackaged" EPG is available from
Tribune Media Services, which supplies the EPG for Tivo, ReplayTV, Channel Master TV (CM-7400), and others.
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52. Add Title Size in MB to Info Displayed in Title Menu ... VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY SIMPLE!
Currently, users have a hard time figuring which titles will fit on a DVD using high-speed dub (HSD) because they only have Title RUN TIME to work with, yet the Dub menu calculates fit by total size in MB (4424MB max,) If users could ALSO see a Title's size in MB, they coyuld do the simple addition BEFORE they take the time to Add titles to the Dub menu, only then to find out they miscalculated the total MB of the Titles they Added.
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