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I was willing to give the "Pause commercials" a good, open-minded try. Now I've tried it and I have this feedback for ReplayTV, Inc.
Persistent, insistent, aggressive, and rude. It keeps coming back - first after 20 seconds, then every 2 minutes. No matter how many times you press Exit, it waits 2 minutes, then comes right back. No matter how many times...
Conclusion:
- The current implementation is Supremely User Un-Friendly: There's no way to Disable it.
- Compared to a Telemarketer: at least the Telemarketer has enough sense to stay away for the rest of the evening if you say "No, go away." Not so with this feature.
- Superficially I had wondered "Why are folks complaining? Just press Exit and it goes away, right?" Today my viewing was interrupted for several minutes. At 20 seconds, the commercial-burn-in screen popped up, so I pressed Exit and kept working. Minutes later, passing by again, I pressed Exit again. Finally, after 8 minutes, I had pressed Exit four times! And: still it won't disable. Won't listen. That's just strangely irritating in a consumer electronics product. (PVR? Or... CVR? - where "C" stands for "Corporate" rather than "Personal.")
- It's a burn-in device, inducing burn-in like the "Mute" indicator which burned a yellow rectangle into my friend Joe's projection TV. This feature displays a high contrast image, uninvited, and doesn't change if left alone, just stays put. Quoting from ReplayTV's own manual:
"Screen burn in. ...Projection TVs are the most susceptible to screen burn in. To prevent this, don't leave the Channel Guide, or any other screen displayed when you don't need to use them. ... To dismiss the Pause on-screen image from your TV screen and keep a show paused, press the EXIT button on the remote control."
- Finally - highly discontent (are you listening, designers?), I'm lookin' for keystroke workarounds: / Switch to "live" mode? / Press Play for slow-mo and try to remember where I left it? / Turn OFF the ReplayTV, thank you? // The point is: why should I have to hunt. ReplayTV gave me a button called "Pause." I just wish it would.
I ask ReplayTV to redesign this with a little sensitivity to the very "burn-in" issue they warn about in their manual. This screen pops up, persistently and won't go away. PLEASE: give it a timer, make it cycle, use less contrasty images, vary the images more - and for god's sake let the consumer turn it off with an extra keystroke or two, if they are so motivated. That's just the same level of courtesy a telemarketer would provide, after all, when he or she invades your home.
Some amount of energy went into designing this feature. Just throw in a little more. Thanks.
Persistent, insistent, aggressive, and rude. It keeps coming back - first after 20 seconds, then every 2 minutes. No matter how many times you press Exit, it waits 2 minutes, then comes right back. No matter how many times...
Conclusion:
- The current implementation is Supremely User Un-Friendly: There's no way to Disable it.
- Compared to a Telemarketer: at least the Telemarketer has enough sense to stay away for the rest of the evening if you say "No, go away." Not so with this feature.
- Superficially I had wondered "Why are folks complaining? Just press Exit and it goes away, right?" Today my viewing was interrupted for several minutes. At 20 seconds, the commercial-burn-in screen popped up, so I pressed Exit and kept working. Minutes later, passing by again, I pressed Exit again. Finally, after 8 minutes, I had pressed Exit four times! And: still it won't disable. Won't listen. That's just strangely irritating in a consumer electronics product. (PVR? Or... CVR? - where "C" stands for "Corporate" rather than "Personal.")
- It's a burn-in device, inducing burn-in like the "Mute" indicator which burned a yellow rectangle into my friend Joe's projection TV. This feature displays a high contrast image, uninvited, and doesn't change if left alone, just stays put. Quoting from ReplayTV's own manual:
"Screen burn in. ...Projection TVs are the most susceptible to screen burn in. To prevent this, don't leave the Channel Guide, or any other screen displayed when you don't need to use them. ... To dismiss the Pause on-screen image from your TV screen and keep a show paused, press the EXIT button on the remote control."
- Finally - highly discontent (are you listening, designers?), I'm lookin' for keystroke workarounds: / Switch to "live" mode? / Press Play for slow-mo and try to remember where I left it? / Turn OFF the ReplayTV, thank you? // The point is: why should I have to hunt. ReplayTV gave me a button called "Pause." I just wish it would.
I ask ReplayTV to redesign this with a little sensitivity to the very "burn-in" issue they warn about in their manual. This screen pops up, persistently and won't go away. PLEASE: give it a timer, make it cycle, use less contrasty images, vary the images more - and for god's sake let the consumer turn it off with an extra keystroke or two, if they are so motivated. That's just the same level of courtesy a telemarketer would provide, after all, when he or she invades your home.
Some amount of energy went into designing this feature. Just throw in a little more. Thanks.
Joined
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866 Posts
On my computer, which is always on, I just turn off the monitor when not in use. Is that not practical for projection screens? So far the pause ads don't bother me a bit, well except for the wording. Perhaps add the word "Image" to the end of the phrase?
Joined
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423 Posts
I don't see it has a big problem. Pausing for long periods of time is an infrequent thing. If it's going to be on the screen for a long period just turn off the projector.
It's no worse than the original pause method which had a blue bar across the bottom of the screen.
I personally don't see why people have a problem with the ads in general. The copying something off of the screen is the 1st example I've seen where it might be a problem but being able to get rid of it for 2 minutes by pressing Exit seems like a reasonable solution.
It's no worse than the original pause method which had a blue bar across the bottom of the screen.
I personally don't see why people have a problem with the ads in general. The copying something off of the screen is the 1st example I've seen where it might be a problem but being able to get rid of it for 2 minutes by pressing Exit seems like a reasonable solution.
I have a small question on these pause screen banner ads.
first I don't even have 3.0 yet but would like to know if there is a way or is it possible for Replay to move these from the pause during a movie or show and put them where it does the most good .. Hmm like after you watch a show and it goes to the main blue screen before going back to live TV ?
I have seen that damn blue screen too many times when I wake up after falling asleep to a movie being replayed. So much in fact now I don't even use this machine on my big TV any more. I am too afraid of that burn in.
Also how many of you guy's feel that this is a better place ?
and if not, Why...
Is it possible for Replay Mike to check on this for me Please ???... Thanks
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Now if I can just figure out how to pause my work... or fast fwd to the end of the day
first I don't even have 3.0 yet but would like to know if there is a way or is it possible for Replay to move these from the pause during a movie or show and put them where it does the most good .. Hmm like after you watch a show and it goes to the main blue screen before going back to live TV ?
I have seen that damn blue screen too many times when I wake up after falling asleep to a movie being replayed. So much in fact now I don't even use this machine on my big TV any more. I am too afraid of that burn in.
Also how many of you guy's feel that this is a better place ?
and if not, Why...
Is it possible for Replay Mike to check on this for me Please ???... Thanks
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Now if I can just figure out how to pause my work... or fast fwd to the end of the day
I have no problems with the pause ads. But I do worry about burn in on my large tv. I think that all things that are static should after a period of time time out to live tv. It won't be a problem of going back to a menu if that is where it time out from but for a pause screen if it time out there the play option should take you to where it was paused ( I think that what it does now if you pause and go to a menu or something and go back to watch it later) http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif
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Tom Paulus
a TV nut that's hard to crack.
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Tom Paulus
a TV nut that's hard to crack.
Mike,
I glade to see you are requesting input on this “featureâ€. Well here is my two pennies worth http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif
First thought, it was not going to be good, but after using it for several days, I have no problem with it the way it is. I can see no reason in the world that I would watch a paused screen for more then 2 minuets, and that hitting exit would not resolve. NOW those who complain, my “Sony VCR†(I know, what’s that ? ) Will only pause for 5 min and and then un-pause, now that only makes me mad because, it would un-pause before I was ready for it to be un-paused. At Lease the Reply “stays†paused until I’m ready. I see no one complaining to Sony.
Now the Problem, the current paused screens are nice, and with the user tips and all. BUT IS there going to be “Real†Advertising put in these spots??
I have no problem with Advertising maybe like “coke†or something like “pizza†, “movies†“ new titles†or anything as LONG as it is NOT
any type of advertising like “cigarettes†“ liquor†or “political “spots. I ALSO would NOT even want Movie advertising if it was advertising a strong rating or inappropriate pictures. I bought my ReplyTV To help “filter†this type of garbage.
Third, Screen burn in? Well I do not see this a problem with today TVs. I do work in a place where some TV’s are left on for “major" weeks at at time with static screen and with no burn in. .
Well that it Mike,,
BAT
I just Love my ReplyTV http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif
I've gone bat's over it.
I glade to see you are requesting input on this “featureâ€. Well here is my two pennies worth http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif
First thought, it was not going to be good, but after using it for several days, I have no problem with it the way it is. I can see no reason in the world that I would watch a paused screen for more then 2 minuets, and that hitting exit would not resolve. NOW those who complain, my “Sony VCR†(I know, what’s that ? ) Will only pause for 5 min and and then un-pause, now that only makes me mad because, it would un-pause before I was ready for it to be un-paused. At Lease the Reply “stays†paused until I’m ready. I see no one complaining to Sony.
Now the Problem, the current paused screens are nice, and with the user tips and all. BUT IS there going to be “Real†Advertising put in these spots??
I have no problem with Advertising maybe like “coke†or something like “pizza†, “movies†“ new titles†or anything as LONG as it is NOT
any type of advertising like “cigarettes†“ liquor†or “political “spots. I ALSO would NOT even want Movie advertising if it was advertising a strong rating or inappropriate pictures. I bought my ReplyTV To help “filter†this type of garbage.
Third, Screen burn in? Well I do not see this a problem with today TVs. I do work in a place where some TV’s are left on for “major" weeks at at time with static screen and with no burn in. .
Well that it Mike,,
BAT
I just Love my ReplyTV http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif
I've gone bat's over it.
Joined
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187 Posts
"Is it a problem that a new pause screen comes back after 2 minutes? If so, why? I'm seriously interested in feedback here."
Mike, here's what's irritating about it:
First, if I had a projection TV, I'd be concerned about burn-in, since I've seen a friend's projection TV with burn-in.
Second: I don't have a projection TV (as yet). But what I do have is a consumer electronic device with a feature that I turn off, and it keeps turning back on, no matter how many times I disable it. That's just irritating to the consumer.
The fact we've had others condemn this feature before they even heard about it was lame - I really wanted to be open minded and see how it works after a few weeks of use. (A) Does it grow on me? (B) Do I just get used to it? (C) Does it get to be something that gets more irritating over time? Different consumers will have different responses. I'm the sort of guy who uses caller ID and an unlisted number to block telemarketers. I'm also the sort of consumer who tried this feature and gradually learned to despise it, because it mindlessly interrupts, over and over again, and because the designer thought he knew better than 100% of buyers and so he provided no disable feature.
Mike, here's what's irritating about it:
First, if I had a projection TV, I'd be concerned about burn-in, since I've seen a friend's projection TV with burn-in.
Second: I don't have a projection TV (as yet). But what I do have is a consumer electronic device with a feature that I turn off, and it keeps turning back on, no matter how many times I disable it. That's just irritating to the consumer.
The fact we've had others condemn this feature before they even heard about it was lame - I really wanted to be open minded and see how it works after a few weeks of use. (A) Does it grow on me? (B) Do I just get used to it? (C) Does it get to be something that gets more irritating over time? Different consumers will have different responses. I'm the sort of guy who uses caller ID and an unlisted number to block telemarketers. I'm also the sort of consumer who tried this feature and gradually learned to despise it, because it mindlessly interrupts, over and over again, and because the designer thought he knew better than 100% of buyers and so he provided no disable feature.
NOTE TO REPLAYTV - This is the best place to sell advertising! PLEASE - if it will keep costs down, and/or no monthly fee, and/or keep the RTV in business, put all the ads you want on the 'pause screen'. Same with that 'in limbo' screen telling you to hit guide or zones 
Stop whining people.
Stop whining people.
Joined
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3,139 Posts
I think Minnesotan is using his Replay in a different manner to most of us, hence his annoyance with the paude ads. Most of us only pause a show when we have to take a phone call or leave the room, etc. Apparantly Minnesotan actually pauses a show so he can watch the still image, so I can see how the pause ads would cause annoyance.
Somebody recently suggested that Replay start a program where you could pay a monthly fee to have the pause ads disabled, while I can't see how this could possibly be worth the money - who am I to judge, so how about it Replay, could you come up with a price for disabling the ads?
I have seen the ads and they have caused me ZERO inconvenience so far, so if they help keep Replay afloat and help keep these great programmers employed so they can come up with new features and eventually fix the Select/Enter switcheroo, that's fine with me! (Sorry guys, couldn't resist the temptation to slip that one in! http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif )
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Later,
Rob.
http://www.hifi-remote.com/
Somebody recently suggested that Replay start a program where you could pay a monthly fee to have the pause ads disabled, while I can't see how this could possibly be worth the money - who am I to judge, so how about it Replay, could you come up with a price for disabling the ads?
I have seen the ads and they have caused me ZERO inconvenience so far, so if they help keep Replay afloat and help keep these great programmers employed so they can come up with new features and eventually fix the Select/Enter switcheroo, that's fine with me! (Sorry guys, couldn't resist the temptation to slip that one in! http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif )
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Later,
Rob.
http://www.hifi-remote.com/
Mike --
I could care less about the ads. I think the implementation is fine. I'd also like a full-screen ad after 2 minutes that changes every so often to avoid screen burn-in. Of course, the exit button should still work the same. A 2 minute limit is great, especially if you go into screen saver mode.
I'd even go so far as to ask that you put a full-screen rotating ad on ANYTIME a static screen is displayed for "too long" (you figure out how long that is).
I could care less about the ads. I think the implementation is fine. I'd also like a full-screen ad after 2 minutes that changes every so often to avoid screen burn-in. Of course, the exit button should still work the same. A 2 minute limit is great, especially if you go into screen saver mode.
I'd even go so far as to ask that you put a full-screen rotating ad on ANYTIME a static screen is displayed for "too long" (you figure out how long that is).
Joined
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187 Posts
"Apparantly Minnesotan actually pauses a show so he can watch the still image, so I can see how the pause ads would cause annoyance."
Good retort! How can I respond, other than, you recognized a tech-head when you saw one, I guess. If you actually read my two other notes on this topic, you'll see that I gave the feature a good, honest try, as an ordinary TV watcher. One day, a saturation level simply occurred while having to pause for a while, and the feature suddenly became very conspicuous and irritating to me, personally. I'm sure only a few folks will feel that way about it - but I happened to be one of them, so I thought this is the place for feedback, right? (Or so I hope.)
As tech-head, I then became intrigued to know that: it kicks in at 20 seconds, then again at 2 minutes, and repeats endlessly. (Facts and figures kinda guy.)
So, in conclusion, let me now try to do a graceful departure from this topic and let the rest of you share your feedback. Thanks.
Good retort! How can I respond, other than, you recognized a tech-head when you saw one, I guess. If you actually read my two other notes on this topic, you'll see that I gave the feature a good, honest try, as an ordinary TV watcher. One day, a saturation level simply occurred while having to pause for a while, and the feature suddenly became very conspicuous and irritating to me, personally. I'm sure only a few folks will feel that way about it - but I happened to be one of them, so I thought this is the place for feedback, right? (Or so I hope.)
As tech-head, I then became intrigued to know that: it kicks in at 20 seconds, then again at 2 minutes, and repeats endlessly. (Facts and figures kinda guy.)
So, in conclusion, let me now try to do a graceful departure from this topic and let the rest of you share your feedback. Thanks.
Joined
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3,139 Posts
Quote:
No offence was meant, by the way. Here's how I look at it, Replay needs to incorporate some sort of advertising into the product in order to generate a continuous revenue flow, and I was concerned at how they might go about it. There was some speculation at one point saying that they might mess with the functionality of the Quick Skip button, which would obviously have been commercial suicide. I think they should be commended for coming up with such a non-intrusive solution. One of the main reasons that so many of us love the PVR's is the fact that we can skip the commercial breaks so effortlessly, which is made even easier with the new 3+QS feature. I don't see how these pause ads can possibly interupt the normal viewing of a show, unless of course you intend to freeze an image of Sarah Michelle Gellar and keep it in the screen for 8 minutes http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/wink.gif ! But if that's what you intend to do, all you need to do is try and keep one hand free to work the remote and hit EXIT every 2 minutes and you should be all set.
As for the burn-in issue, I will repeat my request for a screen saver, and I don't personally care if the screen saver is a Coke logo floating around my TV.
When you were doing you experiments with the pause ads, did you try leaving one ad on the screen undisturbed? I seem to remember that the ads do change after a few minutes but I don't remember how long the interval is, maybe a ReplayGuy can chip in here with the actual numbers. This would help eliminate burn-in.
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Later,
Rob.
http://www.hifi-remote.com/
[This message has been edited by The Robman (edited 10-30-2000).]
| Originally posted by Minnesotan: Good retort! How can I respond, other than, you recognized a tech-head when you saw one, I guess. |
As for the burn-in issue, I will repeat my request for a screen saver, and I don't personally care if the screen saver is a Coke logo floating around my TV.
When you were doing you experiments with the pause ads, did you try leaving one ad on the screen undisturbed? I seem to remember that the ads do change after a few minutes but I don't remember how long the interval is, maybe a ReplayGuy can chip in here with the actual numbers. This would help eliminate burn-in.
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Later,
Rob.
http://www.hifi-remote.com/
[This message has been edited by The Robman (edited 10-30-2000).]
Joined
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111 Posts
I'm curious as to why the pause ads would be more of a burn-in problem than a paused image from the program being watched was.
I agree with the suggestions to rotate the ads, perhaps at that two-minute threshold.
I agree with the suggestions to rotate the ads, perhaps at that two-minute threshold.
Quote:
It's not a problem for me to have the pause screens come up like they do, but I think the implementation could be better.
Here are some things I would like to see added to this.
1. Make it a configurable preference. All the following could be configured.
2. Cycle the screens. Don't keep the same one on the entire time.
a. We could configure how long each screen stays
b. We could configure if it cycles at all.
3. Let us configure the content. I wouldn't mind if trivia questions came up every time I paused the screen. In fact, I would be inclined to leave the TV on pause more often.
4. Let us turn it off if we want. I personally don't see much need to keep a paused image on my screen for long periods of time, but others might (Like someone said, to copy some information down)
That's all I can think of for now...
Loren
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Loren Finkelstein
http://Loren.Finkelstein.Net
| Originally posted by ReplayMike: I'm interested to hear what people have to say about this. Is it a problem that a new pause screen comes back after 2 minutes? If so, why? I'm seriously interested in feedback here. |
Here are some things I would like to see added to this.
1. Make it a configurable preference. All the following could be configured.
2. Cycle the screens. Don't keep the same one on the entire time.
a. We could configure how long each screen stays
b. We could configure if it cycles at all.
3. Let us configure the content. I wouldn't mind if trivia questions came up every time I paused the screen. In fact, I would be inclined to leave the TV on pause more often.
4. Let us turn it off if we want. I personally don't see much need to keep a paused image on my screen for long periods of time, but others might (Like someone said, to copy some information down)
That's all I can think of for now...
Loren
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Loren Finkelstein
http://Loren.Finkelstein.Net
Hey Mike
I for one don’t mind them too much, although when I walk by my TV I want to be reminded of what I have paused. Perhaps if the message at the bottom was changed to “Press EXIT to return to ‘Show Name’.â€
Overall though, PLEASE have them turn down the brightness on them. They are way to bright, with no palette muting whatsoever it seems, and that is going to burn in much faster on a projection TV than the rest of the interface. I cringe every time one of those pops on because of the blooming. The rest of the interface does not bloom on my TV. Is this the pause-ad equivalent of having the volume louder on TV commercials? http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/wink.gif
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-JustDoug
I for one don’t mind them too much, although when I walk by my TV I want to be reminded of what I have paused. Perhaps if the message at the bottom was changed to “Press EXIT to return to ‘Show Name’.â€
Overall though, PLEASE have them turn down the brightness on them. They are way to bright, with no palette muting whatsoever it seems, and that is going to burn in much faster on a projection TV than the rest of the interface. I cringe every time one of those pops on because of the blooming. The rest of the interface does not bloom on my TV. Is this the pause-ad equivalent of having the volume louder on TV commercials? http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/wink.gif
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-JustDoug
Joined
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3,139 Posts
Quote:
LOL!
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Later,
Rob.
http://www.hifi-remote.com/
| Originally posted by JustDoug: Is this the pause-ad equivalent of having the volume louder on TV commercials? http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/wink.gif |
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Later,
Rob.
http://www.hifi-remote.com/
Joined
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866 Posts
Quote:
Only if they put the whole show name! I hate it when they truncate labels and leave you playing word games trying to figure out what is actually their! At least add "image" to the end of the line, to make it a bit more readable.
And now for the truely strange request! Can we use some buttons to skip forward and back in the list of screens? Perhaps cursor right/left?
| Originally posted by JustDoug: Hey Mike I for one don?t mind them too much, although when I walk by my TV I want to be reminded of what I have paused. Perhaps if the message at the bottom was changed to ?Press EXIT to return to ?Show Name?.? |
And now for the truely strange request! Can we use some buttons to skip forward and back in the list of screens? Perhaps cursor right/left?
It would just be so nice to have the ads rotate while the unit remains paused. It would act as a screensaver, and show more ads at the same time.
I do have a projection TV, and I try to be very careful to not burn any images on to it. So far I've been very lucky, but who knows.
In fact, there are other places where I would even appreciate this feature kicking in and displaying rotating ads. For instance, when a recorded show has completed playback, instead of going to the Replay full-screen blue, I would love for it to kick in with rotating images even if they were ads.
I do have a projection TV, and I try to be very careful to not burn any images on to it. So far I've been very lucky, but who knows.
In fact, there are other places where I would even appreciate this feature kicking in and displaying rotating ads. For instance, when a recorded show has completed playback, instead of going to the Replay full-screen blue, I would love for it to kick in with rotating images even if they were ads.
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