TELUS TV Feature Updates - Ongoing

[Optik-Kate]

Dear Neighbours, 

We’re experimenting with different formats to assure you we’re listening and working on improvements to the TELUS TV platforms. We have frequent releases designed to tackle the platform's immediate and long-term stability, and we’ll do our best to keep this thread up to date with each new release to celebrate our wins together.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list; minor customer-facing fixes and non-customer-facing backend work are not included. 

Q3 2024:

• Bulk Delete for Recordings: You can now delete multiple recorded episodes simultaneously, making managing your recordings easier.
• Episode List Access: When playing a recorded episode, you can see a list of all other episodes from the same series directly in the player.
• Binge-Watching Made Easy: Enjoy seamless binge-watching of recorded episodes, as they now play sequentially without any interruptions.
• Order Cloud PVR Directly: You can now order Cloud PVR service directly from your set-top box for added convenience.
• Start from the Beginning: Easily start recordings and VOD (Video on Demand) content from the beginning, even if you joined late!

Q2 2024:

• Recording improvements: 
• Eliminated the skipping of the first episode when scheduling recording series
• Reduction of removed recordings due to metadata inconsistencies
• Series schedule will remain in the recording manager after a season ends
• Launch of Free Ad-Supported Streaming Channels so you can watch them anytime, anywhere, without a subscription
• Apple TV interface redesign for better navigation
• Custom date/time picker on Android mobile guide
• Remove content from the resume lane by press & hold (long press) on items in the lane

Q1 2024:

• Recording improvements: Series recording on news-related programs
• Guide filter selection such as “my favourite channel” remains after turning the TV off and on
• Search results are now expanded to include third-party streaming apps availability in the program detail page
• Optimized search functionality via content type and cast member names
• Default focus on home - requiring only one click of the “back” button to return to the last watched stream
• User experience and design improvement on Apple TV and iOS

Q4 2023:

• Additional 4K channels on the TELUS TV Digital Box and Android TV devices 
• New and Live tags in the TV Guide
• Increased Cloud Recording duration to 90 days
• Pay Per View events are now available for purchase
• Recording improvements 
• Unviewable recordings can now be deleted
• The recordings manager now shows the newest recordings first
• Bug fixes related to recordings going missing
• Bug fixes for sports recording auto-extension 
• Surround Sound is now available
• Dismissing the “next episode” prompt is now working correctly

Q3 2023

• Chromecast - cast from TELUS TV+ mobile app to Chromecast-enabled receivers
• Game Zone - a dedicated zone on the Telus TV Digital Box with over 180 free and simple-to-play games using your mobile device as the controller 
• Resume from your Apps row on the home screen to resume shows from Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video and more

Q2 2023 

• Playback Performance Toggle - A new option in the Settings menu aimed at improving video playback on older Android devices (mobile/tablet).
• Pause Live TV for up to 15 minutes on the TELUS TV Digital Box and TELUS TV+ app
• Restart a show from the beginning that aired up to 30 hours in the past

• Profile improvements
• Recordings only show in individual profiles
• ‘Recommended for you’ personalized by profile
• ‘Favourite channels’ and ‘Favourite movies & series’ by profile
• Live Sports recordings are automatically extended; 90 minutes for tennis & 60 minutes for all other sports

Regards,

Your Friendly Neighbourhood TV Product Development Team.

[Canucks]

Hey TELUS Team, in my personal opinion, the new android platform is a great step in the right direction, and I can see the vision for a completely unified platform that will function across a variety of different device and OS ecosystems. Kudos to your efforts so far! To my fellow community members: This is not easy, and for telco providers who started in the previous generation of broadcast standards - the "struggle street" is real when rolling out new features. But I hear all of you, you're paying for a service and expect the same or better quality when getting a hardware upgrade...

TELUS, I think your main focus should be on picture quality with this new platform. Your current offering both HD and 4K is definitely limited on bitrate (and sometimes framerate - I experienced dropped frames during the playoffs)... I have my android box hooked up via Gigabit ethernet so it's not my network.

It's very easy to see when comparing and live broadcast channels vs watching something via the Netflix app (be that HD or 4K on the same android box). The effect of poor video bitrate is further exacerbated with the advent of TV manufactures offering larger screens, at higher resolutions (even though they try use fancy techniques to try "up-scale"). The problem is only going to get worse, and your efforts in picture quality should be top on your list.

[PaulB_]

Adding ARC compatibility for Sony HTA-3000 soundbar hooked up Sony TV ARC port and Optik PVR HDMI to TV support?   When?

[paulbracehome]

Ok that was February. Still not able to FF and view as it plays. Can not extend the recording time on sports games, in fact tonight the recording stopped before the game was even over. It seems like a lot of talk and no action.

[paulbracehome]

I also dislike the fact that the box shuts down after 4 hours, I leave the tv on to keep my dog company and 6 hours later come home to a silent house. Called three times for support...told me they fixed it but still happens. this box sucks!!!!

[broadcastguy]

When you’re right, you’re right.

[Kwallz]

I do the same, come home to a quiet house. Silly time out. . . . If I wanted it off I would turn it off.

Really frustrated lately that some of my recordings are not recording. I have games and races recorded come home to watch and nothing saved. I even double checked on my phone while I was out on the app and it showed scheduled to record, but there was nothing there when i got home. These glitches and drops outs are starting to become something I can't have any more patience with.
Not to mention the features and options I used daily that are lacking from this setup really bugs me.
All said, this Telus system really is a disappointment and making me rethink my choice to switch over from shaw / Rogers 😥

[Rocky3]

My current TV has a built in turn off after 4 hours have passed with no interaction. Unlike others it does not bother me. 

Did not know Telus box also has a time out.

[RCrow]

Please add standard IR remote codes so universal remotes can be used. In our house with one person with a disability having only one remote is really frustrating.

[Rocky3]

@Optik-Kate 

Hi Kate. Have you abandoned us? Where is the Q2 report. I am waiting as well for the July update promised to fix many issues. 

[Dave68]

When are more updates coming out? Looking forward to more exciting features!

[Rocky3]

Has the July update occurred?

[Grimmt]

What is the version number for the Q2-2024 update?

The original post was updated on Tuesday, July 30th, with the new version info, and It's now Monday, Aug 5th and I'm sitting at version 1.24.6_900, on both of my T21 boxes.  Isn't this the Q1 update?

Is there a reason for the delay in transmitting the update?

[broadcastguy]

This isn’t at all helpful, but one can only assume they gave up on the platform, much like I did. Such a frustrating experience with TELUS and their Self-Install TV product. 

[Rocky3]

Yes you are showing the January update.

Crickets on the promised July update. 

Actually later this week I will see if there is a manual update to check for it. I know originally I was talked thru the update as the original shipped 21T was not auto updating. I forget if January came in on its own.

[Grimmt]

In another thread started by @Rocky3, Telus Support responded with a brief description of the version numbering.

It appears that 1.24.6_900 is the latest version (i.e. Q2).  The "24.6" represents YY.M  [not sure why they don't use YY.MM for sorting purposes] and, I'm guessing, the "_900" is likely the build number.

Edit: updated Rocky3 reference to a link

[Pattydee3]

Is there an update on the following features, which I believe are being worked on?

1. Ability to delete multiple recording at a time. For instance on Shaw/Rogers you can delete all episodes in a series, or delete all and cancel future recordings.

2. Ability to disable and/or skip the Home menu and go directly to the guide. 

3. Ability to exit all menus at once rather than press the back button multiple times. 

[Myoptic1]

There appears to be two reported completed items that are not correct at least with my setup as follows:

(1) The message in Q2 2024 the problem with recording is completed:

• Eliminated the skipping of the first episode when scheduling recording series

This problem still exists with our Android TV setup.  It is very aggravating as it erodes user confidence in the entire recording reliability. We basically have to re-examine the scheduled recordings every day so we do not miss any of our  desired recordings.

(2) Likewise the Q1 2024 completion of "Favorites" problem is not the case in our system:

• Guide filter selection such as “My Favorite channel” remains after turning the TV off and on

There was no problem with "My Favorites" changing when we first got the system.

However, it now changes to "Subscribed" for no reason while watching the TV. It does not have to be turned OFF and then turned ON to occur.

Hope there are some existing solutions or the need is recognized in future software development.

[assia]

Myoptic1, we would like to troubleshoot the skipped episode issues you are still experiencing to determine whether the fix is not taking effect or another problem is being manifested. I have reached out to you with a direct message. 

[Myoptic1]

Telus:

We would appreciate the opportunity to cooperate with you to troubleshoot the recording problem.

Thanks

Cameron Palmer

[Rocky3]

Q2 is launched? Then why is there no difference, and why did we lose the gains of the January release?

[hansolo]

New customer here, may not have me for long. Netflix and other apps look as they should, 4K, UHD, the remote is a really nice, but your main player - Telus TV+ is simply awful. How are we getting picture quality like this in 2024? Everyone in our household thinks it looks pixelated. Text on screen during news or sports is all bitty, was crisp before. Picture is also washed out. I have top tier TVs and a home cinema set up. I feel like I've taken a huge leap backwards.