As a soon-to-be FiOS TV subscriber, I was disappointed to hear in May that Verizon was putting the brakes on the rollout of its latest guide software update. But today I hear that IMG 1.9 is back on track. I noted a comment in the DSLReports forums yesterday suggesting the rollout would resume and decided to do a little of my own digging. Sure enough, a very reliable source tells me Verizon will start the guide updates again next week, and the new software should be deployed nationally within a few months. As a reminder, here are some of the new features coming with IMG 1.9. Full release notes available here.
Features:
- 16×9 guide
- In-home streaming to and from HD DVRs
- Re-engineered search function
- More guide data
- Support for Descriptive Video Service, native pass through, 1080p, and MP3 and MPEG-4 decoding on select devices
One other note on the new guide software- there’s hope for improved contrast in the updated 1.9 build after user complaints.
It would be nice if they actually rolled out Fios in my neighborhood. We are all so sick and tired of seeing countless Fios advertisements on TV only to be teased and let down that there are no plans to roll out Fios.
Oh well, Verizons loss. They could make some good money off of me and a lot of people I know in the area who said they’d love to sign up.
No way will I EVER buy into 3mbps Verizon DSL, Verizon Wireless or any VZ backed service when they refuse to upgrade their POTS system to FIOS. Sorry VZ… how’s that ROI working out for you? Millions of want to be customers can’t even get the service.
Hate to break it to you but the official roll out isn’t starting next week. IMG 1.9 deployment will begin depending on the VHO location around 8-29-11. There is good news though, if you live in a area where Cisco has been deployed. 1.9 code is pre-loaded on those STB’s So for new installs that all were putting in.
This is welcome news. I saw the new IMG 1.9 guide at my sister-in-law’s and was impressed.
I’m still curious what the plan is for upgrading the STBs for those of us with outdated equipment. Supposedly some of the new features are only available on the newer model boxes. I realize this is not easy, since it costs lots of money to Verizon.
The IMG 1.9 guide is a nice improvement, but note that some of the features, like 16:9 guide, only work on the most recent STBs. The older ones still get a lot of the improvements, but I had to (pay to) swap out mine for the new ones.
Any word from your reliable source on the iPad/iPhone app getting live tv and/or DVR playback?
Dan J- No word on the iPad/iPhone app. Unfortunately, I’d guess there’s no rush on VZ’s part.
Village Idiot, 1.9a is rolling… Tampa and Pittsburgh got it last night.
And I’m happy to report I’ve got 1.9 here in Takoma Park Maryland. More on that in the morning.
Tampa eh? When will our friend Ben Drawbaugh get his hands on this? I’m curious what he thinks about it.