The FiOS TV guide has grown stale these last few years as Verizon turned its attention to all things wireless. However, while I await the next-gen version of FiOS service, I’m happy to report that Verizon has made a few short-term tweaks to improve the existing interface.
My favorite in the IMG 1.9.6 update (just five months after the 1.9.5 update) is the change to the search screen. Instead of having to scroll to every letter I want to type in, Verizon now lets me use the number buttons on my remote as alphabet keys just like old-style texting. (Or current-style if you haven’t given in to touch screens yet.) Example: you press the “2” button once for “A”, twice for “B”, and three times for “C”. This may not sound like a big deal, but searching for anything was terrifically painful before, and the new interface definitely speeds up the process.
Also new in the latest update: a new channel info bar, a setting to let you auto-tune to HD channels, and free FiOS Quantum upgrade ads!
According to FiOS_feed on the FiOS forum hosted by DSLReports, the 1.9.6 update is for Cisco set-tops only, but 1.9.7, which is scheduled for later this year, will download to both Cisco and Motorola boxes.