I've been starting to fret a bit about firmware updates for the 8320HD recently. The last one was in July and my box still exhibits a couple of regular bad bugs (repeating remote control and failure to record about 50% of all timer recordings if the box is in standby or low power mode). I worked around the latter by setting the timeout to standby to be 6 hours - it might use more power, but it seems to actually do timer recordings properly now.
So why no more firmware releases for the moment? Well, it turns out that Fetch TV have been busy coding a "smart app" for Panasonic Viera TVs as I mentioned a few months back. It turns out they've actually rolled it out and will also be producing it for Samsung smart TVs (and other makes) in Q1 of 2012.
I'm not sure who gets the money (if any) for actually putting the Fetch TV app on smart TVs since I guess it benefits both parties. However, unless Fetch TV hugely improve the actual media content of their PPV service, I can't see too many people using it. I've never been impressed by Fetch TV's PPV movies/TV shows, especially since they're not cheap, infested with self-destructive DRM and seem to be quite limited in their choice.
Still, there is a chance this will increase PPV sales for Fetch TV and maybe then they can get back to 8320HD firmware releases and, eventually, the new UI for it that they've been promising since March 2010.
Thanks to RowanDDR on AVForums.com for the article link
My opinion is that I suspect FetchTV have given up on the Smartbox.....and I doubt the problems with the current firmware will ever be truly fixed. As for the new UI well, it's almost been a year since it was first announced - I work in Software Engineering and it shouldn't take a year to create a user interface for (let's face it) something that isn't particularly complicated.
ReplyDeleteWill be interesting to see if the relationship with Panasonic lasts. If the shoddy level of engineering that's obviously gone into the hardware/software of the Smartbox starts appearing in the TV app then I bet Panasonic won't be pleased.