Verizon has launched their promised high definition video on demand service for FiOS TV customers. I am happy to report it showed up on my HD boxes in New Jersey. Verizon is now offering HD VOD where FiOS TV is available in California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas.

Continue reading FiOS Launches HD VOD…

SlingPlayer 2.0 is expected sometime early this year (Q1 2008) bringing significant new features, including an integrated EPG, Clip+Sling, 60 minute buffer to pause and rewind streams, and more. No actual date for release yet and expect the Mac version to take a little longer. Looks great.

Continue reading SlingPlayer 2.0 & Sling PRO HD Demos…

Verizon FiOS TV has updated the Interactive Programming Guide in North Jersey. The little Verizon elves updated my FiOS TV while I was sleeping and I woke up to new guide software. Sure has lots of new eye-candy. I will live with it awhile and review it after using it and seeing any new features they may have added.

Verizon says it is rolling out its Interactive Media Guide to more subscribers, the carrier is finally announcing that a new batch of customers can now look forward to receiving it. Reportedly, “a number” of users in New York, California, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas and Virginia can now take advantage of the free IMG.

I still do not have it and will tell you first when we finally see it here. With so many starts, stops and promises I will try to remain optimistic.

Finally, some choice for apartment and townhouse dwellers. The Federal Communications Commission voted today to ban cable operators from cutting exclusive deals with owners of apartment buildings, condominiums and other multiple dwelling units (MDUs).

This certainly has dealt a major blow to Comcast, Cablevision, Time Warner Cable and other cable TV operators. Leaving the door open for Verizon’s FiOS and AT&T’s U-verse a chance to offer their TV wares to the 30% of Americans who live in MDUs.

“Exclusive contracts between incumbent cable operators and owners of [MDUs] have been a significant barrier to competition,” FCC chairman Kevin Martin said Wednesday. “Today’s order removes this barrier.”

This is a good one, I reported earlier that FiOS TV added A&E HD channel. I even watched a re-run of the Sopranos on it last night. Today the channel is no where to be found! Go figure.

I was delighted to see A&E HD channel when I turned on my Verizon FiOS last night. Finally they are adding at least some HD channels. More please.

Verizon has launched a 20Mbps symmetrical service in the NY/NJ/CT markets, with additional market launches on the horizon as part of their FiOS Internet service. This new service will allow for 20Mbps upload and download Intenet speeds starting at around $64.99 a month, depending on bundle and contract options.

According to the company’s press release, the new tier comes with 1GB of online storage. Verizon is the first major ISP with plans of national deployment of the symmetrical service.

Continue reading Verizon Unveils Symmetrical 20Mbps FiOS…

The latest information for FiOS 2.0 roll-out in Northern New Jersey may be around October 30th timeframe, but is subject to change I was told. FiOS 2.0 is a new interactive user guide for FiOS TV customers.

I posted on September 7, reporting that I was told that the FiOS 2.0 interactive guide derived from Project Mercury, was coming between Monday and Thursday of this week. Well it is Friday and still no new guide. One of my co-workers just got FiOS installed on Wednesday in north Jersey and he did not get the new FiOS 2.0 guide either. According to the installers, it is not ready and has some problems. So far he likes FiOS and has tripled-played Direct TV out of his home.

Verizon has posted a news release detailing on plans for upgrading e-mail functionality for FiOS users. According to the news release, they are redesigning their webmail application, increased user storage to 4GB and updated the software that allows wireless phone users to access their Verizon e-mail $5 for a month fee:

The Mobile E-mail application that allows access to Verizon.net email accounts is available in the Verizon Wireless’ Get It Now virtual store on the following handsets: LG enV, the MOTORAZR V3m, the LG VX8300, ChocolateTM by LG, the Samsung SCH-u740, MOTOKRZR K1m, and MOTORAZR2 V9m. There is a $5 monthly access charge. The service is expected to be available on additional handsets in the coming weeks and months.

This functionality is expected to reach DSL users in a couple of months. I use Gmail personally. I have never been too keen on using my ISPs emal. Gmail has filled all my needs.

I just spoke to Verizon Fiber Solutions and was told that the FiOS 2.0 guide will be rolled out in my area sometime next week. He said the roll out for existing FiOS TV customers in my area should start on Monday and continue thru Thursday. He expects they would do this on the over nights. Apparently, new FiOS TV subscribers in our area are getting the new guide first.

First came the hype. Starting long ago with Project Mercury at CES. Then came the flyers (months ago). There was even a voice mail from Verizon last month telling me FiOS 2.0, which is basically an enhanced guide, was coming any minute, any second, or any moment and I should be prepared for ALL this great and incredible eye candy. Well no “real date” was given (strange, huh?). But STILL NO FiOS 2.0 for us existing customers in North Jersey! So Verizon why all the false starts?

I think it is a ridiculous to push vaporware (at least for existing North Jersey customers). I even had a reader email me to ask where my review of FiOS 2.0 was? I can’t blame her as it was reported that “FiOS 2.0″ was coming in April, May, June, July, and August on so many sites (as well as mine).

The comments I have seen on some popular forums has been a mixed bag for people who have gotten the new guide. So I guess I am happy I do not have it until the bugs are worked out. There are even reports of a fast tracked Verizon RFP out there for new set top boxes. Anyway, I have no FiOS 2.0 and have NO idea when I will. FiOS 2.0 before Xmas? What I really would like is more HD channels NOW. File this under ridiculous!

Verizon has sent out mailings touting the new online media guide for FiOS TV that is based on the work of Project Mercury. Project Mercury is a long awaited “in-house” development of a new media capabilities for the IMG (interactive media guide) and DVRs (digital video recorders) that is offered by FiOS TV. This has been called FiOS TV 2.0 by some.
The mailing I received had no deployment date mentioned. It seems Verizon is staggered the rollout of the new guide for FiOS TV users. These are the unconfirmed deployment dates:

• New customers only for NJ/PA/DE 8/2
• Extisting customers for NJ/PA/DE 8/28
• Other parts NJ 8/7
• NY 8/9
• CA 8/14
• FL 8/16
• TX 8/21
• MD 8/23

MA was originally scheduled for 8/2, but has been moved to sometime next week. There are reports of the Northern Virginia Region to be deployed sometime in mid August. Be interesting to see if this new guide is really an improvement or just new colors. Personally, I would just like to see some new HD channels.

Verizon has put out a huge request for proposal (RFP) seeking “next-generation” set-top boxes (STB) and conditional access technologies for FiOS TV that could be valued in the multibillion-dollar range, according to Cable Digital News. Could this mean the end of Motorola? Maybe, as the RFP will put big price competition against Motorola who supplies the Verizon STBs and DVRs now.