This update brings quite a few changes for everyone so please take your time to look around and get a feel of it.
Are the changes nice? Judging from the initial comments in the beta group I would suggest that they have gone down very well.
So what is included?
There are a few other features that have been included with this release. They will become available once new services have been launched.
Improve Picture Quality
On top of the recent rebranding of Sky's film package, now called 'Sky Cinema', the whole picture quality has had a revamp. Whilst it can't make an SD channel look as good as a high quality Blu-ray disc, you should notice a difference on most channels.
New Home page
Whilst the Home page still works in much the same way as it did before, the look and feel is a little different.
Instead of the large icons showing TV Guide, Sports, etc., in the bottom half, these have now been moved to the top of the screen, along with the mini TV. Each item, even the mini TV is selectable .
The search function works in very much the same way have it has done for some time now. Provided that you Sky+ HD STB is connected to the Internet, simply use the keypad on your sky remote to type in a few letters and results will start to appear
In the bottom half of the Home page is the 'Top Picks'. This means that now you can have both the Kids and Sports buttons present in the main list, along with TV Guide, Planner, Catch Up TV, Sky Box Sets, Sky Movies and Sky Store.
The Top Picks content will change a few times a day, showing things that will often be available through your subscription package, but also a few promotional items too.
New 'Services' Home page
For those moments when you wish to personalise how your STB works, the 'Services' section has always been available to use. This area now takes on a similar look and feel to the normal Home Page.
For the eager eyed amongst you, the 'Sky+ Rebuild' option has been moved to a more easily found place in the 'Help' section. A Planner rebuild is important function to help in many cases with the Sky+ HD STB.
Planner improvements
One of the first things which you'll probably notice is a new tab - Continue. This is designed to help you to find those programmes or films which you've started watching, but never finished.
There is more though. The deleted folder now has an active fuse to permanently remove anything which you deleted some time back, but which hasn't been automatically removed due to space requirements. For those of us who have a large hard drive, this is perhaps a useful idea.
If, like myself, you regularly record a series and then delete each episode as you've watched it, then I Previously I would have suggested that you empty the 'Deleted' folder periodically. This new feature appears to work well enough for you to no longer do this.
Download Next improvements
Now not only does the 'Watch Next Episode' work with box sets, but it will also trigger your STB to download the next episode if it is available in the Catch Up TV section. This works across all the channels, provided that the next episode is available of course.
PIN improvements
One issue which many have complained about is being asked for a PIN when watching a recording during the day when there are no children present in the home.
There is finally a setting for this in the Parental Control & PIN section.
Using your remote press <Services> <Down> <Select> type your PIN and change the settings on the 'Family' tab.
Additions to Buy and Keep
Since Sky first introduced Buy and Keep, this has been a hugely popular feature. You simply select the film to watch and you can see it in HD. Sky also send you a DVD copy so that you can play it elsewhere at a later date.
A new feature that will be launched soon is the ability to purchase Box Sets. Much like the box sets already work, you can download the first episode. Once this has downloaded the second episode will also be downloaded. As you watch each episode, further episodes are downloaded so that your STB isn't completely full and you can delete each download as you finish watching it.
You will also be sent the whole box set through the post, so now you can download the whole of Friends, as an example, and have the DVD in your library too.
To accompany this new addition, the Sky Store app has also been revised and should become available shortly as an update.
Shortcut changes
For those who contribute to the forums on a regular basis, there has been a host of different short cuts to different menus. We have often responded by asking people to press a specific sequence and to check that they are now on such'n'such page. Well most of those shortcuts have gone. However there are other ways, some better, to get you to those helpful pages.
Non-Sky remotes - 'i' button
Many people have been using a remote control that s able to control many devices, nt just the Sky+ HD STB and TV, but perhaps their Cinema sound system and Blu-ray player. With this new update you will find that some habits need to be changed.
Previously you could press the TV Guide button and somehow scroll between the different options (i.e. Radio, Services & Parental controls). Well now you'll need to use a specific button to take you to the 'Services Home page'. One some of these remotes you may find that this is the 'i' button
Are the changes nice? Judging from the initial comments in the beta group I would suggest that they have gone down very well.
So what is included?
- Improved Picture Quality
- New Home page
- New 'Services' Home page
- Planner improvements
- Download Next improvements
- PIN improvements
- Additions to Buy and Keep
- Shortcut changes
- Non-Sky remotes - 'i' button
There are a few other features that have been included with this release. They will become available once new services have been launched.
Improve Picture Quality
On top of the recent rebranding of Sky's film package, now called 'Sky Cinema', the whole picture quality has had a revamp. Whilst it can't make an SD channel look as good as a high quality Blu-ray disc, you should notice a difference on most channels.
New Home page
Whilst the Home page still works in much the same way as it did before, the look and feel is a little different.
Instead of the large icons showing TV Guide, Sports, etc., in the bottom half, these have now been moved to the top of the screen, along with the mini TV. Each item, even the mini TV is selectable .
The search function works in very much the same way have it has done for some time now. Provided that you Sky+ HD STB is connected to the Internet, simply use the keypad on your sky remote to type in a few letters and results will start to appear
In the bottom half of the Home page is the 'Top Picks'. This means that now you can have both the Kids and Sports buttons present in the main list, along with TV Guide, Planner, Catch Up TV, Sky Box Sets, Sky Movies and Sky Store.
The Top Picks content will change a few times a day, showing things that will often be available through your subscription package, but also a few promotional items too.
New 'Services' Home page
For those moments when you wish to personalise how your STB works, the 'Services' section has always been available to use. This area now takes on a similar look and feel to the normal Home Page.
For the eager eyed amongst you, the 'Sky+ Rebuild' option has been moved to a more easily found place in the 'Help' section. A Planner rebuild is important function to help in many cases with the Sky+ HD STB.
Planner improvements
One of the first things which you'll probably notice is a new tab - Continue. This is designed to help you to find those programmes or films which you've started watching, but never finished.
There is more though. The deleted folder now has an active fuse to permanently remove anything which you deleted some time back, but which hasn't been automatically removed due to space requirements. For those of us who have a large hard drive, this is perhaps a useful idea.
If, like myself, you regularly record a series and then delete each episode as you've watched it, then I Previously I would have suggested that you empty the 'Deleted' folder periodically. This new feature appears to work well enough for you to no longer do this.
Download Next improvements
Now not only does the 'Watch Next Episode' work with box sets, but it will also trigger your STB to download the next episode if it is available in the Catch Up TV section. This works across all the channels, provided that the next episode is available of course.
PIN improvements
One issue which many have complained about is being asked for a PIN when watching a recording during the day when there are no children present in the home.
There is finally a setting for this in the Parental Control & PIN section.
Using your remote press <Services> <Down> <Select> type your PIN and change the settings on the 'Family' tab.
Additions to Buy and Keep
Since Sky first introduced Buy and Keep, this has been a hugely popular feature. You simply select the film to watch and you can see it in HD. Sky also send you a DVD copy so that you can play it elsewhere at a later date.
A new feature that will be launched soon is the ability to purchase Box Sets. Much like the box sets already work, you can download the first episode. Once this has downloaded the second episode will also be downloaded. As you watch each episode, further episodes are downloaded so that your STB isn't completely full and you can delete each download as you finish watching it.
You will also be sent the whole box set through the post, so now you can download the whole of Friends, as an example, and have the DVD in your library too.
To accompany this new addition, the Sky Store app has also been revised and should become available shortly as an update.
Shortcut changes
For those who contribute to the forums on a regular basis, there has been a host of different short cuts to different menus. We have often responded by asking people to press a specific sequence and to check that they are now on such'n'such page. Well most of those shortcuts have gone. However there are other ways, some better, to get you to those helpful pages.
Non-Sky remotes - 'i' button
Many people have been using a remote control that s able to control many devices, nt just the Sky+ HD STB and TV, but perhaps their Cinema sound system and Blu-ray player. With this new update you will find that some habits need to be changed.
Previously you could press the TV Guide button and somehow scroll between the different options (i.e. Radio, Services & Parental controls). Well now you'll need to use a specific button to take you to the 'Services Home page'. One some of these remotes you may find that this is the 'i' button
