I just setup my Plex DVR, and I’m wondering about the Program Guide. I’d love to be able to view it like a normal TV guide/channel guide you’d find on AT&T, DirecTV, or even with a smart TV channel guide. It’d be great to be able to just browse through the channels/upcoming programming instead of viewing by categories.
Are there any plans to update/change the Program Guide?
Same here. Also add a search for a channel. It’s currently a pain to scroll through hundreds of channels to find the one you want.
Yup totally agree. The Rovi patent seems to have been shot down so no legal reason I can see. I do like the what’s on now screen, but sometimes I just need to scroll through a proper guide of what’s on next.
Same here. This is interesting tech, but completely unviable without a grid view (as basically every other “TV on computer” type app clearly realises)
It’s tough to convince my family that the Plex DVR is an alternative to a set top box without a grid view.
Same here too
I agree on this one. I like the ability to see more of the content without the TV Guide (channel listing) type of view, but sometimes you really just want to find a certain channel because you know that is where you want to go. I guess it is beta so they are still working on these functions.
Another +1 for a grid view.
+1 for the Grid View - just ‘upgraded’ from Windows Media Center to all Plex and the wife is not happy. Help me keep my wife happy.
I asked this before and the employee response was “I don’t see this in the near future”. However, in the Tech Hive article Plex’s CPO said that it is on the to-do list. Given that comment from him it seems like they should break the rule about not announcing upcoming features and clear up the confusion on whether a grid guide is in the works or being held up by patent concerns.
forums.plex.tv/discussion/273974/grid-guide#latest
techhive.com/article/3199083/data-center-cloud/plex-dvr-now-supports-more-tv-tuners-and-antennas.html
I agree as well.
In other threads I suggested a plug-in from a third-party to collate the Plex DVR guide data into a triditional guide grid. A guide grid that can aid with navigation and scheduling for Plex DVR.
This option would sidestep any possible legal issues with Rovi.
I think the current could work if you can add favorite markers to shows, and these were listed similar to recordings.
@mobarton said:
I think the current could work if you can add favorite markers to shows, and these were listed similar to recordings.
That is similar to a suggestion I had before in another thread. The suggestion was as follows:
Provide complete guide listings for any given channel in Plex DVR (two weeks contiguously at minimum). Then allow users to build a favorites list from that.
Are you taking a channel favorites, or show favorites? My thought is who cares what channel something is showing on. I want to flag shows as favorites so my upcoming airings can be listed like records are, but with a bit more info.
You have that already via search. People want a freeview/sky/TiVo style 14 day tv guide and are trying to think of ways around any patents. How the hell can a 14 day tv guide be patented anyway? surely it is far too generic an concept to be able to patent?
BTW, is this just a US patent or global?
I’d just like to be able to quickly see what OTA broadcast channel a program is on. That information is there, so why not display it? A grid would still be better, but that would get me a long way towards making the family happy with Plex.
I believe the channel that shows are on is coming at some point. Saw a screenshot in I believe a techhive article that was linked in a forum thread earlier today that seemed to show the channel numbers in the guide. But I wonder, if I am viewing the guide in the current layout and see a show that looks interesting to watch what difference does the channel make? Am I going to refuse to watch the show because it is on NBC, FOX or some other channel? I personally like the current layout focusing on content not channel. But I do understand some wanting a traditional guide or whatever format Plex comes up with to keep from having a lawsuit.
Given the requests in this thread it’s clear that a lot of Plex (with Plex Pass) users want a full guide grid.
Generally speaking there should IMO be a number of different ways to navigate and setup scheduled recordings as well as view live tv. Providing only one way would seem primitive and unforgiving. So flexibility is ideal and reasonable flexibility has room for a proper guide.
It should be pointed out that if there were a full guid implemented in Plex it doesn’t necessarily mean those who don’t want it would have to use it.
@mobarton said:
Are you taking a channel favorites, or show favorites? My thought is who cares what channel something is showing on. I want to flag shows as favorites so my upcoming airings can be listed like records are, but with a bit more info.
I don’t see why there couldn’t be both but I was referring to the entire channel as a favorite. It could be displayed as a strip or line of icons representing consecutive shows on the given channel. Think complete TV guide info for a single channel. Then the user can tie together any number of channels in any order for a “channel favorites list”.
For those who would like a guide like environment, maybe a channel filter and sort options? If there are actual patent issues on grids.
