Im not sure if this has already been requested, but I searched and searched this feature requests page and cant find anything.
The Program Guide UI for the DVR needs some type of channel/time table like all the rest of the cable/satellite providers. It would be nice to see a grid style.
I agree! Right now I only see what’s playing and what’s next (movies and all). Why not present a calendar so we can program recording for the next or so?
You can thank the great folks at Gemstar for that not happening. Look up the history of the “TV Guide” grid format and you’ll understand why.
My thoughts exactly… a grid based timeline with the channels on the vertical axis and time (broken down into half hours) on the horizontal would be perfect!!
@kiiskidr said:
You can thank the great folks at Gemstar for that not happening. Look up the history of the “TV Guide” grid format and you’ll understand why.
When I search that, I all see is lots of stories in the US and Europe where the patents in question were invalidated. EVERYONE who presents TV Guide data does so in a grid based format. Other than Plex, I can’t think of a single piece of software (paid for or free) that does not use the grid based format. Without a grid based TV guide format, the DVR will remain niche/backup since no ‘normal’ person in the family will use it.
I’d like a grid based program guide too. The current design isn’t very practical.
I agree, the DVD section is let down badly by there being no “standard” grid option
Something like EMBY:
As someone else has stated, these patent trolls are losing their patents on this ridiculous “Grid patent” thing that they have going on. They’ve made a killing on patenting something so general and stupid, but they have already lost like 5 of them recently due to court rulings that say you cannot generalize patents. Since they cannot say that they invented and all of their profits come from a grid based format, they cannot own a patent for it.
People have been afraid, and paid the patent trolls for more than a decade, but some folks with money are starting to fight back and they are winning. Source listed below.
The current program guide, while working, is absolute garbage. It’s not intuitive, although it does match Plex’s whole “Here is all your media!” ideals. A proper grid based guide would go a lot further to help push cord cutting and the Plex DVR. While the privacy policy kerfuffle has been addressed, I installed Emby and will continue to use for live TV, if nothing else.
I agree, think this would really bring the whole experience together.
Totally agree. This is the ONE feature that keeps me from using Plex to watch live TV. The current guide, while technically functional, leaves a lot to be desired when compared to the layout of the Channels app on Android, or TiVo’s program guide. I just can’t stand to look at it the way that it is now. It gives you so much information with lovely posters… pretty much everything but what I need from it, like the channel number, and the time.
A better interface is needed. I find it difficult to use and my wife said “no thanks, I can’t do simple things so come back when it works”.
Yes please!
I agree with what everyone is saying. Without the channels listed or the time, it is confusing.
I will also add why only 2 weeks? I’d like to schedule a little further out.
The ability to see what will be airing now and in the future on one particular channel would be great. The current way of searching by “genre” i.e: News, Weather, Sports, etc and Watch now is a bit confusing and not user friendly. An example would be like what the guide is like on TiVo or other cable boxes would be great. And to be able to set a show to record via that guide list from Apple TV and other players alike would be great. I do feel that Plex is working on some great stuff already and we are no doubt in for some more great stuff from Plex. I am loving Plex my self. I have set up what I call the “Plex Home Network” for several family members that have now been able to “Cut the Cord”. They are loving it. Keep it up Plex team!!!
We can’t even see channel identification in the live tv section, let alone when we schedule a program to record or evaluate search results. The entire UI seems to be an effort to pretend that TV doesn’t have channels anymore.
It’s still TV, and channel information is often useful.
I agree with what everyone is saying: complete listing for one channel would be great.
