TiVo Menu Interface - Can I turn down the lights?

[markp99]

This is mostly a tongue-in-cheek request, but there is a bit of an annoyance factor here for me...

When entering into the TiVo Systems Menus (w/the blue backgrounds), that first and largest light bulb to the right in the background lights-up. For me, on my TV, it is just way too bright, especially in a darkened room.

The effect is so bright it actually washes out the text on the screen for a ~second. I think there is a bit of a persistence of vision thing going on where my pupils and eyes are overwhelmed, react and then recover.

I feel like I need sunglasses! :)

I do have my TV adjusted properly and to my tastes using the AVIA disks. Backlight is turned way down to produce deep blacks, brightness is right at 50% and contrast turned up just a bit beyond 50%. I am quite pleased with the color, balance, brightness and contrast levels during normal HD viewing, so I don't think I'll turn down the brightness/contrast just to make the menus easier on the eyes.

The other non-Blue menu pages are fine. Just the Blue one bugs me.

Anyone else notice this? I know there's not an interface to make adjustments to the backgrounds, but I bet TiVo could adjust the base image to add more color/saturation to the Blue background to limit the pure white levels on this page.

[MichaelK]

I beleive I have read that the backgrounds are MPEG2(maybe 4 on the S3) video animation streams. So it would be a little bit of work to tweak. (nothing major but a bit more then just changing a color/brightness in a still image)

[aaronwt]

If your TV is way to bright in a darkened room then it's not adjusted properly for that environment. Or you need a back light since you shouldn't watch in a completely dark room.

[markp99]

Good point on the MPEG animation. Not a "simple" static image.

The TV looks just fine under normal viewing conditions with HD content - not too bright at all. Whites are crisp but not washed out. The room is never fully dark.

[hpb]

If your TV is way to bright in a darkened room then it's not adjusted properly for that environment. Or you need a back light since you shouldn't watch in a completely dark room.

I respectfully disagree about the completely dark room.

How many movie theaters have a back light?

The only light in the theaters where I live are VERY dim rope lighting to guide you to the exits.


My living room has one light source, my projector!

[bown]

Just out of curiousity, what type/manufacturer of tv to you have?.

I have a panasonic plasma, and I just don't see the effect you are describing.

[LHMPDX]

I completely agree with markp99. My S3 is much too bright at the beginning of the menu. I have a Panasonic 50 commercial Plasma - not professionally calibrated, but tweaked with Video Essentials DVD and Comcast's HDTV Tune Up.

[Bierboy]

You know, I agree, too. It had just never really bothered me before, until he mentioned it. Darn you Mark! :p

Seriously, I guess in my three plus years of TiVo use, I've gotten used to it. But, after reading his post, I tried it, and he's right...it does seem to momentarily wash out the text. I think the human eye, however, is very adaptable. It seems to adjust quickly to the brightness, then subsequent "toning down" of the light. That may be why it's never bothered me much before. My set also is not professionally calibrated, but calibrated using AVIA.

[Rucker]

As I'm sure you've noticed, there's a semi-transparent background that provides contrast for the text. For me, there's no eye adjustment (even in a dark room) or washed out text unless you count the fact that there's less contrast before the semi-transparent background is drawn. The text remains the same brightness throughout.

[jhimmel]

I don't have this problem with my S3's on either my Samsung plasma or my Pioneer plasma, but I suspect that I have my brightness adjusted down lower than you guys.

Jim H.

[JohnBrowning]

I also completely agree with markp99. Those lightbulbs are highly annoying and perform no useful function. I'd LOVE to see them eliminated!!!

[Leon WIlkinson]

Men In Black!!!!!

[Leo_N]

I also completely agree with markp99. Those lightbulbs are highly annoying and perform no useful function. I'd LOVE to see them eliminated!!!

Agree also.

[ashu]

We need a poll :)

I, for one, love the background animnations, especially in the green color the old S2s and the S3 have them (don't care for the red on some DVD TiVos). I'd hate tos ee them go away, and their brightness does NOT annoy me one bit :)

[kumaaz99]

I totally agree. I get also blinded by those blaring bulbs. I't the stupidest thing I've ever seen. My old series 2 is great so this must only be a feature of the series 3 hds. If I knew about this, I never would have bought this new one. If Tivo wasn't so hard to contact we could get after them to make a simple change on the next update.