I hate, hate, HATE the updated Netflix app!!!

It's working as it is designed. You need to have the TiVo output only one resolution to avoid the re-syncing that occurs with a different resolution output.

The pausing that takes several seconds is working as intended since it's communicating with the servers to pause. Just like from a Cable Company VOD where you are controlling what you are viewing from their servers. There will always be a lag in that situation.

Other devices like the ATV don't have the syncing issue because they are only outputting one resolution. They don't have the ability to output the native resolution like the TiVo can. So the only way to avoid it with the TiVo is to turn off the Native resolution output. Which means you need to set it for only one resolution output like other devices use.

 

The increased UI delays are because they are using Flash HME which is slower than the previously used non-Flash UI. Note that with HME Netflix is actually running on a TiVo server and your TiVo is just acting as a dumb display, so all remote commands have to be relayed to the server and then you have to wait for server to respond and your TiVo to react. All that adds up to delays you are seeing. Flash seems to have added more overhead to the process.

 

This can't be correct. I've had a problem that sounds like what the OP describes, certain scenes simply "blank" the video for a moment. I have seen Netflix streams adjust the streaming resolution before on multiple systems, including on the TiVo, both before and after the update. That is not what is occurring when the image blanks. The video signal just stops momentarily at random points of time. Audio continues normally. When the Netflix app is adjusting streaming resolution, this never happens. You see blockier, more pixelated images, macros, etc. On a perfectly solid, stable network connection, the Netflix app will now simply blank the image.

Additionally, I use one of my Premieres with a fixed resolution and the other with a variable resolution. The issue occurs on both units regardless.

 

I hate the app as well.

The issues I have are it will cause my Premier to reboot or the pause control does not work at all the only way I have to stop it is too pull the plug.

 

It's been mentioned before, but I'd add the terrible UI implementation of the Instant Queue. (And the inconsistent control scheme on the remote).

You can only see something like 4 shows in your queue at any given time and scrolling to the right is painful.

Plus if you have kids, they also see all the recommendations, recently watched, etc. It makes it really difficult to guide their viewing habits, if they're recommended to watch something you don't want them to watch. (I'll stop my Netflix parent rant there since there's a dozen things wrong with Netflix and TiVo Netflix for parents and kids).

Apple TV has a much better interface -- with at least a dozen Instant Queue shows on the screen at any given time.

Even Sony's built-in TV functionality is better (with just as good as image quality). PS3 is fine as well. I've never used Wii Netflix, but I'm guessing even it's better (albeit at a lower quality).

I agree with the poster that if TiVo starts to lose its ability to perform all aspects of TV viewing (aside from Blu-Ray) at least adequately, it will start to lose its decade + stranglehold on our household.

What's always made TiVo great is that I never have to use another box or remote. They added Hulu at the right time, they've long had Netflix and they've even supported purchasing through Amazon. These were all decent implementations of these services.

If another provider can get anywhere close to TiVo's core DVR functionality and solidly beat TiVo with the other services, they will finally have a competitor.

All in all, though, this seems like a minor problem.

TiVo, if you're listening, just fix the Netflix App!!!

 

I have complaints about the netflix app, and have made them before. I only point out two things that this rant thread does not seem to address:

1- Netflix is moving to a standard interface. This interface. I prefer it to have a look and feel of the prior one (esp. hitting play to indicate progression and not to pause). Others interfaces are slightly different, but this is more or less what they are working towards.

2- Netflix wrote this interface, not Tivo. So, complaining to Tivo could be somewhat helpful as they surely have communications with Netflix. Some issues are due to how Tivo handles internet connectivity, which are theirs to handle. However, most complaints are rightly pointed to Netflix, who owns the interface and content.

My point is that posters here should ALSO complain to Netflix. Not that it will change things, but they need some direct feedback from us as users.

 

I also absolutely love the Netflix UI experience on my Apple TV, and absolutely hate the same experience on my TiVo Premiere. I've abandoned the TiVo for any Netflix usage at this point.

...Sam

 

I agree. Of all of the Netflix interfaces I've ever seen, I like the Apple TV's the best. I would really like Apple to add a universal search though. Until that happens, the Fanhattan app is my friend.

 

Being new to TiVo, I was looking forward to both Netflix and HuluPlus apps. I have to say I'm really disappointed in both. The TiVo's interface, with a simple list of the shows I've recorded, is quick and easy to browse. If I go to the Netflix website, I have that same option - a list of my queued movies. But with this App, not only do all the graphics take time to load, but they reduce the screen real estate to a point where just a few movies are shown, and navigation is horrible. It's the same with HuluPlus (except that app seems completely broken at the moment). Overall, the DVR part of TiVo is excellent, but the app experience is awful. And TiVo should have enough influence with these companies to demand some options, like simple list views, in the API - I can't believe they have no control over what Netflix and Hulu give them.

 

We had to hook up an old TiVoHD in the living room to use Netflix. The one on the Premiere Elite crashes the whole TiVo, which is unacceptable. Even if it didn't crash, it is still too annoying to use.

 

I've got access to Netflix streaming on PS3, current AppleTV, Wii, a TiVo Premiere and a TiVo series 3.
The worst of the bunch is the TiVo premiere client, which often has no audio and takes forever to start up. Next worse is the old Series 3 client which only plays items already in the instant queue but at least has audio that works.

The AppleTV is the only one where the playback UI is platform consistent, rather than trying to follow some weird Netflix-only look and feel that sucks.

 

I dont have a Premiere yet but it seems with all of these complaints I won't be selling my Apple TV after I upgrade. One question though, Is there a way to "disable" all streaming apps in the Premiere so that I never see their logos or have search results include the streaming options? Thanks.

 

Yes. There is a setting that allows you to hide them.

 

I have my Premiere set to only one resolution (1080p) in order to get the highest resolution from the movies streamed from Netflix but it doesn't work. Any HD movie that I watch via Netflix will turn to a blue screen after a few seconds and I don't know if there is some incompatibility between the TiVo and my Mitsubishi TV or my Denon receiver. I've reported it several times but haven't seen a fix. Fortunately, I have a Panasonic blu-ray player that streams the Netflix HD movies just fine.

 

I've tried the Netflix app on the TiVo. It's close to unusable because of speed. If you want to just skip it, pay the $100 and get an Apple TV or Roku (I assume Roku supports Netflix and is quick).

I can testify that the Apple TV Netflix interface is both nice and quick.

The TiVo Netflix interface is like working with the online world through an interface of molasses.

Also interesting: I remember the CEO of TiVo a few years back giving an interview and telling us all that his vision was that the TiVo was going to be the end-all, be-all interface to getting our video content (cable & internet).

To the CEO: This is a failure. The interfaces are slow as crap and, while not your fault, the end user ends up with Hulu+ and paying for limited shows that he'd otherwise get w/o question via a computer. It's stupid.

TiVo as an interface to the cable company works quite well. TiVo as an interface to anything else is a failure.