April 2021
Got the new 360 box a couple of weeks ago and overall I’m impressed. However, there is a very big gotcha and this applies to most Set Top Boxes (STB).
The remote is the main “device” that allows (hu) man to interact with the “STB Box” and it isn’t really fully fit for purpose! It is a complete “game changer” compared to the remote for the TIVO boxes but it is still a “TV Remote” in disguise. The remote is lovely bit of kit, not too small and certainly not too big. The buttons seem to be sensibly placed and it even has a button to access the EPG. It even allows “Voice Commands” but entering text commands is a painful experience. In principle it’s a “TV Remote” box and not a “Set Top Box” remote.
Modern set top boxes (STB) are mini computers and the means of communicating with STB is via the remote box, in conjunction with the on-screen user interface (UI). Having dedicated buttons to “control” the STB is fine and having the addition of voice control is brilliant but if the STB remote is styled on the “TV remote”, which was never designed to enter text, it’s a major fail! Having to enter text by using the up, down. left and right cursor is just rubbish.
Smartphones are smallish but do include a “virtual keyboard” to make entering text quite easy, depending on how fat your fingers are 🙂
STB remotes need to borrow this (Smartphone) technology or include a small “qwerty style” keyboard. STB remotes need a major rethink, it might be that the remote needs to have a “hinged” arrangement on the lines of the “Nokia Communicator” (still have mine in the cupboard). One thing for certain is that STB remotes (in general) need to move away from the TV remote style options. Entering text for say passwords should be quick and just as easy as using a keyboard, navigation of the UI should be as easy as it is using a mouse!.
“Apps” are available for Android and IPad / iPhone to make entering text easier but this not yet available for the 360 box and that beggars belief! Whilst “Apps” are (can be) useful, having to use a £400+ iPad as a “STB Remote” because the supplied remote doesn’t do the job is just not acceptable.
Whinge over!
The “360” remote is a pleasant surprise, compared to the remote for the Tivo. I find it easy to use for general control. It paired easily with my TV so I can use the STB remote to switch the telly on, adjust volume and even mute the sound. It seems that some thought has been put into the design!
The UI (User Interface). Again a pleasant surprise, it still has the gaudy purple and red but this has been tamed a little. I’m tempted to think that the UI is geared toward “voice control” but the remote does most of what you want. However In many cases using voice is quicker.
The UI is fairly easy to use and mostly intuitive. In conjunction with the voice commands, you can do most things without much fuss.
Information text is often difficult to read without opera glasses 🙂 Text is small and white but the background images often makes it difficult to read. I don’t think the icon view in things like “Catch up” help, I would prefer a list view but hey ho.
Overall I don’t have any major grumbles about the 360 STB UI but it could do with some tweaks to improve navigation and readability. The main disappointment is the lack of an easy way to enter text for say passwords and search, although the latter can use voice. A dedicated button on the remote for “recordings” would be very helpful, in the same way that there is a dedicated button to access the EPG.
Hopefully the Android and iPad “Virgin TV Control” App will soon be updated for using with the 360 box!
IMO the 360 STB is quite an achievement, compared to previous offerings but we need to get away from the “TV Remote” mentality and redesign the “STB Remote” from the ground up and make it fully fit for purpose. The remote needs to have a “QWERTY” style keyboard for entering text, quickly and easily.
In conclusion, after being subjected to the Sky Q TV box for the past 18 months, the Virgin 360 TV box is a very welcome change. It needs a few tweaks on the UI and the remote box but IMO it blows the Sky Q box out of the water ! Maybe the Freesat box will soon be a “contender” but the Virgin 360 TV box rocks and I actually enjoy using it. Pity that there isn’t much on the the telly I want to watch 🙂
Being able to record 6 “programs” at the same time is awesome as this reduces the “Recording Clashes”, so far we have never needed to record more than 3 “programs” at the same time.
The Virgin 360 telly box is a game changer but the remote and UI need a bit of polishing!