orgin

Still no episode numbers in the recent shows list. Are the episode numbers some kind of secret that can't be shared? Would it break some deadly rule? Really, what's the hold up on the episode numbers?

codebreaker

While you wait you could check this weeks TV schedule as I have being filling in the secret missing numbers

bevrex

I love the old VIP TV it was user friendly and this new VIP TV is NOT!!! I truly HATE it!! After I use my points, I'm not coming back..sorry

mrtimdillenbeck

   It's been a full week now since the new site design was introduced, and despite a torrent of comments, nothing has been done to address the problems. Most users have been patient and super courteous with their suggestions. But polite respect has not resulted in any improvements. To distill the comments down to the most important issues, we have the following:

 

   1)  refer black background with white lettering

 

   2)  Return to the essential "recent updates" list with the "more" button leading to the "last 50 updated episodes" page

 

   3)  More extensive viewing logs with a "search" function and which don't bloat up with repeated entries every time you hit 'pause"

 

   4)  season/episode + title indicators when watching an episode to end the guessing game as to where you are in the season

 

   5)  Make up your mind; is this a Movie site or a TV site? Combining the two creates impossible-to-navigate clutter

 

   LBJedward, your obsession with smartphone users ignores the fact that most users are viewing on laptop, desktop or larger iPod-type devices. To achieve your smartphone objective, you have abandoned and betrayed the far greater number of users who, quite honestly, couldn’t care less about watching TV or movies on a telephone. If the computer vs smartphone incompatibility is so great, wouldn’t it make more sense to create a separate site for small-screen users rather than destroy the proven functionality for everyone else? This new format’s tools won’t even allow you to implement a “forum” button. The much loved, user friendly, fully functional ‘old’ VIPTV user interface is clearly superior to what we are now burdened with.

 

   If you had presented us with a site upgrade which improved performance and usability, we would all be cheering you on with glowing comments and rave reviews. As you may have noticed, this has not been the case. Having read all the postings since the changeover, I’ve yet to find any positive comments. None! Just an endless train of polite suggestions for improvements. But let’s face it, lbjEdward, the length of time it will take to re-code this new UI to implement all those improvements and approach the refined elegance of the old site…well, it may outlast the patience of your users. If I were a first-time visitor to the new site, I would probably feel frustrated confusion, lose interest quickly and surf on. Besides, the webpage looks like an amateur undertaking. Your vast library remains unseen, buried beneath the rubble of a chaotic, non-intuitive interface. But I suppose we can all take heart that it looks better on a telephone. Admit it– this is an experiment, and we, the users, remain the lab rats forced to bear the consequences.

 

   Why don’t you give us a concrete time estimate as to just how long we must wait for this UI to regain the features we loved but have lost? Be honest with us, please. Don’t just solicit suggestions, implement them. But always keep in mind the overwhelming advantages of a roll-back to the previous site format, the user-preferred ‘old’ VipTV. Down the road, once you actually have an “improved” (and de-bugged) product for us to use, then we can look at upgrading the system.

  

   Move us forward, Edward, not backwards.   

P.S. I have just discovered that you have/had a mobile site (m.viptv.net), at least as of 2015, while viptv.net was designated as 'the desktop site'. If this is true and you still have a separate mobile site, why did you trash the 'desktop' site? Or do you no longer have a mobile site, having merged the two with the intent of a single, universal platform (which didn't work out)? LBJEdward, your stated reason for this upgrade was Smartphone compatibility. If you do still have the mobile site, why not restrict the "upgrade" to that site only, leaving the desktop site untouched? If you don't still have the mobile site, why don't you get it back and restore viptv.net to the way it was?

   This is very confusing, and I wish to know the justification for screwing up our old favorite viptv.net, when a separate solution was available all the while. Someone, please, explain this to me. Am I missing something? 

mrtimdillenbeck

In my previous post, one of those hideously quivering yellow 'smilies' managed to attach itself, leech-like, to my text, covering the 'p' in 'prefer'.

How the devil do I pry it off using the 'edit my post' function?

codebreaker

" - P next to each other does that so remove the " or space them out [ Last edited by codebreaker at 10-27-2016 10:02 ]

codebreaker

The strange coding has made that hard so you need to put the P back and remove this titter . gif

Findel

Quote:

To achieve your smartphone objective, you have abandoned and betrayed the far greater number of users who, quite honestly, couldn’t care less about watching TV or movies on a telephone.

Don't mistake the vocal few with the majority. Just because those who are complaining the loudest are desktop users, it doesn't mean that they are the majority. 

Logically, those who are quite happy with the site now are far less likely to come to the forums and complain. 

Myself, I am a mobile user. I watch VIPTV on my smartphone, on my desktop PC in my study, and on my Chromecast (TV) using my smartphone to cast. Most of the time it's watching on my chomecast using my phone, or actually on my phone. 

The new interface is not ugly really. No uglier than the old one. Neither were/are beautiful from a design POV. The old one was also full of UI mistakes, but you folks were used to them, so it wasn't obvious to you. 

Saying all of that, I really hope that the management improves the site some more. Latest updated episode list, the viewing log search, prioritise TV shows over movies, etc etc. (I'm happy we have movies now too, just put them underneath TV shows). 

codebreaker

To be honest I never had a problem watching the old site on my phone, tablet or smart TV but he should of gone the app route for mobile users and left the desktop site along and the fact I'm sure he already has other sites showing films why add the here as it's always been viptv not vipmovie

Findel

Maintaining one site is far easier than maintaining multiple sites (1 for movies, 1 for tv shows, and 2 more for each to access on mobile). The new site works for all, it's just missing some features and implemented movies less than perfectly.

codebreaker

He's been doing that for year and still has two all-rounder sites like the new VIPTV and one that has a desktop and mobile version like the old VIPTV so by doing the upgrade he has just lost the mobile version here

Findel

Interesting. What are the other sites?

codebreaker

Check your PM

mrtimdillenbeck

Quote:

 The new interface is not ugly really. No uglier than the old one. Neither were/are beautiful from a design POV. The old one was also full of UI mistakes, but you folks were used to them, so it wasn't obvious to you.
 Maintaining one site is far easier than maintaining multiple sites (1 for movies, 1 for tv shows, and 2 more for each to access on mobile). The new site works for all, it's just missing some features and implemented movies less than perfectly.

   I have no idea whether or not you have bothered to view the new site on your desktop machine, but I suspect you haven't. That you believe the new site is no uglier than the old one defies imagination. They are night and day. The old site was refined and had no obvious UI mistakes that I was aware of. Those UI mistakes you claim likely were only evident when using a mobile device, not a desktop, and you'll have to be far more specific if you expect me to buy that. Also hard to believe you find a glaring white background screaming at your eyes preferable to a black background. 

   What can not be argued is that a single platform is incapable of handling both a desktop and a mobile format. And while I agree that maintaining a single site is easier than handling multiples, I do not for a minute accept that justification when it means trashing the user experience for a substantial proportion of your audience. While you seem convinced of the plurality of mobile users, I think you might be overstating your case. In truth, only  LBJEdward is in a position to fact check either of us.

    But here is your most audacious of statements: "The new site works for all, it's just missing some features and implemented movies less than perfectly."  I don't know if we are even evaluating the same website when you come up with a whopper like that. Are you kidding me? Seriously? "Just missing some features"? There's an brazen understatement if ever I've heard one. Have you not bothered to read all the other posts in this thread? It's not just "missing some features", it's had its functional heart and soul ripped out, leaving a hollow, dysfunctional shell in its place. As far as "implemented movies less than perfectly", well, that's for sure. And what the hell are movies doing on a TV website, anyway (not that I don't appreciate access to them)? 

   So try this: read all the other posts and find me just one that is thankful for the changes- just one who doesn't sorely miss the old site's easy navigation, clearly presented new and archived content, and intuitive logging and searching abilities. While "one nation, two systems" might work for affairs of state, "one website, two formats" does not well serve VIPTV's user base. Take another look at your desktop, and post again when you get real. If you still cannot perceive the glaring differences 'tween the old and the new, then, sir, with all due respect, I'm not particularly interested in anything further you have to say on the matter.

     

redsoxpatriot30

The administrators are taking all of your concerns into consideration and will be addressed in due time. All of the content *is* still there and connectivity issues seem to be nil, so the essentials do still exist on the site. You're right - the site is not as organized as it once was and certain features such as the search bar do not seem to be functioning, but you can still find the shows you're looking for using the letters at the top of the TV page. The site used to function with Real Player, which brought a whole lot more issues than simple organizational concerns. And if you're having trouble keeping track of which episodes you've seen or haven't seen, then you'll simply have to keep track of them yourself or use a service like trakt.tv in the meantime. I've personally always found that to be much easier than relying on the viewing logs.

Findel

Okay. Do you really need to be that impolite? 

Rude. Just plain rude. 

 You clearly feel very strongly about it. But there's no excuse to be like that. 

1.  I have been using it on desktop. In fact you can see from a bug report I added yesterday that I have been. http://friendvista.com/forum/vie ... id=174499#pid258829 
   
   
2.  I never said I find the white "preferable" to the black. I would prefer black actually. That's a simple thing to change. 
   
   
3.  Many many modern sites these days are designed to work on both mobile and desktop. It's using a web development technique known as "responsive design".
   So this statemment is simply incorrect: "a single platform is incapable of handling both a desktop and a mobile format".
   Examples: https://responsivedesign.is/examples 
   
   
4. I've read EVERY post in this thread so far. I've been following it since last week. And I commented because I felt that it's getting out of hand with all the hate. If you have read them all, you'll see I've been commenting all along as well; highlighting issues that need fixing etc. 
   
   
5. The old site was functional; but there were issues, yes for mobile users, also for when I used it on desktop. I would often have to increase the text size for example. I don't have to now. Looking for programs in a particular genre was not good. It's much better now. There was no way to add a certain series you like to a list of "favorites". There is now; although it's still not great. It's going to be hard for me to point out other issues now that's it's gone. But the point is; it wasn't perfect either. 

Now, you may not be interested in what I have to say, because I don't agree with you 100%. But I'm not posting my comments here just for you, but also for the others who come here. I think it's worth noting that the new site is not all bad, and the old site was not all good. There are some actual improvements, and yes, of course, there are things that I hope they fix (as I've said before).

[Edit: reformatted list]

[ Last edited by Findel at 10-27-2016 07:06 ] [ Last edited by Findel at 10-27-2016 07:19 ]

banlron

realy need latest updated episodes back...like yesterday

codebreaker

Use this weeks TV schedule while you wait as that has yesterdays update

mrtimdillenbeck

This will be a short interim post with the sole purpose of apologizing for my admittedly rude and uncivil earlier behavior. This forum is built on the concept of mutually supportive dialog, and my closing slings and arrows were truly inappropriate and ill-conceived. Whatever frustrations or grievances I was experiencing provide no rational excuse for my impolite words and dismissive attitude. Upon re-reading my own words, even I found them boorish and uncalled for. Whatever came over me, there is no one to blame but myself. I thus offer my sincere and humble apology and vow not to repeat such a breach of good manners to you or anyone else. Thank you, and we shall later continue our dialog as time allows. Oh, and per your suggestion, I've been reading up on "responsive design". Thank you again. -Tim

SDBaset

All of my suggestions have been made, but I want to add my voice. Please make the background black again, separate the TV and movie page, recently added listis better than a top ten list if you must choose. I didn't see the live help link or a link to this page anywhere. Am I missing it? I see the points per episode have increased "> and is there a place that explains how the movies will work after Dec? Points and unlimited like TV? How much per movie? Thank you for all your work, I love this site and really like the old format, but I will adjust. Also site no longer works on my Samsung Smart TV.  [ Last edited by SDBaset at 10-29-2016 19:01 ]