Sky Glass Beta version

[Kenzy]

So it seems we are all using and paying for a beta version of Sky Glass.  There are so many anomilies and irritations  and errors that are usually solved, repaired or removed from new products before they are released to customers.  Not with Sky Glass as it seems.  Here are a few examples I have come across.  

• Continue watching can not be cleared without watching a programe to the end or forward fasting to the end and then stopping just at the right time.   Even then shows like Graham Norton still keep popping up.
• Some shows will appear on continue watching some do not!!!!!
• No way of showing plus 1 channels or so sky say ???
• Remote controls (I have had 2) break down.  Sky told me to twist the remote like ringing out a cloth!!  this actually worked once for a short time!!!!
• No longer can you have one or two sports channels.  You now need to pay for all sports . . I only watch F1 so no thanks Sky, I can watch it free on the Internet.
• Netflix was just a black screen for 24 hours . Sky say some customers do experience this just reboot your TV
• SKy Glass TV freezes  maybe only once a month (did I say only) Sky say  just reboot your TV
• Technical fault message.  Sky say 'There is an issue at the moment with some accounts'
•  Have you seen the message when you change a channel too quickly several time.  The screen goes black and a message pops up saying 'Oh now that's embarrasing' !!

I could go on and on but what with trying to fix your sky glass problems and living your everyday life you probably dont have time to read anymore!!!

Oh one interesting point.  I have now spoken to several sky customer services advisors who I must say have all been excellent but not one of them has Sky Glass. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Hmmmmm. 🤔

I've said it's beta for a long time and still believe it is.

Some say NO it has improved, but it hasn't really improved vastly it is a case of familiarity. Many have got used to the issues and found their own personal workarounds and that is a comfort to Sky, "they'll get used to it".

Hopefully the day will come that it is basically issue free but that's a long way off it just takes so long to resolve problems, often months, so there is a long road ahead!

Profiles were featured back in October it will soon be February so just that one feature is nearly 4 months before going live and who knows may not happen even then.

[Kenzy]

Fully agree with everytrhing you say.

If we had as many issues with a new car or kitchen appliance it would be returned for a full refund.  

[mikealanr]

Hi @Kenzy 

Some of the "issues" you have raised are nothing to do with software, but commercial decisions by Sky. I.e you have to subscribe to all Sky Sports channels.

In terms of +1 channels, it isn't a case that they are hidden, they are not on the platform. Sky publish the list of channels here: 

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/tv-channel-list-sky-glass

If Glass isn't for you, you can reject it in your first 31 days and return to Q.

Personally I've not suffered much freezing or app and remote issues and I've had Glass for over a year, however it is apparent that it has issues with some ISPs and routers etc and there is much improvement needed on continue watching.

MikeAlanR

[Kenzy]

Thanks for your reply Mike.  I can only report my experiences and compare what I had with Sky Q before moving to Sky Glass.  Its not so easy to simply switch back to Sky Q for me as I had the TV on a credit agreement and apparently third party finance companies are involved.  So I was told.  That said I am aware a lot of people have swithched back to Sky Q.

[Jporch316]

To be fair the continue watching rail  only got added a year after launch so wouldn't have been part of any beta trial pre launch 

im all for sky adding new features going forward 

not once had my sky glass unit freeze on me 

it's well advertised that +1 channels are not part of the stream lineup - they are not needed as you can watch from start on almost any channel - not really anything to do with beta testing 

Netflix worked fine for the first year - can really see how beta testing would change that 

[Anonymous]

@Jporch316 

I agree with what you say especially with the CW feature introduced fairly recently. But when introduced it didn't take long before it fell over, so it feels like things are released and then tested otherwise whatever has happened with the CW rail should have been picked up prior to launch.

+1 is not a thing, it's a streaming service !!!!!

Netflix was fine but it became an issue in November and I was told by Sky then they were aware of problems not only affecting stream but Q too. It's coming up to 3 months now and still the problem I reported are turning up on the forum, so no fix.

I'm all for new features and UI updates I quite look forward to them landing but it does concern me with Stream that they are not fully tested before launch or if Sky say they are why does it take Sky so long to issue a fix, they should be working frantically to get fixes out. Once again the CW is a prime example of this.

It takes away from the user experience that does encourage workarounds that at best give the perception of using a Beta product.

Must be said as a positive, the UI provides a wealth of viewing options, live TV never an issue and the picture quality is just phenomenal on my LG OLED, beats Apple!

[Laing1]

---

@Kenzy wrote:

Thanks for your reply Mike.  I can only report my experiences and compare what I had with Sky Q before moving to Sky Glass.  Its not so easy to simply switch back to Sky Q for me as I had the TV on a credit agreement and apparently third party finance companies are involved.  So I was told.  That said I am aware a lot of people have swithched back to Sky Q.

---

@Kenzy If you are still withing you 31 day cooling off period it is very simple you contact Sky and reject the product and go back to Sky Q Sky cannot stop you within the first 31 days any monies paid in this priod should be refunded  credit agreements etc should not affect this. After 31 days you can still reject the product as not being fit for purpose but you would need to argue this with Sky and put a good case as to the reasons for this.

[Anonymous]

@Laing1 

Sky were extremely helpful in my case, I had dreadful issues in the beginning with both stream and Glass, I was appointed a personal contact who called me regularly to work through my issues. My 31 day returns was put on hold until I was happy to keep the products. In total I could have returned equipment 2 months outside of the 31 days.

Sky could not be faulted for the help and  perseverance.

[Fothergill1]

@Kenzy I agree with a lot of what you said in your initial post especially about the Continue Watching rail.  It started to work better after an update in early December but has now gone down hill again.

Sky do seem to have a habit of releasing products too soon.  I was an early adopter of Sky Q and had loads of problems but Sky ironed them out eventually.

I'm not sure why the lack of +1 channels is a problem to anyone as you can watch any programme as and when you want.  I used to use them a lot when I was on Sky Q but have not missed them at all.

I had Sky Sport but only tended to watch cricket and F1.  As soon as the F1 season was over I cancelled my Sport subscription intending to watch the highlights on C4 or ITV.  I would be very interested to know where you watch it on the Internet, especially if it is live commentary.

I dropped my remote a while ago and it stopped working.  I gave it a good twist and it has worked properly  since then.  My only complaint is the batteries need replacing every 3-4 weeks.

I get the occasional short freeze on the screen but not often enough to worry about it. I have noticed that it tended to happen when I flipped between channels too quickly so I suppose it was confusing the system..

I have not had any problems with Netflix (yet 🤞).

All in all I like Glass despite it's issues which will hopefully improve over time.

[Jporch316]

@Fothergill1 

Get a new remote - I've not changed mine in my glass or pick since I had it in April 

[Fothergill1]

@Jporch316 I believe Sky have a new batch of remotes so now is the good time to request a replacement 😀 

[Chrisee]

---

@Kenzy wrote:

Thanks for your reply Mike.  I can only report my experiences and compare what I had with Sky Q before moving to Sky Glass.  Its not so easy to simply switch back to Sky Q for me as I had the TV on a credit agreement and apparently third party finance companies are involved.  So I was told.  That said I am aware a lot of people have swithched back to Sky Q.

---

@Kenzy assuming you bought your Sky Glass from Sky directly the finance is provided by Sky. In any case having a credit agreement does not mean you can't reject if goods are not of satisfactory quality indeed both the retailer and credit provider are jointly liable. Doesnt apply here as Sky are both.

[Jon+Reeve]

@Kenzy It's utterly pointless having +1 channels on a streaming platform!

Totally support Sky on not cluttering up the TV guide with this sort of thing.

As for talking to Sky CS advisors who don't take Sky Stream/Glass, I don't know why many would if they can get Q.

[Kenzy]

It seems there are people who are saying  Sky Glass is great but then have experienced more than one issue which has needed intervention or a workaround!!!  

+1 channels and not needing them hmm, OK I get the point but it was something that was actually a good feature on Q and I used it a lot.   

That said, when I search for a show that I have just missed, it is not that straight forward finding the episode you want to watch.   For example. . . . Try and find an epsisode of 4 in a bed that has just finished and could be watched on SkyQ immediatley via +1.  Your search will show every series and every episode that has ever been on and if you didnt know which series you had been watching there is no way you will find the one you wanted.  Going to +1 you can watch the show.   Also a few times we have noticed the information in the search for a show is incorrect.  For Example . . .  Search for Lego masters grand final series 3,  It comes up but then when you play it its a completely differnt series.   You could blame the channel but it worked without issue on Sky Q.

I can see Sky Glass will eventually be so much better but it isn't right now and as stated at the start of this discussion we are all paying full price for a beta version,  which quite frankley doesnt work as well as SkyQ.  Sky Glass was/ is advertised as the next big thing, currently it isnt and before any say's it Yes Im going back to Sky Q or another provider for a change.