AT&T U-verse Upgrades

AT&T announced some new U-verse features yesterday. The ability to schedule and manage recordings from any receiver sounds cool. I wish that Verizon had that with the Home Media DVR. Here are the specific upgrades announced:

• A new Total Home DVR feature: Includes the ability to schedule and manage recordings from any U-verse receiver. This adds more convenience and control over recorded shows by allowing customers to set or delete recordings from any room in their home.
• On Demand Top Picks application. Enables U-verse TV customers to view personal On Demand recommendations based on their past video rental history and view a list of the top ten On Demand titles U-verse TV customers are renting.
• Web Remote Access to DVR enhancements. Enhances the experience for Web Remote Access to the DVR by updating the user interface and enabling better navigation within the application.

FiOS TV Remote DVR - Amazing when Technology Works as Advertised!

Verizon's FiOS TV service has a couple of new features, one of which I tried over the weekend with good success. The Remote DVR feature allows users to manage and schedule DVR recordings from any Internet-connected computer. This feature was slick! Subscribers must have the Home Media DVR feature (allowing multi-room DVR functionality and access to music and photos from home computers at any TV with a set-top box). To initiate the feature, I just had to go to FiOS TV Central Website, enter in my username and password and activate the Remote DVR service. In no time, I was viewing a program guide on my laptop and selecting all of the shows I wanted to record over the weekend. Verizon was running an HBO and Cinemax promotion this past weekend, so I selected 5-6 movies to record. The record commands are sent immediately (I authorized a recording mere minutes before the start of the program and the set-top box responded immediately).

Verizon also offers Mobile Remote DVR functionality, allowing Verizon Wireless customers to view TV listings and mange DVR recordings while on-the-go.

After many frustrating attempts to hook up and configure a variety of consumer electronics products, it's nice to get access to a feature, try it, and have it work perfectly the first time. I was impressed with this feature.