Lightbox making changes tonight.

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rugrat

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#236070 16-May-2018 19:05

Received email with following:

We’re getting ready to roll out some major improvements. This means we anticipate being offline overnight from 12.30am till 10.30am tomorrow (Thursday, 17th May).

Once we’re finished, you’ll need to update your Lightbox app and log in again. And to keep watching Lightbox on your mobile or tablet, you’ll need iOS 9.3 or Android 4.4 (or above), as your operating system. Sadly, 2012 Samsung Smart TVs will no longer be compatible with the updated Lightbox app, but you can still get Lightbox shows onto your big screen with a Chromecast. Please get in touch to find out more - we'd love to help you keep watching!

Guessing my 2013 LG TV won’t work either. Though I have Apple TV I watch through on that one.

Wonder if changes will be noticeable.

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#2017132 16-May-2018 19:41

4K HDR perhaps?!

Not likely of course but it’d be nice!

ockel

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#2017146 16-May-2018 20:07

corksta: 4K HDR perhaps?!

Not likely of course but it’d be nice!

There is going to be Lightbox and Lightbox Premium. Surely the Premium has got to be 4K, right?

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corksta

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#2017181 16-May-2018 20:29

Actually it’s possibly this:

https://www.sparknz.co.nz/news/Lightbox-upgrades

openmedia

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#2017191 16-May-2018 20:51

Hope they will also update the Android TV Application - Without it the experience on my FireTV is really poor.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

DjShadow

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#2017197 16-May-2018 21:04

Wonder if they are upgrading it to handle Live Sport, read tonight that Spark are close to taking the EPL off Sky

ockel

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#2017215 16-May-2018 21:14

DjShadow:
Wonder if they are upgrading it to handle Live Sport, read tonight that Spark are close to taking the EPL off Sky

You mean close to taking it from Bein Sports. Sky doesn't have the rights.
And it would be returning to Lightbox Sports seeing as it had it before BeIN. As Optus renewed the rights for Australia it means that BeINs hopes of building a regional offering are dashed and keeping NZ rights would make no sense.

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rugrat

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#2017271 17-May-2018 04:51

ockel:

corksta: 4K HDR perhaps?!

Not likely of course but it’d be nice!

There is going to be Lightbox and Lightbox Premium. Surely the Premium has got to be 4K, right?

From the link corksta posted. Premium is being able to download to mobile to watch off line, and 4 streams at once.

Guess no Dolby Digital etc.

openmedia

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#2017306 17-May-2018 08:29

Anyone seen the new APK yet? Can't find one in the Google App store

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openmedia

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#2017317 17-May-2018 08:40

Ah looks like the updated apps won't be released until they complete the upgrade

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MikeAqua

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#2017393 17-May-2018 09:30

rugrat:

Sadly, 2012 Samsung Smart TVs will no longer be compatible with the updated Lightbox app, but you can still get Lightbox shows onto your big screen with a Chromecast.

6 years seems too short a service life for a TV app. We tend to keep our lounge TVs for about 10 years and even then the old one gets relocated into another room.

Sure you can use Chromecast, but there are major limitations - specifically around FF through recaps and intros. If only google would enable the FF controls on chrome-cast we could do it from the TV remote.

And yes an official Android TV LB app is well overdue.

Mike

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#2017408 17-May-2018 09:43

MikeAqua:

rugrat:

Sadly, 2012 Samsung Smart TVs will no longer be compatible with the updated Lightbox app, but you can still get Lightbox shows onto your big screen with a Chromecast.

6 years seems too short a service life for a TV app. We tend to keep our lounge TVs for about 10 years and even then the old one gets relocated into another room.

Sure you can use Chromecast, but there are major limitations - specifically around FF through recaps and intros. If only google would enable the FF controls on chrome-cast we could do it from the TV remote.

And yes an official Android TV LB app is well overdue.

Rule of thumb is to never rely on the "smart" functionality of smart TVs – the apps are seldom updated, and in my experience they are a lot less feature-rich than dedicated STBs like the Apple TV.

I'd be surprised if any smart TVs last longer than 5 years in terms of software.

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MikeAqua

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#2017431 17-May-2018 10:11

Benjip:

Rule of thumb is to never rely on the "smart" functionality of smart TVs – the apps are seldom updated, and in my experience they are a lot less feature-rich than dedicated STBs like the Apple TV.

I'd be surprised if any smart TVs last longer than 5 years in terms of software.

Sadly I agree. NF seems to have the same features across TV and phone apps. LB is similar.

Mike

stevenz

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#2017782 17-May-2018 16:46

The website is a massive improvement. The app is still listed as not-compatible with the ShieldTV which is disappointing, no mention of 4K content, or surround-sound which is also very disappointing, just the dialog separation into the center channel makes many shows a lot nicer to watch, and big-name movies in stereo audio seems poor.

Offline caching in the premium subscription however, is a very nice addition, will probably give it a go purely for that.

The comment "enjoy higher quality viewing at lower bandwidth requirements" presumably means they've shifted from using h264 to h265 or something similar?

FWIW - My Panasonic TV hasn't had a single update since I bought it over a year ago, whereas the other Samsung TV is still getting regular firmware updates 4 years later. My fault for not doing due diligence.

@KnightNZ

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#2017794 17-May-2018 17:13

I just got the ATV version installed on my Shield (via sideload). Works flawlessly. Hope they didn't break it... Anyone with a Sony ATV know if their TVs app is working?

djtOtago

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#2017795 17-May-2018 17:17

openmedia:

Ah looks like the updated apps won't be released until they complete the upgrade

My phone (Sony Z1 compact) just updated to version 3 something.
Offered me the option to upgrade to a premium account which would allow me to rent and download movies.

On the play store there looks like there is an update available for my Sony Android TV (Sony A1)

Yeh for Sony

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