Lightbox beta report thread

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844 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1105317 9-Aug-2014 11:19

X-Files Season 1/Episode 9.

Sound and Picture just out of sync sometime a bit more than others.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1105356 9-Aug-2014 12:44

PhantomNVD: Please increase the buffer size? Netflix gives a 5 min buffer, and I watched a whole movie yesterday - once it built the initial buffer - without issue.

watching S1E1 "Orphan Black" and every 5 mins it takes a minute or two off to buffer :(

Fair enough I'm only on a 1Mb/s ADSL link on a 4.7km copper line to the (fibre backbone) exchange... but surely they'd equate, especially as the slowness of my link would negate the DNS geo-unblock difference with local and offshore content (as EVERYTHING is slow :)

*To confirm, dns4me is OFF when playing the lightbox content

Full Information:

ISP and service (DSL, VDSL, fibre, cable, 4G) Vodafone ADSL ((Fs/Fs 150Gb cap (never reach)

DNS (ISP or third party) dns4me only for netflix (off when using lightbox)

VPN or not not

Device (Windows/Mac/iOS) windows7

Browser or app Chrome

HDMI out, dual monitor, Airplay Laptop screen

Date/time 19:30-20:30 5/8/14

Programme (Season/Episode) S1E1 "Orphan Black"

Time issue happened within the episode every 5 mins or so? (will try another episode and write times)

Issue description too often stopping to buffer content (seemed fine yesterday with kids movies like Dora and Thomas)

Error code if any present n/a

Ok so this is a make or break for me now, I'm up to S1E7 of Orphan Black but, Unless absolutely NOTHING else is happening on my link, Lightbox is in a constant state of "play for 3 seconds... ... ... Buffer for 5, play for 3..." You get the idea (but NOT 'The picture':)... Was the same last night at around 10:30 even when all other devices were on 'airplane mode' all Ethernet cables unplugged or physically off! Nothing but the ipad, and later the laptop when I swapped over to test we're using the link at all?

Netflix takes a minute or so to get going, and then plays without issue for a whole 90+ minute movie, even when the wife is browsing or the other device pings an incoming email... so not JUST my slow link at issue....

Strangely, kids cartoons rarely buffer, so could it be that they are on a low 240/360p and real programs don't get less than 480p?

What are the 'scales' that Lightbox scales back to?

Bobdn

222 posts

Master Geek

#1105379 9-Aug-2014 13:18

ISP and service (DSL, VDSL, fibre, cable, 4G) Spark VDSL2

VPN or not not

Device (Windows/Mac/iOS) windows7

Browser or app IE

HDMI out, dual monitor, Airplay DVI out

Date/time Saturday 2.00pm

Programme (Season/Episode) Seinfeld all episodes

Time issue happened within the episode Every minute

Issue description Stutters - sound and vision

Error code if any present n/a

wazzageek

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#1105521 9-Aug-2014 17:09

Lightbox:
PhantomNVD:

please test Orphan Black S1E4 on an ipad someone?

I've logged it for attempted reproduction and subsequent escalation to the vendors.

I can also confirm that audio / video is out when playing on an ipad (both locally on the ipad and via airplay to the big tv).

Streaming the same on a PC (pipelight on ubuntu) seems fine.

Cheers,
Wazza.

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1105804 10-Aug-2014 11:10

I'm pretty sure this has already been requested/reported, but dear Lightbox, you're gonna have to get 5.1 DTS/AC3 operating. Stereo just doesn't quite cut it these days!

...and give these guys a call about getting some NZ archival stuff: http://www.soundarchives.co.nz/

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1105866 10-Aug-2014 13:38

Here is a quick demonstration of the problem I'm having with playback and how it compares with Netflix.

Lightbox vs Netflix 1

This was played back simultaneously and is not edited in any way.
Its easier to watch this through twice and only focus on one side of the screen at a time. Static elements in the shots like the iron bars and bricks on the house are the easiest to see where Lightbox stutters.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1105876 10-Aug-2014 14:20

fahrenheit: Here is a quick demonstration of the problem I'm having with playback and how it compares with Netflix.

Lightbox vs Netflix 1

This was played back simultaneously and is not edited in any way.
Its easier to watch this through twice and only focus on one side of the screen at a time. Static elements in the shots like the iron bars and bricks on the house are the easiest to see where Lightbox stutters.

If you accessing netflix simultaneously to lightbox, then I assume you are using a smart DNS service of some kind. If so, I'm guessing that is likely to be screwing up your lightbox stream since it will be confusing the cdn as to where you are located.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

fahrenheit

757 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1105878 10-Aug-2014 14:25

NonprayingMantis:
If you accessing netflix simultaneously to lightbox, then I assume you are using a smart DNS service of some kind. If so, I'm guessing that is likely to be screwing up your lightbox stream since it will be confusing the cdn as to where you are located.

What you are also assuming is that I haven't tested it without the DNS unblocking as a factor. That would be wrong.

I have tested this on more than one machine and with more than one ISP. The only thing that plays Lightbox smoothly (for me) is an ipad air.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1105903 10-Aug-2014 14:56

NonprayingMantis:
fahrenheit: Here is a quick demonstration of the problem I'm having with playback and how it compares with Netflix.

Lightbox vs Netflix 1

This was played back simultaneously and is not edited in any way.
Its easier to watch this through twice and only focus on one side of the screen at a time. Static elements in the shots like the iron bars and bricks on the house are the easiest to see where Lightbox stutters.

If you accessing netflix simultaneously to lightbox, then I assume you are using a smart DNS service of some kind. If so, I'm guessing that is likely to be screwing up your lightbox stream since it will be confusing the cdn as to where you are located.

Check out dns4me.net

Different sites can be set for different zones, so lightbox would be local and Netflix could be US ad BBC iplayer seen as in the UK at the same time . Really wish I could stream more than one channel at a time on my adsl1 to prove it, but see: http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=151&topicid=150653 for a free trial in their beta if interested?

StarBlazer

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#1105965 10-Aug-2014 17:31

There is a significant number of people who are experiencing the same issue with motion quality particularly on panning.

Using DNS/VPN or direct for me makes no difference on my PC and laptops. The iPad works great on both DNS (UnoTelly) and direct ISP DNS - so I personally would say that the DNS is not the issue in this case.

Question to those who currently have Quickflix - what is the picture quality like? Is there any motion issues on panning shots and does using a VPN/DNS have any impact? I would like this question to be excluded so Lightbox can concentrate on whatever the real problem is. My comments are not meant to be confrontational but the PLP threads spent a lot of time discussing this and we still have an issue with the quality - I actually came very close to buying an ATV3 just so that I could stream to it from the iPad for the "best picture".

If we are going to be told that the only way to get a good picture is via the iPad then huge numbers will be very disappointed and it will be a flop. To become mass market you need to provide access that the mass of the market has - Netflix has done this and very successfully. PLP (which I have already mentioned) have the same problem with PC/laptop based streaming but there really is no proper alternative so we put up with it. VoD is another matter - there are plenty of options.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

AKLWestie

641 posts

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#1106108 10-Aug-2014 22:39

I have been watching Breaking Bad Series 1 & 2 and noticed the sound level is quite low when I play it on my windows 8 laptop using Firefox 31. I was using a headphone and needed to turn the sound level to 80+ in Windows and turn the volume to full on the playback progress bar to hear things (and I am not impaired on hearing).

However, when I use an iPad, I can get the same, or even better volume when it was only half way through (i.e. approximately 50%).

Please fix. =)

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1106117 10-Aug-2014 23:14

@lightbox

Is there (another) official lightbox Beta forum for your non GZ participants?

I'd be interested to read what the less techie issues/ideas/complaints would be as these might be (more) representative of the wider population?

jonb

1772 posts

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#1106288 11-Aug-2014 11:34

ISP and service (DSL, VDSL, fibre, cable, 4G) Telecom ADSL2+

VPN or not not

Device (Windows/Mac/iOS) windows8.1

Browser or app IE11 (desktop version)

HDMI out, dual monitor, Airplay Laptop screen

Date/time 15:30 10/8/14

Programme (Season/Episode) S1E3/4 "Orphan Black" (did not try any others)

Time issue happened within the episode from beginning

Issue description no sound. Confirmed youtube in another tab had sound. Sound was present on ipad for same episodes.

Error code if any present n/a

Other issues, some have already been reported.

- IE11 Metro version does not work. Error to download Silverlight when already installed. Quite a lot of windows 8 users will not understand the concept of desktop version and metro version of IE.

- Would be good to be able to add certain programs to a lower rated profile. Have one profile rated M, but to watch Orphan Black have to change to R profile. Would like to just add particular programs to a lower rated profile.

- The Add New Profile UI is a bit confusing. When user has only the default profile, I clicked Add New Profile and navigates to the edit existing profile entry. Edited the name but could not change the rating. Clicking Save and I saw I had only changed the name of the default entry. Suggest changing the menu option to 'Profiles', or else create a new profile entry with blank name, or mark the default more clearly as the default.

- As other have suggested, only display adverts rated for the currently logged in profile. Having Masters of Sex advert shown everytime is not great.

- We don't have a TV, but as others have said, there needs to be an easy way to stream to TV for mass market. Chromecasts are cheap and could even be bundled, or cost added as a one-off with subscription.

Lightbox

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Lightbox

#1106339 11-Aug-2014 12:23

Ok so this is a make or break for me now, I'm up to S1E7 of Orphan Black but, Unless absolutely NOTHING else is happening on my link, Lightbox is in a constant state of "play for 3 seconds... ... ... Buffer for 5, play for 3..." You get the idea (but NOT 'The picture':)... Was the same last night at around 10:30 even when all other devices were on 'airplane mode' all Ethernet cables unplugged or physically off! Nothing but the ipad, and later the laptop when I swapped over to test we're using the link at all?

Netflix takes a minute or so to get going, and then plays without issue for a whole 90+ minute movie, even when the wife is browsing or the other device pings an incoming email... so not JUST my slow link at issue....

Strangely, kids cartoons rarely buffer, so could it be that they are on a low 240/360p and real programs don't get less than 480p?

What are the 'scales' that Lightbox scales back to?

Hi,

I've just PMed you a diagnostic link, that I appreciate if you could click from your home connection.

If you can also provide me the account name (email address) that you signed up with in your reply, I'll try and chase down what we're seeing.

/Jakob

Lightbox - we are online TV.

Lightbox

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Lightbox

#1106342 11-Aug-2014 12:26

PhantomNVD: @lightbox

Is there (another) official lightbox Beta forum for your non GZ participants?

I'd be interested to read what the less techie issues/ideas/complaints would be as these might be (more) representative of the wider population?

Hi,

There isn't another forum. We're tracking and analysing all customer feedback (and we'll do a survey soonish) coming in through our customer service. We're not seeing a tons of complaints around streaming so far TBH, but I suspect the beta status puts a lid on it. We're seeing a fair amount of usage, though, so people are watching.

/Jakob

Lightbox - we are online TV.

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