Yeah, LeClerc loosened it. 

The VOD asset seemed to come up quite quick for FP1

smidon: .

We also have a PS4 on one of the TVs, I must experiment with the browser on the PS4 and see if that works.

Is Spark sport currently free while in beta? When I setup an account via my iphone via the mobile site ,it said that I would be charged $ a month after my free trial ends. Couldn't find any other mention of pricing. Guessing there should be a number after $ ? But after not entering my credit card details, I was still able to access some of the content.

RE free content

Last week, the Herald reported that Spark's fall-back plan if the stream goes haywire during the Rugby World Cup will be to shift a game onto TVNZ's Duke channel within five minutes.

Latch refuses to confirm that. He says Spark will detail its fallback plan in April.

To help build subs ahead of that date, a "freemium" model will see some content offered at no cost, even for those whose one-month trial has expired.

For example, Formula 1 practice sessions will be available via the freemium part of the site – but if you want to watch the qualifier and final race, you'll need to be a subscriber.

mattwnz:

 

Is Spark sport currently free while in beta? When I setup an account via my iphone via the mobile site ,it said that I would be charged $ a month after my free trial ends. Couldn't find any other mention of pricing. Guessing there should be a number after $ ? But after not entering my credit card details, I was still able to access some of the content.

 

30 Day free trial, and then rolled onto monthly subscription unless suspend before end of trial. Price $19.99 a month.

You can only receive one free introductory trial, so if it's still in beta after a month will  still have to pay if wish to continue with the service.

https://help.sparksport.co.nz/getting-started/about-free-trial/how-does-the-free-trial-work

Rugrat reread the last line of what they wrote and above about freemium content.

Apsattv:

Rugrat reread the last line of what they wrote and above about freemium content.

 

 

No, despite the service still being beta with substantial app usability issues still present they're still charging full price for it.

Benoire:

 

No, despite the service still being beta with substantial app usability issues still present they're still charging full price for it.

 

Can you list the substantial usability issues, which I take as causing a great deal of inconvenience accessing and watching a feed.

What I see, and will re raise as a list, is:

1. What's On (list of playing or scheduled to play titles) is not listed in the sport categories, only in HOME

2. FF/RW slider works fine now but needs thumbnails, and +- 10 second option

3. When a title is playing, but the feed has not started yet, it shows as playing, and it is, but the feed isn't yet. We need either the title to show as  "playing" only when the feed is, or an indicator. I saw FP2 had to be FF 30 minutes to see the start of the feed. 

4. If you have had the app open (say last night), and went to access the app, it isn't refreshing, so while the title shows ON NOW, but it won't play, you need to restart the app. (I don't know if an Android app in the background operates the same as iOS)

Thats all I am seeing on my platform, which is iPad via CCu or Airplay to TV. If these 4 issues that I see on my platform were fixed, I would take it as finished. Easy to access, easy to FF/RW, playback is 10/10. Plus the benefit of using TV, or tablet, i.e. multi room. Plus no need to record. ATV4 and the equivalent Android TV app would be the icing on he cake. 

NB I realise there are other devices that are a problem, feedback is needed on them.

tdgeek:

 

Can you list the substantial usability issues, which I take as causing a great deal of inconvenience accessing and watching a feed.

 

What I see, and will re raise as a list, is:

 

1. What's On (list of playing or scheduled to play titles) is not listed in the sport categories, only in HOME

 

2. FF/RW slider works fine now but needs thumbnails, and +- 10 second option

 

3. When a title is playing, but the feed has not started yet, it shows as playing, and it is, but the feed isn't yet. We need either the title to show as  "playing" only when the feed is, or an indicator. I saw FP2 had to be FF 30 minutes to see the start of the feed. 

 

4. If you have had the app open (say last night), and went to access the app, it isn't refreshing, so while the title shows ON NOW, but it won't play, you need to restart the app. (I don't know if an Android app in the background operates the same as iOS)

 

 

 

Thats all I am seeing on my platform, which is iPad via CCu or Airplay to TV. If these 4 issues that I see on my platform were fixed, I would take it as finished. Easy to access, easy to FF/RW, playback is 10/10. Plus the benefit of using TV, or tablet, i.e. multi room. Plus no need to record. ATV4 and the equivalent Android TV app would be the icing on he cake. 

 

NB I realise there are other devices that are a problem, feedback is needed on them.

 

Sorry saw this at the kids football and then forgot to reply!

Usability to me is based around how effective the system is to control and do what you want with it, right now for example, there is no fine control over timeshifting.  I wanted to go back 30 seconds last night during FP1 but the slider doesn't have that fine control, leading to going all over the show.  That is a fundamental usability issue right there and something that should have been fixed by now, yet it hasn't.  I accept the concept of beta (I'm an original backer of Star Citizen!) but I'm at the same time I do not accept that beta testers should pay full price for the pleasure of teasing out these simple issues.

I've continued to subscribe due to my crazy insatiable desire to watch F1 but I know I'm being dumb in doing so as all is confirm to Spark that users will pay even for under developed software.

For this system to hit 10/10 it would need:

• Android TV app that is brand agnostic
• Full FW/RW with live picture and not just blank screen skip (a la sky)
• Apple TV App
• Bookmarks built in to the stream to jump to the key points should you arrive late in to the stream, or accessing the VOD stream.

I won't use chromecasting once the android TV app is ready as I hate CCing as I much prefer a remote and tend to keep my phone away from me when watching stuff.

Benoire:

 

Sorry saw this at the kids football and then forgot to reply!

 

Usability to me is based around how effective the system is to control and do what you want with it, right now for example, there is no fine control over timeshifting.  I wanted to go back 30 seconds last night during FP1 but the slider doesn't have that fine control, leading to going all over the show.  That is a fundamental usability issue right there and something that should have been fixed by now, yet it hasn't.  I accept the concept of beta (I'm an original backer of Star Citizen!) but I'm at the same time I do not accept that beta testers should pay full price for the pleasure of teasing out these simple issues.

 

I've continued to subscribe due to my crazy insatiable desire to watch F1 but I know I'm being dumb in doing so as all is confirm to Spark that users will pay even for under developed software.

 

For this system to hit 10/10 it would need:

 

• Android TV app that is brand agnostic
• Full FW/RW with live picture and not just blank screen skip (a la sky)
• Apple TV App
• Bookmarks built in to the stream to jump to the key points should you arrive late in to the stream, or accessing the VOD stream.

I won't use chromecasting once the android TV app is ready as I hate CCing as I much prefer a remote and tend to keep my phone away from me when watching stuff.

 

 

 

Whats full FW.RW with live picture? Thumbnails? Ive fed that back, I will reply when I get a response.

ATV4 app is coming. Spark have advised a range of new apps. I would assume they are pre RWC, minimum

Im not familiar with Android TV, but I assume brand agnostic is part of Android TV? I.e. Android TV on anything just works? 

Bookmarks. Ok, what is a key point? Yours may differ to mine etc. Are these key bookmarks common in SVOD?

Tks for the post

Benoire:

 

I won't use chromecasting once the android TV app is ready as I hate CCing as I much prefer a remote and tend to keep my phone away from me when watching stuff.

 

 

 

Im new to CC. Although it does work fine. Pause is easy, there is a timeline but no thumbnail. I use an iPad. Its not ideal like Sky or a remote, but its pretty close for me as regards convenience. So, from a beta POV, its fine.

Re paying for beta, yes I get that. The option is no beta, no pay, no service. Wait till its non beta halfway through F1 season. Had Spark decided to go for sport say mid last year, they would be beta then, but no sport to play, and no testing. Testing fake content would be easy. Lightbox works fine, but the issue is not Spark, its the provider, providing from a live sports feed, and you cant really test that unless you "test that" Had netflix bought the rights, the same would apply as they are not broadcasting from Netflix HQ, they need to broadcast from the race, which is the world feed or the Sky Sports F1 feed, which they cannot broadcast. So IMHO there is no shortcut. F1TV as has been stated by another here, had issues for a long while. Right now, it works. A few UI/UX issues to resolve, but for me, I can easily access a stable full HD feed, so thats close to a finished product. (For my chosen platform)

30 Day free trial, and then rolled onto monthly subscription unless suspend before end of trial. Price $19.99 a month.

You can only receive one free introductory trial, so if it's still in beta after a month will  still have to pay if wish to continue with the service.

 

https://help.sparksport.co.nz/getting-started/about-free-trial/how-does-the-free-trial-work