iPlayer feature request - time search

I've got a BDP5200/05 (f/w 1.31) but I suspect all Philips iPlayer users may have the same basic player(?)...

iPlayer on my unit has NO rewind capability, and fast-forward is limited to 4x. Imagine watching a 2 hour show and missing a bit after 90 minutes... You'd have to restart and then spend well over 20 minutes just getting back to the bit you missed. Argh.

The feature request: a minimalist (and simple?) fix for this problem would be a "Time Search" option, exactly like the one that's already present when playing DVDs, AVIs etc.

It's presumably much easier than implementing a rewind capability?

(NB: I'm not sure if this is something Philips can implement themselves, or if it would need any input from the BBC.)

Wow, nobody else wants this?

Anyway - update: I upgraded the f/w to 1.35, and hey presto, the iPlayer vanished from the home screen. (No iPlayer changes were mentioned in the changelog.)
I found it still present within the Net TV section, and ran it, wondering if it had been updated...
It didn't behave the same as before: suddenly fast forward displayed much higher search speeds (up to 32x, if I remember correctly; this was a week or two ago), and also, when I pressed the rewind button the player responded, and showed rewind speeds (e.g. 4x). Great huh?
NO... The major bummer is that this wasn't real - the actual forward search speed never seemed to go above about 4x, and the player never rewound AT ALL, even when it was telling me it was doing so.

Jeez... :(

Hmm, no replies at all... Nobody cares? :confused:

New approach: does anyone actually think that it's OK to be unable to rewind, or to be unable to fast-forward at sensible speeds?
I'm finding that this problem means I simply don't use iPlayer on this platform at all...

I agree. iPlayer and wifi were the key factors that made me choose the BDP5200/05, but it's very disappointing that I can't rewind. Even the option to skip backward in increments of 1 minute would be a huge improvement.

I'm sure Philips has the skills in house, but I'm afraid the UK isn't a big market for them any more (I'm finding it hard to source their AV products which is a shame as they always have something a bit different to the rest). Fingers crossed though.

Yeah, and it's doubly tragic as it's so close to being a great implementation of iPlayer. It can even stream HD, unlike the Wii, but at least the Wii can seek to any part of the program. (End result: we use the Wii... we don't use the BDP5200.)

I can't get my head around any company (BBC or Philips) putting that much effort into a program only to cripple it.

I've just emailed customer support at Philips. It looks like the app may be the responsibility of the BBC though - they developed the one for the Sony Playstation, and seem to be working with Microsoft on the Xbox. I tried mailing them, but got a standard reply relating to missing programmes (complete with bad grammar) so not holding out much hope.

Yeah, I've had experiences with BBC iPlayer "support" before. Their responses have been characterised by poor English, poor training, poor attention to what I actually wrote... Same as you by the sound of it. All the hallmarks of an overworked call centre on the other side of the world.

As for who wrote the app - I suspect you may be right that the code is only fixable by the BBC. However, I'm entitled to regard that as "not my problem" - my contract is with Philips, who claimed that these players had the iPlayer functionality.
We aren't talking about some special bonus feature that I was delighted to find when I opened the box - it was ON the box and indeed in the product info online, and influenced my decision to buy.
As such, Philips don't get to disclaim responsibility for sorting it out.

I believe I'm also entitled to regard a TV-on-demand implementation without rewind and seek capabilities as unfit for purpose. It's that simple for me.

Philips - do you care?

Philips customer care have opened a service request. If you are in touch with them about this, maybe you could mention it: SR #: 50-905900684

If you've already got a reference, let me know and I'll send them an update.

Hmm, I kinda had the impression that raising the problem here might get a response from Philips...
Maybe I should get in touch directly though - did you do so by phone/email/other?

I used the web form: http://www.feedback.philips.com/consumer . Don't forget to mention my SR# from above. Who knows - it might tip the balance slightly :-)

OK, have made contact... And em, when I hear back from them I'll mention your SR# (yes, amazingly I did forget to mention it in my message! :o).

OK: SR #: 50-909868110. Have updated them with your SR# too.