I've been using OTA (USA) TV within MC ever since v20.00 and it shows great potential (The theater view UI looks fabulous and audio/video playback quality is excellent). However, a few bugs persist through v20.27, and I believe there are a few areas for improvement in day to day use. Thus, suggestions follow that are divided in to two categories: Priority bugs that should addressed ASAP, and recommended improvements that can come as time permits.
All findings based on use via Theater View.
Priority Bugs:
1: When playing back previously recorded content, 99% of the time video will play at proper speed, but audio plays in slow motion. I don't know if this next point will help with debugging or not, but I can occasionally get the audio to play at proper speed if I repeatedly stop then attempt replay of the content being recorded (like the electronic equivalent of popping a clutch on a car). Once recordings finish audio and video always playback properly. I won't speak for others who use MC, but playback of recording in progress is a very important feature I use all the time, especially for sport events.
2: When I can get a recording in progress to playback properly, it usually starts at the latest part of the recording instead of the beginning where it should always start (at least when playing back for the first time). I suggest fixing this in one of two ways:
A-(best option): Track how often the user has accessed the recording in progress and for the initial view automatically start from the beginning. If the recording is stopped by the user after the initial view and then restarted, offer the option to "Watch All" (from the beginning), or "Watch" (from the last stop point).
B-For any recording in progress before playback begins always offer the user the choice of "Watch All" or "Watch". Though not quite as easy option A for first time playback of a recording in progress, at least users can ensure they are not forced to watch the potentially spoiler view of the latest point in the recording as is the case now.
Recommended Improvements
1: MC TV has the very useful FF 30 second, RW 10 second skip feature (very effective for benign (from content provider's perspective) commercial skip), but IMHO the controls are mapped to the wrong remote buttons in WMC emulation mode. Specifically, the FF and RW skip functions are mapped to the right and left menu navigation buttons. However, these functions belong in the same location WMC currently has them for TV playback: The >>| and |<< buttons. At present when using MC, my remote (Logitech Harmony One in WMC mode) does nothing when >>| or |<< are pressed in TV mode, however >> and << do work well for multi-speed FF or RW. It simply makes more sense to have TV playback controls that sever similar functions like multi-speed FF/RW and FF/RW skip grouped together and active. I don't think it is an accident that the Harmony One has these four buttons located adjacent to each other on the remote. Indeed, I only discovered the FF and RW skip options on the menu navigation buttons by accident.
2: Develop a new recording icon for series recordings so users can easily distinguish them from one-time recordings when viewing the TV guide. IMS, WMC uses three recording dots arranged vertically and this would work well for MC, but any easily viewed physical difference will do (differently colored dot, dot with "S" in the center of it, etc.)
Again, I want to thank you for the TV/DVR module. Overall, it is actually one of the better ones I've used but it does require a few bug fixes and functional improvements to elevate it to it's full potential.
