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TheForce
Supporting Founder Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in Blockbuster At Home Support
For the Blockbuster Movie Pass to be worth it, we have to see a good selection of disk titles and plenty available to get when we order. Also, it is hoped that the turn around time is quick enough to give us more than just a couple of titles a month.

I signed up on Oct 1 like many of you and put a dozen titles in my cue. Some were new releases and others very old DVD titles just to test the waters.

Looks like the e-mail notice I got today is I'm being passed over for the first 4 and will receive #5 on my list, ETA is Thursday. BY comparison, I ordered the same title as #1 in my list from Netflix and it arrived today!

Hopefully, we will see some improvement in the near future on this service. For now, I'll just keep my Blockbuster IN STORE movie pass which is considerably more expensive but works.


Please post your results over time and the rest of us can see if Dish/BB has a serious delivery problem they need to fix or it works great in some areas.
195 Replies · 28965 views
H
Does anyone know if the rental system used in stores is linked into the Blockbuster Movie Pass (BBMP) system?

Most of the disks in my queue go to a 'short wait' status after they get released, so for the last month, I've been averaging 2 DVD's a week (if lucky). I usually would get one DVD from BBMP by mail and the 2nd from an in-store exchange. I monitor my BBMP queue on regular bases and noticed that there seems to be a delay with the notification process when you exchange a DVD in a store. Sometimes it takes a 1/2 a day or longer for the status to be updated and show that the BBMP by mail DVD was returned to a store and a store DVD was checked out. Then it takes another 1/2 day or more for the system to update when the store DVD is returned.

This week I finally received (on Tuesday, 11/1) one of the 'short wait' DVD's that was in my queue. It was mailed to me last week (mailed Friday, 10/28). We watched the DVD that night, and then on my way home from work the next day (Wednesday, 11/2), I stopped by a BB store and exchanged it for one of the new releases that was in my queue. This morning (Thursday, 11/3) on my way to work, I dropped off the DVD at the same store I checked it out from. I just check my BBMP queue and it still shows that I have the DVD that was mailed to me.

Not that it's really going to matter because even if they update my queue to show that the mailed DVD was recieved and the rented DVD returned, all of the new releases in my queue are all in 'Short Wait' status. No surprise there.

UPDATE: Just looked at my rental history, and it looks like at least one of the mailed DVD's I exchanged in a store for a in-store DVD doesn't have a return date posted and it isn't the one I used for an exchange this week. It was one I used for an exchange last week. The DVD I exchanged it for shows the same date for the 'Ship/Rent' and 'Returned' dates.
woolf
After 15 days with BBMP I switched back to Netflix

I signed up for BBMP the first week it was offered and was prepared to close my Netflix account but decided to wait since it was paid until the end of the month anyway. Glad I did.

For the most part the discs in the mail program worked fairly well, although Blockbuster disc turnaround time was definitely longer than it took Netflix. I did not see a way for me to rate the discs, which I like doing on Netflix. It helps the system recommend things to me that are actually what I might like to watch. And, it also helps me remember what I have already seen before so I do not accidentally re-add it to the list.

I cannot say ANYTHING positive about my so-called streaming experience using either the Dish receiver or the website. The several shows I tried watching via the website just clicked-through to the Hulu website and I had to watch them with commercials. I don't need to pay Dish Network to watch programs on Hulu.

I tried to "stream" a couple of movies via the Dish receiver and after going through the ridiculous process of filtering down (instead of being able to really search) for what was available I could only find really old, and mostly very bad, movie selections that were did not have an additional fee. The "search" process was one of the worst user experiences I have ever had. It is truly terrible and does not make me want to use it again. Once I found something I wanted to watch it told me the film would be ready to view in about an hour or so. What? That is not streaming. When I came back to look for it later it took me a while to try to find that same item in the list again. At that time I did not realize that if I looked under the "television" option there was a button that would show me all of my recent downloads. Not sure why it was under the "television" filter.

It's November and I still don't have a screen that says "Blockbuster Movie Pass," on my VIP622 receiver so maybe whatever upgrade that makes this change would make the process easier.

I also tried the Blockbuster app for Android on my smartphone. Even though customer support told me there were plenty of "free" titles I could stream to my phone under the BBMP plan, I searched for them but could not find anything that did not have an additional charge.

After about 15 days I dropped the BBMP option and want back to Netflix (now that they decided to NOT split the company into two separate websites). It is only a few dollars more to get discs in the mail AND a real streaming option with TV shows an movies I want to see. The streaming program is very easy to use and I can also get the same functionality on my Android phone.
demsd
I tried to "stream" a couple of movies via the Dish receiver and after going through the ridiculous process of filtering down (instead of being able to really search) for what was available I could only find really old, and mostly very bad, movie selections that were did not have an additional fee. The "search" process was one of the worst user experiences I have ever had. It is truly terrible and does not make me want to use it again. Once I found something I wanted to watch it told me the film would be ready to view in about an hour or so. What? That is not streaming. When I came back to look for it later it took me a while to try to find that same item in the list again. At that time I did not realize that if I looked under the "television" option there was a button that would show me all of my recent downloads. Not sure why it was under the "television" filter.

It's November and I still don't have a screen that says "Blockbuster Movie Pass," on my VIP622 receiver so maybe whatever upgrade that makes this change would make the process easier.

The 622 has had the BBMP label in the menu for over a week, and the streaming process has actually been updated. I have watched a few movies via the DVR with only a few buffer issues.
demsd
Does anyone know if the rental system used in stores is linked into the Blockbuster Movie Pass (BBMP) system?

As far as I know, Movie Pass allows for in-store returns.
gadgtfreek
Well, I just dropped em today. I was on BB Online before the whole movie pass start, but what ive seen a lot of lately is movies that say "On Order", as well as Long Wait more than ever, dunno if the increased business is hurting them or what. Also a couple of movies that are out on blu, and on Nflix, are only DVD on BB.

In the time Ive had MP, Ive not watched any of the additional channels, so Ill go back to paying Nflix a little more, for the same wait. At least when they do ship or get returned, it's a one day turn around, as opposed to 2 to 4 for BB. Since the start of MP, Id say my quality of service diminished with the movie mailing.
S
I just dropped it yesterday too.

Even when the title says "available", it came like 3 days after they send it. And they receive what I sent also 3 days after I send it. With Netflix this was different, for example I send it today and got the new one past tomorrow, and alwasy was like that. With BB I have waited more than a week since I send the disc to get another one. And with the stores closing is worse. I just hope they improve the service because it has potential, but now it just isn't good.
rocket69
distro centers are great but dish should look at its current holdings of disk's . If the shipping center is on order and a local store has 6 sitting around have the local store ship it.
osu1991
Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in TV Shows
9 Replies · 145 views
meStevo
First 2 eps out and it's unsurprisingly great to watch Paul Bettany and James Spader work.
osu1991
Watched the first episode and enjoyed it.
Foxbat
James Spader gets the best lines so far. I'm enjoying this series.
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osu1991
Finished the 2nd episode tonight. I'm really liking it so far.

Still hate weekly releases though, especially the way Disney and HBO do it waiting until 8pm to premiere it.
Foxbat
Apparently I'm not a big enough nerd🤓 since I did not read every Marvel Comic Book ever published. If I had, I might be comparing the comics' version of events compared to what's transpiring in "Visionquest". So, I am enjoying the series a lot, not weighed down by previous expectations, knowing only the Avengers MCU movies and the "Wandavision" / "Agatha All Along" TV series.

I found the Mr Know-it-All channel from his discussion about "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" and he's been gleefully picking these episodes apart, referencing the Marvel comics from the 1939 on. Turns out A.I. has been around since before World War II, at least in the comics. (Robots before that, yes, yes.) This show is going back into the archives.
TheForce
Supporting Founder Pub Member / Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Phone & Tablet Zone
It's time for my wife to get a new iphone as her iphone 12 is getting weak battery life test says 70% compared to when new. But it is beginning to show signs of screen freezing as well.
211 Replies · 15131 views
Foxbat
It may be the year to update my 13 to the 15.
Foxbat
BTW, iOS 26.1 is now out for iPhone, along with the OS 26.1 updates for all other supported Appley iDevices.
osu1991
Bought a Motorola G Power 5G android phone as a spare and to use for some work stuff. Was tired of work stuff cluttering up my iPhone 16 Pro. Didn't take long to remember why I originally went to an iPhone. 4hrs doing updates to step up from Android 14 updates to Android 15 and latest updates for 15. Ads on the Play store above the app I searched for is something I don't really remember from the last android phone I had 13-14 yrs ago. Face ID on iphone has spoiled me too.

I just wanted a cheap phone mainly for work pictures or I would have got an 17 Pro and used my 16 for work stuff, but no need to spend that kind of money. I don't even have cellular service on the Motorola, just using it on WiFi and added my google voice number to it with the app.
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Foxbat
Apple released their 2025 Holiday video. Friendly forest fauna find forgotten phone…
​

There's also a behind the scenes "Making of" video, too:
​
Foxbat
BTW, iOS 26.1 is now out for iPhone, along with the OS 26.1 updates for all other supported Appley iDevices.
BTW, iOS 26.3 is now out for iPhone, along with the OS 26.3 updates for all other supported Appley iDevices.
1770953531617.png
Foxbat
It may be the year to update my 13 to the 15.
Apple made me an offer I couldn't refuse. For whatever reason, they bumped up the Trade-in value of my iPhone 13, first to $180, and just recently to $195. So I took the Apple Cash from Apple card savings and the $195 trade-in and have a shiny new iPhone 17 nothing. The base 256 GB is more than enough for my needs.

Now I'm on the lookout for a leather case for it…
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Foxbat
My iPhone 17 is now running iOS 27.2 (whatever happened to 27.1.x?) and it looks like all the other Apple devices that can are releasing 27.2 (looks like it came out Monday)
"MysteryMan"
Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in Computers and Gadgets
I created this thread on the original Edgecutter Cutting Edge Forums site. It's simply a place for those to review the latest software available for those using Windows 10 and Windows 11. To date it has received 112,559 views. I have been asked by staff to continue this thread here.
523 Replies · 47946 views
EarDemon
If it wasn't for what I want, I wouldn't need any of this.

Do I need a collection of handheld radios, scanners and speed enforcement countermeasures? Nope, but I want them. Very little, if any of the software used to interface with these devices is available on Linux.
WhiteBeard
If it wasn't for what I want, I wouldn't need any of this.

Do I need a collection of handheld radios, scanners and speed enforcement countermeasures? Nope, but I want them. Very little, if any of the software used to interface with these devices is available on Linux.
To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything. ☹️
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EarDemon
To each there own but I've found that Windows can't do much more than Linux can. Can't have everything. ☹️
For niche use cases, yes I agree. Kali for ethical hacking and security testing, and running a Cacti server for network monitoring are the two things I have experience in. Plus thousands and thousands of other things, but for every day use I just can't see it. The owner of the GMRS repeater that I pay to access is changing the Tx DPL tones tomorrow, while Chirp is available on Linux, the software to program my MXT500 is not.

I run Fedora and Ubuntu in VMWare, honestly I don't care much for the UI of either of them and I don't feel like spending days/weeks to customize the UI to make it look Windows-like when I could just use Windows. The cartoonish dock at the bottom of the screen reminds me of Apple products.
harshness
I don't care much for the UI of either of them and I don't feel like spending days/weeks to customize the UI to make it look Windows-like when I could just use Windows.
What is so fantabulous about the Windows UI? By many accounts, it has been going downhill since Windows 7.

There are Linux desktops that offer Windows or Mac UIs, yet you don't hear much chatter about them outside of questions about when the creators might get sued.
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EarDemon
What is so fantabulous about the Windows UI?
Because it's what I prefer. I know I've said this a few times, I use Open Shell to give me the cascading start menu a la WIN 95 and NT4.0. The only reason I went from Windows Vista to 7 back in the day was because of Classic Shell. I cannot stand anything other than the OG start menu from 30+ years ago. I'm using ExplorerPatcher to give me Windows 10 UI elements of the taskbar and right click context menus.

If you could take a look at how I set up Windows 95, you'd find many similarities to how I use 11.
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EarDemon
I could probably use that as a starting point, but I don't like the full size icons. If you have to click on each folder that's also a no-go for me, it has to be cascading.

I used to have Peppermint Linux in a VM, that was about as close as I could get to recreating a Windows NT4.0 style of menu structure, but I could never get it to scale properly in VMWare on a 4K display and eventually gave up.

Whatever the boot up time it's fine with me. The longest part of my bootup is the HP SureStart BIOS integrity check. Once that is done, it's only a few more seconds. I haven't done this reg tweak yet since the reformat, but I switched the bootup animation to the Windows 10 style spinning circle of dots, and it's two and a half rotations. I can live with that.
harshness
Because it's what I prefer.
I hope you don't believe that makes it wonderful (especially when you're using workarounds for Microsoft's malfeasance).

I use LibreOffice as opposed to Microsoft office (even in Windows) because it's UI is like the Office of old, so I'm putting my money where my mouth is (in a manner of speaking). The ribbon was one of the worst ideas to come out Redmond.
HipKat
I could probably use that as a starting point, but I don't like the full size icons. If you have to click on each folder that's also a no-go for me, it has to be cascading.

I used to have Peppermint Linux in a VM, that was about as close as I could get to recreating a Windows NT4.0 style of menu structure, but I could never get it to scale properly in VMWare on a 4K display and eventually gave up.

Whatever the boot up time it's fine with me. The longest part of my bootup is the HP SureStart BIOS integrity check. Once that is done, it's only a few more seconds. I haven't done this reg tweak yet since the reformat, but I switched the bootup animation to the Windows 10 style spinning circle of dots, and it's two and a half rotations. I can live with that.
I used to pin the C: drive to the Win Taskbar and it would open in cascading style
"MysteryMan"
2026-10 Preview Update Builds: 26300.9818 and 26200.9818 (KB5127936) has been released. Moderate time needed for those choosing to perform a manual download/install/restart. Quality improvements only. No new operating system features.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
· posted in TWiT Tech Podcast Network
0 Replies · 3 views
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68645 Replies · 2679585 views
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harshness
Show and Tell - Al Wilson
sdfntx
On with the Show - The Rolling Stones
gms49ers
The Show Must Go On - Pink Floyd
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Bobby
If Love Must Go - Dobie Gray
FTA4PA
Drift Away - Dobie Gray
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Van
Van
Last reply · posted in What's Cooking?
Who says dinner or lunch has to be the only good meals of the day?

Honey butter grits with scrambled eggs and grilled boneless pork ribs on flakey biscuits washed down with cranberry juice.
6633 Replies · 380103 views
dfergie
Dos cackleberrys over easy on top of 2 corned beef hash patties fried in skillet... Chocolate milk.
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TRG
TRG
Cold morning today, only 32 degrees. Fired up the oven and made cinnamon rolls (from a tube) and a pot of coffee.
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TRG
TRG
2 egg burrito with bacon and a side of hashbrowns. Coffee.

1645.webp
TRG
TRG
Breakfast Quesadillas. Grilled flour tortilla filled with scrambled eggs, hash browns, chopped green chile, cheddar & Jack cheese and bacon. Coffee.

q.webp
Bobby
Taco omelette. 3 eggs, taco meat from yesterday, diced green chilis, cheddar cheese, chopped red onion, avocado, black olives, chopped tomato, La Victoria Salsa Brava.

This one was really, really good!