FyreTV... going the way of the dodo?

[polksda]

The board won't let me reply to the existing FyreTV thread, saying it's 45 days old, so I'll start a new one.

It looks to me that Fyre is turning into another ITVN/XTV debacle. I'm guessing that they've fallen victim to the poor economy.

I've been a beta tester since the middle of last year, and was converted to a paying customer when Fyre prematurely released the product in January.

Bottom line: it's a mess.

The UI is sluggish, the remote (now on v2) is utterly useless. Online documentation is nonexistent. Streaming channels have never materialized. Addition of new content has stopped. The web-based usage tracking is broken. No way to purchase individual films. Only handfull of studio packages. Metadata horribly incomplete or incorrect. Support staff hardly visit the forum any more and any posts questioning or critical of the status of things are either deleted or never allowed to be posted to begin with (posting in many areas is moderated, so anything overly critical never sees the light of day).

Yes, I realize that it's only $9.95 a month. But right now $9.95 buys you a hell of a lot more over at videobox.com, a subscription model that actually works. I've gone to streaming my own video from a PC to a PS3. Yes it's clunky and there are transcoding issues, but at least there's new content being added regularly.

I just got an email from Fyre saying they haven't forgotten about us and that things will eventually happen, but I'm not convinced. The censorship of any discussion on their own board makes me think they're in damage-control mode, and I think it's only a matter of time before we have yet another failed streaming adult service...

It's very reminiscent of the last days over on the ITVN forum... just prolonging the agony.

Very disappointed.

 

[charper1]

Did you try the official FyreTV thread?

http://www.satelliteguys.us/satelliteguys-backroom/127229-offical-fyretv-reviews-comments.html

 

[navychop]

....But right now $9.95 buys you a hell of a lot more over at videobox.com, a subscription model that actually works. I've gone to streaming my own video from a PC to a PS3. Yes it's clunky and there are transcoding issues, but at least there's new content being added regularly.....

Haven't heard of videobox. Are you saying they don't use a box, it goes to your PC? Every PC in the house has access? And I'm misunderstanding something- Why would you stream from a PC to a PS3?

I'm surprised this isn't in the backroom.

 

[polksda]

Did you try the official FyreTV thread?

http://www.satelliteguys.us/satelliteguys-backroom/127229-offical-fyretv-reviews-comments.html

When I click on that link it says I do not have permission to view it. Do you have to pay in order to read that thread?

 

[charper1]

Haven't heard of videobox. Are you saying they don't use a box, it goes to your PC? Every PC in the house has access? And I'm misunderstanding something- Why would you stream from a PC to a PS3?

I'm surprised this isn't in the backroom.

VideoBox - The Best Porn Videos & DVDs - Sex, Porno, and Free XXX Clips Every Day

 

[thiggin2]

When I click on that link it says I do not have permission to view it. Do you have to pay in order to read that thread?

You need to be a supporter to have access to that area.

I returned my stuff. I was not impressed with it. Then they was going to charge me for the box because they said I didn't return it. I had to give them the tracking number and they still said I didn't return it. I finally got it taken care of 2 months after it was sent back.

 

[charper1]

When I click on that link it says I do not have permission to view it. Do you have to pay in order to read that thread?

it is password protected but not aware of needing to pay.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/satelliteguys-backroom/ (I see its in the PUB area so maybe so)

 

[thiggin2]

it is password protected but not aware of needing to pay.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/satelliteguys-backroom/ (I see its in the PUB area so maybe so)

Yea that's what I noticed. It was in the pub section so I figured he had to be a supporter.

 

[charper1]

FYI - Videobox Pricing

 

[polksda]

Re: videobox

There's also a 10-month premium option for a one-time charge of $99.51 (nonrecurring) that gives you access to DVD resolution. That was the option I used.

I like the idea of DRM-free content, meaning that once I download it it's mine to keep and view even after terminating my subscription. Presumably one could sign up for 1 month and go on a downloading rampage and then cancel, and have a huge library to then... umm... "enjoy".

 

[polksda]

it is password protected but not aware of needing to pay.

http://www.satelliteguys.us/satelliteguys-backroom/ (I see its in the PUB area so maybe so)

Stupid question on my part, but what's the difference?

 

[charper1]

Just a more complete and more often read/used thread that was also currently still active.

 

[bajjohnson]

The board won't let me reply to the existing FyreTV thread, saying it's 45 days old, so I'll start a new one.

It looks to me that Fyre is turning into another ITVN/XTV debacle. I'm guessing that they've fallen victim to the poor economy.

I've been a beta tester since the middle of last year, and was converted to a paying customer when Fyre prematurely released the product in January.

Bottom line: it's a mess.

The UI is sluggish, the remote (now on v2) is utterly useless. Online documentation is nonexistent. Streaming channels have never materialized. Addition of new content has stopped. The web-based usage tracking is broken. No way to purchase individual films. Only handfull of studio packages. Metadata horribly incomplete or incorrect. Support staff hardly visit the forum any more and any posts questioning or critical of the status of things are either deleted or never allowed to be posted to begin with (posting in many areas is moderated, so anything overly critical never sees the light of day).

Yes, I realize that it's only $9.95 a month. But right now $9.95 buys you a hell of a lot more over at videobox.com, a subscription model that actually works. I've gone to streaming my own video from a PC to a PS3. Yes it's clunky and there are transcoding issues, but at least there's new content being added regularly.

I just got an email from Fyre saying they haven't forgotten about us and that things will eventually happen, but I'm not convinced. The censorship of any discussion on their own board makes me think they're in damage-control mode, and I think it's only a matter of time before we have yet another failed streaming adult service...

It's very reminiscent of the last days over on the ITVN forum... just prolonging the agony.

Very disappointed.

I have been working with and beta testing since last January and I have to disagree with Polksda initial report, while FyreTV is experiencing the growing pains that is common with any new startup company, I feel that FyreTV is far from becoming like the Dodo. The only way that FyreTV is going to be extinguished is the loss of capital and being that they are doing a 3rd design of the remote and constant improvements of the UI and its bugs shows that they do have the funds to continue or else all improvements would have stopped and that money would be poured into advertising but that is not the case.

I mean what other company has a forum where everyone from the CEO to CTO to the guy loading the box covers weighs in on people's posts and comments. I mean if the CEO can take time out of his day or the system developers care enough to stop and interact with the forum members about bugs found in the firmware.....what more communication can you ask for. I am on the forums periodically and when of the FyreTV Team members gets on there and says that he is personally making it his task to upload a specific content that one not everyone but only one or two of the forum members is asking for, I mean that must show that they are wanting to perfect the product and make their consumer base happy. You could say this post is bias bc I work for the company but this is being written on my off-time and outside of the FyreTV sphere of influence. I am writing this because I think it is important to not allow one opinion to be considered the majority voice......

Sometimes FyreTV doesn't communicate with us because they don't know what to communicate in the very beginning they were sending out emails about every new release or hurdle that was being encountered and when they decided to delay those releases everyone complained about it and now that they aren't releasing information until they are 100% sure people are again complaining. Everyone company delays their releases and everyone company minus the major software players have software that has bugs it is part of the business and what keeps the business moving, the constant development and redevelopment of products....the point is that this is no easy task and I think if it was you would already see competition in the market place with a similar system.....so is FyreTV going the way of the Dodo I think not does it sometimes move forward at a sloth's pace yes but as long as it is forward and they keep evolving I think they will be able to weather the recession, they are not over expanded and have integrated their system with other systems so there overhead is not crazy high.......if you join the service and don't like the service pm Dick Kain on the FyreTV Forum tell him why you don't like the service and he will either tell that they will fix it in x number of days or he will make sure that you walk away with a smile on your face.....and not that way either you perverts.

 

[polksda]

I'm sorry, but we'll have to just agree to disagree. I'm seeing the same trend in communication (or lack thereof) that ITVN exhibited in the final weeks/months prior to its going dark.

We've now been in a holding pattern for well over a month with no new fixes, changes, or updates.

And yes, I do realize that the Fyre forum is a more appropriate place for my comments/criticism, but with the moderation/censorship that goes on there, my posts don't see the light of day. That sets off all sorts of warning bells.

 

[lakebum431]

I was also in the FyreTV Beta from the beginning. The product never got stable, had tons of issues that were never fixed and I sent the junk back before they started charging me for it. I don't see it staying around much longer.

 

[charper1]

I agree with Lake... I thought it was also in bad taste (and bad for the product) to hurriedly switch the beta testers to any type of payment model for a product that clearly is not 75% ready for end users. It seemed like a great way to get units on the streets, bet billing info, get a percentage "hooked" on the unit (or those that would be lazy and not return) and have billing / some cash flowing in. The pricing, even for a unit that function 99% correctly (which this did not) was out of control. There are much cheaper, easier and better ways to get the same things FyreTV was delivering.

 

[supermaxhd]

The STB with new firmware is stable and fast. Over 2600 movies now. The beta testers had nearly a year of free porn and plenty of time to decide if they wanted to keep the service before going live. It almost always worked provided you power cycled the box now and then which has not been needed with the recent firmware. The remote, well not that great but it does work. I do believe the FyreTV team is listening to the complaints and customer wallets.

I believe FyreTV's main competition is with cable and sattellite porn not the internet sites mentioned here. Many people want to watch porn on TV and don't want the hassle or cost of a home theater computer or extender. That is just my opinion.

 

[beast37799]

i have liked the new content and firmware updates in fact ive had zero problems with my box

 

[supermaxhd]

Over 100 new movies today. Picture quality is great. Metadata getting more accurate. AVN award category recently added. Star searches have always worked great. There is a lot to like about this service.

 

[yaz96]

The STB with new firmware is stable and fast. Over 2600 movies now. The beta testers had nearly a year of free porn and plenty of time to decide if they wanted to keep the service before going live. It almost always worked provided you power cycled the box now and then which has not been needed with the recent firmware. The remote, well not that great but it does work. I do believe the FyreTV team is listening to the complaints and customer wallets.

I believe FyreTV's main competition is with cable and sattellite porn not the internet sites mentioned here. Many people want to watch porn on TV and don't want the hassle or cost of a home theater computer or extender. That is just my opinion.

Over 100 new movies today. Picture quality is great. Metadata getting more accurate. AVN award category recently added. Star searches have always worked great. There is a lot to like about this service.

ok, so how long have you worked for FYRE-TV?