Hopper startup screen

[bookworm370]

Is it just a Christmas thing, and if it is, it's a big much putting it into the firmware when there are so many other bugs to work out, or has anyone noticed that the Hopper 3 startup screen on U939 is now Green with Black and Red'ish letters?

It looks a lot better, don't get me wrong, than the plain one that was mostly black, but should the engineers be working on fixing some of the bugs or are they finished and using U939 as the base for the Hopper 4x?

 

[TheKrell]

Is it just a Christmas thing, and if it is, it's a big much putting it into the firmware when there are so many other bugs to work out, or has anyone noticed that the Hopper 3 startup screen on U939 is now Green with Black and Red'ish letters?

I did not notice. But I don't think creating a new startup screen is a significant drain on resources. It's more like something they know how to do without breaking anything else. You can't say that about the bug fixes!

 

[pattykay]

It's more like something they know how to do without breaking anything else.

You have way too much faith, my friend.

Is it just a Christmas thing, and if it is, it's a big much putting it into the firmware when there are so many other bugs to work out, or has anyone noticed that the Hopper 3 startup screen on U939 is now Green with Black and Red'ish letters?

It looks a lot better, don't get me wrong, than the plain one that was mostly black, but should the engineers be working on fixing some of the bugs or are they finished and using U939 as the base for the Hopper 4x?

No new startup screen here on Hopper Duo. However, to your point about the base for a new operating system: It is clear that Dish is starting to run out of three-digit numbers for the U software versions. Hopper Duo is already up to U992. So, what are they likely to do when all of the three-digit numbers have been used?

• Start re-using numbers that have already been used for really old software versions.
• Switch to using four-digit numbers.
• Change the letter at the beginning of the software version.

That last option is a little bit frightening. The last time Dish did that (changing from S to U) it meant a completely new interface, with its own brand-new sets of quirks and problems. This was accompanied by the release of a brand-new line of receivers, of course (Hopper 3 and Wally). However, the switchover to the new interface caused all kinds of issues with the older Hopper receivers when Dish first tried to transition them to the U software. We already know that some new Hopper (yet to be named?) is coming out next year. So, an upcoming overhaul of the interface would not be entirely unexpected. I just can't wait to see what Dish breaks on our existing receivers in the process, though.

 

[TheKrell]

I vote to change the letter.

 

[bookworm370]

You have way too much faith, my friend.



That last option is a little bit frightening. The last time Dish did that (changing from S to U) it meant a completely new interface, with its own brand-new sets of quirks and problems. This was accompanied by the release of a brand-new line of receivers, of course (Hopper 3 and Wally). However, the switchover to the new interface caused all kinds of issues with the older Hopper receivers when Dish first tried to transition them to the U software. We already know that some new Hopper (yet to be named?) is coming out next year. So, an upcoming overhaul of the interface would not be entirely unexpected. I just can't wait to see what Dish breaks on our existing receivers in the process, though.

That's why I think the U939 and the subtile startup screen change is code going in for the new screens for the Hopper 4. Now to hold out in signing another contract until it comes out!

 

[pattykay]

as the base for the Hopper 4x?

If Dish does call it the Hopper 4X, maybe they will actually bring back 4X FF. I know a lot of members here would quickly switch to that model in a heartbeat if they did that. Also, as a callback from my earlier debate in another thread about what the new Joey should be called, maybe they should call it the Joey 4X. This would help differentiate it from the existing 4K Joey. It would be no different from what they did with all those ViP211's, going to ViP211k and then ViP211z.

 

[pattykay]

I vote to change the letter.

I don't know. I am kind of looking forward to getting U1040. I want my software version number to look like a tax form.

 

[navychop]

There seems to be a lot of confidence that another version of the Hopper is coming out.

Why? Just wishful?

I don’t see a business case for a new Hopper version. If they are having reliability problems, I think they’d just make more H3s.

 

[pattykay]

There seems to be a lot of confidence that another version of the Hopper is coming out.

Why?

Well, HipKat said it is coming, and he is never wrong!

I don’t see a business case for a new Hopper version.

People said the same thing about putting the Amazon Prime app on Joeys, and look how that turned out.

If they are having reliability problems, I think they’d just make more H3s.

I think, with all of the existing receiver models, Dish is running out of space to add new apps.

• Before adding Locast, they had to take away Hopper Arcade.
• Before adding Dish Headlines, they had to take away College Sports Multi-View.
• Before adding the Gallery app, they had to remove More Video Services.
• To add Amazon Prime to some Joey models, they had to take Home Media away from all Hoppers.
• With the latest app version, I noticed TV Guardian disappeared from my Hopper Duo. Is a new app coming soon?

So, if Dish wants to keep innovating, and keep adding new apps, they are likely going to have to come out with a new, better version of the Hopper, and give customers an incentive to upgrade to that model. Otherwise, every time Dish adds a new app, or any other new functionality, we are going to have to lose something to make room for it.

 

[TheKrell]

I want my software version number to look like a tax form.

Masochist!

 

[pattykay]

Masochist!

Yep. I am still a Dish customer.

 

[navychop]

I’d hate to move to an H3 and see a new receiver a month or two later!

 

[charlesrshell]

I’d hate to move to an H3 and see a new receiver a month or two later!

Take a chance for Xmas!!!

 

[pattykay]

I’d hate to move to an H3 and see a new receiver a month or two later!

Well, if you had moved to the H3 four years ago, you wouldn't have had that problem. I can sympathize. Shortly after I finally got a Wally, Dish was getting ready to release the Hopper Duo.

 

[bookworm370]

And another reason, I bet they are having problems getting drives as small as 2TB nowadays. A 4TB or 6TB Hopper the the latest tech platters would be required if people were going to start recording 4K programming!

 

[HipKat]

Well, HipKat said it is coming, and he is never wrong!

lol, man I'm wrong way more often than not

 

[pattykay]

I bet they are having problems getting drives as small as 2TB nowadays.

Nah, they can just refurbish the hard drives that they recover from all of the original Hoppers, and Hoppers With Sling, to put in "new" Hopper 3's.

 

[navychop]

I see value in the Wally. Duo, not so much.

Actually, I’ve been trying to wean her off Dish by watching a lot of free YT. Hasn’t worked. She rebelled. SWMBO, you know.

 

[bookworm370]

Nah, they can just refurbish the hard drives that they recover from all of the original Hoppers, and Hoppers With Sling, to put in "new" Hopper 3's.

Refurbish hard drives. Now that's an oxymoron! How does one refurbish a 5 year old HD that has 10's of thousands of spinning hours on it? It's sealed. The platters have read/writes in the billions, the motor, bearings are all sealed and the drive itself is sealed especially if it's one of the helium drives.

Refurbish HD's is just a fancy word for running a Chkdsk and putting it on the left or right shelf if it passes. I've got about 15 HD's of various sizes on a shelf in my basement that I'll sell you as 'Refurbished'.

 

[pattykay]

Refurbish hard drives. Now that's an oxymoron! How does one refurbish a 5 year old HD that has 10's of thousands of spinning hours on it? It's sealed. The platters have read/writes in the billions, the motor, bearings are all sealed and the drive itself is sealed especially if it's one of the helium drives.

Refurbish HD's is just a fancy word for running a Chkdsk and putting it on the left or right shelf if it passes. I've got about 15 HD's of various sizes on a shelf in my basement that I'll sell you as 'Refurbished'.

Okay, how about "reclaim" then? And... 5 year old HD? More like at least 8 years old, if they are from the very first Hoppers.