Verizon Consolidates Mobile FiOS Apps

Looks like Verizon has finally taken my advice and has begun consolidating their disparate FiOS-related apps into a unified control panel.  Instead of say launching an individual mobile program to change channels on our Verizon DVR and then launching another to manage recordings, those formerly distinct functions are now logically accessed and controlled via the single interface of MY FiOS. Further, Verizon tells me:

The new app will allow Verizon customers to more nimbly enjoy the company’s expanding base of remote-access media and entertainment services, while also making it easier to manage their personal accounts anywhere and anytime on their favorite devices.  It also paves the way for easy access to dozens of new remote applications currently in development by Verizon and the company’s content provider partners.

MY FiOS is now available to Android owners in the Market with the iPhone equivalent expected to hit later this year. I assume Verizon intends to decommission their earlier app smorgasbord, but they indicate both new and old apps will coexist for the time being.

21 thoughts on “Verizon Consolidates Mobile FiOS Apps”

  1. I tried the My Fios app, but all it does is point me to the other apps which I need downloaded on my phone!!

    I liked the new Remote/DVR manager but it drained my battery so I had to delete it. The old DVR manager app will have to do…

  2. Hmmmm… that’s not exactly how I understood it to operate. Guess I’ll dust off my Sprint EPIC 4G, charge it up, and try this out tonight. If it is merely an app catalog+launcher of sorts, that’s much less compelling. Perhaps that’s a stop-gap to get this rolling and I’m not even sure they could pull off the equivalent on the iPhone. (Yes, that’s my iPhone above. No, that Too Much Verizon folder isn’t normally there – it’s a custom prop for this post.)

  3. Yeah, it’s just a launcher for other apps. None of which can be moved to the SD card. So I had to uninstall all of them and return to using the older Fios DVR app.

    I assume this is just one step of many in the right direction.

  4. I literally gave up on this right after launching it. I didn’t have handy access to my account info, and discovering it was just a gateway to other disparate apps turned me off.

  5. Yes, this first rev is WEAK. If we deleted posts, this one would go and we’d reblog when the app actually does what it seems to offer. :/ Ah well, maybe I’ll punish them by cancelling my $20 hotspot add-on today.

  6. Phew! Glad it wasn’t just me that was incredibly unimpressed with it.

    In actuality, the Remote App by itself was really great. Control my TV from my phone, DVR control, On Demand search, etc. Just kept running in the background trying to sync for some reason.

  7. credit to Dave for visually representing a growing epidemic with companies creating multiple apps for all their different stores. 5 apps is just way to much to juggle, which is funny, because even apple does it:

    app store (app)
    apple store (app)
    iTunes store (app)
    iBook store (app)
    newstand (app)

    imagine if amazon did this? they’re multiple apps would be endless.

    although, i wish apple would split the camera app into a video camera app and photo camera app that way I can make the decision of what i want to do by clicking the single app instead of waiting for the app to load then waiting for the ability to switch its mode. yes, i know i’m sure i could download a dedicated video app that would manage just video shooting, but i’m too lazy. :) you know, this would actually makes for a good jailbreak app: sbsettings, select camera, launches camera app with photo enabled, and sbsettings, select video camera, launches camera app with video selected. damn, that’s would be worth 2.50 in the cydia store!

  8. Err the Verizon FIOS installation guy broke my flat screen by pulling it away form the wall but not checking to see if any wires were attached to the back of the TV. Needless to say there were and he ripped them out of the wall and nearly dropped the TV on the floor. I have spent three weeks waiting for them to fix the issue and now the Verizon FIOS manager is saying I did it myself???? I think I am going to take FIOS to small claims court! Anyone have any suggestions?

  9. FIOS has the worst customer service out of all the cable TV providers!!!! They broke my flat screen too, and the area manager had the audacity to say it got broken in my move, meanwhile I didn’t move, just transferred service from one carrier to another. I should take them to small claims court too, that is a good idea!

  10. You had my hopes up Dave.

    The new FIOS VOD iPad/iPhone app has racked up 119 one-star ratings on the iTunes star (out of 155 overall) – that’s about 3 out of every 4. The comments are pretty scathing too.

    They’ll have to do a complete relaunch/rebrand if they want anyone to try it again.

    Agree that the remote app is actually pretty nice: one very nice feature is that you can flick photos from your phone to your TV (not exactly sure why that feature belongs in the remote app, but it’s cool nonetheless.)

    FIOS is way behind the other major PTPs (Pay TV Providers) when it comes to any sort of TV Everywhere play.

    Given the expectations set at CES last year, I’m thinking that there’s more to it than just sloth.

  11. Yah… Based on conversations, I’m fairly certain they’re working licensing/deals. Hopefully they bring something out soon, as I’m jonsing for it. But speaking of live iPad video and sloth, what I need to do is get off my butt and review this CableCARD-tastic HDHomeHome and associated iPad app.

  12. Um yeah! Since at least one of us is waiting for the HDHomerun hardware/software review. Particularly when there’s available stock units, and an improved firmware release for the prime 3 tuner unit…… *crickets chirping*

  13. Mark, Joel, It’s solid. Only about 10-15 minutes to set up (on Verizon) even with two Windows software hickups. It’s quite versatile and the price is right. I like.

  14. My primary machine is a MacBook Pro 13″ 2.53 w/ 8gb of ram.

    Should I bother to dual boot, or will Parallels be a better bet? But I have an iPad. I seem to use the laptop less every week. The HDHomerun solution seems to be a better fit than the Comcast box. And that box has a slow down every two weeks, until I force it to reboot….

  15. I’ve used Parallels and Fusion… Boot Camp would likely be better (based on comparison to my wife’s Windows 7 laptop). I have some video tearing on some channels when virtualized, an occasional audio sync issue on other channels, and you basically have to hack the Windows registry to pass the DCA anyhow when virtualized. Is this to supplement other things in the house or would it be your primary television? For me putting cable TV in a window on my iMac while I’m doing other things or fullscreen when working in the kitchen or eating has been quite acceptable. But I wouldn’t recommend virtualization for a *primary* solution. I’ve also had some MC errors where I lose the ability to tune channels and also to keep the overhead low I’ve been using the HDHomeRun QuickTV app for live TV. Having said that, you have double the memory I have.

  16. The main setup (for now) is a Mac mini 2.4/8gb/500gb HD (5400rpm). It will run Windows 7, runs it just fine with an older mini usb tv stick. Not too worried about frame rate, as it will drive an older Samsung 720p DLP (2006). Sound provided by a Sony 5.1/7.1 Receiver (2007).

    And yes Chucky, I’ll build a better box at some point, when I buy a newer TV.

    The HDHomerun I hope, will run in place of the cable box and work with the iPad. Should make a decent alarm/stream tv to make me wake up. And the dvr angle is to make content portable for the morning commute.

    I am presently doing the Boot Camp thing…

  17. Mark, which iPad do you have and were you planning on streaming live from the HDHomeRun Prime or offloading content? The live content is SD channels only (for now) and it truly looks SD – Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, etc all look better. Also, on my iPad 1, many frames drop. Of course they do say it’s only for the iPad 2… presumably for that extra processing power.

  18. I have an iPad 2. I was looking to do both stream SD to the iPad over wireless, and sync content (Letterman, Tosh, Charlie Rose) for the early morning commute.

    Hulu drops 20 mins into any show I watch. The Prime looks as a cheaper alternative to buying a Tivo, and going through the hassle of fixing the storage issues…..

    I’m just looking to record it, get it into iTunes, sync and go. I’m a bedroom community commuter at this point.

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