Day: November 28, 2012

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Well, well, well, DirecTV updated their software

Finally!

My Surround sound system is re-integrated with the DirecTV box and all the rest of my entertainment system.

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It’s nice to have only two controls to fool around with instead of 5.

The unified surround sound control is back to controlling the TV, DVD, DirecTV box, the Apple TV, Xbox, and the external HDMI switch to handle switching all the inputs.

Try explaining the use of all these controls to someone that’s not technological.

You might as well sit them in the cockpit of a 767 and say you want to fly to Fiji.

That was part of the annoyance. All the sudden my simple entertainment system wasn’t simple anymore. That’s of course the down side of technology. As a former technology guy I do my best to fold the complexities into something simple. For example, taking the time to figure out and program all the separate controls into one.

The other part of the annoyance was that I have some premium channels and favorite shows.  True Blood for example has a great soundtrack and is transmitted in surround sound.

For that matter most of the pay per view movies are HD and Dolby 5.1 

So why was I paying for HD, and Surround sound and NOT able to hear surround sound?

The third part of the annoyance was that for 4 years everything had worked perfectly and then DirecTV downloaded an update that broke the system. No notice, warning, or ability to go back to the previous version of working software.

Much like they downloaded an update sometime yesterday that fixed the problem.

I honestly don’t like the stealth downloads. I was only aware that there had been any update because the Satellite boxes were on and I remembered them being turned off. That usually only happens when the units have been updated.

I’m not complaining, at least as Winter approaches I’ll be able to watch the boob tube. That is until the satellite dish gets covered in snow.

It’s hard not to become a couch potato. I mean… 500 Channels, and NetFlix streaming, DVDs and the ability to shoot bad guys in Call of Duty.

No the TV and entertainment system is OFF during the day. I’m busy with other things and I haven’t got the time to waste.

Well except for the porn while I’m eating lunch.

A mans gotta have at least one vice!