I hope you don't think me impudent, but I do know a little about EPGs, TV
schedules and how it all works in the United Kingdom.

But first let me say that I just LOVE the Windows Vista Media Centre as a
Personal Video Recorder! With a 750 GB drive to store TV on, the amazing
interface and easy of use, it makes Sky's HD box seem like a ZX Spectrum!

There is one tiny problem, and it is the accuracy of the Electronic
Programme Guide. I understand that in the UK, this is supplied to Microsoft
by Gypsy Media, who do the DigiGuide product.

The problem is that in the UK, the broadcasters use very finely adjusted -
to the second - schedules to try and gain advantage over each other. So, for
example a programme that is in the EPG from 20:30-21:00, it will run from
20:29:44-20:59:44.

Sky+ and Freeview playback boxes KNOW this, and use this data to get the
correct recording.

And you, dear Microsoft, can too.

The BBC publishes the information, for example:

http://www0.rdthdo.bbc.co.uk/service...rogrammes.html

And you get:

http://tinyurl.com/3c4cb9

The information is contained thus:


<ProgramURL>dvb://233a.1004.1044;4a99@2008-01-28T20:29:44Z/PT00H30M</ProgramURL>

If you would be so kind as to use the correct information in the EPG, you
would transform the UK Media Centre into a truly ACCURATE personal video
recorder.

Yours hopefully,

Briantist

http://www.ukfree.tv


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