Although I love my Comcast digital service and high speed internet, I've never really been a fan of the Comcast supplied (Motorola) DVRs. I prefer TiVo HD DVRs. Nonetheless I have a couple of the Comcast DVRs around the house as well as a Comcast Digital Converter Box on a TV in the kitchen. I've been waiting for and begging for a great iOS App for my TiVo boxes and I continue to wait. In the meantime Comcast has delivered Xfinity TV for their boxes. I have to give credit where credit is due. They nailed it!
Comcast Gets It!
We all have our complaints about the various services we have, but this time it's praise. Comcast delivered the App that I've always envisioned. First off it's a Universal App for all iOS devices and taking advantage of the iPad's larger display. Next it provides FAST access to the channel line up and guide. Of course it's not a new concept for an App like this to allow you to remotely program your DVR to record a show and this App does that very well. However, the thing I wasn't thinking about was that it also turns your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into a basic remote control for the times when you're watching live TV. If you want to switch to a different channel/show, just scroll to the show you want to watch, tap it and the App will give you the option of switching your DVR/digital box to that channel right now. No line of sight required because it's doing it over the internet. No codes to learn because it already knows about your Comcast gear. Virtually no setup at all! You just log in with your Comcast user name and password and your Comcast equipment will show up. Since I have 2 of their DVRs they first showed up as DVR 1 and DVR 2. Thinking ahead, they allow you to tap each box and display an identification message on the screen of your TV so that you know which one is which. Then you can give them whatever names you want. For example, the one in my office is now called…. "Office". Since this control works over the internet you can do it from any room or anywhere in the world that you have an internet connection. I can already see the pranks happening that people will be playing on unsuspecting loved ones
(Change the channel and then just as they reach for the remote, change it back…repeat…)
My only wish for the next update is that there doesn't seem to be a fast way to jump to a particular day in the future on the guide. You can search for shows. You can filter down to things like just HD, but if I want to go to Friday's listings I have to scroll and scroll and scroll (unless I'm missing something), just like on the physical DVRs. Give me that and it's a 5 star App!
If you're a Comcast TV customer and you have an iOS device, this is a must have App!



Terry…
You’re right on about the Comcast Xfinity TV app. I got it yesterday to use on my recently installed Comcast AnyRoom DVR set up. Now, when I’m watching TV from one of the AnyRoom Set-Top (non-DVR) boxes, I can change the channels on it and set up recordings for the main Comcast DVR using the App. One feature that is missing from the App, however, is the ability to delete previous recordings on the DVR. I would agree with your rating of 4/5. Thanks for all your great reviews.
Marty
” a fast way to jump to a particular day in the future on the guide.”
Just tap the date square (upper left corner) and it brings up nifty date wheel that allows you to pick whatever date and time you want.
Bill, thanks and that’s what I was hoping for so when I read your reply I went straight to my iPad to try it. However, I’m tapping all over the date and everything in the upper left corner and I never get the wheel that you mentioned.
Terry,
Here is a (bad) shot of my iPad showing the date wheel and where to tap to get it.
http://gallery.me.com/napabill#100205
Bill,
Yes in the Comcast App you CAN see the wheel you pictured, but not in the new App.
Thanks for the screenshot. It appears that you’re using the original Comcast App and my review is of the new Xfinity App. I think that’s where the disconnect is.
Right you are. Didn’t realize there were two. Apparently Xfinity App also doesn’t include Favorites. Think I’ll stick with the Comcast App for now. Changing channels on the App, while nice, isn’t a deal breaker for me. The date wheel, however, is. I’m sure it’s an “Oops” on the developer’s part. I bet that the “Now” button will become functional shortly.
Given any thought to how this would work alongside the Slingbox and its app when traveling?
If you have the SlingPlayer App and a Slingbox then you probably don’t need this one as much. Although using this App will be much faster/easier accessing the guide, searching for shows and recording than using the SlingPlayer on screen remote. Xfinity is free, so it’s a nice compliment to the SlingPlayer app.
I don’t have DVR but am using it to view program guide and switch channels. I do wish the app had a method to enter a channel number directly. Takes a long time and lots of flicking to scroll to a high-numbered channel.
It’s also silly fun to switch channels on someone watching on the upstairs set.
This app is cool, until your roomate keeps switching the channel while he is at work and you are home.
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Terry have you looked at this app lately?
won’t load, won’t view, crashes every time… EVERY time.
they won’t listen to us, maybe you can get them to fix it.
My COMCAST horror story. About 1 1/2 months ago, a nice young man signed me up for a Xfinity package of TV & internet, he assured me that the install was FREE. A week later a man arrived to do the install, and he noticed that there was no cable line running from the street to the house, so he could not do the install, but he called it in, and said it might take up to 3 weeks, but no charge to us to get the line to our house, and he would get that scheduled.
Nothing happens for about 5 weeks, then I get a call from COMCAST asking why I chose to cancel service set up. I informed them that I never canceled, and was waiting for the line to be ran from the street to the house, and they had done that yet. The customer rep said that someone would be out in a week, and they would call to setup a install date after the line to the house was complete. I was led to believe that they would have to jackhammer up the driveway, and repair it in order to get the line to the house. Meanwhile, I called COMCAST back because nobody had discussed what we needed for our computers, and I wanted to be sure that when they came they had all the necessary modems and any other hardware needed. We have 2 computers in separate rooms, and 3 laptops. I was told that we needed a wireless modem at the main computer, and a special attachment that would convert the other computer to wireless. I was told that there was no charge for the modem, it would be supplied, but if they installed it there would be a $100.00 charge. I said that I would install it. Since they said nothing about me ordering the equipment, I assumed it would be coming with the techs at the time of the install. Now, a week later, I get a call from COMCAST to schedule a install. I say that is great, but I do not think you have run the line to the house yet, at least I had not seen anybody, and my driveway looked the same. She assured me that I would not necessarily even know that they had come, and that my work order says it is ready for the install, so we scheduled it on a Friday, and I left work early to be there. You quessed it……still no line to the house! The guy for the install called, while I was standing beside him, and demanded that they get someone out now to get the line in to the house. Soonest they could come was the next day, and I already was commited to be somewhere else. He assured me that I did not need to be there for that, and that they would call back Monday to setup my in house install. That would be nice, if they had actually come Saturday, and when I called Monday they had no record of anything……which at this point, no longer suprises me. I write a scathing letter and send it to customer service, and get a callback from Christina, the line was in to the house (and they did not have to tear up my driveway), and when would I like them to install? I take another vacation day on Friday, because I was going to be gone over the weekend. Christina assures me that she is here to make it right, and she gives me her personal number to call if there is any problem with the install. Well there was a problem. The install is FREE if they can connect to already existing cable in the house, should you want your TV anywhere else, they will charge you to run the line. Even if I could get past this issue (which at this point I could NOT), they also had no modem, or any other hardware for me so I could hook up my internet (thank god I had not yet canceled my current provider). They informed me that I needed to order the stuff, and it was not FREE, although once I was a customer I would get a discounted rate. I called Christina and got her voicemail (it was 4 in the afternoon). I sent the guys away without letting them install. I have called Christina again, on Monday, and still have not heard back from her. I am now canceling my order, and looking for a company that knows how to treat customers! By the way, 1 star is too good for them but I had to to in order to post!