IntelliStar I and II Update planned

[curtjr4]

Not sure if there is a thread out there already, but here's what I know. TWC is rolling out a software update (sounds like a hardware update as well) March 5th, 2013 to select units, and will be rolling it out nationwide on March 19th, 2013. Here's the statement I got from TWC:

In an ongoing effort to constantly improve the quality of our products, The Weather Channel is testing a new format of Local on the 8s. We are modernizing our equipment, and this new look is the first phase in building a superior programming model that is compatible with our HD Intellistar 2 and SD Intellistar boxes, delivering an improved customer experience. The testing of the new format will commence Monday, March 5th, with plans to roll out on a permanent basis two weeks later.

Wonder if this means that more changes are ahead...

[Eric]

Sounds interesting, and I hope this half-year-long wait will be worth it.  I just hope it doesn't mean retooling the local forecasts to make room for more longform.

[TWCmatthew]

It will be interesting to see, however I'm a pretty firm believer of the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

[TWCJim]

Interesting. Can't wait to see what TWC has in store for the IS and IS2 next year....

[gt1racerlHDl]

This news makes me want to just forward time and make it March already 

Thanks Curt for the info.

[toxictwister00]

It will be interesting to see, however I'm a pretty firm believer of the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Graphically, the IntelliStar is terribly broken and desperately needs to be fixed. I've been preaching this for 5 years now.

[curtjr4]

You're welcome, everyone.

It will be interesting to see, however I'm a pretty firm believer of the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Graphically, the IntelliStar is terribly broken and desperately needs to be fixed. I've been preaching this for 5 years now.

Yeah, the IntelliStar's appearance is severely degraded. It's time for a new appearance, as the current graphics package does not fit the TWCs other graphics. Not just that, but I find it to be crammed (just a personal opinion).

[TWCToday]

TWC has intended to redo the IS in the same format as the IS2. The question has always been do they use new equipment because the IS2 architecture is so radically different or do they squeak some more life out of the IS. It sounds like whoever gave that statement clearly works in the PR division as there is barely any details of any changes. I'm also curious what they mean by "new format". Perhaps that just means new design but I suspect we see a bigger push for the l bar type forecasts.

It will be interesting to see, however I'm a pretty firm believer of the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Graphically, the IntelliStar is terribly broken and desperately needs to be fixed. I've been preaching this for 5 years now.

Why is it "broken"?

[twcfan68]

I'm very happy to still see the local forecast on TWC, and I guess there is always room for improvement. I'll be curious to see if they use the HD icons or the ones that are currently used on the IS.

[toxictwister00]

TWC has intended to redo the IS in the same format as the IS2. The question has always been do they use new equipment because the IS2 architecture is so radically different or do they squeak some more life out of the IS. It sounds like whoever gave that statement clearly works in the PR division as there is barely any details of any changes. I'm also curious what they mean by "new format". Perhaps that just means new design but I suspect we see a bigger push for the l bar type forecasts.

It will be interesting to see, however I'm a pretty firm believer of the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Graphically, the IntelliStar is terribly broken and desperately needs to be fixed. I've been preaching this for 5 years now.

Why is it "broken"?

I already explained it, I meant it in a metaphorical sense. It's "broken" because it's  graphically bad. Knowing they were planning to go HD the following year (and I'm sure the IS2 had probably been in the works by then) after they released this version of the IS, I would have rather they kept the previous version (while dated) for X years while they made a version that had "some" sort of a connection to the on air graphics or a HD feel itself like that statement seems to infer to above.

I obviously have no idea how much work went into making the graphical version we have now, but when I look at it, it looks like or personally feels like something that didn't have a lot of thought go into it as the first graphical version did. I'm not as critical about how it graphically looks now as I was years ago since I've gotten an HDTV and it looks only a tinsy bit better. My problem was it's boring, bland, and washed out and although the black text was supposed to make it more readily understandable, I think they should have made the blue text a couple shades darker. That was seriously the ONLY thing I liked about this version of the IS, the blue text seemed to compliment the design better and make it somewhat less unappealing. In my personal opinion, I felt they went several steps backwards with this current design layout.

[TWCJim]

I wonder if TWC is also planning to do something with the legacy STARs (4000, XL, Junior) or if they are just gonna leave those STAR units alone 

[Eric]

It will be interesting to see, however I'm a pretty firm believer of the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Well, if that's the case, we'd all still be watching the WeatherStar III. 

[Tyler]

How exactly did you obtain this information? I haven't heard anything about this.

[KevOwensby]

I know one thing, the icons will be the same across all platforms of TWC. From online, on-air, IS/IS2, and mobile platforms... they will all have the same icons for forecasts and current conditions.

[KevOwensby]

This would also probably mean a new Weatherscan version...?