BETA: Experimental Guide view for Android

[jsfullam]

I have not been able to participate in beta testing as I would like because the current and past several beta versions have a glitch which interferes with my normal use of the client app. Previously, I had been jumping back and forth between the beta and stable versions so that I can test the new guide features without dealing with the TV series sequence problem.

Here is a link to my other topic which explains the problem I am having. If we can get this fixed, I will be happy to join the beta community again.

TV Series jumping to wrong episode after exiting a completed episode

This previously reported glitch persists through the last several beta versions. When watching a TV series through the TV shows menu, after completing viewing an episode, exiting the episode does not jump directly to the next episode on the TV shows timeline. The highlight (center screen) jumps one episode too far in advance, forcing me to press the right direction to move to the proper episode so that I can continue viewing in the correct order. In the following example, I have just complete…

[eric]

@Michael_Birk

Using new version, if I select Settings, Support, About Channels or Test Speed to Server; it crashes to OS.

Should be fixed in the latest pre-release:

@fancybot

v2026.02.12.2240

• FIXED: crash from last build that would happen when going to Support items in Settings

[Shaggylive]

@eric

@Shaggylive Please let me know if you run into that issue again with the weird rendering glitch.

bummer, I knew i shoulda kept my mouth shut..
caught it again. it was while navigating around the "SIGN OFF" block for TVE fox. think the picture is the 3rd time I made it happen in a row.

also while trying to get to settings to submit diag, I could not get to the sidebar navigation, and ended up at the streamer4k home screen. I don't think cdvr beta crashed, as it launched as if it never did. (finally used F1 to get to Recordings screen, then sidebar-settings)
seems to only be a problem on the guide, all other screens i've tried (Up Next, Recordings, ect..) all allow access to the sidebar navigation, with a subtle differences.
the screens; TV Shows and Movies (I have no 'videos') require the back button to reach the sidebar if a show or movie is highlighted. other fields on these screens and all the other screens will bring up the sidebar with a simple navigation left.
I can understand the initial logic that may have factored into the programming, however it seems unnecessary to deny access with the left button when the minimized sidebar is visible to the left.

hope that makes sense, and also I may have sent diag twice on accident.

[Shaggylive]

just noticed there was an update today? anway

editl
yes its still happening with sever ver. 2026-02-13 220106

[mackid1993]

So this is not a criticism at all. This is more of just an ease of use functionality question.

I noticed it's really hard to sometimes select the collections menu where you choose favorites HD or custom collections for example. Like I have a custom collection for my DirecTV channels and for my OTA channels.

Perhaps an approach like on tvOS where it's a sidebar menu might be better? That might be easier to navigate in a future release before the experimental guide becomes the default guide. It would also make the clients visually more similar between the two platforms. I really do like this experimental guide by the way. I think it's much nicer than the older one. It's definitely much more reliable. The page up and down buttons on my Sofabaton U2 work perfectly. It's super easy to navigate.

I really do love the TLC that the Android client has been getting over the past few months so I'm very happy to be using Android again.

I noticed that we got a flurry of new features for Android and then suddenly not so many. So I have a feeling something's baking but I figured I'd mention this while that baking might be occurring.

[jsfullam]

I would very much like to participate in beta testing and explore/enjoy some of the new features. Unfortunately, the issue I previously reported still has not been addressed.

I have reported this problem several times dating as far back as August of 2024. It seems to me that this issue involves basic functionality of the program, and should be resolved with expedience.

TV Series jumping to wrong episode after exiting a completed episode

This previously reported glitch persists through the last several beta versions. When watching a TV series through the TV shows menu, after completing viewing an episode, exiting the episode does not jump directly to the next episode on the TV shows timeline. The highlight (center screen) jumps one episode too far in advance, forcing me to press the right direction to move to the proper episode so that I can continue viewing in the correct order. In the following example, I have just complete…

From 2024:

TV Series Episodes

Hi, While watching TV series, we have noticed that after viewing an episode, and backing out to the series page, the selected episode does not go back to the one which was most recently viewed. It jumps ahead two episodes, as indicated in the following screen capture. [Channels_20240805_092951] It seems to me that it used to come back to the current episode if viewing was not completed, or perhaps to the next episode in the series. This required only one click to select a new episode to re…

As I often watch television series in order, I cannot use the beta version of the app. Having to navigate back to the correct episode in the sequence every single time is rather frustrating.

[mackid1993]

Maybe email support with that.
They were pretty responsive in terms of fixing a bug I found. If you send a pretty detailed report of what you're experiencing and they can reproduce it, they'll probably put out a patch. It's really easy for things to get lost in a community forum.

[mackid1993]

@jsfullam so I just loaded up a show that I have just sitting on my server not anything I've recorded just files I have lying around. I watched an episode I fast forwarded to the end and I have it set to autoplay the next episode and it did. It played the next episode in the series not like two episodes ahead. I had it on season five episode one and it went right to season five episode two in the latest beta.

Maybe it's specific to DVR recordings? I don't know.

[jsfullam]

@mackid1993

I have it set to autoplay the next episode and it did

Yeah, I have tried that, and it seems to play the next episode correctly. That's a helpful work-around. Although, as I look deeper into that option, it doesn't work as it should. I need it to prompt me before going to the next episode. That way, I can choose to proceed with viewing, or not. A prompt also prevents autoplay form running through several episodes if someone falls asleep with the remote.
Enabling the prompt only works through the individual series options, which override the global setting. The global prompt setting can be enabled either on an individual client, or pushed by the server to all clients under the client settings in the GUI. Neither one of those methods work.

[mackid1993]

Oh for me it just shows like hey we're playing the next episode in three seconds 3 2 1 play.

I think that's how it was intended to work.

[chDVRuser]

Auto Play

Almost like there's a user guide (for some things)

[jsfullam]

@chDVRuser

Almost like there's a user guide (for some things)

And it's not like I don't always look to the user guide for answers first, and search through the community forum second, to see if anyone else has experienced the same issue.

The problem is that sometimes, neither of those go-to's have the answer. For instance, directly from the link/page you posted: This doesn't work as described in the user guide!

My previous comment explains that selecting the option individually within the client, or globally in the server GUI, does not function correctly.

In fact, as I jumped over to test the beta version, even enabling "Prompt" from the series options does not work. The prompt comes up at the end of the episode. If you do not select it, it just goes ahead and plays the next in the series, rather than "If you do nothing, your current episode will end as usual" as quoted from the above.

In fact, the options are different depending on where you go to select them.

From the client playback settings:

From the TV series "more" show options:

From the CDVR server GUI client options:

[jsfullam]

@mackid1993

Oh for me it just shows like hey we're playing the next episode in three seconds 3 2 1 play.

One of the options has a countdown and then just goes to the next episode. Another one doesn't, and is supposed to wait for your input. Without input, it is supposed to end the current episode, and go back to the series guide.

[chDVRuser]

I was just pointing out they documented how it's supposed to work.
If it doesn't, they need to fix the bug or update the documentation.
Not sure what's easiest.

[mackid1993]

@jsfullam The best thing to do is to email support and give a detailed description of what you're seeing.
Ideally, if you can record your TV screen and send it to them, that's the best way to get help because then they can really see what's happening.

[jsfullam]

@chDVRuser

I was just pointing out they documented how it's supposed to work.

@mackid1993

The best thing to do is to email support and give a detailed description of what you're seeing.

I appreciate your helpful suggestions. I'm beat just from figuring out what is wrong. Properly documenting and soliciting customer support will have to wait for another day.

[Shaggylive]

@jsfullam

From the CDVR server GUI client options:

I've messed with this on and off. just the last few days actually I noticed that the web gui 'Prompt' doesn't play well. I have more consistent results with 'Play Next Episode' since it does prompt correctly. (the hint was 'Play Next Without Prompt')

[jsfullam]

@Shaggylive

I noticed that the web gui 'Prompt' doesn't play well. I have more consistent results with 'Play Next Episode' since it does prompt correctly.

Thanks! You have had the same experience as I have. I sure would like it if "Prompt" worked exactly as described in the user guide.

"Prompt - Channels will show a card describing the next episode. You can select the card to automatically jump to the next episode. If you do nothing, your current episode will end as usual."

It will take more experimentation for me to properly document what works where and how for each of the options and setting interfaces. (sigh)

[Shaggylive]

@jsfullam

It will take more experimentation for me to properly document what works where and how for each of the options and setting interfaces. (sigh)

for what it's worth I remember havening this problem in the past, so I know the pain. I think the server gui option for 'Prompt' is advancing in addition to the built in advance for the highlighted show when finished watching the previous episode. I also believe this is related to showing the correct (same as highlighted) episode in the pop-up Watch Card

I think this Watch Card should auto close once you choose your option as it also interferes with remote shortcut buttons IE- toggling PIP back to full screen

[jsfullam]

@Shaggylive

I think the server gui option for 'Prompt' is advancing in addition to the built in advance for the highlighted show when finished watching the previous episode.

This is an intriguing theory. A single "prompt" option advances to the next episode. Double stacked "prompt" options may advance twice, to the "next-next" episode... I'll have to investigate. Although, it seems to me that I have the "jump ahead two episodes" problem even when I have all of the prompt options disabled. (and ONLY in the beta version of the client app) The stable release acts as one would expect...
This "watch card" as you show it, doesn't look familiar to me. Is that launched from the "up next" or "Home" page?