WebTV

Contacted this morning by customer using it

[juniperwasting]

I was under the impression that all the old WebTV boxes had been turned into paperweights. I mean hard wiring a web browser is a bit like building a ship out of stone. To the root of my question though, I would like to see if I can support this, but I cannot find an emulator. Does anyone have a option for me to explore?

Thanks,

j

[balam]

There used to be a lot of info available at [developer.msntv.com...] but the site seems to be gone. (Whether that's bad or not, well.... ;)

WebTV is now known as MSN TV. Woo...

For some strange reason, I still have the MS-supplied WebTV v2.6 emulator. It's a 7MB download, and when installed, it does show how absolutely painful it must be to surf via WebTV.

If you're really hot 'n' bothered for the file, mail me and we'll figure out a way to get it to you...

balam

[juniperwasting]

I think it might be just raw curiousity that is making me want this. I too checked out the developer.webtv link to a fine M$ 404. Had to chuckle at that. I would like to see the emulator though, and will sticky in a sec.

j

[davemarks]

Me too :)

I've seen this coming up in stats, its not a big deal but would be interested to see what it looks like.

If I sticky me the URL would you crab a screen shot for me, or if the download is available...

Cheers

[davemarks]

Might be worth looking at this link [groups.msn.com...]

Seems the site was hacked - roflmao - but was due to be restored on the 14th - no such luck

[tedster]

A site search here will turn up lots of info. The most universal issues I know of are:

1. Original page width is compressed to approx 570px
2. Graphic text can be illegible
3. Color shifts get ugly - especially in the red area
4. Pure black text on pure white background can make problems on older TV screens.

There's lots more issues that are more particular, such as javascript support, multi media support, etc.

[richardb]

Screen res is equivalent to 544 * 378 - a nightmare to design for.

Tabbing through navigation on all but the simplest sites is a real pain in the butt.

Cannot remember the colour limitations but it was poor and colour bleed on screen between highly contrasting colours, meant you had to wear shades.

Tedster has nailed the rest. Don't bother unless the site interface is the equivalent of a WAP interface.

Rich

spell

[juniperwasting]

balam, thanks for the emu...got a good laugh out of the css support. errr. lack of it. "unregognized attribute in href tag 'target=_blank'" he he he...sorry folks but I don't know if I will be able to support that one.

[aroach]

I unfortunately get a lot more web TV traffic than one would expect. I have no idea if my site even functions with it but I'm guessing it doesn't since there is never more than one page view from them.

Of course I'm also amazed when I see NS3 in my stats. I had nine visits from NS3 users yesterday alone.

[pixel_juice]

I also followed the broken link to webtv a few weeks back. Saw a a webTV-er in logs and wondered what kind of horrendous experience they had ;)

[juniperwasting]

Well I feel sort of bad about not being able to support it. Judging from the marketing angle, and the email conversation I had with this customer this morning, the majority of WebTV (and MSNtv) users are elderly. People who get intimidated around a PC but were encouraged by family to use it for email and photos and such. I do sell items for that age bracket, and I hate to think I am excluding any one.

j

[richardb]

LOL

pixel_juice u can guarantee that it was enough to put them off for life.

[richardb]

juniperwasting

I understand what you mean, I'm sorry that I slated the whole thing but they were missold -- at the height of the dot.com boom I had to incorporate Web TV into the equation (it was a nightmare) the only thing that you can do is to help to educate. Yes, I know people on this forum are going to have a go at at me (I couldn’t care less – great forum some people are very successful, so what?) but if you don’t who will?

Regards

Rich

[davemarks]

hehe i put a post out on another forum i frequent and I friend uploaded the file for me

I have to say "Oh my goog god!" at the results it produced.

The hugh font sizes, together with compressing the whole thing down to small res etc, oh and the HUGH drop down boxes etc!

I think you'd have to design an interface especially for it! and current situation - Not Worth It one bit

If anybody wants the file, sticky mail me and i can upload to some webspace or email (I have broadband, well for the next 3 days at least but thats a whole other story!)

[juniperwasting]

Does anyone have info on the new MSNtv and if it will support valid HTML, JS, and CSS. The marketing push is on, the 800lb gorrila wants this to work I guess. I would not be suprised to see many new hits in my log from it. What to do? What to do?

[aroach]

At one time I seriously considered buying my domain name as a .tv and duplicating my site there for web tv. Life happened, I got busy and forgot about the whole thing.

[pixel_juice]

Anyone know of somewhere I can get hold of the webTV emulator? Since this post I keep seeing web TV visitors all the time, and my PC just won't do 560x420 ;)

[mattur]

pj, there is a webtv viewer archived on browsers.evolt.org (along with lots of other weird and wonderful browsers :))

[pixel_juice]

Thanks for that mattur :)

Wow, my sites don't look too bad in webTV, taking into account that every site looks terrible ;)

News.bbc.co.uk returns a blank page because of the java ticker, lol. If TV companies can't do it, what hope is there?

[ncsuk]

Can someone send me it please :)

[pixel_juice]

uk.evolt.m.flirble.org/webtv/win32/PCViewerInstall.exe
or
planetmirror.com/pub/browsers/webtv/win32/PCViewerInstall.exe

It's actually quite a nice dev application too, if webTV was your audience :)

[ncsuk]

Nevermind I got it.

LOL I think I'm either a really good designer or I am lucky because my sites all look pretty damn good in it lol :)

[contracosta]

the majority of WebTV (and MSNtv) users are elderly. People who get intimidated around a PC but were encouraged by family to use it for email and photos and such.

In my experience this is absolutely true. I make a website for a Masonic lodge and nearly half (!) of those old guys (average age is 66) are using WebTV.

No wonder they are afraid of the Internet.