It’s been a while, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been busy updating the site with new, fun features. You will notice a new “Now Showing” button in the Zingzing toolbar. Clicking on this will bring up programmes coming up soon as well as currently showing programmes. Useful if you want to get a quick snapshot of what is on now. Clicking on a programme will reveal a new “Watch Now” button that links off in a new window to live broadcast streams for those channels ( Registration may be required )

Enjoy!

Due to popular request, I have added the ability to add any channel to your current package. This is good news for Freesat viewers in Ireland, where viewers are able to see channels in multiple regions. Visit the zingzing options screen to customize you channels preferences.

I was sent this link toady and wanted to share with you. It is a good alternative to the major broadcasters on demand websites.

http://www.teev.co.uk/

It is really convienient to have content from iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and Demand Five all in one place. It also features AJAX search which makes finding programmes even easier.

I was sent this link toady and wanted to share with you. It is a good alternative to the major broadcasters on demand websites.

OK, this is a big change form the normal topic but I feel really strongly that a reputable company like FedEx should not be aloud to get away with criminal / intentional damage to private property.

Aggressive & rude

A courier from FedEx arrived today to pick up my new web server and deliver it to its new home at the hosting company. When the courier arrived at my door, he was quite a nasty / aggressive to me. Strange.. what have I ever do to him? The courier then snatched my package from me (muttering something under his breath) and stormed away. I have never witnessed such aggression in my life from a courier! Unbelievable! But it does not stop there..

As I shut the door to the flat I got a sinking feeling, began to think about the rather random encounter, and immediately started to fear for the safety of my hardware. It was then too late to chase after the gentleman, so I ran towards the nearest window to witness my server make it’s way down the path to the delivery van.

“All £1500 & 30kg worth of computer traveled about 8 feet through the air”

Then, to my absolute horror, he shot put (yes, that’s an over the shoulder throw) my server into the delivery van.. All £1500 & 30kg worth of computer traveled about 8 feet through the air and landed in the van with a vary large *bang*. So much was the force and effort of the throw, that I immediately ran out of the house and into the road to try and retrieve my hardware, fearful that it would be further volleyed by the delivery men. I didn’t manage to catch the van in the end.

Appalling customer support

I am really really angry at how FedEx have treated me when I was trying to report the incident. Their central office informed me when I rang that in order to complain, I would have to speak to their regional office ( Unit 21, Mitcham Industrial Estate, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 2AP ). Upon calling their Mitcham office, they informed me that their was no complaints process and they could not verify my claim unless the driver reported my package as being damaged. They also told me that the driver had gone home for the day so was unavailable for question about the incident… humm.. Why would a driver who had purposely set out to damage the parcel (clearly demonstrated by the overhand throw) voluntarily admit to this damage???

Not content with being fobbed off like that, I telephoned the central FedEx office again, stating I wanted to make an official complaint, who told me this had to be made with their regional office. (moving in circles here..) I then informed their central office about the regional office’s attitude towards complaints…

After quite a long time on hold while the central office spoke to the regional office, I was transfered (again) to the regional office who were a bit more receptive than they had been previously. He told me that he would talk to the driver after he was done with his shift ( previously, I was told he had gone home for the day!! ).. Ok, I can appreciate the inefficiencies that crop up in large organizations but the behavior of their Mitcham office is now raising some serious accountability concerns.

Conclusion

As you can see, FexEx have some fundamental issues that need sorting out, in al levels of the organization. I only hope that other consumers don’t have the same experience that I did.

My new toy arrived in the post… and I’ve been busy moving Zingzing to the new hardware.

Quad Core Intel Xeon, 2.83GHz
4GB Memory
73GB, SAS, 15K RPM Hard Drive (Hot Plug)
SAS 6iR internal RAID Controller
Redundant Power Supply (Hot Plug)

This will really help with some of the more "expensive" features like related programmes and text based searching. Shame I can’t keep it in the house..

Zingzing users now have complete control channel ordering and selection using the new options interface! The interface adds a number of cool features like custom package selection and drag-and-drop channel ordering to create your own personalized listings.

To access the new settings, click on the “Options” button at the top of the main Zingzing interface. Let me know what you think.

You can now get your favorite TV listings on paper, great for circling your favorite shows and planning your evenings viewing. To access this feature, visit the homepage and scroll to the bottom of the page where you will see the new, customizable schedule builder.

Let me know what you think.

Zingzing now has a link in the show details view to add programmes to your Outlook, iCal or Google Calendar. No more missing your favorite programmes! If your calendaring application supports it, you will receive a reminder message 5 minuets befor the start of a programme. Why not sync with your mobile phone to get your alerts on the move?

Other features in this weeks update are (EPG) channel numbers when hovering over a channel icon and clicking on a channel icon will now perform a search for programmes on that channel.

Zingzing can now grow to take up the entire browser window letting you fit even more channels into view. To activate this feature, click on the new “Fullscreen Icon” in the top left of the interface. To exit fullscreen mode, click it again.

Those of you lucky enough to have a large monitor will also notice that the default grid size has been increased.

If you are reading this, then you are viewing zingzing on my brand spanking new server! There were a couple of small glitches when I switched the switch late last night. Hopefully these have all been cleared up but if you do experience a problem, please report it and I will get right to fixing it.