Feature request - more frequency options for software update checks (eg 7 days, 14 days, 28 days)

[000]

Hey Team

A simple feature update request…

In the software update checker options, can additional options be added for longer times between update checks?

E.g. the current maximum is 2 days.

But surely it makes sense to give customers the option to check weekly, bi-weekly, or every 4 weeks as well?

This will be especially useful for those on the beta feed, as you can then choose your risk appetite (more frequent, or less often.)

Thank you and keep up the great work =>

[MrQuade]

This will be especially useful for those on the beta feed, as you can then choose your risk appetite (more frequent, or less often.)

Who's to say that a beta update doesn't get released an hour before your monthly check occurs?
Granted, it decreases the probability, but you are relying on chance.


We are in a slightly unusual situation at the moment where we have been recommending flashing to beta because the production release was getting hopelessly out of date, so we were exposing more users to potential beta instability.

The normal expectation of a beta user is that they would check the forums and be prepared to roll back after any update, but that is an unreasonable expectation for regular users.

Once this beta goes to production, I would say that most users will be encouraged back onto the production update feed and won't have this problem again.

[prl]

The normal expectation of a beta user is that they would check the forums and be prepared to roll back after any update, but that is an unreasonable expectation for regular users.

To get on the beta update feed, a user has to go to the current beta release discussion topic in the first place, though it's clear from the posts today that returning to that topic for information about beta updates doesn't occur to everyone.

[sub3R]

... In the software update checker options, can additional options be added for longer times between update checks?

E.g. the current maximum is 2 days.

But surely it makes sense to give customers the option to check weekly, bi-weekly, or every 4 weeks as well?

Do you realise you can control how often you check for updates?

Under Live TV > MENU > Setup > Software manager > Configure update check I have the Background check option disabled. That way I control when I want to check for any available updates by pressing OK on Check for updates now in Live TV > MENU > Setup > Software manager. It will then check for any updates & then give me the option to cancel or go ahead with the update.

[MrQuade]

To get on the beta update feed, a user has to go to the current beta release discussion topic in the first place, though it's clear from the posts today that returning to that topic for information about beta updates doesn't occur to everyone.

Yea, I'd consider that an unfortunate side effect of us pushing so many casual users onto the beta. Ahh well, circumstances sort of pushed us down this route.

[000]

... In the software update checker options, can additional options be added for longer times between update checks?

E.g. the current maximum is 2 days.

But surely it makes sense to give customers the option to check weekly, bi-weekly, or every 4 weeks as well?

Do you realise you can control how often you check for updates?

Under Live TV > MENU > Setup > Software manager > Configure update check I have the Background check option disabled. That way I control when I want to check for any available updates by pressing OK on Check for updates now in Live TV > MENU > Setup > Software manager. It will then check for any updates & then give me the option to cancel or go ahead with the update.

Yes, I realise that. But I want less frequent automatic (background) checks. 2 days isn't long enough... I'd like 7, 14, 28 day options.

I don't want to have to check manually. I want a longer automatic check, even if that means that a release can come out on the day of the check

[Grumpy_Geoff]

... In the software update checker options, can additional options be added for longer times between update checks?

E.g. the current maximum is 2 days.

But surely it makes sense to give customers the option to check weekly, bi-weekly, or every 4 weeks as well?

Do you realise you can control how often you check for updates?

Under Live TV > MENU > Setup > Software manager > Configure update check I have the Background check option disabled. That way I control when I want to check for any available updates by pressing OK on Check for updates now in Live TV > MENU > Setup > Software manager. It will then check for any updates & then give me the option to cancel or go ahead with the update.

And you can assign "Software management" to the BLUE/extensions live TV popup menu.

[prl]

It's a trivial change to add additional longer times between update checks, but it only counts from the last time the PVR GUI was started (Restart GUI/Reboot/Shutdown & restart).

It does a check immediately after the restart, no matter what the setting is, so unless your PVR runs continuously for longer than your check interval, having a longer check interval doesn't help all the much.

But even if you get the popup, you get two opportunities to say "no" before the firmware is actually installed.

[000]

Yep, understood. Yes, I thought it might be relatively trivial. To be honest, I was surprised the maximum was every 2 days.

My basic use-case is that:

• I want longer check times, so that on some of my Bwiz units, I want them to check less frequently than others (others I'm fine with more frequent checks)
• I don't want to have dialogues on-screen on some Bwiz units as often, as I don't check them (turn on the connected TV) as frequently. It's possible I may not check one Bwiz unit for 2 days, or someone might use a different source on that TV, and never check the Bwiz. In which case a dialogue will be present on the BWiz, preventing any other dialogues (such as power timers from working), and no one would see it.
• But I still want automatic updates on that 'less frequently accessed Bwiz' - but at a different schedule to what is available currently

Hence being able to chose my own schedule for different Bwiz's (> 2 days)

[prl]

Yep, understood. Yes, I thought it might be relatively trivial.

To add your weekly, bi-weekly and every 4 weeks, what would be needed is:

Code: Select all

	config.softwareupdate.checktimer = ConfigSelection(choices=[
		("1", "hour"),
		("2", "2 hours"),
		("3", "3 hours"),
		("4", "4 hours"),
		("6", "6 hours"),
		("8", "8 hours"),
		("12", "12 hours"),
		("24", "24 hours"),
		("48", "2 days"),
		# Add these entries ...
		(str(24 * 7), "7 days"),
		(str(24 * 14), "14 days"),
		(str(24 * 28), "28 days"),
	], default="1")

To be honest, I was surprised the maximum was every 2 days.

I don't think I'd ever looked, but I'm not really surprised.

[prl]

It's possible I may not check one Bwiz unit for 2 days, or someone might use a different source on that TV, and never check the Bwiz. In which case a dialogue will be present on the BWiz, preventing any other dialogues (such as power timers from working), and no one would see it.

What you're suggesting won't stop that, though it will make it less likely. Only disabling automatic updates will stop it.

BTW, you make a list like this:

Code: Select all

[list][*] First item
[*] Second item
...
[/list]

• First item
• Second item
  ...

To make a numbered list, start the list with [list=1]; to make a numbered list using letters: [list=A] or [list=a]

[000]

Thank you, makes sense. Ah yes, back to "list school" I go. Many thanks for the refresher, I totally stuffed that one up (fixed now)

[sub3R]

And you can assign "Software management" to the BLUE/extensions live TV popup menu.

I have that & it is much quicker than going through the menus.

[Grumpy_Geoff]

And you can assign "Software management" to the BLUE/extensions live TV popup menu.

I have that & it is much quicker than going through the menus.

BLUE>>2 (check for updates).
BLUE>>4 (backup)

[sub3R]

And you can assign "Software management" to the BLUE/extensions live TV popup menu.

For anyone wanting to do this. Enable Live TV > MENU > Plug-ins > Software management > MENU > Show software manager on blue button.

[000]

Thank you, great tip! Cheers.