Subscribers to Bell FIBE's IPTV service will be seeing some significant upgrades over the next two months as the company begins roll-out of version 2.1. Among the new features include the ability to record up to three HD programs at once, a redesigned user interface, and Facebook and Twitter access.

Arguably most significant of the upgrades is the ability to now record up to three high-definition programs, or record up to two whilst watching a third. Currently, FIBE customers can record up to two HD programs and two standard definition programs at once.

The new user interface design includes a fully transparent guide. This means that while surfing through what's on TV, customers will still be able to see the currently playing program in the background. To date, the guide has appeared at the top of the screen, with a program summary and thumbnail preview window below it (as depicted in the photo below.) This design has been reversed such that users can view the guide at the bottom of the screen, but still see what's going on up top, and much more clearly so that important parts of a show, or perhaps even a sporting event, aren't missed.

There are other subtle design differences as well that are easily spotted once the upgrade takes effect.

Another new feature is the ability to sort live TV by genres in order to locate favourite shows, or find new ones. Sortable genres include entertainment, movies, sports, news, lifestyle, and family.

Finally, while Facebook access has been available for some time, FIBE has now added Twitter access (Toronto only), allowing customers to sign in to their Twitter accounts and post status updates, post details of what they're watching, or view streams. With Facebook, customers can do the same, plus view their walls, friends' profiles, or even see a slideshow of photos right on the TV. In both cases, setting up account access is quick, requiring a simple authentication process, and the creation of a four-digit log-in code. More than one account can be set up, each accessed through its own unique four-digit code. While typing status updates can be an arduous task through the service, viewing status streams and the one-click button for letting friends know what you're watching (as well as "Liking" a program) are neat features. In both cases, the service runs along the left side and bottom of the screen, still allowing the user to watch TV in the main screen area as he sifts through his social networking site.

The FIBE v. 2.1 update will roll out automatically to customers in Toronto, ON and Montreal, QC where FIBE is available over the next two months. It should occur at night without interruption; or if the customer is watching TV at the time it comes through, he'll receive a notification to allow the update to proceed or do it within the next three hours. The process takes only a few minutes, and will come in two phases. The first adds the new search by genre feature, and the second adds the 3-HD stream, plus the update to the UI.

Read our full review of the Bell FIBE IPTV service.

Article Tags:  customers, service, programs, screen, access, watching, record, guide, update, status, program, twitter, design, facebook, three, ability, streams, updates, upgrades, friends, account, significant, digit, process, allowing, cases, genres, include, current