Difference between revisions of "List of Prevue software"

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(Fixing EPG Esquire link)
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|Apple II
 
|Apple II
 
|<span style="color:#800000"> Lost</span>; defunct
 
|<span style="color:#800000"> Lost</span>; defunct
|First known variation of the EPG software. Introduced a scrolling guide, debut of the classic style, titles, text ads, and crawl ads. Units might have been referred to as [https://atariage.com/forums/topic/235974-apple-ii-also-ran-the-epg-on-us-cable/?tab=comments#comment-3280880 EPG-II and manufactured by Syntronics.]
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|Launched in 1981. First known variation of the EPG software. Introduced a scrolling guide, debut of the classic style, titles, text ads, and crawl ads. Units might have been referred to as [https://atariage.com/forums/topic/235974-apple-ii-also-ran-the-epg-on-us-cable/?tab=comments#comment-3280880 EPG-II and manufactured by Syntronics.]
As of November 7, 2020, while footage of it exists, the software is still considered lost.  
+
|-
 +
|Texscan
 +
|<span style="color:#800000"> Lost</span>; defunct
 +
|Need more information on this.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[EPG Jr.|Atari 130XE]]
 
|[[EPG Jr.|Atari 130XE]]
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|<span style="color:#800000"> Lost</span>; defunct
 
|<span style="color:#800000"> Lost</span>; defunct
 
|Final version of the EPG software. Introduced full screen graphic ads.
 
|Final version of the EPG software. Introduced full screen graphic ads.
As of November 7, 2020, while footage of it exists, the software is still considered lost.
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
!colspan="3"| Prevue/TV Guide Channel
 
!colspan="3"| Prevue/TV Guide Channel
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|<span style="font-weight:bold">1988-93:</span> <span style="color:#800000"> Lost</span>; defunct
 
|<span style="font-weight:bold">1988-93:</span> <span style="color:#800000"> Lost</span>; defunct
 
<span style="font-weight:bold">1993-99:</span> <span style="color:#008000"> Found</span>; defunct
 
<span style="font-weight:bold">1993-99:</span> <span style="color:#008000"> Found</span>; defunct
|Internally referred to as EPG Esquire. Early versions (1988-93) seem to be based off EPG Sr., however omits the crawl ads and title, instead providing a blank space above with IFF graphics, text-only, and genlocked video for advertisements and programs, with later versions (1993-99) include similar features, however also introduced a grid that showed the current listings and the next two timeslots for each channel simultaneously, referred to as <span style="font-weight:bold">New Look</span>.
+
|Launched in 1987. Internally referred to as EPG Esquire. Early versions (1988-93) seem to be based off EPG Sr., however omits the crawl ads and title, instead providing a blank space above with IFF graphics, text-only, and genlocked video for advertisements and programs, with later versions (1993-99) include similar features, however also introduced a grid that showed the current listings and the next two timeslots for each channel simultaneously, referred to as <span style="font-weight:bold">New Look</span>.
 
As of November 7, 2020, while the early versions are still lost (and is most likely never to be found, as when Prevue software was updated, previous versions were overwritten.) Various versions of the New Look have been found, along with special LaserDisc-based versions.
 
As of November 7, 2020, while the early versions are still lost (and is most likely never to be found, as when Prevue software was updated, previous versions were overwritten.) Various versions of the New Look have been found, along with special LaserDisc-based versions.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Windows NT
 
|Windows NT
|<span style="font-weight:bold">Junior:</span> <span style="color:#808000"> Partially found</span>; active
+
|<span style="font-weight:bold">Junior:</span> <span style="color:#555"> Not sure</span>; active
<span style="font-weight:bold">Hollywood:</span> <span style="color:#800000"> Lost</span>; active
+
<span style="font-weight:bold">Hollywood:</span> <span style="color:#808000"> In-progress</span>; active
|<span style="font-weight:bold">[[Prevue Junior]]:</span> Separate version based upon Esquire New Look, which was first introduced in 1997. This version was presented in a very limited fashion, with listings alternating by individual pages instead of scrolling and showing just program information on the top portion of screen (though some versions offered genlocked video and graphical ads.
+
|<span style="font-weight:bold">[[Prevue Junior]]:</span> Launched in 1995, most likely referred to as "Prevue Channel PC" internally. Based upon Esquire New Look, which was first introduced in 1997. This version was presented in a very limited fashion, with listings alternating by individual pages instead of scrolling and showing just program information on the top portion of screen (though some versions offered genlocked video and graphical ads.
<span style="font-weight:bold">[[Hollywood]]:</span> Current version of the Prevue Channel software, then referred to as TV Guide Channel after an acquisition. This version switched to the Windows NT platform similar to Prevue Junior, and offered different styles throughout different years, starting with a tan guide reminiscent of Motorola cable boxes of the time.
+
<span style="font-weight:bold">[[Hollywood]]:</span> Launched in 1999. Current version of the Prevue Channel software, then referred to as TV Guide Channel after an acquisition. This version switched to the Windows NT platform similar to Prevue Junior, and offered different styles throughout different years, starting with a tan guide reminiscent of Motorola cable boxes of the time.
 
+
Both versions seem to still be in used, albeit with TV Guide or Pop branding.
While both versions seem to still be used in little cable markets, however only the Prevue Junior software seems to have been found, however hasn't been released most likely due to legal reasons.
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
!colspan="3"| Sneak Prevue
 
!colspan="3"| Sneak Prevue
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|Amiga 2000
 
|Amiga 2000
 
|<span style="color:#008000"> Found</span>; defunct
 
|<span style="color:#008000"> Found</span>; defunct
|Separate from other versions of Prevue, as this was made for pay-per-view barker channels. The channel relied on LaserDiscs, which were controlled by the Amiga.
+
|Separate from other versions of Prevue, as this was made for pay-per-view barker channels. Launched in 1990. The channel relied on LaserDiscs, which were controlled by the Amiga.
While the software has been found, it is currently not usable in emulation, as the proper expansion card is currently not emulated, and as such results in a Guru Meditiation.
+
 
 +
Another version of Sneak Prevue was Barker, however was developed by a different company.
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Windows NT
 
|Windows NT
|<span style="color:#808000"> Partially found</span>; defunct
+
|<span style="color:#808000"> In-progress</span>; defunct
 
|A version of the Sneak Prevue software ported to Windows. This was most likely produced during a time when there were various different projects to port Prevue to Windows. It most likely operated in the same way as the Amiga software.
 
|A version of the Sneak Prevue software ported to Windows. This was most likely produced during a time when there were various different projects to port Prevue to Windows. It most likely operated in the same way as the Amiga software.
While the software has been found, it's currently not available for download, most likely the same reason as the Prevue Junior software.
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}

Revision as of 04:51, 10 November 2020

Electronic Program Guide
Platform Status Information
Apple II Lost; defunct Launched in 1981. First known variation of the EPG software. Introduced a scrolling guide, debut of the classic style, titles, text ads, and crawl ads. Units might have been referred to as EPG-II and manufactured by Syntronics.
Texscan Lost; defunct Need more information on this.
Atari 130XE Found; defunct Second known variation of the EPG software. Has most of the previous features, but omits the crawl ads.

Three versions of the software have been found, however no footage of the original units running back in the day can be found at this time.

Amiga 1000/2000 Lost; defunct Final version of the EPG software. Introduced full screen graphic ads.
Prevue/TV Guide Channel
Platform Status Information
Amiga 1000/2000 1988-93: Lost; defunct

1993-99: Found; defunct

Launched in 1987. Internally referred to as EPG Esquire. Early versions (1988-93) seem to be based off EPG Sr., however omits the crawl ads and title, instead providing a blank space above with IFF graphics, text-only, and genlocked video for advertisements and programs, with later versions (1993-99) include similar features, however also introduced a grid that showed the current listings and the next two timeslots for each channel simultaneously, referred to as New Look.

As of November 7, 2020, while the early versions are still lost (and is most likely never to be found, as when Prevue software was updated, previous versions were overwritten.) Various versions of the New Look have been found, along with special LaserDisc-based versions.

Windows NT Junior: Not sure; active

Hollywood: In-progress; active

Prevue Junior: Launched in 1995, most likely referred to as "Prevue Channel PC" internally. Based upon Esquire New Look, which was first introduced in 1997. This version was presented in a very limited fashion, with listings alternating by individual pages instead of scrolling and showing just program information on the top portion of screen (though some versions offered genlocked video and graphical ads.

Hollywood: Launched in 1999. Current version of the Prevue Channel software, then referred to as TV Guide Channel after an acquisition. This version switched to the Windows NT platform similar to Prevue Junior, and offered different styles throughout different years, starting with a tan guide reminiscent of Motorola cable boxes of the time. Both versions seem to still be in used, albeit with TV Guide or Pop branding.

Sneak Prevue
Platform Status Information
Amiga 2000 Found; defunct Separate from other versions of Prevue, as this was made for pay-per-view barker channels. Launched in 1990. The channel relied on LaserDiscs, which were controlled by the Amiga.

Another version of Sneak Prevue was Barker, however was developed by a different company.

Windows NT In-progress; defunct A version of the Sneak Prevue software ported to Windows. This was most likely produced during a time when there were various different projects to port Prevue to Windows. It most likely operated in the same way as the Amiga software.