Difference between revisions of "List of Prevue software"

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(Fixing EPG Esquire link)
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|[[EPG Sr.|Amiga 1000/2000]]
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|[[Prevue (ESQ)|Amiga 1000/2000]]
 
|<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

Revision as of 20:26, 7 November 2020

Electronic Program Guide
Platform Status Information
Apple II Lost; 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 EPG-II and manufactured by Syntronics.

As of November 7, 2020, while footage of it exists, the software is still considered lost.

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.

As of November 7, 2020, while footage of it exists, the software is still considered lost.

Prevue/TV Guide Channel
Platform Status Information
Amiga 1000/2000 1988-93: Lost; defunct

1993-99: Found; 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 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: Partially found; active

Hollywood: Lost; active

Prevue Junior: 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.

Hollywood: 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.

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.

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. 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.

Windows NT Partially found; 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.

While the software has been found, it's currently not available for download, most likely the same reason as the Prevue Junior software.