5 Ways Verizon FIOS Makes a Mom’s Life Easier

by Lori Cunningham

I have been a FIOS Verizon customer now for 4 years.  For those of you unfamiliar with FIOS, it’s Verizon’s term for  installing fiber-to-curb service for their customers.  Using fiber optics allows data to be transmitted through light,  which allows information to be transmitted well, at the speed of light.  It’s throughput is immense, and unlike today’s coaxial cable, fiber does not receive interference from electromagnetic forces.  Verizon has invested greatly in fiber optics technology to ensure their customers are future-proofed for upcoming, data intense streaming applications.  All data (TV, Voice, Internet) travels securely from their operations to our homes.

As a result of Verizon’s commitment to their fiber optics infrastructure, Verizon offers their customers some very impressive features that most TV content providers are years away from offering.  Many of these features are at no extra cost to their customers.  Every once in a while I have to remind myself to check out the latest FIOS features, because new ones pop up all the time!

With so many channels available, even for the most basic package, it’s hard to keep track of what’s going on on TV.  Let’s face it, TV’s are not as simple as they used to  be.  Nonetheless, here are some shortcuts/technologies that I use with FIOS to make life easier*:

1.)  DVR Like most people, we live on our DVR.  We never watch TV shows “live,” which gets us in trouble when everyone is talking about the grand finale and we haven’t watched the past 3 episodes!  We’ll get to them…but in our time.  We’re usually pretty caught up on the Housewives of Orange County and Beverly Hills (when it was on), but lagging in Survivor, Amazing Race, and the Apprentice.  Yes, we’re reality show buffs.  The FIOS DVR is such a part of our life that we forget about it…until we stay at a hotel and the kids are going CRAZY because 1.)  they can’t watch the TV shows they want to watch and 2.) they have to sit through the commercials.  Hotels always remind us how tough life was before DVR’s!

2.) Video on Demand Verizon has an immense library of video-on-demand shows and movies.  The best part?  Much of it is free!  There’s no need to record Phineas & Ferb any longer (and use up our valuable DVR space), a number of episodes are always available.  Same with Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Good Luck Charlie, 30 Rock, The Office, CSI, Desperate Housewives, the list goes on.  Video-on-demand plays into our “TV on my schedule,” theme.  It’s beautiful.

3.) Verizon Media Manager – The Media Manager used to be an added cost feature, but is now free.  For the past 7 years, I have earnestly searched for an easy way to display photos and music from my computer to the TV.  I have accomplished this in different ways but none of them were seamless with the TV viewing experience.  They either required extra equipment, a different remote, and/or the input needed to be switched on the TV to display it.  The hassle was getting to me.  With Verizon Media Manager I can accomplish this once taxing task easily.

To get started, you first need to download the Verizon Media Manager on your computer.  Once you do, your media files will be indexed and ready for play.  When I click on the Media Manager option using my FIOS remote, I will see the folders from my computer.  I can select the pictures or media I want to see…and with no delay, which has been a problem in the past.  If I select slideshow, I’m immediately given the option to play one of my playlists or songs from the mp3’s on my computer.  LOVE it!

As we entertain somewhat often, I love to have pictures of the kids playing on the TV when our parents come over or pictures from past parties when we have a party.  The best part is that the Verizon Media Manager frees my locked up photos from the computer and plays them with fanfare (music) on the big screen.  The kids love seeing pics of themselves as babies…and so do I.  They are getting so big, where has the time gone?

4.)  Flex View Admittedly, this one is new to me, but it looks super cool.  Having just gone to the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, I highlighted the biggest technology trends for 2011.  One of them was Apps everywhere, and Flex View accomplishes this.  Flex View is Verizon’s added video-on-demand that allows you to watch your purchased or rented Flex View movies on your TV, iPad, Motorola Xoom, Android phone, iPhone, and more!  Rent or buy once and you can access the movie from nearly any platform – up to four devices plus on your TV!  Think of long car trips, dentist and doctor office visits, waits at the car wash, etc.

5.) FIOS DVR Manager App If you haven’t tried out this app yet, it’s time to visit the Android Market or iTunes Store.

My husband is the undisputed controller of the TV remote control.  At times I think it’s webbed to him.  I’m sure he thinks similarly with me and the computer.  But there are times I like to search for shows, confirm what shows have been recorded, or search upcoming movies.  The thought of wrestling the controller away from my husband is less than appealing.  But now, with the FIOS DVR manager app, I can be in pure browse bliss using my Android phone or iPad to meander my way through TV listings and movies on demand.  Once I find something I like, I can bookmark it if it’s a FlexView or movie on demand, or schedule for the show/movie to be recorded to our DVR.  In fact, performing searches and scrolling through the hundreds of channels are much easier and faster than using the remote!

The DVR Manager App works like a charm when you’re  traveling.  In the past, we’d arrive home and half of our shows were wiped out due to full disk space.  Now I can monitor the hard disk capacity and scheduled shows from the road. I can add new recordings, delete shows, as well as delete scheduled recordings on the fly.  What a great free app that puts the customer in control.

A Mother’s Perspective

As you can tell, I am a Verizon FIOS fan.  We use Verizon FIOS for our phone, data, and TV service.  We pay less for our bundled services together than we used to pay with cable AND we gained all of the extra technology advances that Verizon is a pioneer in.

I should mention that Verizon FIOS also offers a free DVR remote app in both the iTunes and Android markets.  It’s  very slick from what I can tell, offering your own customized channels list, the ability to mute the TV when you receive a phone call, and the functionality to “flick” your photos directly to the TV to view!  I couldn’t wait to try it, but it looks like I’ll have to wait as my DVR is a bit older and not able to work with the remote app.  Rats.

Technology is evolving all of the time.  How anyone keeps up with the latest technology, apps, gadgets is beyond me, especially if you don’t have the passion for it.  It is my hope that WellConnectedMom.com helps keep you educated and interested in the latest technologies available to help you and your family.

If you’re a Verizon FIOS, tell me, what are your favorite features?

* I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Verizon FiOS sponsored blogging program. Any views, opinions or experiences expressed are my own.