One of the things I like most about DIRECTV’s Gemini isn’t what it “is,” it’s what it “isn’t.” It’s not a DIRECTV receiver, even though it acts like one. It’s technically not a Genie client either, even though it does all the same things. It’s a streaming box that runs an app called “Gemini.” That app acts just like a DIRECTV receiver or client, so much so that you think you’re using the real thing. Not only that, it’s faster than any DIRECTV receiver or client even though it’s pretending to be something it’s not.
However, this does mean that there have been some changes. This article goes through the differences that are baked into the new remote. One of the things that’s mentioned there is that you can use the right arrow button instead of the dedicated skip button on older remotes. It will skip forward 30 seconds.
Since 2006, there’s been a hidden keyword in DIRECTV boxes that let you skip forward 30 seconds without seeing anything go by on the TV. You just go into the search screen and do a keyword search for 30SKIP and that’s all it takes. You won’t get any feedback but it will just work.
I’m pleased to say that the 30SKIP code works on the Gemini as well. This is great news for people who just don’t want to ever see commercials. You get to it the exact same way.
If you don’t want to skip 30 seconds like that, you can also do a keyword search for 30SLIP and it will put things back the way they were.
Well, way back when… there was a technology called ReplayTV. The company was a competitor to TiVo in the early 21st century. There was a specific feature on ReplayTV DVRs that let you skip an entire commercial break with one button. As a result of this, and in fear of losing all revenue, the broadcast networks sued ReplayTV into oblivion. The company went broke and DIRECTV bought their technology for pennies on the dollar.
In 2012, DISH came up with Auto Hop, which is a similar technology that skips an entire commercial break with one button. Again, the big content creators sued. DISH made nice, and agreed to remove Auto Hop from any channel that requested it. Many of them did, which is why the feature isn’t really part of DISH’s marketing. It’s hard to explain why it only works on some channels.
Anyway, from the DIRECTV point of view, they had the tech to be able to skip forward 30 seconds TiVo had similar tech, but they’ve never been a mainstream product like DIRECTV’s DVRs. In order to keep everyone as happy as possible, they hid the feature so you could only use it if you knew how. This guaranteed that untold millions of people wouldn’t use it. Their loss.
If you are ready to upgrade to DIRECTV’s Gemini or activate any DIRECTV equipment, you owe it to yourself to call the experts at Solid Signal. We are able to take on any task that the big call centers can. The difference is we don’t make you wait on hold forever just to get a script reader who doesn’t know what they’re talking about. We have real, caring people on the line ready to help during East Coast business hours. Call us at 888-233-7563. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you quickly!
The post Can you skip forward 30 seconds with the Gemini? Can you use 30SKIP? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
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However, this does mean that there have been some changes. This article goes through the differences that are baked into the new remote. One of the things that’s mentioned there is that you can use the right arrow button instead of the dedicated skip button on older remotes. It will skip forward 30 seconds.
That hidden keyword
Since 2006, there’s been a hidden keyword in DIRECTV boxes that let you skip forward 30 seconds without seeing anything go by on the TV. You just go into the search screen and do a keyword search for 30SKIP and that’s all it takes. You won’t get any feedback but it will just work.
I’m pleased to say that the 30SKIP code works on the Gemini as well. This is great news for people who just don’t want to ever see commercials. You get to it the exact same way.
If you don’t want to skip 30 seconds like that, you can also do a keyword search for 30SLIP and it will put things back the way they were.
Why isn’t this easier?
Well, way back when… there was a technology called ReplayTV. The company was a competitor to TiVo in the early 21st century. There was a specific feature on ReplayTV DVRs that let you skip an entire commercial break with one button. As a result of this, and in fear of losing all revenue, the broadcast networks sued ReplayTV into oblivion. The company went broke and DIRECTV bought their technology for pennies on the dollar.
In 2012, DISH came up with Auto Hop, which is a similar technology that skips an entire commercial break with one button. Again, the big content creators sued. DISH made nice, and agreed to remove Auto Hop from any channel that requested it. Many of them did, which is why the feature isn’t really part of DISH’s marketing. It’s hard to explain why it only works on some channels.
Anyway, from the DIRECTV point of view, they had the tech to be able to skip forward 30 seconds TiVo had similar tech, but they’ve never been a mainstream product like DIRECTV’s DVRs. In order to keep everyone as happy as possible, they hid the feature so you could only use it if you knew how. This guaranteed that untold millions of people wouldn’t use it. Their loss.
Get your Gemini from Solid Signal
If you are ready to upgrade to DIRECTV’s Gemini or activate any DIRECTV equipment, you owe it to yourself to call the experts at Solid Signal. We are able to take on any task that the big call centers can. The difference is we don’t make you wait on hold forever just to get a script reader who doesn’t know what they’re talking about. We have real, caring people on the line ready to help during East Coast business hours. Call us at 888-233-7563. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get back to you quickly!
The post Can you skip forward 30 seconds with the Gemini? Can you use 30SKIP? appeared first on The Solid Signal Blog.
Continue reading...
