Several long-awaited new features that were supposed to roll out to Sky’s streaming devices, Sky Glass and Sky Stream, have been postponed at the last minute, presumably due to technical difficulties.
Some users have reported getting those features, along with a new software version, in early February – with the update then being rolled back, and their devices going back to the previous version.
Among the new features that users will now have to keep waiting for – again – are the highly requested Personalised Playlists – which finally will finally bring personal profiles to Sky’s devices (something that we never saw on Sky Q).
While Sky confirmed to us that these features have indeed been delayed – there’s no word yet on an official new launch date.
The update, which started to roll out (and then rolled back) during the first week of February, was known as Entertainment OS 1.1, and also included a new direct “Play” voice command, a new Cast and Crew rail, and more (see full details below).
- February 25 Update: The 1.1 update is rolling out again – learn more.
Sky Glass (see my review), released in 2021, is a 4K TV set with a QLED HDR display and a built-in Dolby Atmos soundbar with six speakers.
Sky Stream (see our review), which launched in late 2022, is a standalone streaming set-top box that works with any broadband provider.
Unlike Sky’s other devices in the UK, Sky Glass and Sky Stream don’t use a satellite dish – instead, they rely on broadband, and stream all the content to the TV, much like other streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV and Roku – or streaming services like Sky’s own NOW (see our Sky Glass VS Now comparison).
Sky periodically rolls out software upgrades and new features for both Glass and Stream – a couple of months ago, Sky even upgraded the picture quality on Sky Glass, via a software update.
The operating system under the hood of Glass and Stream is now called Entertainment OS, and the new – delayed – software version is 1.1.
Some users on Sky’s community forums reported seeing the new version on their devices at some point – with Build Number QS014 – which was then rolled back to the previous build version, QS013.
This is usually done when unexpected technical issues and bugs, that weren’t caught during early beta tests, pop up on customers’ devices.
If it appears that these will have a serious effect on using the device, and a fix can’t be implemented right away – Sky can roll back the software version, and stop it from rolling out to new devices.
Sky’s original press release for the new version originally said it would be coming by February 4, but the timeframe on the document – which is still online – has since changed to “over the next month”.
A Sky spokesperson told Cord Busters: “We’re aware there has been a delay on the roll out of the features. We’ll confirm as soon as the updates will be available to all customers.”
Sky Glass / Stream: Which Features Were Delayed?
Personalised Playlists
Almost every streaming service (and some streaming devices, such as Amazon’s Fire TV) supports user profiles these days – and Sky’s services and devices were left behind for a long time (even Sky’s other streaming service, NOW, doesn’t support profiles).
With Entertainment OS 1.1, Glass and Stream will finally get a unique version of the Profiles feature, called Personalised Playlists (I got to see and tell you about an early version of it a few months ago).
The Playlist on Glass and Stream is the main “Watchlist” (as it’s called on other services), where you can create a list of everything you want to watch from the TV guide, on-demand and apps, simply by pressing the ”+” button on your remote.
Until now, the whole house had to share a single playlist – so it was cluttered with shows and films Dad watches, along with kids’ content and maybe even stuff your housesitter saved to the list.
According to Sky, they didn’t want to create separate Profiles that would change the whole experience for every user.
So instead of making you choose a profile when you turn on the TV – you will get a “Shared” interface for the entire family, but specific programmes can then be added to personal playlists – so there’s a separate playlist for Mom, a playlist for the 5-year-old, etc., and also a shared Playlist for things the family watches together.
Once the personalised playlists finally roll out, You can create up to five unique playlists – so for families, you can keep all the episodes of Paw Patrol to the kids’ lists, fill yours with The Last of Us and Gangs of London, and let your housemate – if you have one – save their favourite sports documentaries in their own Playlist instead of adding it the household’s shared list.
New ‘Play’ Voice Command
Until now, jumping to a show via Sky Glass and Sky Stream’s voice commands meant having to go through the show/film’s dedicated page before you could actually watch it.
Once the new version rolls out again, getting directly to what you want to watch will become easier – Simply say “Play Love Island“ and pick up exactly where you left off (it simply starts playing) so you don’t have to go via a Show Page or search results.
Cast And Crew Rail
Just watched a movie with an actor or director you like and want to see more of their work? With the new Cast and Crew rail on Show Pages, you can watch their entire back catalogue (as long as it’s available on Sky or one of the supported streaming services).
Simply select someone from the rail, and see everything they’ve been a part of that is available on the platform.
Improved Bluetooth Support (Glass Only)
A previous update added Bluetooth headphones support to Sky Glass – so you were finally able to connect Bluetooth headphones to Glass, and watch everything without disturbing others late at night.
With the upcoming 1.1 update, you will be able to listen via your Bluetooth headphones at the same time as Sky Glass’ speakers are playing.
It means customers who are hard of hearing can listen with their headphones, while watching with the rest of their household.
I am delighted with my SKY service and the SKY Glass TV I have in my home. I went for the 55″, deep blue set, the display has greatly improved after the update last December 2022. The only thing I would advise customers making the switch from Q box to streaming or Glass is that you need a good, reliable, WiFi Broadband signal, if you do not have this or you have a large family with a high demand on the signal, you are very likely to experience stutter, lag and screen drop outs. I live alone and I cannot physically have several devices on the go at anyone time. The service and how it is experienced relies heavily on a good, stable broadband signal. I have a 29MB per second signal and the recommended is 35+ MB per second. I have had very little issues, and the ones I have had – all i needed to do was to unplug, plug back in and wait, a hard reset was often the best thing for the TV set when it goes a bit weird. In all the time I have owned the set I have only had to hard reset 4 times in 15 months.
I’m still waiting all these years for a notification of a program start, rather than it recordi g in the background.
Old sky, you had a pop up … Vera is about to start on ITV. … You knew then to switch.
Now, it just records, and you could miss the start of not paying attention.
Plus.
When will we be able to just delete all in the deleted bin.
It’s all well n good saying it gets deleted if you fill it up, but I want to be in control, not the box
This has been mentioned so many times, and they say… Yeah, we get asked that a lot.
We just don’t do it
I pay extra for hd, but to be honest, I’m not sure I’m getting the difference?
Who else thinks that sky has reduced the overall sound level of programs?
Some programs come over so quiet, you have to up the volume, and then an advert pops up, and BANG, quickly grab the remote to turn it back down.
I am living in a flat ….. have Sky Streaming . What a load of rubbish this is .
Cannot watch anything without it freezing or going blank but voice still works … they have changed everything …. promise to phone back and dont … really annoying
Having been with sky since the beginning at my previous address… this experience of streaming is very disappointing…. not been able to watch anything without a problem ..
I want a full refund as they have failed to give me what I am paying for now I have to fight….. they sent me a 10 pound voucher as a sorry haven’t opened the email as this is an insult.
Streaming is a complete waste of time and money, ITVX is diabolical, Netflix is fairly good, but of course if you have everybody streaming then large areas of the UK won’t have the infrastructure to manage.