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I have a Skippa that is free for anyone who wants it - boxed with remote (that is a little dinged up).  The unit was practically never used, though it has high power-on hours due to sitting unloved under the TV for over a year.  It was working when I last tried it, which was quite a long time ago now.

My reading of what's going on at the moment, WRT the firmware, is that the release/non-release is in the hands of IceTV.  Which is to say it's up to the VA.  IceTV were the importers of the UEC product.

Given the information vacuum, this is of course total speculation.

Skippa's dead, Jim.  IMO, It's not coming back in any form.  I'd be super surprised if there was even another firmware release given that there's no money for...well, anything, and probable IP concerns that the administrator would be looking at.  Yes, I'm pissed since it seems like as someone who actually received their Skippa, I'm going to be left with an unmaintained brick. 

The EPG service may be of value to a prospective buyer, if it can be monetised (via enough people agreeing to a monthly fee structure), but Skippa is just a support nightmare with a tiny use base and a money pit. Time will tell, I guess.

It'd have to be unlimited devices for that price - $7.99 is almost the cost of a Netflix or Stan subscription. I voted yes, but that's also a lot of money for my usage pattern (I've got the Skippa and occasionally use NextPVR with a HDHomeRun as a backup).

I think we're starting to get a feel for exactly how little lube they're going to use with the people who were actually delivered a Skippa...

A user on Whirlpool is claiming the IceTV "sales team" have told him the units haven't shipped from the manufacturer yet, and that they're expecting a two week delay.

Any truth to that, IceTV?

Another "what the hell, Ice?" voice here.

I've plonked down cash for the pre-order (first 1000), but I'm struggling to understand the long-term business model here.  If you're charging an annual fee to basically unlock a firmware feature, people are (rightly so, IMO) going to expect that it works pretty well perfectly almost all the time.  What I've read (read: the information you've released) about AutoSkip indicates it's a best effort scan of recorded material that attempts to detect ads (difficult in Australia because we seem to lack any embedded broadcast markers for ad content).  I should add, I'm fine with this while it remains an included, perpetual, feature of the product.

So either you're offering a much better service than "best effort" for $40 a year, or you're going to charge a perpetual fee for a function the box is designed to do the best it can, regardless of fee.  People might support the former if it's good enough, but will not back the latter.

Either way, you need to explain what's going on here.  I don't want to be left with a dud PVR that has no market base and minimal support due to a nonsensical business model.