E-Mail and Xfinity Connect Help

[CWH803]

Sadly, the slow loading, ad infested Comcast UI is being forced upon folks who want to use their browser to access SmartZone, the new manifestation of Comcast's email that has suffered multiple implementation defects, now mostly repaired, that irritated early users and confounded Comcast support employees.

This Comcast decision of mandatory "Home Page Before SmartZone" was done without notice to these already irritated customers and without notice to the Comcast employees who field calls for help and who as a result sang the "it's not us, it's you" song further annoying customers.

This lack of advanced notice makes the first line Comcast support folks appear inept and further irritates the Comcast customers.

The Mobile UI, I find, requires a logon to SmartZone even if a logon state already exists. But it does offer relief for those who wish to avoid the Comcast UI mentioned above.

I too object to the "Home Page Before SmartZone" decision.

[BethKatz]

I note that for me, going to http://m.comcast.net/ now takes me to the mobile email program. It's not SmartZone even on my desktop (using Firefox and Mac). It's surprisingly slow, and looks only at your inbox. There doesn't seem to be a way to access the Spam folder.

I thought I had used that path to get to SmartZone within the past two weeks.

There should be a smooth, easy route into checking email. There's an ad on the sign-in page. Isn't that enough?

[Welcome_to_Post]

At the risk of "spamming" the forums, since I've already mentioned it in a thread that was subsequently locked (where's the eye-roll emoticon when you need it!!), I strenously object to this new regimentation.  Earlier I alluded to the appearance that Comcast was going out of its way to annoy customers, but that I knew it couldn't really be true.  I'm reconsidering that opinion, too.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

[Barmar]

Beth, m.comcast.net has always been the mobile portal, which has never had access to folders or secondary accounts.

[JR071702]

I have found, as have many others, that if you log into another Comcast "property" first - such as these forums or the Community forums and, I believe, the PWP stuff (although I don't use those) - that signon will suffice for SmartZone during the same browser session.     You can use the previous published shortcuts to SZ without being redirected to the home page.   There may be other areas - such as the My Account page - where that login will suffice for SZ as well.

So, you don't have to necessarily go to the Comcast home page, if you are willing to take a detour elsewhere first.

That being said, however, I am not happy with this decision to redirect everyone (who doesn't take the detour) through the Comcast home page.    It was not announced to the Comcast user community as it should have been (there could have been an e-mail, or some announcement on the home page or the logon screen or the SmartZone home page).

And there still has been no explanation forthcoming from Comcast as to why this was done in the first place.

My suggestion - as before - is to let Comcast know that you do not agree with the decision by giving them feedback via this link:

http://www.comcastsupport.com/forms/net/sccfeedback.asp

Make an intelligent, well thought-out suggestion to them as to why you feel that this decision was wrong and ask them to reconsider reinstating the shortcuts w/o redirection.     Calling Comcast names or its e-mail web app names (other than the given one...) will more than like cause them to immediately disregard your opinion on this matter.

JR

[FishMan]

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CWH803 wrote:

Sadly, the slow loading, ad infested Comcast UI is being forced upon folks who want to use their browser to access SmartZone, the new manifestation of Comcast's email that has suffered multiple implementation defects, now mostly repaired, that irritated early users and confounded Comcast support employees.

This Comcast decision of mandatory "Home Page Before SmartZone" was done without notice to these already irritated customers and without notice to the Comcast employees who field calls for help and who as a result sang the "it's not us, it's you" song further annoying customers.

This lack of advanced notice makes the first line Comcast support folks appear inept and further irritates the Comcast customers.

The Mobile UI, I find, requires a logon to SmartZone even if a logon state already exists. But it does offer relief for those who wish to avoid the Comcast UI mentioned above.

I too object to the "Home Page Before SmartZone" decision.

---

Concur.

Good web site design allows visitors to go directly to a site's internal pages without redirecting them to a "gatekeeper" page. Search the web for good web design and you'll find that market researchers and recognized web design experts overwhelmingly state that visitors should be able to get to their destination and desired information as easily and quickly as possible.

There should be a direct link to the smartzone login, otherwise visitors will find alternative email. It has been researched and studied to death. Best designs allow direct access to the information wanted by visitors. Redirection just frustrates visitors who then search for other ways to access the information they are looking for.

[Barmar]

FishMan, Comcast obviously doesn't care about "good web site design", since they used to have those direct links and deliberately changed them. They're more interested in attracting people to their portal page, since that's where most of their ad revenue is. This is a marketing decision, not a design issue. It's quite likely that the web site designers did it under protest.

[FishMan]

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Barmar wrote:
FishMan, Comcast obviously doesn't care about "good web site design", since they used to have those direct links and deliberately changed them. They're more interested in attracting people to their portal page, since that's where most of their ad revenue is. This is a marketing decision, not a design issue. It's quite likely that the web site designers did it under protest.

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I agree, you are likely correct. It would be interesting to do a study in 6 months to determine how much revenue was generated by this decision compared to how many customers gave up and decided not to use SmartZone and instead transitioned to gmail or other similar product.

I suspect that many of the posters here assume they need to access their internet email though the comcast home page and SmartZone and will continue to do so. I think this decision will probably cause more-knowledgeable customers to find alternative email services.

I never in the past used the Comcast Home page and only occasionally used comcast webmail when trying to answer a poster's question. I will continue using a pop client to interact with my comcast email, until they cut off pop access. After all, cutting off pop access will either force more customers to use the comcast home page (driving up ad revenue in the short term) or drive them away from comcast email completely.

Message Edited by FishMan on 03-14-2009 09:33 AM

[Moms_hooked]

If our votes count at all...I agree that the forced use of the Comcast Home Page to reach SmartZone is a bad decision. 

[Anon39065]

I have filled out the feedback form every day since this change has occurred.  Then it dawned on me that perhaps their advertisers should be made aware that the number of hits on the homepage is being inflated in this manner.  That, to me, screams fraud.  No user, i.e., paying customer, should be coerced into going to a home page that isn't of their own choosing - and for what reason? - so Comcast can report to advertisers an inflated number of hits?

I used to use comcast's home page when WE had the choice of explorer, express, and lite.  But this new home page is so ad-laden, slow-loading, and filled with information that I'm not interested in, that I, like many of you, created a shortcut to the sign-in page.

Very disappointing...

[BethKatz]

As an act of civil disobedience, this is how I thought you could make your own personalized shortcut to get into SmartZone without going through the Comcast portal.

Edit: Never mind. It expires after a while. 

1) Don't be logged in to any Comcast anything.

2) Go to the Comcast portal page.

3) Click on the Email icon.

4) When you get to the sign-in page, save the hairy looking URL that appears in the location bar as a bookmark for your web browser.

5) Proceed as normal to sign on.

The next time you need to sign on, use that bookmark. If it goes away, create a new one.

We shouldn't have to do this. We should be able to just see the log in screen and get to email. We're annoyed.

This part works:

If you are already signed on to something Comcast, you can use http://smartzone.comcast.net/ to get into SmartZone. I've taken to not signing out of SmartZone because signing off anywhere signs you off all the Comcast tools.

Message Edited by bethkatz on 03-14-2009 05:45 PM

[slouke]

I usually stand up for Comcast in an argument, but this issue has finally broken this camel's back.  The only way that I could see Comcast salvaging themselves in my mind would be to make "Remember Me" last for 2 weeks or more, like many other email portals (Yahoo!, etc.).

I already use Outlook to POP my mail, Gmail to make my main email address ISP-agnostic, and iGoogle as my home page with AdblockPlus in Firefox to avoid ads.  That's about all I can do to personalize my internet experience with a minimum of intrusions by ads.

Edit: To say that the reason I use iGoogle as my home page is that it is very easily personalized for what type of content I want to see (no "starlet news", more technology news, etc.)

Message Edited by slouke on 03-14-2009 07:35 PM

[BethKatz]

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slouke wrote:

Edit: To say that the reason I use iGoogle as my home page is that it is very easily personalized for what type of content I want to see (no "starlet news", more technology news, etc.

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Maybe Comcast could do that so that the portal wasn't so useful-content-free. Then it wouldn't be so annoying to click past it. It takes too darn long to load all that junk I don't care to see.

But I'd still like freedom of choice to just see the sign-in page.

[BlueJay]

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bethkatz wrote:

But I'd still like freedom of choice to just see the sign-in page.

---

I wholeheartedly agree you Beth, and I said the same thing in a reply to Charvey in this now locked thread....  

 A big thumbs up to CT for his remarks and his ability to bypass the lock with his post..     Thank you CT..

ciao, bj

[Blue_Two]

Psst, hey kid, want to buy a link?   ....

Per JR and bethkatz suggestions:

Use this link to the forums to login

http://forums.comcast.net/comcastsupport/

Then use this link in another tab to go to smartzone

http://smartzone.comcast.net/

One login and no gatekeeper!

Message Edited by Blue_Two on 03-15-2009 11:48 AM

[BethKatz]

As a Sunday morning puzzle for the annoyed, I wrote an AppleScript for Safari that I call SmartZoneLaunch. When I choose it from the script menu, it launches Safari and opens the Comcast portal page but immediately minimizes that window to the dock. It pauses briefly for the load then clicks the Email button which launches the sign-in page. It pauses briefly and clicks the sign-in button because Safari has already saved my username and password. When I see the SmartZoneLaunch icon disappear from the dock, I know that I can click on the Safari window in the dock and see SmartZone.

This is not polished and not tested much. You have to be running Mac OS X and understand how to install an AppleScript to use it. But I have other things to do today so I won't explain how to install or use it.

It's a proof of concept.

Note that Comcast does get the portal page visit. I just don't need to look at that page.

(* SmartZoneLaunch.app *)

tell application "Safari"
    activate
    open location "http://www.comcast.net"
    set miniaturized of window 1 to true
end tell

tell application "System Events"
    tell process "Safari"
        delay 2
        click UI element "Email" of group 5 of group 4 of UI element 1 of scroll area 1 of group 2 of window "Comcast.net Home"
    end tell
end tell

tell application "System Events"
    tell process "Safari"
        delay 2
        click button 1 of group 4 of UI element 1 of scroll area 1 of group 2 of window "Comcast.net Sign In"
    end tell
end tell
 

[CWH803]

The length of logon life received is generally directly proportional to the level of user satisfaction with the mandatory clickstream to SZ.

[sataddict]

Thank you to the Mods and Admins of this forum for allowing an open thread about this topic. I had also previously been involved in a thread with this topic of discussion that was locked.

I've stared to use another mail service as my main email address, as soon as the changeover is complete and all of my friends are sending me mail at my new email address I'll never have a need to visit the Comcastic home page again.

It's a shame, as paying customers of a service, that we need to jump through hoops (or URL's in this case) to get to the product that we all financially contribute to. Like any other service provider, when you aren't happy with the service you are getting you always have the opportunity to change service providers, assuming you aren't in an area of the US that you are held hostage by only one provider.

Since it appears that Comcast is more interested in "click through revenue" than what is already a positive cash stream from regular customers, I'd recommend considering a change and hitting them where it counts, I know I am. It's a shame, I'm generally very happy with the services I have through Comcast but for the premium I pay for them I expect them to work almost flawlessly and to work the way I intend to use them. In the past, however, I've also been very happy with other service providers as well, however. It just seems like the direction Comcast's email and internet services are going isn't exactly in line with what I personally need as a customer anymore, so for the $60+ bucks I spend a month just for their internet service I suppose I should just shop around and take that deal another provider has been soliciting me with to enlist.

I'll give Comcast two weeks to reconsider and resolve this decision, then I'll start making different decisions about how I'd like to spend my cash.

[qw]

Does simply clicking on the Comcast home page and opening it give Comcast a "hit" and qualifies them

for a "brownie" point from their advertisers or does one have to click on their advertisements?

Would someone please clarify this?

Thanks.

[BethKatz]

---

qw wrote:

Does simply clicking on the Comcast home page and opening it give Comcast a "hit" and qualifies them for a "brownie" point from their advertisers or does one have to click on their advertisements?

Would someone please clarify this?

Thanks.

---

I don't think that any of the customers here can answer that question. And I doubt the Comcast folks will let us know. We also don't know *why* they are so insistent on our going through the portal page. I'm guessing that it has to do with advertising and page views. But I don't know.

[BlueJay]

Regarding qw's question and Beth's response, a question came to mind..

If you have ad blockers on your machine and are not seeing those ads, does it still count as a "hit" and or "brownie" points?

Sort of like the tree falling in the forest making a sound. 

The games and lengths that mature, responsible providers (?) will go to to achieve their agenda, is mind boggling..

This also applies to loading and accessing email.. 

ciao, bj

[Barmar]

It probably depends on how exactly the advertising site counts hits and the specific ad-blocking software, but I suspect that in most cases the hits won't count.

[qw]

The insistance in having customers go through the home page becomes very significant

if Comcast gets "hits" by clicking on the home page even if one has ad blockers.

If you think about having us view secondary accounts by logging in and out through the home page,

then this would be an insidious plan by Comcast. 

[sataddict]

A little info about "hits".

A web site can have dozens of "hits" just loading loading its page, depending upon what is downloaded via the site.  What I believe many advertisers look at is traffic, the amount of new people who visit a site, the amount of surfers who return to a site, the amount of time they stay on a page and how many links to other pages that people click on and where the heaviest traffic flow is going through those links.

Even if you run an ad blocker you are still counted as a visitor to the site when you go there, your computer shares certain information such as your IP address, the browser you are using, etc.

It's very short sighted to just try to pile up traffic stats, however, if this is one of the reasons that we are now forced into a redirect, it doesn't take into account all of the other factors listed above and therefore ad revenue on a poorly constucted, slow loading site is kind of moot.

[BethKatz]

Maybe they want us all to learn a bit more about the entertainers featured on that page.

Or notice that they have other services we aren't buying.

I rarely scroll down to the bottom, so all that image loading is wasted on me. If there wasn't so much trash on the page, I wouldn't mind so much. It looks like I'm blocking only one ad. But there's a lot of stuff that seems pretty useless. 

[BlueJay]

AND, this is one of the biggest disservices I've noticed with these "new & improved" forums, the total lack of an email link, that we had before implementation...

The community forums, lithium owned & run has that link, but not here..  Those community forums are filled with ads...  I've asked before and I'll ask again, is this the future for the help forums??

ciao, bj

p.s. I did voice my displeasure on the feedback link supplied by Beth and others.  I don't expect to see any results of that survey(?), but certainly hope the negativism expressed here and on that form, makes those at comcast who make decisions, sit up and take notice.

p.p.s.  also of note is that there is an ad on the sign in page...  isn't that enough???

[Blue_Two]

In regard to BJ's concern about ads in the help forums, I brought up this possibility a while ago during a prior upgrade and was assured by a mod that Comcast would not run ads on the help forums. I suspect the commitment was one of the reasons for implementing the ad-infested community forums.

Another point I brought up was that putting ads on security screens (sign-ons) was a diffusion (if not a compromise) of good security principals.

[korith]

I noticed the same thing, I had a bookmark set to the login page when for the email, but kept getting redirected to main site first. I guess it's to add more hits to the main comcast page, and to get more advertising revenue off the banner ads.

[pjacobsma]

I've posted a question to Comcast about this, and also complained using the feedback link.  No response from Comcast.  I am going to have all my Comcast email forwarded to my Gmail account, and begin the process of switching to Gmail as my main email address.  I suggest that everyone who is a disgusted as I am with Comcast do the same.

[slouke]

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pjacobsma wrote:
... I am going to have all my Comcast email forwarded to my Gmail account, and begin the process of switching to Gmail as my main email address.  ...

---

Done a long time ago.  It is always best to have email with someone other than your ISP - too many eggs in one basket.

[DebB]

Heck, change only the email? At this point I'm considering following my neighbors in their move to the newly available Fios access!

[MisterBeasley]

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BlueJay wrote:

---

bethkatz wrote:

But I'd still like freedom of choice to just see the sign-in page.

---

I wholeheartedly agree you Beth, and I said the same thing in a reply to Charvey in this now locked thread....  

 A big thumbs up to CT for his remarks and his ability to bypass the lock with his post..     Thank you CT..

ciao, bj

---

"This now locked thread" is now "this now deleted thread."  I would have liked to read it.

Does anyone have direct experience with Verizon FIOS?  In the short term, this is the only realistic alternative to Comcast for many of us.  A year ago, I would have said I was pretty satisfied with Comcast, but now I would give them substantially lower marks.  On the other hand, I haven't dealt with FIOS, so I don't know if I might get into a frying-pan-into-the-fire situation by switching.

Yes, Comcast, I am intentionally tweaking your nose by bringing up FIOS.  You have been non-responsive about this redirection-to-the-noisy-home-page issue.  I'm just trying to get your attention.

[JR071702]

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MisterBeasley wrote:

---

BlueJay wrote:

---

I wholeheartedly agree you Beth, and I said the same thing in a reply to Charvey in this now locked thread....  

---

"This now locked thread" is now "this now deleted thread."  I would have liked to read it.

---

It's still there, MisterBeasley - did you click on the link?   I just did and brought up the thread.

JR

[MisterBeasley]

OK, it is working now.  When I tried it earlier, I got a message that said it was not available.  I guess I jumped to the wrong conclusion.  Thanks.

[Welcome_to_Post]

Might also have been an artifact of these forums some of us have been seeing.  Occasionally, we get a (false) message that the threat you were looking for is not available.  If you exit that forum, go back in and try again, it connects.

Message Edited by Welcome_to_Post on 03-20-2009 03:43 PM

[BlueJay]

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Welcome_to_Post wrote:
Might also have been an artifact of these forums some of us have been seeing.  Occasionally, we get a (false) message that the threat you were looking for is not available.  If you exit that forum, go back in and try again, it connects.

Message Edited by Welcome_to_Post on 03-20-2009 03:43 PM

---

~~  WTP,  I guess these days we're all looking for the thteats..   

ciao, bj

[Welcome_to_Post]

*sigh*  "Some days the magic works, some days it doesn't."

(Little Big Man, the movie)

Anyone have a target I can hold up?  It may be a little worse for wear when I finish with it.

[madylarian]

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MisterBeasley wrote:

Yes, Comcast, I am intentionally tweaking your nose by bringing up FIOS.  You have been non-responsive about this redirection-to-the-noisy-home-page issue.  I'm just trying to get your attention.

---

Comcast has been responsive to this redirection issue; it's just not the reponse many of us would like.  In other words, it's their choice to funnel us through their home page.  Btw, I don't know anything about Verizon FIOS other than they are hounding us relentlessly, but I have had experience with Verizon itself and all I can say is heaven help you if you ever have a problem.  Btw, have you seen this?

mady

[sataddict]

This issue seems to have been resolved, at least temporarily, by using the URL:

http://www.comcast.net/qry/goto?app=mail

If it's truly fixed I'd like to say a big THANK YOU! to Comcast. It's just a shame that I've already migrated to another email address over the issue of the constant redirect so now my Comcast email is essentially obsolete to me now, oh well.

Then again, it may be a mistake on Comcast's part to allow a direct URL to the mail page and maybe I should have just kept my mouth shut.

Either way, I now use a different email addy and a different home page.