It’s been a long four months since the last TiVo Premiere software update. And, unfortunately, nothing in the forum chatter suggests version 14.8 features a completed HD UI or activates the second core. Somewhat surprisingly, the most apparent changes are HDUI elements that now appear within the standard definition interface – graphics, labels, and a free space indicator. Curiouser and curiouser. I’m not exactly sure what this foreshadows… but I wonder if the TiVo HD and Series3 will see a similar modernization of the classic UI? Or has this work been done in preparation for the upcoming DirecTV TiVo that reportedly retains the original interface?
While all TiVo will tell me on the record this week is the Premiere 14.8 update addresses “stability and performance,” there’s often new underlying functionality they may not quite be ready to discuss. Indeed, within 14.8, Now Playing XML tags now include a a <StreamingOption>. And we know TiVo’s been beta testing Premiere-to-Premiere streaming – versus the existing mutliroom viewing file copy method, often locked down by the CCI Byte. Not to mention there’s also those TiVo Premiere extender rumors.
Lastly, Hulu Plus is long overdue, originally announced last fall and in testing since at least March. So, perhaps 14.8 lays the groundwork for Hulu video streaming… and at least one investor speculates it’ll launch prior to TiVo’s quarterly call next week given their well documented history of bundling press releases with earnings.