We first caught wind of the TiVo Bolt via USPTO, CableLabs, and FCC regulatory filings. Info gleaned from premature website publication and industry sources suggest this Series 6 lineup will ultimately replace the four-unit Roamio family with a streamlined trio of 4k-capable models – that all include mobile “Stream” capabilities for unified functionality and marketing. The Bolt line also looks to retain spinning platters for local storage, although DVR hard drive capacity and physical size remain open questions.
Given that web graphic, it’s safe to assume at least two models will feature a stunning new enclosure that will surely elicit strong opinions. Based on the render, I originally had my doubts. But, now having seen it, I quite like and would have no problem displaying the all-white (OTA/Cable) or black & white (OTA) variant on my TV stand. Beyond aesthetics, I assume that asymmetrical arch also helps with heat dissipation.
Tuner count remains uncertain. I have some reason to believe the OTA and Cable/OTA models will sport four tuners to keep costs and heat down, while a 6-tuner “big boy” box, featuring a traditional STB form, strikes me a reasonable theory for another box down the road. Although we don’t yet have evidence of a voice-capable remote control, signs indicate voice recognition could be coming to the TiVo platform … along with a modest interface refresh — but we also anticipate both of these will make their way to Roamio and possibly even Premiere.
In terms of timing, Best Buy’s shelf reset is October 11th and TiVo CEO Tom Rogers stated, “we plan to introduce a new product sometime in the third (fiscal) quarter” which ends 10/31. So hopefully we’ll have more TiVo Bolt details, including the all-important pricing, real soon.
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Ouch! that looks much worse than I thought. I think there will need to be a major improvement for me to consider selling my Roamio Pro or Roamio Basic for this model. Just looking at it makes me want to smash it into tiny little pieces after vomiting over it. :(
Based on the leaked videos, performance looks faster. Sources also indicate Flash is completely and totally done for this organization at this point. Which means we should be getting a newer, faster Hulu app at some point too. Given what I know at this point, I'm not sure I'd be motivated to update my Roamio Pro/Plus. But TiVo's retail success is dependent upon reaching beyond us existing customers, anyhow. I'm hoping they've got some new pricing permutations in the hopper to help on that point. (Also, I expect we'll see a refreshed Mini several months down the line to match the new designs and similarly bring 4k streaming.)
"Ouch! that looks much worse than I thought. I think there will need to be a major improvement for me to consider selling my Roamio Pro or Roamio Basic for this model."
Seriously? You care about how box looks? I can always understand footprint / stacking concerns, but aesthetics? Seriously?
(Got no interest in upgrading from S5 absent major improvements and price incentives. And while I do prefer the normcore look of the S5 to the S6, it really would have zero impact on my decision. Functionality Über Alles, With the end of the IR era, you can even hide the damn box, if it offends you so.)