By way of DVR reseller Weaknees, we learn that TiVo’s recently devalued Lifetime Service is once again available for $400 under the company’s newer “All In” label. While the math, during this promotion or trial, is certainly more compelling than the prior $600 rate, the cost is not insignificant. Further, existing Bolt hardware configurations, with limited storage and tuners, may not appeal to the sort of power user that recognizes TiVo’s long term value as we collectively await a CableCARD replacement. Based on forum chatter, this reduced All-In rate may also apply to previously purchased hardware of different flavors, with something like a 26 month break even point. Should you find yourself more enthused than I, you’d take part online directly through TiVo (as pictured above) or by activating retailer-purchased units by calling in and mentioning the deal (possibly with Weaknees’ “TiVoInstall200” code word).
Might want to fix the first link in the article. Don’t think you meant to link to /%3Ca%20href%3D/
Not sure how that happened, but I’ve fixed it – thanks.
When do we expect to see the Bolt Pro for us hardcore users? $200 off on lifetime would be nice right now!
With a change in CEO, what I assume are poor Bolt sales (we’ll find out more March 1), and the MIA Bolt OTA, I’m not holding my breath and haven’t heard anything since CMO mentioned it last year. I think he indicated summer or fall – or maybe I extrapolated that.
Still no mention of the 4K Mini update. TiVo Mini was released on March 11th 2013 making it the oldest product TiVo currently sells.
CMO said the new Bolt Pro will be part of the normal 3 year hardware renewal cycle so August/September 2016 earliest.
Can’t wait for the complaining to begin on what’s wrong with the new TiVo Bolt Pro. :0
How much life is left in the cable card? I really like having mine. Do you think it’s going to go couple more years?
As long as cable doesn’t pull a fast one and FCC remains vigilant, yes at least a couple more years. Whatever’s next will take a long while to develop and deploy. And if it’s software only, whatever models of TiVos are still supported could potentially be retrofit. Although I suppose some sort of encryption chip like Apple requires for HomeKit could be required. So much uncertainty at this point… who knows what things will look like on the other side. Also a big if.
Is it a given that Cablecard technology will just cease once the new products with chips, or software encryption, or whatever it is, are deployed? Is there a reason for my MSO to say, “we no longer support Cablecards, so you will have to turn it in”, effectively junking my Roamio? And is it possible for a retrofit for any hardware enablement chip could be done via the Cablecard slot?
I know, lots of ‘what ifs’, but just wondering if the death of Cablecards and the implementation of a new encryption standard would necessarily mean the end of USING Cablecards in Roamios?
What am I missing regarding reference to an “MIA Bolt OTA”? Doesn’t the current Bolt support an off-air HD antenna?
Bricketh, it would be logical to expect a reasonable period of transition rather than just cutting CableCARD off. Regarding a potential hardware retrofit via PCMCIA, it’s an interesting proposition. We’ll see what TiVo, the company, looks like in a few years.
Jim, TiVo was developing an OTA-only Bolt, presumably to come in at a lower price point.
Doesn’t Comcast use cablecard inside their hardware? Wouldn’t that mean they would have to release new boxes if they stop supporting Cablecard? The thought of about 1k in Tivo hardware suddenly no longer working would probably send me to OTA/OTT permenantly.
For now they do, but the requirement that cable eat their own dog food has been lifted. So, assuming they haven’t already, I imagine they’ll be pushing software updates that authenticate to their network in other ways so future boxes won’t need the cards.
As long as Tivo itself continues blowing out the previous Roamio models there is much less appeal for the Bolt.
On their seemingly endless garage sale $400 buys a base Roamio w/ lifetime from Tivo, or (when they occasionally show up) a lifetime Roamio OTA off Amazon for $300.
I don’t quite get the appeal of the Bolt.
From what I’ve read, it keeps applications in memory so it’s faster in that sense.
On my Roamio, though, it’s a pretty minor inconvenience for Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon to load. At that point I’m committing to a 30min show, anyway, and I really haven’t bumped into the, “OMG! This takes so long to load!!!” Yeah, it’d be nice if it were instant but, again, the goal is to watch some 30+min show or movie so if it takes 10sec instead of “instant” it really doesn’t detract from the experience.
If it were an app that I were having to bounce in and out of then, yeah, I could see where that would start getting on my nerves.
Also, the styling of the Bolt with it’s weird “arched back” (and color) isn’t all that appealing. It reminds me of the really odd-shapped Slings from a few years back that had some weird shape.
I think it’s important to note that most people are OK with a box under their TV as long as it functions and looks relatively nice (the TiVo HD was one where they could have spent a little more time on aesthetics). I don’t need a Mobius-strip Tivo or Sling or other device in my future. Just keep it a basic rectangular box.
I’d take the extra speed, whether from memory, processor, or a combo. But I’d have a hard time reducing my capacity and tuner count at a reasonable expense to do so. But, in thinking this through further, any potential 6-tuner bolt would almost certainly be cable-only. And, for me, I wonder if a 4-tuner Cable+OTA is a better bet against the future and my household consumption patterns. Hm.
How will the next ATSC 3.0 impact current OTA TiVo models. There was a person on tivocommunity.com spreading FUD about this.
It’ll be years if and when things become 100% ATSC 3.0, with tentative specification approval not even set until 2017 I think. The broadcasters will incur significant expense replacing their hardware and they’ll want to ensure they retain their existing “customers” who also need hardware replacement or augmentation. As part of any transition, I imagine we’d start seeing new televisions that are ATSC 2.0 and 3.0, as we did with NTSC and ATSC for a time, and converter boxes of some sort. I certainly don’t see this as a short term concern.
omg what is atsc 3.0 or heck 2.0 for that matter
(of course i can and will google it, but might make a good Zatz article?)
It’s time for TiVo to expand into IPTV. Even if the results were a partnership with another MSO all parties would benefit. With AT&T’s concurrent stream limitations, they are ripe for an influx of innovation even if said limitation is due to a the RGW/headend combination.