DVR Archives - Page 18 of 65

Verizon FiOS TV Launches Pandora App

While it’s usually TiVo pitching the convergence of premium cable programming and over-the-top Internet content, Verizon delivers big today by bringing Pandora to FiOS TV. Motorola set-top boxes in California, Texas, and Virginia are the first to receive access to the free app… with other markets to follow. As you might expect, you can create … Read more

Verizon FiOS TV CableCARD Self Installs Are A Go

Last year, the FCC ordered CableCARD reform. While I had doubts that change would arrive, and in a relatively timely fashion, at least one “cable” operator has gotten with the program. Beginning this past weekend, current and potential Verizon FiOS TV customers can now order CableCARDs online ($3.99/month) for their TiVo, Windows Media Center, or … Read more

Netflix Streaming Alternatives

In light of price hikes… If not Netflix, then who?

Cable

Not all of us are or will become cord cutters. Cable and satellite services may not be inexpensive, yet they continue to deliver a ton of value. And while my bill is inscrutable, so I’m not quite sure how much I actually pay for various features, I have zero intention of canceling Verizon.

Beyond the obvious live channel lineup, these premium content providers bundle a variety of ever expanding on demand streaming video. Through our set-top boxes themselves, we have access to a variety of “on demand” programming — something my in-laws and their children find priceless. Even more compelling is burgeoning mobile access, with apps from Cablevision, Time Warner, and Comcast in addition to web access from the likes of Verizon (shown above). And there’s the compelling HBO GO and ESPN3 offerings. Or DISH Network’s integrated Slingbox placeshifting solutions.

Hulu Plus

Oh, Hulu, how I’ve loved to hate you over the years. However, given their improving video catalog, performance and reliability (that exceed Netflix streaming in my experience), new platforms, and nice interface, I’m a believer. And a Hulu Plus subscriber. I’m usually one of the first to balk at advertisements, yet the interruptions are short and infrequent. For now. Not to mention many movies are presented ad-free.

Crackle

Not enough folks are talking about Crackle. So, even though the content is ad-supported and low def, this free service featuring Sony movies and television shows is available on a number of platforms (like Roku and iPhone) and worth a shout out. Seriously, go take a look.

Verizon FiOS with IMG 1.9 in the DC Metro Area

As a proud resident of Montgomery County Maryland (again), and a new FiOS subscriber, I’m happy to report that Verizon is rolling out IMG 1.9 in the DC metro area. We had FiOS installed yesterday with the 25/25 Mbps Internet tier, and one DVR – complete with the latest software update – for our living … Read more

Verizon FiOS IMG 1.9 Rollout Resumes Next Week

As a soon-to-be FiOS TV subscriber, I was disappointed to hear in May that Verizon was putting the brakes on the rollout of its latest guide software update. But today I hear that IMG 1.9 is back on track. I noted a comment in the DSLReports forums yesterday suggesting the rollout would resume and decided to do … Read more

RIP ReplayTV (1999 – 2011)

Quite frankly, I’m surprised ReplayTV services have carried on since DirecTV acquired the intellectual property from D&M Holdings back in 2007. But the curtain call is nearly upon us, as onscreen messaging and the updated website indicate:

The ReplayTV Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) Service will be permanently discontinued on July 31, 2011. After this date, owners of ReplayTV DVR units will still be able to manually record analog TV programs, but will not have the benefit of access to the interactive program guide. Effective immediately, monthly billing for the ReplayTV service to remaining customers has been suspended. The industry conversion to HDTV is complete and ReplayTV DVRs are unable to take advantage of the wealth of HDTV programming. Please contact your service provider for current offerings.

Of course, ReplayTV and TiVo were the DVR pioneers… that disrupted the television industry. (Although, ReplayTV’s founder now portrays the DVR as transitional – perhaps to be expected given his current perch atop Roku.) ReplayTV had a rocky time of it early on as the company flirted with bankruptcy and changed hands a few times, their pricing structure also seemed to regularly vacillate between subscription-free and subscription services as they tried to find a critical mass of customers, and perhaps, most dramatically, the entertainment industry took Replay’s commercial skip functionality into court.

Microsoft’s Slow Road to TV Land

There was a lot of hype leading up to Microsoft’s keynote at the E3 conference earlier this week, with huge speculation that the company would launch a new live TV service on the Xbox. The announcement itself, however, was a bit of a let-down, at least for those of us in the US. After years … Read more

TiVo Premiere 14.8 Software Update Begins

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 … Read more