TiVo Archives - Page 59 of 149

TiVo Premiere Elite Detailed

Thanks to the FCC and TiVo’s ongoing request for a waiver of analog compatibility, new TiVo Premiere Elite details are now available. While we’ve got a pretty good handle on the quad-tuning Premiere Q DVR headed to TiVo’s cable partners, it wasn’t quite clear what features and functionality the Elite retail variant would possess. However, … Read more

Best Buy’s TiVo-Powered HDTV Gets Official

While Best Buy’s new pair of Insignia TVs featuring “TiVo Design” started trickling into stores last week, as you can see above, the retailer is just now officially announcing their first foray into the “connected” television space. And in discussing this new initiative with Best Buy, they clearly acknowledged something of a marketing challenge… given TiVo’s association with the DVR. This is an Insignia television first, featuring TiVo’s high definition interface. But it’s no DVR. Already, even TechCrunch got it horribly wrong:

a $499 32-incher with DVR built-in isn’t too bad and if you’re hard up for cash you can save a little money by sticking getting a TV and DVR in one.

Speaking of pricing, I’m happy to say the rumors were wrong. The 32″ set runs $500 and the 42″ clocks in at $700. Which is much more reasonable for a Best Buy house brand like Insignia and allows them to compete with the likes of Vizio. Although, I suspect their intended market exceeds budget offerings. And it surely seems as they’ve invested a lot into this new platform.

ReplayTV Spared At The Zero Hour

After announcing the imminent demise of ReplayTV programming guide services last month, D&M Holdings has had a change of heart. And perhaps keeping the lights on is more cost effective than litigation… given what appears to be a small but passionate letter writing campaign. So while guide data, and associated DVR functionality, was expected to cease … Read more

Best Buy’s Insignia HDTV TiVo Launching Soon with Chumby Apps

If you had any doubts that Best Buy will be launching an Insignia-branded, TiVo-powered HDTV any day now… well, I can pretty much put them to rest. Since my previous speculative coverage, a treasure trove of product packaging photos have come my way – providing a decent amount of detail:

The only TV that combines the power of the Internet with the legendary TiVo user interface, all in stunning HD. You’ll find entertainment from both broadcast TV and the Internet with just a few clicks of your remote. Now get what you want when you want it.

Award-winning TiVo experience: Easily access all your favorite TV shows, movies and more with the easy-to-use TiVo user interface.

Broadband connected: Delivers a plethora of new entertainment choices, including TV, Movies, Music and Games.

Intelligent Search: Search by title, actor, director, keyboard and more…

Access to the best entertainment: Enjoy movies from Netflix, CinemaNow and Insignia On Demand, music from Pandora, and much, much more.

As expected, the 1080p HDTV features “TiVo Design” but “No DVR Included”. However

Some Best Buy Insignia TiVo HDTV Gossip

For the first time in over a year, we recently learned a little something of Best Buy’s partnership with TiVo… consisting of two upcoming Insignia-branded HDTVs. The sets will feature TiVo’s interface, universal search, programming guide and a variety of connected apps – including Best Buy’s own Napster and CinemaNow properties. But no actual DVR … 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

Best Buy’s TiVo-Powered HDTVs Launch 7/31

Announced a little over a year ago, it looks as if Best Buy’s Insignia-branded, TiVo-powered HDTVs are nearly upon us. From the original press release:

The new Insignia televisions will provide Best Buy customers with an exceptional, intuitive user experience for accessing online content by utilizing the latest TiVo non-DVR software and advanced television service. TiVo’s easy-to-use platform will give the viewer a one-stop-shop for delivering and searching content right on the television.

As expected, the product to be delivered features no DVR capabilities and represents TiVo’s first “connected” television – or cTV as Best Buy has christened it. Of course, the market is saturated with smart TVs at this point, yet Best Buy has tremendous marketing muscle and they’re obviously hoping TiVo’s famed user experience is compelling. In fact, TiVo’s integrated guide and universal search set it apart from most Internet-connected televisions hosting app silos. This new platform (running TiVo’s HDUI, no less!) also presents an opportunity to pump Best Buy’s Napster music streaming and CinemaNow video on demand services via WiFi. Of course, as an existing TiVo Premiere owner and someone in need of a new flat panel television, what would really set this offering apart from the competition is the ability to stream recorded content from an existing DVR on the other side of the house. Unfortunately, I can’t say one way or another if that’s on the docket.

TiVo iPad App… Now An iPhone App Too

TiVo did say it was coming. And now it has arrived… as TiVo’s iPad app has morphed into a universal app that now also supports the iPhone and iPod Touch. While I’ve enjoyed the rich and powerful iPad edition, I much prefer the smaller form factor of a smart phone to use as a virtual remote and for device management.

In addition to the new iOS platform, version 1.5 of the free TiVo app brings limited DVR management to Series 3 and TiVo HD owners along with the requisite and supported virtual remote. Also, it appears TiVo is shooting for some sort of halo effect by offering a new “guest mode” to allow non-TiVo subscribers to browse their local guide.