TiVo

TiVo & The Digital Transition

As most of you know, come February 2009 (or sooner) the analog NTSC airwaves go dark. TiVo’s begun reaching out to OTA Series2 (Series1, too?) subscribers via email: Our records show that you currently receive some or all of your television signals for your TiVo® DVR through good old-fashioned “rabbit ears” or rooftop antenna. That … Read more

Australian TiVo Gets Official – Release Date and Pricing

After all the pre-announcements, speculation, and leaks, TiVo’s finally official in Australia. The DVB-T (over-the-air) TiVo will be available July 29th for $699 (AUD): Under a mutually exclusive agreement, Seven has created the digital platform to enable TiVo’s digital video recorder and service, including the award-winning TiVo user interface. All free-to-air television networks’ digital channels … Read more

Windows Media Center Extenders Compared

EngadgetHD’s Ben Drawbaugh recently abandoned TiVo in favor of a CableCARD Vista Media Center and has been evaluating the current crop of extenders. His ultimate advice: If you’re a gamer, stick with the Xbox 360 (despite the cost and noise). Otherwise, the quiet and relatively inexpensive Linksys DMA2100 ($240) is the way to go.

Dave Gets Served: YouTube Takedown Notice

Yes! I received my very first YouTube takedown notice for an unedited presentation of the TiVo Series3 startup animation, originally posted fall of 2006. Of course, the irony here – and something THX may not be aware of – is that TiVo, Inc facilitated and OK-ed this video upload as a supplement to my Engadget … Read more

The Evolution of TiVo Remotes

Gizmodo has gone back in time to document the evolution of the TiVo peanut remote, including a few unique images – such as molds and prototypes. What caught my eye were images of a remote stand (where can I get a couple?) and discussions of a more text-entry friendly remote. For some time, I thought … Read more

Phoenix Cox Customers Getting SDV 7/1; Free Tuning Adapter

Looks like we’ve finally found a cable company with the ability to communicate (SDV). Cox has been notifying Phoenix customers that certain channels will become switched as of 7/1. Impacted homes are offered the option of trading in their CableCARDs for a set-top box rental or waiting for the tuning adapter – no ETA, but … Read more

TiVo To Add Disney VOD via CinemaNow

As TiVo often does (to soften the blow?), they’re putting our a release to coincide with an earnings call… Amazon Unbox doesn’t offer Disney digital downloads, so TiVo’s gone behind their back and worked an additional VOD deal:

Titles will be available to rent through an agreement with Disney-ABC and CinemaNow, a digital entertainment provider of high-quality Hollywood movies and TV shows across multiple platforms, and the latest partner to join TiVo’s broadband efforts. The companies will offer the movies for a 24-hour rental period in standard definition, with many also available in high definition. The service is available to all broadband-connected TiVo Series2™ and Series3™ subscribers later this year.

More content is a good thing, but as it is TiVo’s menus have gotten too cluttered (and the HME/Java UI is too slow). What we need is a speedier, unified front-end to drive all video download options (and a speedier, unified Swivel Search comprised of existing search options plus the Wishlist). If I’m ordering direct from the TiVo box, it shouldn’t matter to me if TiVo, Amazon, Jaman, CinemaNow, or someone else is providing the content. One shouldn’t need to visit separate areas to ferret out a Disney or independent film title. Let’s hope this all gets a facelift with the next software update.

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