If not TiVo, then who? [Cord Cutter Edition]

As TiVo degrades their consumer DVR experience, and generally hasn’t morphed into the digital lifestyle company some had hoped for, folks are seeking out alternatives. And, for cord cutters, there are several great options to enjoy and manage that free antenna television… with or without an actual antenna. First, most of the streaming aggregators (YouTube … Read more

How To Opt-Out Of TiVo Pre-Roll Ads

TiVo pre-roll advertising has arrived. And the experience is less than ideal. Basically, all retail hardware running the TiVo Experience 4 (TE4 aka Hydra) will insert video commercial interruption at the start of your DVR recordings by the end of the year. Sure, the ads are skippable. But that’s not the point. Especially given its … Read more

Roku Implements Interactive TiVo-esque Advertising

By way of CordCuttersNews, we learn that Roku is now selling interactive advertising widgets against television commercials displayed on Roku televisions (shown above). What makes this somewhat different from TiVo’s historic approach (shown below), and unsettling to some, is that our Roku smart televisions are watching what’s on our screen (since at least 2017) vs … Read more

TiVo Lights It Up With New Lux Remote

Buried within the TiVo Edge release notes is reference to a new “Lux” remote control. So, as I’m wont to do, I tracked it down. The TiVo Lux is essentially the same TiVo Bolt/Mini Vox voice remote. But, now enhanced with full backlighting — as you’d expect from a premium product. This isn’t the first … Read more

Apple HomeKit Secure Video Nears Launch

Announced back at WWDC, HomeKit Secure Video is Apple’s answer to recording and storing encrypted video from network cameras around your home. The Apple feature locally processes video via an iPad, Apple TV or HomePod to identify a person, vehicle or animal, with the encrypted contents being sent to iCloud for storage and remote access. … Read more

Magic Kingdom Fans Pitched Disney+ Discount

As my Twitter followers well know, I’m something of a Disney fan. And, while I got in on the amazing Disney+ D23 fan club pricing, the company is now marketing park regulars and/or Annual Pass holders with mailers… that include single use Disney+ “Founders Circle” discount codes: $20 off 2-year subscriptions for $120 and $40 … Read more

The Incremental TiVo Edge Upgrade

The TiVo Edge is now official and CNET has gone hands on. As we surmised, this product line is something of an incremental upgrade over the Bolt — somewhat better hardware, providing pretty much the same superior TiVo experience for about the same cost. From TiVo VP Ted Malone: Main differences are faster CPU (BCM … Read more

TiVo+ Video Streaming Weeks Away

TiVo has officially announced their Roku Channel andĀ competitor in TiVo+ Available exclusively to TiVo customers in the coming weeks, TiVo+ delivers live streaming channels and thousands of movies and TV shows to viewers in an app-free environment, making them easy to find, watch, and enjoy. Listed below are the TiVo+ content providers at launch, but … Read more