TiVo Tempts Cord Cutters With Free DVR

TiVo’s greatest challenge has always been its pricing structure. And, to reduce the barrier to entry, they’re significantly subsidizing DVR hardware by floating a $0-down promotion. While this isn’t the first time they’ve gone down this path, this particular incarnation is fairly compelling: $15/mo, with two-year commitment, get you both the new TiVo Bolt OTA … Read more

IKEA Unveils $99 Sonos Speaker

After many months of teases, IKEA has finally come clean with two “Symfonisk” Sonos speakers. And the most interesting aspect may be the low price of entry, given Sonos hardware history. Pocket Lint has gone hands on with the $99 Sonos-powered IKEA Bookshelf Speaker and classified the sound as “good” or even “great”, in relation … Read more

TiVo Demos ATSC 3.0 Network Tuner To Retrofit Existing DVRs

TiVo has developed software that enables current generation Hydra-powered DVR hardware to manage a network ATSC 3.0 tuner and deliver next gen OTA content through those existing boxes. While widespread ATSC 3.0 deployment (and an associated ATSC 1.0 drawdown) is quite a bit off, broadcasters in 40 markets intend to light up hardware to begin … Read more

This Smart TV Costs Less Than Some Streamers

While I wouldn’t recommend a 32″ 720 set as your primary television, they make great additions to the kitchen or a guest bedroom – where I have rocked a similarly specced pair of TCL Rokus. And today the Best Buy Insignia Fire TV is on sale for a low $99.99. Which is significantly less than … Read more

Roku Wants To Sell You HBO

As we’re seeing from Apple and Amazon, Roku intends to generate incremental revenue and streamline the end-user experience by offering premium video subscriptions directly within their interface. Although, Roku’s not quite there yet and is directing folks into The Roku Channel app to seek out Premium Subscriptions… now featuring HBO, just in time for Game … Read more

Ecobee To Expand Smart Home Capabilities With Video Camera

ecobee intends to round out their smart home lineup with an indoor camera. While details are light, given Amazon investment and the existing product line, we can assume the ecobee camera will feature Alexa integration … if not outright control via its own mic, as those amber lights pictured in the company render up top … Read more

The Android TV Interface Has Been Compromised

While Nvidia Shield TV gets the bulk of the attention, and rightfully so, there are a number of other Android TV products out there… including quite a few Sony televisions. And our very own Joel Ward was treated to a rather unpleasant update. Both Joel’s Sony 2016 800D 43″ and 2017 900E 65″ televisions, running … Read more

How “TiVo” Came To Be

As we continue our TiVo retrospective, including their mysterious technological origins and 20th anniversary of shipping the first DVR, I thought it’d be fun to surface an ancient PVRBlog post featuring Michael Cronan, the guy who created the “TiVo” name and mascot. Quite a few fascinating nuggets to be had, including the company’s original intent … Read more