DVR/PVR

This really makes perfect sense, but I'm not sure how it will differentiate itself from the current STB offerings that do integrate TiVo. And wouldn't this be competing with their own partners? Maybe this is the joy of everyone having to use CableCard now. Who knows, this is all rumors.

{joomsay link=http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/06/29/is-netflix-still-working-on-yet-another-box/ [TiVo Lovers]}Now Engadget is reporting that Netflix has been conducting focus groups with two new STBs. The STBs act as clients for their streaming ‘Watch Now’ service. One is a $50 box with basic connections, the other is $100 with HDMI and component to handle HD content, both connect to Ethernet or WiFi to stream the content.{/joomsay} 

Now that TiVo finally got a quarterly profit for the first time ever, it appears they're going the aggressive route to keep things flowing. It's funny they have looked back and decided that $799 price point for a DVR *might* have been a tad excessive. At least they're going to try to remedy that now...well, at least that's what people are speculating.

{joomsay link=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070531-tivo-prepping-a-mass-appeal-hd-dvr-priced-below-series-3.html [ArsTechnica]}If we gaze into our crystal ball, we see a fourth quarter "Series 3 Lite" coming with a reduced feature set. To get the cost down significantly, TiVo will likely have to eliminate the ability to record two shows at once, and some of the other niceties like the OLED display and external SATA may also be cut. Or, TiVo could keep dual tuners but cut the OTA (over the air) tuners. This is just speculation, of course, but something significant will have to be chopped to bring that price down below $399, which is where we suspect TiVo is aiming.{/joomsay} 

Michael G., an avid DVR user, has a pretty simple request. Let's have the ability to record an entire season of an episode. While there is no direct selection method currently, it certainly is easier on a Media Center PC that designates shows new vs reruns. By recording all new shows you should be able to do this. The couple of cable DVRs I have used are not at all well suited for this type of activity, and I have no idea about TiVo.

{joomsay link=http://weblogs.jupiterresearch.com/analysts/gartenberg/archives/2007/05/dvr_feature_im.html [Michael Gartenberg]}What I want is to be able to start recording a series and tell the DVR to record every episode of a given season and then to sort them, not on the day they were recorded on the DVR but rather, on the day they were broadcast. The guide would be smart enough to fill in episodes as they are shown, no matter when they are shown. All this info is readily available (I can even see in most DVR guides the original broadcast date but can't sort on it.){/joomsay}

I think this is a good article because of the temptation to just go with your cable co's DVR. Sure it's cheaper, but there's a reason TiVo costs a premium. This article gives a nice write up of what it's like to switch from the dark side.

{joomsay link=http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,2135640,00.asp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K0000532 [ExtremeTech]} All I would need is a pair of CableCARDs from Comcast and I could ditch that awful cable box. Without the CableCARDs, the TiVo works fine with analog cable, but I don't get digital channels, and that means no hi-def. So I call Comcast customer support, wait on hold for 15 minutes, and tell the nice customer service lady that I have digital cable now, and I'm going to turn in my box and get a TiVo Series 3.{/joomsay}