DVRs, Q&A with TiVo's Jim Denney about TiVo HD
By Ryan Block 
posted Jul 24th 2007 12:01AM
posted Jul 24th 2007 12:01AM
We were able to get a few minutes with TiVo's VP of Product Marketing, Jim Denney, whom we poked and prodded some additional details out of about the TiVo HD and TiVo's future plans for Series3 owners. Here's what Jim had to say:- This is the lower-end HD TiVo model we've been hearing about. There will be "no more HD TiVo models this year," so if you're not into the TiVo HD, tough noogies.
- Unlike the Series3, the HD will have out of the box M-Card (multi-stream CableCARD) compatibility.
- eSATA will launch deactivated. "We hope to activate it some time later," but when he would not say. Same with the external drive TiVo's obviously going to sell for the thing.
- TiVoToGo and multi-room viewing "will not be released with the HD," but TiVo is actively working on restoring functionality, which will come to the Series3 shortly before HD.
- TiVo is also working to ensure TiVoToGo will not be resolution-restricted, only copy-flag restricted. (Read: TiVoToGo will work for SD and HD content.)
- Regarding not having THX, Jim let us know that it still meets TiVo's requirements for AV fidelity, but that part of keeping costs down meant not submitting it for the THX certification approval process.
- In terms of interface, it's TiVo business as usual: "If you're a Series3 user, in terms of interface this [will feel exactly like] a Series3." As to whether or not TiVo will reconcile those ugly menus that sometimes render properly in HD but not SD, and vice versa: "We will look to see what we can modify to bring [our menus] into the pure HD realm, and what we can't."
- The HD won't replace the Series2 units, which will continue to be sold. It's intended to be "HD operating at a compelling price point, and that's what this is."
- The HD won't launch with a lifetime service transfer promo, but that doesn't necessarily mean it won't happen.
- Pre-orders ship "very early August," but limited supplies of units will make their way to store shelves in the mean time.
- Finally, HD, like Series3, will have H.264 AVC and VC1 support for downloads like Unbox, etc. and, we presume, enhanced TiVoToComeBack support some time in the future.
does anyone know for sure - will this thing have a QAM tuner?
It has to have a QAM tuner - that's what digital cable uses and it supports digital cable.
This looks nice, but it really seems like TiVo is releasing a beta product. There are all of these great features, yet they're disabled or are slated for activation at some undetermined point in the future. How about you send me the TiVo HD now, and I'll pay you when the unit is fully operational?
The unit is 'fully operational'. TiVoToGo and the like at additional aspects to the service. The TiVo HD supports everything the original Series3 has supported since last fall. The Series3 family hasn't supported network video transfers before, so nothing is 'missing'. TiVo is working on bringing the functionality to the family. eSATA support is brand new, no TiVo has supported external storage. A number of products get released with hardware 'for future use'. The TiVo HD is a nice box - I've had one to review: http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/07/24/tivo-hd-aka-series3-lite-announced-and-reviewed/
The Charter "MOXI" box is gone ASAP, and I'll purchase one of these as soon as I can find one.
Moxi is going to have to really do something special with their new standalone DVRs due later this year.
I have a Tivo Series 3, and it seems to me to be a box with a lot of unfulfilled capabilities. There is so much more they could do with the box; but even mundane things like playing back content that is available on your network server, video podcasting support and so on simply aren't there. I don't feel cheated, but at the same time it seems to me that Tivo is ripe to be blown away by the next great thing, which is al a carte programming. Amazon Unbox is a nice idea, but cost is still too high to compete successfully with services such as NetFlix.
too expensive even with the 99 cent sales?
btw, I agree with you. There are a bunch of little things that they just haven't cleaned up that would go a long way toward me not feeling like a beta tester. I mean really, when was the last major windowsXP-style-service-pack that wiped out the bugs, added a couple of little features and fixed all the discontinuities?
is that Andy Dick?
Ok, I see that MRV will be coming to only Series 3, or will the HD have MRV in a future update?
Still way overpriced. Even $9/month capitalized at 5% means it is over $2k.
I own a Series 3 and I feel a bit ripped off. This seems to be exactly the Series 3 at almost 1/3 the price. Any thoughts on why they even sell the Series 3?
Still no way to archive your favorite shows. Meaning you can't offload to computer, DVHS, or even eSata. And even if eSata becomes available, the content will only play on the original Tivo HD box and none other. And what's this about no switched digital video? It a doorstop before even hitting your local store's shelves. Thanks, but cout me out!
will this play nice with DirecTV?
As long as Tivo has trouble with Switched Digital Video (a la Time Warner Cable), it will likely languish in sales.