AT&T surprises U-verse subscribers with Total Home DVR & HD VOD trial
By Richard Lawler 
posted Sep 2nd 2008 7:18AM
posted Sep 2nd 2008 7:18AM
AT&T surprised a few customers over the last few days adding high definition video on demand selections, a new weather on demand widget, and pushing a DVR upgrade their way including the new Total Home DVR software. Post-upgrade, punching the recorded TV button on any U-verse connected TV enables HD playback from any of the set-top boxes in the house. that means subscribers can also record up to four shows at once or pause in one room and continue in another. A full rollout is clearly due sooner rather than later, and initial impressions in our tips box are positive, if you've got it drop a line and tell us if the new features are everything we've ever dreamed of. Full copy of the introductory e-mail follows after the break.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Total Home DVR is here!
Your AT&T U-verse(SM) DVR has been automatically upgraded.
Great news! You are among the first AT&T U-verse Members to receive a
DVR upgrade at no additional cost that includes our new Total Home DVR
feature. And best of all, the upgrade is automatic - there's nothing
you need to do.
The AT&T U-verse Total Home DVR feature lets you:
- Record up to 4 shows at once
- Record on your DVR and play back in any U-verse connected TV in your home
- Pause in one room - play back in another
Simply press the "RECORDED TV" button on any of your U-verse remotes
to watch your standard or high definition recorded programs from any
of your U-verse receivers.
With your help, we can continue to improve AT&T U-verse. Please take a
few minutes to complete a survey regarding your U-verse experience. As
a thank you for completing the survey by midnight on Monday, 9/2,
we'll send you a $5 Starbucks gift card.* Simply copy the following link into your browser to begin.
This website is secure and certified for privacy. Visit
surveymonkey.com for additional information regarding privacy and
security.
Your free DVR upgrade is simply our way of showing how much we
appreciate you choosing AT&T U-verse.
Thank you,
Your AT&T U-verse Team
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Any more details here, like what areas are getting the rollout? Also, do the folks getting whole-home DVR already have dual-HD recording capability?
Only some cities in the bay area currently have it. SF and SJ for sure... and a few other places along the way.
They should get dual HD recording, since Uverse now supports 2HD/2SD streams per household.
That sounds cool as hell! But how much do all those goodies cost per month? I've been waiting for any fiberoptic in my area but nothing yet. I'd be interested to know how much more I'd have to pay for all of those features.
THese features are going to be standard in their lineup, as a way to one up other services.
I know they recently brought U-verse to South Florida. I hope they are hitting the Orlando area next, Bright House has such a monopoly and provides such poor service that if they came here with that quality of service I know for a fact I and many, many, many others would swap in a heartbeat.
Details on the networking technology and Motorola set-tops for the WHDVR service here: http://connectedhome2go.com/2008/08/29/motorola-set-tops-for-the-new-u-verse-whole-home-dvr-service/
Is it record up to 4 HD shows at once or just SD?
One or two HD -- depending on your location -- the rest SD. AT&T's system doesn't have a lot of bandwidth because it's DSL for the last 1000 feet. Fiber-to-the-neighborhood, not the house.
Not true. I have fiber to my house. It depends on where you live and stuff. For instance I am in a new subdivision in KC so we have fiber to house.
Golly, two whole HD streams at THE SAME TIME!!!!! Amazing. And only mere years behind DirecTV, Verizon and all the competing cable companies. What will they think of next?!?
Hmmm ... I think I'll stick with my DirecTV with 6 HD streams into 3 boxes with a TB of storage each. And lots more channels.
Yes, we all know DirecTV is great, but not all of us have access to an open view of the southern sky to pick up the HD signals from multiple satellites. In my case, several mature trees in my neighbors' yards are in the way. I'd go with DirecTV HD if I they'd hook me up, but the installation techs tell me it's not possible. U-verse offers a decent alternative to cable, and its features are improving all the time.
for those stuck without those alternatives... this is pretty good.
I had ATT UV THDVR one day for about half a day. But there was a problem with the Original Release. and for me ATT turn the THDVR feature off my 3 stbs. Now what I have read from utalk,att.net and uverseusers.com ATT is waiting roll out the next Firmware to fix the THDVR current software.
I called AT&T about my service in Ann Arbor, Mich., and they told me I'd get a letter when WHDVR becomes available. As a bonus, though, they upgraded me to simultaneous HD recording.
I know cable and satellite have had this feature forever, but that limitation was the only real drawback of the service.