http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/ Engadget HD Comments for Moxi HD DVR Review http://hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 2:00PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
I am looking into PVRs and HD service (even though I don't want an increase in price). Looking at Dish's new 922 (slingbox built it, and an ipod touch / ZuneHD) to go with it.

That and my XBOX360 with online Netflix Instant Queue is giving me everything I need!]]>Jun 22nd 2009 2:16PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 2:23PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
Now the things I would want
pay over 3 monthly installments
streaming MRV so no copy needed and no DRM in the way
flexible integration with online streaming services so I can configure it to get what I want
ability to setup a scrolling ticker with info I can use - like weather, caller ID or news and sports]]>Jun 22nd 2009 2:47PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 3:58PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
For future reviews, I think it would help if you could include a 720p video showing the device and its menus in action. That would allow you to illustrate any problems you have in UI navigation. For a device with video output, you can do that with a Hauppauge HD PVR (which requires you to move a computer in close proximity to the product). For other devices, you can use something like a Flip recorder.

To help others understand what you mean by the spoiler window, you might clarify that with an example, such as sports. Ex: You expect to be out Sunday afternoon so you setup a recording for the big game. You want to watch it from the beginning when you get home. You turn on the Moxi and you see the score in the third quarter --- there's no way to hide it -- ruining the first half of the game for you.

Aside from that, the only obvious oversights I see are (a) no mention of ATSC (OTA) support, or lack thereof, and (b) no mention of ClearQAM support and how it works. I realize that ClearQAM doesn't benefit you as a FiOS customer with CableCards, but many are interested in the capability for use with [limited] basic cable. Screenshots showing
the online QAM mapping interface would be nice.]]>Jun 22nd 2009 2:42PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
Here are a few edits for the author:


One of the our favorite saying we learn in college (S/be "One of our favorite sayingS we leardED...")

we are the rare bread (brEEd)

Lets (Let's) say you hit the

for people who records (record)

atractive s/be attractive

To top it all of (off)


]]>Jun 22nd 2009 2:55PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 2:55PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 3:45PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 23rd 2009 10:56AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 3:46PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
That said, the lack of over the air tuners is a deal breaker for me. I gave my cable company the old heave-ho back in October when they switched HDnet and HDnet Movies to switched digital video. I realized that 85-90% of what I watch is network HD that is available for free over the air.

Time Warner announced that they were getting rid of HDnet and HDnet movies and I felt even more certain about my decision to deep six cable. Then Turner Classic Movies and BBC America announced that they were launching HD channels by late July and I actually gave some serious thought about paying for television programming again. However, Time Warner's foolish decision to drop HDnet Movies means that I will have to wait for the new HD DirecTivo box. Time Warner Cable will get $30 from me every month for internet access, but they won't get a dime for video programming.]]>Jun 22nd 2009 9:10PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 3:50PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
Umm, based on this review, it sounds like MY provider's (DirecTV) DVR is far superior to Moxi. Aside from the lack of an HD GUI, it's far more intuitive, and even has an Exit button!]]>Jun 22nd 2009 3:56PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 4:06PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 4:14PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/never get lost in the two-axis navigation. For example, a key item that
Ben missed is that you can exit automatically from any Moxi menu screen
in one click by pressing the "Zoom" button, which 'zooms' you into the
viewing window in the top right corner and immediately back to live TV
or playback of recorded programming. As for Ben's reference to the
channel guide layout, while the nearly half-million cable customers
using Moxi tell us they really like it, we have heard customer feedback
from some asking for an old-fashioned grid-style layout too - so look
for us to add that option shortly. More to that point, we are working on
several more innovations of the type Ben mentions in terms of
multi-room, Internet content integration, etc., so stay tuned. We
believe Moxi is the world's best DVR, and we're not letting up on the
updates and improvements.

- Ryan Ogle, Senior Manager Retail Business, Digeo]]>Jun 22nd 2009 6:08PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Thanks for chiming in. I really appreciate your input and to make sure it doesn't get lost in the comments I appended it to the bottom of the review.

I look forward to seeing more from Digeo in the future in the hopes of seeing the product improve.

Ben]]>Jun 22nd 2009 6:37PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/The reason why the menus do not provide a sort option is because it groups the shows by name; therefore a date sort option does not apply.
If you do not record a lot of shows, do not buy it. If you do record a lot of shows, do yourslef a favor and get the Moxi. I got tired of paying my Cable provider $200 per year in dvr rental for something they refuse to improve. Many people complain of the old school grid style view. I like Moxi because you can see way more channels at the same time instead of the 5 if I remember correctly. As I said, I use it a lot and there are TONS of advantages and a Great user experience. So far no problems, no boots. Nothing but a great experience ]]>Jun 23rd 2009 8:48PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/I'm glad you love your Moxi, but the point is why is it so hard to learn to use? We spent two months with it playing with it every day and my wife refused to use it. It'd be one thing if it stood head and shoulders above the 3rd party alternatives in features, but it doesn't even match the features one on one.

I do agree it is worlds better than your comcast DVRs though.]]>Jun 23rd 2009 8:13AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
Did you try viewing movies or listening to music from off your PC?

I thought the way this was implemented was horrible. No cover flow. Album art doesn't pick up. Lack of codec support.

The DVR part of Moxi is only 1/2 of it. Problem is, the other 1/2 (the media player) is, well, kind of crappy.

And I would disagree with the lack of grid layout. They should at least give me an option: their layout, or the grid. Looks like they're going to fix that at least.

I, for one, returned my Moxi primarily because it did not function as a media player in a nice way.]]>Jun 29th 2009 5:05PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 22nd 2009 11:43PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 23rd 2009 2:31PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 24th 2009 11:42PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
If I know I'm recording a Laker/Angel game. . or Lost, I press the TiVo button before I turn on the TV.]]>Jun 23rd 2009 1:42AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
As far as the direct / retail channel, I just don't see this thing making a dent from what I've read. Either people have their TiVos, their cable company DVRs, or their Media Center PCs.

Maybe if it was $299-$399. I guess $399 considering the hardware cost, this isn't a toy.

It seems like the company is attempting to recover its NRE (development) costs way too quickly. In an economy like this (esp. the next 18-24 months), a premium DVR is a tough sell.

Unfortunately the company will probably be swirling the drain in 24 months, assuming their quality & customer service are good enough to last even that long.

Just my 2 cents, I don't have a dog in this hunt, it just sounds like poor execution and that's a shame since we do need a good, feature-rich, affordable HD DVR product, and I would have liked to have seen this be a viable alternative.]]>Jun 23rd 2009 9:23AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jun 23rd 2009 9:13AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
As for it showing up when I come back in the middle of a game - this has happened before - but now I know when the show is still being recorded that I should change the channel as soon as I turn it on with the channel up or down buttons - and then start browsing to the recorded programs. There's no way for the device to know if you are going to be spoiled by having the program being recorded tuned in when you turn it on - and that is as much of a spoiler as showing the preview in the guide. The only good way that I can think of to prevent this would be to add a setting to have it start up in a menu without any show previews when you turn it on (no spoiler mode) - probably no small task, and also probably not worth it. I learned to be smarter than my DVR.

As an HR20 "owner" (sigh), I must say that OTA integration is not something I will easily give up. Very handy, and where DirecTV fails, OTA wins. Always nice to have a fallback for NFL games on satellite, especially in my state (WI).

Being able to attach an external drive for expanded storage is actually a deal-breaker for me. Tell you what - since you DVR companies always seem to double the price to increase storage by 30% - why don't you go ahead and ship one with a 40GB Hard Drive on the cheap and I will go ahead and add the 1.5TB for $125 myself. Where do you guys buy your hard drives, anyway?

Other usability issues Ben mentioned also are present in my own DVR - and they aren't a huge problem. However, my friends have Moxis through Charter, and I do think the cross navigation can be a pain. I think it takes them longer to find stuff due to the layout. One of my major beefs with it was that you had to go to a special menu to find out how much storage you had. When watching and choosing to save or delete a show or series - it's critical information that needs to be displayed in the recorded shows listing at all times.]]>Jun 23rd 2009 11:24AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
Of course it can. It is possible to provide the best of both worlds. It just requires a little intelligence in the design.

To eliminate the spoilers without eliminating the window, Moxi can:

(1) Always start single recordings on the inactive tuner, when possible.

(2) When the user finishes watching a recorded program, always default the liveTV window to whatever channel is not recording.

(3) If -- and only if -- two programs are recording, then black out the video window with the message, "Two recordings in progress. Press the X button to display the picture." The DVR should remember the user's choice for the duration of that recording, so the user does not have to do this again.

Items (1) and (2) should be the default. Item (3) can be option in settings, i.e. "Hide video window for recordings in progress."

If Moxi wants to see positive reviews from experienced DVR users who record the majority of their programs, then it needs to make these or similar changes. It is these experienced DVR users that make up the majority of reviewers at various Internet news sites and blogs.

As is, Moxi can only expect to receive positive reviews from more casual DVR users who still spend much of their time watching liveTV. No matter how good the experience for casual DVR users, you can't expect to succeed in the third-party DVR market without implementing the feature(s) necessary to get experienced DVR users on board.]]>Jun 23rd 2009 5:14PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
Grouping is a standard feature on most modern DVRs. Within each folder, you expect contents to be sorted by date. However, for the displayed order of the folders themselves, sort by date certainly does apply. Some people like their folders listed in order by name, others like their folders listed in order by the date of the latest recording. Other DVRs give you the choice of sort order, while Moxi does not.

Note the sort order in the following video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNvgoLVzijE&fmt=22

I wouldn't want my sports team recordings displayed at the bottom of any list. I consider sports to be time-sensitive; if there is a new sports team recording, I want to see it at the top of the list. ]]>Jun 23rd 2009 9:39PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/
Read my review of this machine here.
http://mrod305.blogspot.com/2009/06/moxi-hd-dvr-review.html]]>Jun 29th 2009 4:57PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jul 8th 2009 6:09PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/moxi-hd-dvr-review/Jul 11th 2009 9:21AM