Is a new TiVo imminent?
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Nov 17th 2009 1:54PM
posted Nov 17th 2009 1:54PM
Here are the facts. TiVo hasn't released a new DVR since the TiVo HD in the Summer of 2007. The last major TiVo announcement was September of 2008 when a new DirecTV HD TiVo was revealed. The chip that makes the TiVo magic happen just got a big upgrade when Broadcom announced the super feature rich BCM7125. A new 802.11N WiFi adapter was submitted to the FCC, even though the current TiVos can barely utilize all of a 802.11G connection. Add all of this in with the fact that 2010 is supposed to be the big year for a real tru2way launch, and we officially have our hopes up that TiVo has a big announcement for 10th CES in January. Now before you get too excited, we should point out that TiVo hasn't made any big announcements at CES since 2005, and has even told some that TiVo won't make big announcements at the show because they tend to be overshadowed. Now we'd argue that if you have something big enough to be a highlight of the show, then there is no better time, otherwise yeah, wait for a slow news day. All that being said, the original DirecTV TiVo HD (2004) and the Series 3 (2005) were both announced at the big show. Of course we will have to wait to find out, but in the meantime click through to see our personal wish list.
Here is our TiVo wish list.
- A new 3D 16x9 HD optimized user interface, similar to the look of the new search -- we could go on and on with improvements in the UI, but we'll save that for another post.
- At least four HD tuners -- current CableCARDs can authorize 6 HD streams.
- Real multi-room viewing with automatic conflict resolution and a consolidated ToDo list and Now Playing list -- content should be steamed and not copied so that even Copy Once content will play in any room.
- MoCa 1.1 so the TiVos can communicate without WiFi or Ethernet -- this is how the FiOS multi-room DVRs work.
- Native VOD, PPV and SDV support via tru2way -- we know this is possible, make it happen.
- More and, better integrated, web features -- everyone knows they look tacked on.
- DLNA adoption and maybe even join the RVU Alliance -- this one even seems to good to be a dream.
The "best HD DVR" on the market, or are you qualifying with "set-top" (i.e. only v. random cable co.'s DVR & Moxi)?
A new TIVO would be great, they need to start doing something besides winning lawsuits to put $ in the bank.
I was very careful to put set-top there because I believe Media Center is the best HD DVR. But it isn't perfect, and I hope that TiVo's new offering is better.
I'm glad you parsed your words Ben, otherwise I was ready to write a very angry post. :)
How about customizable buttons on the remote? So I can have a Netflix button, a Youtube, button, a Lost folder button. With my Series 3 + 750gb external hdd I have a ton of stuff that needs shortcuts.
Tivo needs to be VERY careful if they mess with the Tivo peanut. I love my Tivo peanut.
Personally the main thing I'd want out of a new remote would be a quicker way to enter text. A T9 like approach (ABC on 1, DEF on 2) might work, but labeling the number buttons would likely take too much space, and would require you to look at the remote rather than the TV. Probably the best we can hope for would be a touchpad instead of the direction rocker that allows for acceleration, or a wheel. I'd probably just like them to develop a kick-ass Tivo remote app for the iPhone/Android that works over Wifi. Would be even better if there were a full-UI version on the Apple Slate (e.g. the program just continues to play and all the UI elements show up on the Slate).
I would love a real tru2way Tivo, then hopefully the problems with SDV would be over! San Diego TWC had issues with SDV last week and my Tuning Adapter was broken for about 4 days. luckily I still have TWC's crappy HD-DVR to use as a backup
Well you don't want a real tru2way TiVo as it would look like your crappy TWC HD-DVR.
I'm talking about a TiVo with a few tru2way features, not a real tru2way TiVo.
Tru2way has a feature called "Tivo mode" that lets a DVR or a TV have their own user interface. You have to switch to the cable UI only to do On Demand.
Keith,
Thanks for the info, I knew there was some way for the TiVo to run tru2way code without replacing the entire TiVo UI, but I find it hilarious that they actually name it after TiVo. CableLabs has also confirmed that a 3rd party tru2way device can run a "SDV Handler App" that would on the TiVo and do the job of the TA.
Add these features to the new TIVO (and all new cable boxes) wish list:
-- Bluetooth 3.0
-- Light peak connection
-- ATSC M/H local reception
-- IPTV menu/guide
If computers, HDTVs, computer monitors, smart phones, smart cable boxes and TIVO's were standardized with these systems, the synergies would be terrific. Think of using your phone as a very smart remote control that will take your video & audio with you - to the kitchen & other rooms, tethering your computer & cable box to your phones, enabling multiple 802.11n connections to one mobile phone & a myriad of other uses. -- John Hite, retired, Oklahoma City
Bluetooth on a tivo... why?
Do you want Bluetooth for a wireless remote?
I think that Bluetooth 3.0 will be a likely candidate to replace IR and RF remote controls in the future.
http://www.planetanalog.com/article/printableArticle.jhtml?articleID=217200899&printable=true
Samsung has a fantastic remote control based on 802.11n.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/06/samsungs-led-tv-couple-packs-a-7-inch-tablet-remote-for-streami/
Since Bluetooth 3.0 is an amalgam of Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11n, it is 8 times faster than Bluetooth 2.0 (and I believe it is faster than 802.11n alone).
I think it is possible that all smart devices (smart phones, HDTV's, cable boxes, TIVO's and computers) might incorporate Bluetooth 3.0 in the future.
---- John Hite, retired, Oklahoma City
I'd add PIP to that list as well. Makes no sense to me why it's not there already.
I've asked this one (not to TiVo, but other DVR companies), the answer is because not enough people use it.
...and iPhone streaming support
Agree with you on this one. A built in "Slingbox" would be a great function.
There should be a way to dial into your Tivo from outside the home and watch shows. If they need to be transcoded, then transcode them ON THE TIVO (and on the fly).
There are a couple of ways of doing this now of course. You can buy a SlingBox. But that's problematic since it means you compete with whoever is in the room for control of the Tivo.
Another way is using DropBox. Install Tivo To Go on an ALWAYS ON PC. Schedule some shows to be automatically converted. Make the target destination your local DropBox folder. Install the DropBox app on your iPhone. And bingo, you can launch the quicktime player from the DropBox app.
Problem is Tivo doesn't manage space at all, so you'll quickly run out of room, DropBox will stop synchronizing, etc. But you can do it if you are attentive.
I would argue the reason no one uses PIP is because you need at least two tuners and most people in the past wouldn't hook up two tuners.
I currently have 2 TiVoHDs and was thinking about buying a 3rd b/c we are going to upgrade our Living Room TV. But I thought the same thing (that tivo might announce something at CES), so I am probably going to hold off. Hopefully whatever they release would be fully backwards compatiable with my existing TiVoHDs. If nothing is announced, I may seriously start looking at Moxi.
Oh, you forgot FIOS VOD support (since VZ doesn't seem to be supporting tru2way).
I've said (and I've let Tivo know in surveys) that Tivo needs to allow the menu etc to be in HD (16:9). I leave my TV in native so my screen goes black when going from live HDTV to the menu. I prefer to view the guide while watching the current program in a 'corner' of the screen so i can see the show while browsing the guide - I dislike the overlay of the guide since it covers the show.
Also, the ability to see what's set up to record when viewing the 'guide'.
Finally, the ability to use the keypad like a 'phone' keypad: meaning the alphabet characters are functional when using the 'search' options. So instead of pressing right, right, right, up, up, etc to get to a letter i could press the number 5 three times to get the letter "L" (like texting).
I too wish there was a freaking red circle on the shows in the Guide that were going to be recorded. Why its taking Tivo Y-E-A-R-S to implement this one is beyond me. Cuz going to the Tivo Menu, then Find Shows, then Todo List is so fraking obvious...
How about NO ADS IF WE PAY FOR YOUR SERVICE!? Pick one, Ad supported or Monthly Fee.
I really love tivo. I have an original Series 1 that I've upgraded multiple times. But I've drifted away from them over the last couple of years because the new boxes don't work with satellite service. If they get back to supporting satellite, I may give them another look. But, until then, the Dish DVR is at least getting the job done.
I just really hope they come up with a new TiVo DirecTV HD box early in 2010.
And by early, I mean January. They said it was supposed to be here in the Fall of 2009, but then they changed the date ... probably to get Series 4 inside there.
A company that makes electronics should really have a new product every year that improves upon the previous year. Otherwise, people go with another company's product.
One more, possibly-unrelated-but-hopefully-not thought -- the current DirectTV "winter" offers expire early February.
What offer is that? Can't seem to find anything about Directv and a winter offer when searching around...
Just their "standard" deals, like the rebate on the first receiver, the special pricing on the packages for a limited time, etc. But those "standard" deals expire periodically and get re-adjusted & re-released.
Watch the video in link below If Tivo doesn't do everything it does and more they will go under.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/23/video-intel-tru2way-server-streams-cable-all-over-your-house/
I agree with all of the above comments but the biggest thing I would like is the ability to reassign what channels are assigned to in the guide. We have MDU cable in our condo and while Tivo does have our cable channel lineup, in order for me to get any HD channels, I have to set one tuner as cable and the second tuner as OTA when in reality both are the cable being plugged in. Being able to manually tell the guide what channel the programming is assigned to would solve this problem.
Maybe there's a better way of doing this, perhaps by making the tuners tune HD OTA and QAM on the same input?
It would be nice if I could use Tivo with my AT&T U-verse service. I really don't care for the set top box they use. The control isn't that great either.
That's probably quite unlikely to happen. AT&T uses IPTV rather than the QAM layout used by cable and simulated by Verizon, so it would all have to be Ethernet based, and be customized to work with the Microsoft servers. Could happen of course.
I know this is going to be taken as heresy, but the current version of the DirecTV brand DVR (HR2x) is really quite good. One of the few that has really had a strong and continuing development effort over the years. My recollection of TiVo's efforts was that there would be some minor upgrade every six months or so, but nothing really changes after you've bought it.
I did like by DirecTV Tivos a lot, but they became obsolete. A DVR is no better than the support team behind it.
I would just love an HD Tivo that works WITHOUT a cable card, ya know since 99% of the countries in which Tivo is sold cable card doesn't exist so we're all stuck with Series 2. Stick some component and optical inputs and outputs on that sucker.
My wish list would include streaming web video support. Meaning Hulu, TV.com, ABC.com, etc. Flash, fragmented MP4, Quicktime, MOV, everything. And some way of handling the whole web browsing UI on the TV before you get to the show you want and can press the little full screen button with your "mouse". Probably not going to happen though.
My wishlist that might come true would be similar to yours:
- streaming copy protected shows
- MoCA support
- 802.11n built in to the box
- Up to 2TB drives available
- 4+ tuners per Tivo
- tru2way for boxless SDV
I do think they need a UI upgrade for more than just their DVR stuff though. The music and photo support is just sad. And the text-based Amazon VOD interface is ridiculous. Look at the Apple TV versions of same. Copy loosely.
Why just 2TB? I say add support for 16TB via something like a Drobo.
Most of it mentioned above, but for tallying purposes:
NO MONTHLY FEE
tru2way support
three or four tuners
some sort of wireless (rf, bluetooth, etc) keyboard capability for text entry
highlight what shows are being recorded in the guide
the Tivo interface is looking very dated, having not changed much since the days of my ReplayTV
There is a must-have feature I would love to see in the Tivo... UK availability.. I'm stuck with an arsing S1 unit from years back and you yanks get sparkly new toys! I love my tivo, but seriously it is long in the tooth... chuck some love over the pond, Tivo..
What TiVo really need to sell is a cheap "TiVo media extender" remote so I can watch streamed HD content from my "main Tivo" and the net on a another TV.
...I don't need yet another TiVo, with program guide, recording, monthly fee etc. My 1TB Series 3 (w. lifetime) has plenty of content enough.
But that probably doesn't fit their business plan...
I agree with deej... extenders are what is fundamentally attractive about a WMC-type setup. The cable companies are starting to realize this as well by making giving their non-DVR boxes the ability to stream... TiVO needs to go this direction even if that bumps up the cost of the S4 boxes....I doubt they'll be getting a lot of switch business in the future from cable-company DVRs if they don't embrace this concept. And with respect to the TiVo fanatics and early adopters that have been at the core of the TiVo business, once the Ceton card comes out, the last major obstacle to WMC is removed. TiVo should be very aware that a lot of folks who have tinkered with WMC in the past and found it to be lacking may again be giving it a fresh look.
If I can upgrade the Lifetime account I have (for $300 would be okay) on my current TiVO HD, then I'll consider it. Otherwise, it wears out and I'll have had my last TiVO. I'm hoping they do the few months' window like they did with the TiVO HD. I don't mind paying that amount, but no monthly subscriptions for me that are more expensive than the cable company!
Ditch the 200 fee to "transfer" one's lifetime account to a new box after 3 years. Now, if you need a replacement box and have lifetime... after 3 years it would cost 350 bucks, 150 for the refurb and 200 to transfer the lifetime.
i'd get 5 HD XL boxes if i can have FREE Guide and basic Recording/Pause functions with absolutely NO Monthly Fee. I REALLY don't care about online scheduling/streaming/amazon, etc.................................functions!!!! TiVo can sell these add-ons for a fee for anyone who really needs them. My 1 cent!
Best DVR IMO is the DirecTV HR-2x Series. Over the last two years DirecTV has updated the DVR and overall functionality quite substantially - even adding dual-live 90min tuners in the latest firware. Plus I have access to 1080p VOD. I've played with Comcast DVRs and find them lacking in UI and usability. The FiOS DVRs from Verizon are better. I was a long time DirecTivo user and really missed it for a few years. No longer. When (and if) DirecTV gets Tivo software back in the portfolio for their DVRs, I don't think I'd pay for the service if it didn't add anything new over the DirecTV branded units.
I haven't tried the DirecTV DVR in some time, but I just saw it a month or so ago and the UI was still very ugly and basic. The multi-room features are brand new and the techs couldn't even get it to work at the CEDIA booth. On top of this there are only two tuners and almost no cool internet streaming features.
So no, it isn't even as good as the TiVo, never the less in contention for the best HD DVR.
I still don't have a Tivo, even though the Cable DVR's completely suck. Why? Well Tivo is still a monthly fee, but no Video On Demand. No Caller ID on Screen. It's STILL a stretched SD interface. If I have to pay for a DVR monthly, might as well just be the crappy cable DVR, as it can at least get VOD.
When your in an area that only has 42 HD channels, High Def VOD is really a godsend to supplement that low quantity of HD programming. Now if we had well over 100 HD channels, I would have plenty of content to DVR and make my own VOD library on the Tivo.... but that's simply not the case where I live. I'm a Comcast subscriber, so eventually we'll get up to date, but right now it's a waiting game... and they don't tell us anything in advance.
I have a survey on the BroadbandReports Comcast TV message board on what features they would like to see Comcast implement in future generations of their DVR platform. I have confirmation that Comcast is watching the thread, so if you are a Comcast subscriber, I urge you to go vote for the features you are most interested in. That poll is here:
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23344588-Comcast-On-Screen-Guide-Community-Feature-Wishlist
I believe you have to join BroadbandReports for your vote to count, but it's free, and there's a bunch of great forums on that site that you could find useful.
It's interesting to note, that currently as of this writing, the top 20 features voted on (in order) are:
1. Revamped HD Interface
2. Larger DVR hard drives
3. Multi-Room DVR
4. Channel Logos
5. Option to Map HD Ch to SD number
6. Triple tuner DVRs
7. Smart keyword searching including VOD
8. Better program information – ability to drill down and find related programs
9. Store guide data on hard drive (prevent “To Be Announced”)
10. Web based programming (DVR AND Settings – Parental Controls)
11. Ability to expand storage with eSATA or USB2.0
12. Pull guide data over much faster DOCSIS channel
13. Home network integration with DLNA/PlayON to share content to/ from PC
14. Use of REC2 light on newer DVRs
15. When selecting show in search – ask to record it in HD if available
16. Intelligent recording of repeats to prevent duplicate recordings
17. Bookmark VOD on web – retrieve it on box
18. Backlit remotes with more than 3 devices
19. Bring web video content to TV (Youtube/Vimeo/Google)
20. Ability to check Comcast account balance and pay bill from TV
That's one provider specific... but I think at least the whole HD interface, Multi Room, more hard drives and more tuners could apply for Tivo as well.
It only mentions a 50 buck discount... BUT that is to the bottom model. The 1T XL model went from 650 to 500, or 4520 at amazon.
It could ONLY be because Moxi dropped their 800 model to... 500 bucks.