New DirecTV TiVo HD due in the Spring of 2010
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted December 15th 2009 3:46PM
posted December 15th 2009 3:46PM
posted December 15th 2009 3:46PM
A look back on popular stories from today in a specific year.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
I was a diehard fan of TiVo (and the DirecTiVo) from 2001 until about two years ago when DirecTV finally got their own DVR right. Honestly, in just about every way that matters, DirecTV's DVR is now better than TiVo's. I am sad to say it because I have been rooting for TiVo to make it this whole time. Now it seems that they've fallen behind and aren't really on my radar anymore.
@virxes sorry, but i have 4 of these HD DVR's in my home and while they are now getting adequate, there are many functions on Tivo boxes which if offered would be great and showcase a big differential between the two boxes. See my post which lists many of these functions.
@virxes DirecTV's DVR is garbage. I've hated the thing for the last year that I've had it. It's slow, and usually about 3 button presses behind me when it gets about half full. If i ever get it 80% full, it becomes absolutely useless. I can't wait to get rid of this POS.
@yaksplat
I have two DirecTV DVR's, an HR-20 and an HR-21 and they both are running the latest firmware. Neither of my DVR's are slow in any way. I'm not sure what model you have. I know that there are newer models (HR-22 and HR-23) so I don't know if you have one of those or if they are buggy at all.
I did have an issue once, about 3 months ago, on my HR-21. It did get really unresponsive and was doing some kooky things like jumping to the end of recordings whenever I tried to fast forward. I just rebooted the unit and all the problems went away. Besides that, they have both worked pretty flawlessly for me over the past three years or so since I dumped my DirecTiVo (HR10-250). I hate to suggest the obvious, but have you rebooted your units when they are acting up and if so did it change anything about the responsiveness of the unit?
Maybe you just have bum units or maybe I got lucky. Anyway, good luck. I know when this stuff doesn't work its a total drag. Still, I'll take DirecTV over Comcast (or any other cable operator) any day.
@virxes
Consider yourself massively fortunate. I have had to replace, at this count, FIVE Directv DVRs, which have all failed. I hate the wonky UI, I hate the way that the information is organized, and I can't wait to send them back to the pit from whence they came at my earliest opportunity.
I have been waiting for this unit, getting tired of waiting for it.
Really want the following options for unit on the new model:
1- Multi-room viewing, within house ethernet network
2- VOD add on's from Netflix on Demand, Amazon on Demand, Blockbuster on Demand. in HD also.
3- full program via web and mobile devices like iphone, blackberry
4- full Tivo to Go ability,
5- ability to backup titles off the DVR to hard drive, or burn to Blu-Ray or DVD in HD. ie via Toast on my mac.
it is time that people get full functionality back, instead of being prevented from recording for home use, people should be able to keep virtually all programs for future watching. ie programs we pay for on HBO, Showtime, broadcast and cable networks.
only programming i would accept not being able to backup for my in home use, No not filesharing, would be PPV new releases.
I really hope Tivo brings it and brings it soon, with NO Directv handicapping of the devices. Time for full capabilities and letting the customer get what they pay for.
I guess they didn't release the screenshots yet? I'm curious what the UI and DirecTV added features will look like. The Comcast Tivo concoction is like part Tivo / part Comcast... so I'm curious what DirecTV has influenced.
Will the DirecTV interactive apps be available? How about DirecTV VOD via Ethernet? Multi-room sharing? Will the Tivo PC app work? Will Tivo have HME apps running too? Will it look like a Tivo HD, or did they take the 2 years to spruce it up a bit (HD GUI would be really nice).
Why do cable/satellite companies keep making silver boxes? Does anyone have a silver tv, because last time I checked they were pretty much all black. I can see why someone might want white, but silver just seems to have come out of no where.
@MJGAMER 1991 XBL
I don't understand why everyone always complains about the look of the latest STBs. IR Repeaters can be found for less than $40 and you can hide all of your STBs behind nice media cabinets. Personally I'd rather spend time looking at my nice tv than at all of the blinky lights the STBs have.
@scyber
I personally enjoy looking at all of my electronics. If I spend thousands of dollars, I'm not going to hide it all away; I'm going to look at it every day and enjoy it. However, I enjoy it a lot less when everything is a different color...
@MJGAMER 1991 XBL
My Tivo HD was black. And up until my latest TV purchase, my TV, speakers, receiver, stand, etc... was all silver.
@MJGAMER 1991 XBL
BTW, that's not the picture of what the box will look like. That is the old Hughes box that was a Directivo.
I agree with @mdntcallr. Don't cripple the TIVO 'experience'. I doubt they will give us any VOD except DirecTv's. That is one feature I can live without (given roku). For me, the most important feature would be Tivo to go w/burning capabilities.
Tivo's site has an official announcement
https://www3.tivo.com/dvr-products/tivo-partners/tivo-directv/index.html
"Does that sound ridiculous to anyone else?" -- article
Yes, of course it does. Tivo has been moving at the speed of a slug the last couple years. Even software issues can take years to fix. We're still waiting for them to fix the problem where the Tivo HD loses analog channels.