TiVo Premiere's RCN VOD menu is based on the classic interface

Oh TiVo we'd really beat you up about this one if the new HDUI wasn't so painfully slow. We'd love to go on and on about how lame it is to be upconverting a UI even though HD has been around for years and how sick we are of that 10 year old TiVo interface. But no, instead we're just happy that at least some cable viewers will have access to VOD on a 3rd party device, and no matter how bad it looks, we wish every provider made the effort that RCN did to bring all of its services to every device on its network. We're also happy to read that no matter how bad it looks to us, it is an upgrade from the existing RCN VOD interface and is much more responsive than the TiVo Premiere's HDUI -- RCN does expect to roll out a version with the new UI in the 3rd quarter of this year.

[scyber Posted Apr 20th 2010 9:42PM]

"we wish every provider made the effort that RCN did to bring all of its services to every device on its network."

I thought the VOD service only worked with TiVo Premiere's provided by RCN? Unless I am mistaken, if you buy a TiVo from Best Buy it would be on their network but still wouldn't get VOD.

[jeremyjwebstudioscom Posted Apr 20th 2010 10:10PM]

@scyber You're correct.

[nsfw Posted Apr 21st 2010 9:20AM]

3rd quarter? Their press release said q1 2010. This thing isn't coming out until sometime 2011.

[cypherx Posted Apr 21st 2010 10:08AM]

It's in beta now in D.C. and they are looking for N.Y. Beta testers at the moment.

They are focusing on the SD interface only. Yes it's a real Tivo Premiere, but RCN worked with Tivo to customize the firmware a bit. There's no menu option to "turn on" the new UI. However, once Tivo perfects their full HDUI makeover, RCN will then incorporate it. As a service provider, I doubt RCN wanted their name on a product with such inconsistencies in the UI and overall operation of the unit. With the Tivo Premiere unfinished and switching in and out of an inconsistent HDUI, it just doesn't look fit and polished. I don't blame RCN for their decision. Once Tivo get's things right and finishes their product, and also ensures it doesn't randomly reboot or lockup - then RCN will give them the blessing to allow the user to enable the HDUI.

There's hope though. The VOD access is miles faster in both navigation and trick play commands. Keep in mind that you must also subscribe to RCN's cable modem service.

Jason Nealis states "The upstream communication goes through the data port on the TiVo unlike the Motorola which uses the RF for upstream. They are two different types of technology. We mandate the use of RCN [HSI] in order to control the experience and also address security concerns on our side as well."

The RCN Tivo price is currently $19.95 a month in the D.C. area. The regular Motorola DVR running Passport is $17.95 a month.

At least using a real Tivo with just the VOD access add on will allow RCN to quickly roll this product out. Contrast that to the Comcast Tivo project which started in 2006 and has yet to leave a few isolated communities in the New England regions. I applaud RCN for using an actual Tivo Premiere, rather than trying to shoehorn the Tivo software on a bunch of convoluted software stacks in a buggy Motorola set top.

[LeoinWI Posted Apr 21st 2010 1:22PM]

@cypherx Wow, only $2/month more to upgrade to Tivo, that is not too shabby.

[cypherx Posted Apr 21st 2010 2:37PM]

@(Unverified) Yes, but now I'm reading that in most markets their Motorola DVR came down to $14.95, but the Tivo will remain $19.95.

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted Apr 21st 2010 1:47PM]

This will never happen with other cable-co's. Their main argument when you try to get a cablecard to replace your box is VOD. If they lose that, all they have to argue is caller id on the tv, which is nice but not really something that would stop you from buying a tivo.