New Tivo HD - Anyone getting one?
05-11-08, 03:55 PM
#201
Originally Posted by Big Boy Laroux
it's all set up this morning, but it took a while. The CableCard was not set to receive all the channels, so I talked to about 5 CSRs who all just "hit" the card. I finally was able to talk to a supervisor, who finally talked with someone who knew something about cablecards. They re-initialized the card (instead of just "hitting" it), and i then got all my channels. The CSRs all said they were doing all that could be done, then the supervisor told me CSRs do not have the access to initialize a card. I wish companies would get on the same page or train their employees better.
so for those of you out there that may have the same problem with Comcast, tell them to initialize the card, or send a "cold hit". I got that information from the TivoCommunity forum thread on comcast cablecards (just search google for it - i lost the link).
so for those of you out there that may have the same problem with Comcast, tell them to initialize the card, or send a "cold hit". I got that information from the TivoCommunity forum thread on comcast cablecards (just search google for it - i lost the link).
Some cities don't allow you to pick up the cable cards at the comcast offices. Luckily, here in Nashville (and apparently in Seattle), they do allow it.
05-30-08, 12:48 PM
#202
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Might as well stick this in here!
Link
Chris
JOHN DVORAK'S SECOND OPINION
Why Disney should buy TiVo
Commentary: The move would help the media giant reach viewers directly
By John C. Dvorak
Last update: 8:21 a.m. EDT May 30, 2008
BERKELEY, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- Since TiVo Inc. bottomed out in January at around $5 a share, the stock has been making a consistent move up.
The recent announcement that Walt Disney Co. will use TiVo as a mechanism for what appears to be a crude entry into Internet protocol television, or IPTV, by distributing movies on the TiVo box may portend even a more important possibility.
That possibility is that Disney will buy TiVo.
TIVO) is credited with inventing the personal video recorder, or PVR, and popularizing time-switching and the ability to stop live content. The TiVo phenomenon cannot be ignored as a major sociological event in the history of media. Anyone who uses such a device, whether the TiVo itself or a derivative, never watches TV the same way again.
In the process, it has forced content providers to rethink their business models, especially when you consider the fact that you can effortlessly skip commercials with these devices.
The company is a pioneer, but never quite had the marketing chops to ramp up like a typical consumer electronics company. This is coupled with the fact that in the U.S. the target market consists of too many people who cannot even set the time on a VCR.
The TiVo does require some learning skills. Also the idea of a monthly subscription isn't necessarily a welcoming feature since it requires hooking some sort of network connection to the device.
But TiVo has become a verb and holds all the best patents on this sort of technology -- and it is addictive.
More importantly it can be effortlessly turned into a conduit for the next generation of TV -- IPTV. This is television delivered via an IP connection either over the Internet or over a private closed IP network.
Everyone knows that eventually IPTV will become the dominant form of TV show distribution. Just as news distribution is being converted online because you save money on paper, ink, printing presses and delivery trucks, a similar change will take place in broadcast media.
With online broadcasting you don't need expensive transmitters, antennas, licensed personnel and government licenses to operate. IPTV makes things cheaper.
That said, the form that IPTV will eventually take is not certain. The Web made the online newspaper popular since the web was a perfect platform for print-style content. This is not the same for video content.
Video content on the web is a novelty, a diversion. There has to be some link to the TV set in the den for the IPTV initiative to ever take off. This means some sort of set top box or a direct connection between the TV and the Internet.
TiVo is sitting in the sweet spot. And when I see a company like Disney playing around with a company like TiVo I begin to wonder if Disney is getting its feet wet in advance of a buyout deal. With a market cap just under a billion it might be too much to swallow, but it would give Disney a technology it could use and leverage.
While some observers in the movie business see Disney as moving away from the content creation business insofar as movies are concerned, it seems to be solidly into TV content which is perfect for TiVo. And it does have movies that need distribution.
Besides giving the company more control over content by controlling such a device it might find it a good vehicle for delivering targeted advertising to the viewers. This has been the holy grail of broadcast advertising. The possibilities are endless if you can control a box like this and make it even more popular.
The only problem I would foresee is that nobody at Disney could grasp all the possibilities and the whole thing would languish leaving an orphaned platform and irritated users.
I recommend that they think about it seriously if they are not already.
Why Disney should buy TiVo
Commentary: The move would help the media giant reach viewers directly
By John C. Dvorak
Last update: 8:21 a.m. EDT May 30, 2008
BERKELEY, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- Since TiVo Inc. bottomed out in January at around $5 a share, the stock has been making a consistent move up.
The recent announcement that Walt Disney Co. will use TiVo as a mechanism for what appears to be a crude entry into Internet protocol television, or IPTV, by distributing movies on the TiVo box may portend even a more important possibility.
That possibility is that Disney will buy TiVo.
TIVO) is credited with inventing the personal video recorder, or PVR, and popularizing time-switching and the ability to stop live content. The TiVo phenomenon cannot be ignored as a major sociological event in the history of media. Anyone who uses such a device, whether the TiVo itself or a derivative, never watches TV the same way again.
In the process, it has forced content providers to rethink their business models, especially when you consider the fact that you can effortlessly skip commercials with these devices.
The company is a pioneer, but never quite had the marketing chops to ramp up like a typical consumer electronics company. This is coupled with the fact that in the U.S. the target market consists of too many people who cannot even set the time on a VCR.
The TiVo does require some learning skills. Also the idea of a monthly subscription isn't necessarily a welcoming feature since it requires hooking some sort of network connection to the device.
But TiVo has become a verb and holds all the best patents on this sort of technology -- and it is addictive.
More importantly it can be effortlessly turned into a conduit for the next generation of TV -- IPTV. This is television delivered via an IP connection either over the Internet or over a private closed IP network.
Everyone knows that eventually IPTV will become the dominant form of TV show distribution. Just as news distribution is being converted online because you save money on paper, ink, printing presses and delivery trucks, a similar change will take place in broadcast media.
With online broadcasting you don't need expensive transmitters, antennas, licensed personnel and government licenses to operate. IPTV makes things cheaper.
That said, the form that IPTV will eventually take is not certain. The Web made the online newspaper popular since the web was a perfect platform for print-style content. This is not the same for video content.
Video content on the web is a novelty, a diversion. There has to be some link to the TV set in the den for the IPTV initiative to ever take off. This means some sort of set top box or a direct connection between the TV and the Internet.
TiVo is sitting in the sweet spot. And when I see a company like Disney playing around with a company like TiVo I begin to wonder if Disney is getting its feet wet in advance of a buyout deal. With a market cap just under a billion it might be too much to swallow, but it would give Disney a technology it could use and leverage.
While some observers in the movie business see Disney as moving away from the content creation business insofar as movies are concerned, it seems to be solidly into TV content which is perfect for TiVo. And it does have movies that need distribution.
Besides giving the company more control over content by controlling such a device it might find it a good vehicle for delivering targeted advertising to the viewers. This has been the holy grail of broadcast advertising. The possibilities are endless if you can control a box like this and make it even more popular.
The only problem I would foresee is that nobody at Disney could grasp all the possibilities and the whole thing would languish leaving an orphaned platform and irritated users.
I recommend that they think about it seriously if they are not already.
06-01-08, 05:02 PM
#203
I made the switchover this week from DirecTV with the HR-250 to Suddenlink and a TiVo HD. Couldn't be happier. The only negative part of the whole thing is the CableCARD installation. Could not for the life of me get the damn card to authenticate back to the office. They could see it on their end, but the card didn't send a return response. Turns out the power conditioner I had on the line was blocking the 10MHz spectrum it used to reply back to the main office. Removed it and the thing worked just fine after that. Just any FYI for those thinking of getting one.
Other than that, I'm thrilled with the thing. Amazon Unbox is a great feature and they have tons of podcasts you can download for free everyday. Also the additional ability to order tickets for movies through Fandango on it is nothing short of a godsend. I no longer have to fire up the desktop or laptop to order my tics anymore. For those on the fence about it, seriously, pick one up. The TiVo HD is the perfect set top box for anyone wanting a DVR.
Other than that, I'm thrilled with the thing. Amazon Unbox is a great feature and they have tons of podcasts you can download for free everyday. Also the additional ability to order tickets for movies through Fandango on it is nothing short of a godsend. I no longer have to fire up the desktop or laptop to order my tics anymore. For those on the fence about it, seriously, pick one up. The TiVo HD is the perfect set top box for anyone wanting a DVR.
06-02-08, 12:37 PM
#204
DVD Talk Hero
Just need a clarification... you still need to rent two cablecards to get the most out of the HDTivo, right? I know they have some new dual-stream one, but I have yet to hear about anyone getting one (and they probably cost more as well). Are there two inputs in the back (so that I can use one cablecard and one antenna)?
Seeing as how lifetime is now "discounted" for current users, I've been thinking of jumping into the fray, but the price of everything is still a little daunting, with the price of the box, the lifetime sub, and the possible esata extension drive).
Seeing as how lifetime is now "discounted" for current users, I've been thinking of jumping into the fray, but the price of everything is still a little daunting, with the price of the box, the lifetime sub, and the possible esata extension drive).
06-02-08, 12:44 PM
#205
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by fujishig
Just need a clarification... you still need to rent two cablecards to get the most out of the HDTivo, right? I know they have some new dual-stream one, but I have yet to hear about anyone getting one (and they probably cost more as well). Are there two inputs in the back (so that I can use one cablecard and one antenna)?
Seeing as how lifetime is now "discounted" for current users, I've been thinking of jumping into the fray, but the price of everything is still a little daunting, with the price of the box, the lifetime sub, and the possible esata extension drive).
Seeing as how lifetime is now "discounted" for current users, I've been thinking of jumping into the fray, but the price of everything is still a little daunting, with the price of the box, the lifetime sub, and the possible esata extension drive).
The unit has two coaxial jacks on the back- one for cable in, one for antenna in. Keep in mind though that even though it is technically possible to have three "sets" of channels (two cable, one OTA) the TiVoHD can only record two shows at once.
06-02-08, 01:42 PM
#206
right, TiVoHD can use the multi-stream cards. The original Series3 was the box that could only use single-stream cards.
when i was setting it up, 1 M-Card was cheaper because i would be charged for a second card...
when i was setting it up, 1 M-Card was cheaper because i would be charged for a second card...
06-03-08, 05:17 PM
#208
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I just replaced our Dish vip622 with a TivoHD with lifetime this week. Didn't want Charter's HD DVR because everyone I've heard that has used it says it sucks (including a coworker...he got an SD-Tivo instead).
Seems good so far. I think the Dish was a better DVR (esp. overall speed and response) but then again they were being sued by Tivo
And the Tivo has some better ideas here and there as well. The wife especially likes the music-video downloads.
I asked Charter to bring out an m-card. Twice. The tech showed up with 2 single ones instead. But one of them was DOA and he ran out and came back an hour later...they'd "found" some m-cards. Works fine now.
Saving money vs Dish though. They wanted $50 or another 2-year commitment to install another dish for my locals which made me grumpy.
Dish was $67 or $57 a month for HD service. Now we have expanded basic cable and a cable card for local HD channels (all I REALLY wanted...although I will miss HDnet) for like $39. The lifetime costs on the Tivo will be saving me some money in the long run vs renting a DVR.
Only have two big wishes - I wish it supported uPnP for file transfers (not sure I want to install the Tivo apps on my media server next to TVersity). And I wish they'd got on board with Netflix
For media streaming: I've read about pyTivo and Galleon. Any preferences?
Seems good so far. I think the Dish was a better DVR (esp. overall speed and response) but then again they were being sued by Tivo
And the Tivo has some better ideas here and there as well. The wife especially likes the music-video downloads.I asked Charter to bring out an m-card. Twice. The tech showed up with 2 single ones instead. But one of them was DOA and he ran out and came back an hour later...they'd "found" some m-cards. Works fine now.
Saving money vs Dish though. They wanted $50 or another 2-year commitment to install another dish for my locals which made me grumpy.
Dish was $67 or $57 a month for HD service. Now we have expanded basic cable and a cable card for local HD channels (all I REALLY wanted...although I will miss HDnet) for like $39. The lifetime costs on the Tivo will be saving me some money in the long run vs renting a DVR.
Only have two big wishes - I wish it supported uPnP for file transfers (not sure I want to install the Tivo apps on my media server next to TVersity). And I wish they'd got on board with Netflix
For media streaming: I've read about pyTivo and Galleon. Any preferences?
Last edited by GreenMonkey; 06-03-08 at 05:20 PM.
06-03-08, 09:11 PM
#209
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Originally Posted by GreenMonkey
For media streaming: I've read about pyTivo and Galleon. Any preferences?
06-04-08, 06:56 AM
#210
DVD Talk Legend
I've used Galleon, TiVo Desktop (with Videora), Tivo.net, and pyTiVo.
I greatly prefer pyTiVo.
I don't even have to touch my computer to transfer video podcasts: the podcast folder is in my Now Playing List and everything I subscribe to has it's own folder within. Each folder displayed there even shows me the date of the last download, so I always know when something is new.
I greatly prefer pyTiVo.
I don't even have to touch my computer to transfer video podcasts: the podcast folder is in my Now Playing List and everything I subscribe to has it's own folder within. Each folder displayed there even shows me the date of the last download, so I always know when something is new.
06-04-08, 08:02 AM
#211
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
So I've seen some people talking about lifetime upgrades. I just bought a TiVo HD last September and got a 3 year service contract. Can I put that towards getting a new lifetime service agreement? I've never had one before.
06-02-09, 11:08 AM
#212
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Re: New Tivo HD - Anyone getting one?
Superman07,
Would you happen to have all the broadcast (Tivo'ed?) versions of Keen Eddie? I've been trying to find copies with the original music, but have been unsuccessful so far.
Please let me know.
Kannan
Would you happen to have all the broadcast (Tivo'ed?) versions of Keen Eddie? I've been trying to find copies with the original music, but have been unsuccessful so far.
Please let me know.
Kannan
Wait, they let you get 12% off? I thought those coupons excluded Tivo products?!
Also, I was under the impression that it was a requirement to have cable companies come out and have somebody put the car in for you and that pickup/self install was not an option.
Regardless, glad everything is setup and working.
Also, I was under the impression that it was a requirement to have cable companies come out and have somebody put the car in for you and that pickup/self install was not an option.
Regardless, glad everything is setup and working.
06-11-09, 08:23 AM
#213
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: New Tivo HD - Anyone getting one?
----
With regard to Tivo, if you buy a "Lifetime Subscription" I always was under the impression that you were out of luck should your unit break. However, this Q/A from their site leads me to believe otherwise.
What happens if my TiVo DVR breaks during my service commitment?
All TiVo DVRs are subject to the standard TiVo DVR warranty. Please see the TiVo DVR limited warranty for details. As part of your TiVo Package, TiVo will extend the parts portion only of your Limited Warranty for the term of your TiVo Package commitment. This extension of your TiVo Limited Warranty does not apply to Humax DVD-Recorders with TiVo.
All TiVo DVRs are subject to the standard TiVo DVR warranty. Please see the TiVo DVR limited warranty for details. As part of your TiVo Package, TiVo will extend the parts portion only of your Limited Warranty for the term of your TiVo Package commitment. This extension of your TiVo Limited Warranty does not apply to Humax DVD-Recorders with TiVo.
