Phillip Swann gets a first look at the R15 DirecTV Plus DVR
posted August 25th 2005 8:47AM
Yeah, TiVo had some good news for us last night (first
profit ever!), but it's no secret that DirecTV's decision
to stop pushing TiVo and start
pimping its own in-house DVR means they're in for a world of hurt over the coming years and months — over the years
DirecTV has been TiVo's biggest source of new subscribers. We figured that at least DirecTV would do it up
TimeWarner-style and introduce a shoddy DVR that had plenty of customers running back into TiVo's waiting arms, but
Phillip Swann over at TV Predictions says no dice: he got his hands on a product manual for the new the new R15 DirecTV
Plus DVR, which is set to debut in October, should have the execs over at TiVo worried. Why? Because rather than going
the no-frills route they're actually introducing a DVR with a few extra features that even TiVo doesn't have (at least
not yet), like a 90-minute buffer (three times as long as what TiVo offers), the ability to bookmark specific points in
programs you've recorded, built-in caller ID service, a new "Active channel" with multiple screens so you can
watch/preview several shows at once, and plans for a new video on demand feature.
[Thanks, Ron]
All of these new features are more like the new generation of DVRs from Dish Network.
The reviewer misses a BIG point in his article. One of Tivo's big strengths is its UI. ReplayTV has more features. Cable provider DVRs are cheaper or free with service. But many people switch from those devices to Tivo because it is more usable.
I will admit a few of those features sound nice (bookmarks, "will record" indicator in program guide) but hardly worth switching for. And all of them, with the possible exception of CallerID, could be added by Tivo in a software update.
None of those features are very impressive. 90 minute buffer? So? Bookmarking? It's a small improvement over being able to go to a particular tick mark on a Tivo recording. Caller ID? It requires a phone line connection, which most Tivo owners would like to get away from. DirecTV still hasn't caught on to networking, huh? The video on demand service would be nice, and that's really the only feature worth mentioning, but if DirecTV had stuck with Tivo, there's no doubt that this is something that would have been implemented anyway.
What I want to know are the important things. I assume this new box will support MPEG4 for all those new satellites they're launching. Will it do HD? Will it have multiple tuners? These are the kinds of questions I'll need before I even compare it to my Tivo.
Besides, what can you really get from a product manual? ANY Tivo owner can tell you that the most important feature of their device is the interface. I'm really worried and I can see it now: DirecTV will completely rip off the Tivo interface, and Tivo won't have the funds to take them to court over it. I'm calling it here people.
I will remain a Tivo loyalist, and hopefully one day we will have the Tivo software that we all know is inevitable, and then we can start creating our own Tivo boxes with insane functionality.
I agree with #3 - they need to get with the networking program. I don't want to have to be calling in over a home phone at all. TiVo got with it, why can't D*? As a Vonage user who actually has gotten his TiVo to work just fine over that connection, I can't say I'm totally against it, but it would keep me from wirelessly throwing a phone jack behind the television, taking up a whole plug.
Why would these need to be networked at all? Wouldn't all the program info be coming from the satellite?
I really can't agree that Tivo's software is the be all and end all. I had a terrible pixelation issue after my box was upgraded to 7.0, and to this day I have long delays of about 4-5 seconds after I press the guide button or the Tivo button before an action occurs.
If DTV can do HD and Tivo lags behind they will be in trouble. Tivo's main advantage right now for me is the ability to archive shows onto my PC. A great feature but not one that will keep me away from the competition.
#5: Your pixelation and slowness problems will be fixed within the month. Tivo is rolling out 7.2, and let me just say, having used it for a while now, its frickin sweet. Faster than my Tivo ever was prior to 7.1 (they actually skipped 7.0).
The beauty of networking, BTW, isn't about programing; you will soon be able to DL shows to your Tivo, but that isn't why we network Tivos now. Its about added features. A networked Tivo can act as a "media server;" not only does it execute its daily "call" in about 1 second, but a network connection allows you to access your Tivo and its recordings from your networked PCs. With the new Tivo Desktop software, you can not only transfer shows off the Tivo with TivoToGo, but you can transfer those shows and any format-conforming MPEG video BACK TO THE TIVO for viewing (some are calling GoToTivo). Then there's music and pics: I have my entire music collection ripped to high quality MP3, available at a moments notice on my AV system through the Tivo interface.
Without networking capabilities and something to rival Tivo's Home Media Options, D*'s DVR is just a big buffer waste of time and money. And I'm gonna guess its pretty spendy. Get D* service and your OWN Tivo: you'll spend less money and you'll have a much better setup.
I wish TiVo would incorporate a "zoom" feature into its hardware/software. That's a standard option on modern $30 DVD players and I think it would be a big hit in the DVR market. Of course, it would also be nice for an iPod user (equipped with an iTrip) to be able to use the iPod as a jog wheel for frame-by-frame advancement too. That's the type of innovation I expect from TiVo and I'm not getting.
As someone also stated, replaytv is actually a far more itnuitive UI and is so much easier to understand that TIVO. I just bought tivo because my replay unit crashed and tivo had a nice deal -- but, wow, is the UI much worse.
You rarely know how much time is left on your DVR. You have to individually preserve programs. You have to keep flipping multiple screens to customize your recording (like number of shows to preserve and beginning before or after a show begins). The lack of the 15 sec. skip is stupid. The program guide is slower. And, the picture quality is sort of equal -- unless you count replay and its progressive scan capability. And, at least replay guarantees you know what channel the show you recorded is from -- TIVO only does it for major channels even if they use nice pretty logos.
TIVO really has going for it: automatic buffering so that you can back 90 minutes from what's been on; and networking (and replay even has a built in hack for that) -- the anticipatory program find feature is ok -- but, I'd say it's not all that accurate and it's annoying they default save your preferred recorded programs for like 2-3 days just to fill it up with shows you might possibly like.
Go figure.
TIVO is more in trouble because it complicates simple tasks a DVR needs to do and that replaytv and even digital cable dvr's do more easily. That they even have market share, to me, is a testament to what marketing is able to do for even a bad product.
Ok, so the problem will be fixed within the month , but it still has been a pain. Especially considering it's been going on since... MARCH. That's not cool.
I have ReplayTV and still nothing compares. The only thing missing is an HD version and some type of play-list functionality. Oh, and it would be cool to split the screen into live multiple video feeds (been trying to push that since the JVC 10000 S-VHS VCR went away :^(...
To me, the key features it needs to compete with my DirecTivo, which I love, is the ability to watch a show while it's being recorded, two tuners (of course), AND, the ability to fast forward through commercials and "snap back" to the start of the show. This last feature is so great on the Tivo - better than a 15 or 30 second skip, IMO.
Why bother w/ the new D* DVR? It's not even HD. I have a Series I D* Tivo and an HD Tivo. I've played w/ my father-in-laws comcast HD DVR. Tivo wins.
I doubt the $4.99/mos total for entire household's Tivo's through DirecTV really nets Tivo that much money... and those people won't be going anywhere either.
Why does Mr. Swann say you can do frame skip on the new box ..? The Tivo has been able to do that since its very first incarnation.
See, many DVR's look good on paper -- like the Moxi. But in reality, when compared to Tivo are terrible. I have a Moxi at hoem and two Tivo's. I could make a huge list of things about Moxi that suck. There are only a few minor features that Tivo doesn't have but they are minor and nothing compared to the huge flaws.
I only keep it because for $12/mos I can record HDTV content through Adephia.
First, you need to realize that this DVR is not for "us". DirecTV wants a cheap, fairly functional DVR that they can give away. It is aimed at all subscribers that don't have a DVR (95% or more?). The goal is to get one into every house as DVRs reduce churn and can increase revenue (e.g. PPV movies already on the DVR).
You can argue that Tivo is "better" but most people would be happy with a basic DVR that had reliable Season Pass functionality. This is especially true if DirecTV gives it to them for very low cost or free (with rebate).
DirecTV is coming out with a new HD DVR next year that has networking and a lot of other "high end" features. It is not a Tivo but made by Ucentric/Motorola. Not too much is known about it though.
Of course, if you want more info, go to:
http://www.tivocommunity.com
They have gone over the R15 manual have and have a lot more details about how it will probably work.
to #8, the tivo does have a 30 second commercial skip although it is disabled by default. To enable it you must enter the following key combo quickly: Select, Play, Select, 3, 0, Select. You might have to do this a few times but it does work with the dtv tivos. You will get a confirmation sound when it is successful :)
When #8. RightClick says he "just bought" his tivo..he's not wrong..but almost all of the rest he states about tivo is. I think he hasn't quite played with it enough.
The king of DVR buffer length is probably the old original Dish Network DishPlayer 7200. The buffer apparently had no set limit, beyond the available hard drive space. I once had a channel on pause for almost 4 hours.
At the very least, DVR manufacturers should provide an advanced option to set the maximum buffer length to whatever the user prefers.