TiVo unveiling "new initiative" at press event tomorrow

Looks like this is a big week for companies to try to turn product announcements into hype-worthy events. The latest is TiVo, which will be holding a press event tomorrow at New York's Museum of Television & Radio to announce a "new initiative." So, let the guessing game begin. TiVo Series 3? The subscription model? A partnership with NetFlix (could be; the invite promises appearances by CEO Tom Rogers and "other special guests")? All we know is that if they end up showing off nothing but a speaker system and a leather carrying case for your DVR, we're bailing.

[Douglas Griffith @ Mar 1st 2006 4:02PM]

Please let it be Series 3. I am so sick of this Motorola 6412 and the limitations it presents.

[The Doop @ Mar 1st 2006 4:06PM]

Oh snap...here we go again. Hopefully it's the "Series 3" cause it looks hawt!! My Series 2 looks so "2002" sitting next to the 360.

[kevindineen @ Mar 1st 2006 4:08PM]

Software update to prevent my girlfriend from filling my tivo up w; Sex in the city, Oprah, The Wedding story, Queer Eye, Extreme Make Over, The nanny.

Please?

[SH @ Mar 1st 2006 4:12PM]

NICE ... that ought to put a dent in the opposition's theory of an Apple-owned Engadget!!

Now, if TiVo came out with Frontrow and Bonjour ... .

[julian @ Mar 1st 2006 4:18PM]

Why is it I think this "new initiative" is going to involve a new kind of DRM that doesn't work with anything?

[khamel @ Mar 1st 2006 4:19PM]

a true hdtivo is the last barrier to my purchase of that sweet 42 inch hdtv. that an a couple grand. but i can get the couple grand if tivo can get me series 3.

[Anthony @ Mar 1st 2006 4:23PM]

Thanks for the laugh! :-D

SH - I think the DO have Bonjour built in.

[Fisher @ Mar 1st 2006 4:34PM]

It's just gonna be the Free tivo with the higher monthly fee..

[DJ @ Mar 1st 2006 4:36PM]

Downloadable Software for your PC. Now you can use Tivo's Software with your Media Center PC's. Tivo is getting out of the Hardware business and going to focus clearly on releasing there software to the Masses.

Heck I will pay $49.99 for the software and pay a monthly fee of $6.99 to have the functionality of Tivo. If Tivo focus's on software it is a win win for them.

[John @ Mar 1st 2006 4:36PM]

Why New York City? Netflix is in Los Gatos, Cisco in Irvine... hmmm, partnership with Slingbox (now that's a dream worth having).

How about a dual-tuner Series 3 standalone?

[AR @ Mar 1st 2006 4:38PM]

I am done being a "beta-tester" for the 6412 III's bugs. Drop the Series3 already!

[khamel @ Mar 1st 2006 4:39PM]

the only problem with a software focus is the support. now they have preconfigured hardware so there is little that can go wrong (no problems in a year) but when everyone has their own hardware it can get a little messy. not saying it wont happen, that just seems like an obvious pitfall.

[BH @ Mar 1st 2006 4:49PM]

Perhaps the TiVo software for Comcast DVR users?

[Jon @ Mar 1st 2006 4:52PM]

They deperately need to release SOMETHING. The Series 2 hardware is incredibly ancient now. There still might be some life in it if they could seemlessly integrate video podcasting into Tivo Desktop (the only truly revolutionary thing they might do with just a software update).

But the motorola tivo software, or the series three -- this better be a product announcement that something is actually shipping. NOW.

[bdiddy @ Mar 1st 2006 5:12PM]

When is the event? I work very close and I want to take pictures of the giant Tivo guy.

[Joshua Stein @ Mar 1st 2006 5:13PM]

People complaining about the 6412s: Is it really that bad? I have one, and until someone else comes up with a dual HDTV tuner DVR for 10 bucks a month, I will put up with the annoyances (and that is all they are, annoying) that plauge the 6412.

I know some 6412s use a differnt OS, but what are these huge issues that make you want to downgrade to a single tuner(I don't know much about the new hardware coming out, so I am sure someone will correct me if the new TiVos have dual HDTV tuners).

[sequoia @ Mar 1st 2006 5:16PM]

it's a tivo leather case for 99 dollars

[AJ @ Mar 1st 2006 5:23PM]

To #6. I too was waiting for HD Tivo before buying a new HDTV, let me be the first to say dont wait. I just bought a Sony Briava 40" LCD and am using a Over the Air antena to get HD until the HD Tivo come out. Standard Definition TV on the Briava through my Series 2 and it doesn't look that bad, the Bravia does a really great job of upconverting standard definition TV. So get your HDTV now and save a bunch of expensive purchases all at once from happening later this year. I promise you wont regret it, I don't!

[Armie @ Mar 1st 2006 5:24PM]

Please please please be a Netflix collabo! Please!

Unlikely though. Hollywood don't like that kinda shtuff...

[sequoia @ Mar 1st 2006 5:27PM]

it's a leather tivo case for 99 dollars

[Miles @ Mar 1st 2006 5:33PM]

If it's to say the Comcast deal is ready to roll out I'll wet myself with joy...I�m so sick of Motorola�s crap.

[Zeppelin @ Mar 1st 2006 5:59PM]

I don't think it will be the series 3 tivo, most likely it will be some new yahoo widget plugin that nobody uses or some music service plugin. What we need is the series 3 out NOW and for it to have MCE compatability. They will probably say something along the lines of " the series 3 tivo will ship late 2006 early 2007; or it will be done when it's done."

[The Jeremy @ Mar 1st 2006 6:01PM]

My bet is that this initiative is the public debut of the transcoding/transfer upgrade to TiVo2Go for iPod and PSP owners that TiVo mentioned late last year. Supposedly its been in beta testing and that's probably the news that we'll be greeted with tomorrow. Its still too early for the Comcast final debut or the HD capable Series3 debut.

Or...perhaps Apple/Google/Yahoo/Anyone But Microsoft announces its intent to acquire TiVo? Oh Ahura Mazda, make it so.

[TY @ Mar 1st 2006 6:09PM]

my guess they announce access to all the museums archives via Tivo and broadband connection.

[Zeppelin @ Mar 1st 2006 6:25PM]

You could also consider or maybe just a coincidence that it has someting to do with microsoft's oragami project that is also debuting tomorrow...

[infinitespecter @ Mar 1st 2006 6:29PM]

I literally just picked up the Sony HD DVR (uses the TV Guide software). Before I open it up, I am waiting until tommorow to see what comes from this conference. If they can deliver a Series 3 for under $600 (I paid $500 for this) then I am sold.

[roberto @ Mar 1st 2006 7:06PM]

im with you guys, im very tired of the very buggy moto box. bring on the tivo! i want to switch back!

[Jeff Keegan @ Mar 1st 2006 7:43PM]

Oh! Isn't it obvious?! I'm personally hoping it's something great that they've worked out with the Museum of Television and Radio to get access to their archives! (i.e. TiVo offered to transcode their library, and there's some deal that will let people view MOTR programming via their TiVos in their homes..

Time to queue up the first episode of The Greatest American Hero! Or the first hour of MTV. Or.. (shiver).. Quark, Collector of Space Garbage.. (that last one kept me from seeing the pilot of The Incredible Hulk when I was a kid).

Anyway, here's hoping. (Crosses fingers)

[Andru Edwards @ Mar 1st 2006 8:01PM]

Sorry to burst your bubble guys...this is TiVo's announcement:

TiVo To Announce KidZone Initiative

I just got that straight from TiVo themselves, anonymous tip.

[Andru Edwards @ Mar 1st 2006 8:02PM]

URL didn't show up above - here is the link to the story:

http://snipurl.com/n2yi

[Matt @ Mar 1st 2006 8:36PM]

If they announce upgraded Tivo ToGo software for WinHell without releasing the mac version I am going to scream at my Tivo until I am blue in the face and then realize that using a mac without Tivo ToGo is still better than a WinHell experience and have a beer.

[glacia00 @ Mar 1st 2006 9:04PM]

""NICE ... that ought to put a dent in the opposition's theory of an Apple-owned Engadget!!""

This is a fascinatingly odd post. Who is 'the opposition'? I believe what you're referring to is the Apple bias of Engadget.

I'm guessing someone at Engadget picked up on that thread and the multiple jokes about speakers and cases is their attempt to pull back and say 'we made fun of apple see no bias here." But it actually feels creepy and forced. I would prefer they go back to the norm rather than try to assume some forced neutral position. After all Engadget is without question biased but at least they tend to be less biased than most.

[Scott Johnson @ Mar 1st 2006 11:03PM]

I'm really hoping for the Series 3, myself. I'm SO sick of the crap Motorola box that I'm currently renting from Comcast.

[play free games @ Mar 2nd 2006 1:13AM]

I'd like to see a Series 3 box as well, and maybe some new mutimedia features. And maybe if we're lucky, TivoToGo for the Mac, been waiting patiently for a long time for that piece of software, but I'm not holding my breath. We've got a better chance of getting a $99 leather dvr case announced.

[Joe @ Mar 2nd 2006 3:43AM]

maybe Apple was saving their really fun things for this TiVo accnouncement. that would be genious since I guess oragami is also unveiled today. Initiative is a strong word... a whole new enterprise. Sounds like it might be related to the disappointing Apple announcement on the 28th.

[William Higgins @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:06AM]

One thought is that Apple's event the other day could be a nice smoke screen for a suprise announcement with TiVo today. Everyone want's Apple to come up with a PVR but maybe they have been working with TiVo for a while now on just that. In fact they did announce an update to the Front Row software with the ability to stream content. Could be cool if some of that content is TiVo files.

[wg cannon @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:25AM]

making so much fun, am I the only one that saw the real significance of the Apple event, other than to get some incremental products out the door.
bonjour video sharing puts apple squarely in competition with Microsoft upnp technology and the new mini competes with the media center pcs.

But not only can you distribute your own videos and podcasts around your home with infant technology that acutally works (upnp is very problem plagueed) but you can also distribute purchased video and music around your home.

This is big, Steve Jobs didn't emphasize it enough, maybe he was tired.

[William Higgins @ Mar 2nd 2006 9:27AM]

Ahhh Crap... Looks like this KidsZone stuff is for real. Please TiVo don't let this be the only thing you announce today!

http://www.tivo.com/kidzone

[SC Young @ Mar 2nd 2006 12:05PM]

Ok its noon, so what's the big annoucement? If Kidszone is it, then I may throw out my Tivo as a matter of principle

[Baz @ Mar 2nd 2006 1:12PM]

3. Software update to prevent my girlfriend from filling my tivo up w; Sex in the city, Oprah, The Wedding story, Queer Eye, Extreme Make Over, The nanny.

#3 From the sounds of it:
Oprah - Because someone understands her
Wedding story - Hint hint. She wants to get maried
Queer eye - because you need a makeover for the wedding
Extream Makeover - Your house/apartment needs some inprovements befor the wedding
Nanny - She wants to have lots of bad children after the wedding