We love it when a plan comes together. You may remember how a few months back we reported that Cox Communications
sent a questionnaire to its (non-cable) customers asking them if a TiVo-powered DVR service would convince them to make the switch from satellite; well apparently the response must have been a resounding "yes!", as the two companies have officially announced a partnership that will enable Cox subscribers to gain all of that TiVo goodness with little to no effort on their part. Beginning sometime in the first half of next year, Cox digital cable customers with DVR service will have the option of downloading TiVo software directly to their existing set-top boxes -- no aggravating service calls required. It seems like everything is going right for TiVo these days: they've got
Comcast and Cox under their belts, the Series 3 box
almost out the door, a
shiny new Emmy to flaunt, and a courtroom
victory against Echostar that (assuming it
holds up) will make investors very happy.
TiVo Deathwatch, be gone, and let the
TiVo House Party commence!
posted Aug 24th 2006 11:22AM
Wow. Just wow.
I've always hated Cox for their horrible support and some of their programming practices, such as moving channels to their Digital service to encourage basic customers to switch (and thus spend more) and, of course, their two-cable system they took FOREVER to resolve in Fairfax County, Virginia.
But this could make me switch. It really could. Digital cable, with many more HD channels...with my beloved TiVo interface? I'll wait until it's available, but when it is...ooh baby!
We'll see. The devil is often in the details.
No, this is terrible. I have COX and the thought of Tivo makes me sick. I am under the impression that Tivo often complies with network demands and sets timers on certain programs. Some programs delete themselves after a short period. How convient, you go on vacation and you don't want to miss the next episode of (insert here ), so you record it, only it doesn't matter, because by the time you get back, it's alread deleted it self. If my understanding of this is incorrect, feel free to flame me, but right now, this dissapoints me. My COX DVR is fine as it is, and I won't be downloading the Tivo software.
To the poster above me, you are delusional.
There have been no timers set on any programs that weren't mistakes. Its more likely for a cableco to conspire with the content owners than it is with TiVo doing so deliberately.
And for anyone who claims their Cox DVR software is fine enough without the TiVo UI upgrade, you seriously are ignorant.
The difference between COX's DVR UI and a TiVo is night and day...a decent analogy would be the difference between Windows 3.1 and Windows XP. I'm not kidding. Everyone I know who has used both believes the COX DVR is almost not worth using. The only reason they do is the number of additional HD channels. If you don't have HD, there's no advantage at all.
As previously mentioned, the "expiration" flag has never been set deliberately. And to my knowledge, TiVo has never caved to the networks on any content restrictions or rights management.
I'm somewhat optimistic about this. I currently have a Cox HD DVR and have used Tivo in the past. I much prefer the performance and interface of Tivo (the Motorola 6412 I have is a little quirky), but I'm a bit concerned about how well Tivo will work when it is shoehorned into an existing box. Also, will functionality remain the same or, like the poster above mentioned, will there be new restrictions on content?
Fortunately, Cox has a retail location a block from my house so it will be easy to get hands on with this thing when it actually debuts (if Cox says early 2007 that means expect it in late 2007).
Sigh. In this, the information age, one would think it very easy to gather information about a myriad of gadgets and what not. Apparently, you sir, need a bit of help in this department. TIVO boxes (and I assume most, if not all DVRs nowadays) give you heaps of options about your recordings. You can instruct it to leave a recording alone until you delete it, or have it deleted after a certain period of time. Don't worry, my good fella - I am very happy with my TIVO, and I even have an old Sony DirecTivo. You will have it good, and you will not want to go back. I cannot even begin to imagine what the new Series 3s will offer.
Comcast never rolled this out in Dallas, because they were giving us to Time Warner. Now that the switch is done, I guess I'm out of luck. Come on Tivo, scare TW into signing up too. Or Verizon... if Verizon ever gets around to rolling out FIOS in Dallas (instead of just everywhere around Dallas).
Any word on when the Tivo-Comcast partnership will actually introduce some products (bay area)?
I'm with you, Big Sam. I just got switched from Comcast to Time Warner. I don't really care either way except that now I have the only major cable company that DOESN'T have a deal with Tivo. Just my luck. And while I don't have access to FIOS yet either, based on what I'm hearing, they're not any more likely to introduce a deal with Tivo since they're going down their own path with multimedia options...
Why doesnt the headline say "Tivo loves Cox?" haha
Cox is probably the best of the cable services out there. But that's like saying Mussolini was the more benevolent dictator! I have to admit their cable modem service is fast and reliable. But "digital" cable is terrible! First, it's NOT digital. The first 70 or so channels are not digital. And last time I had it, no receiver had digital outputs to them. That could have changed though. Second, the software on the receiver is slow and buggy. Third, you get the pleasure of paying anywhere from $50-$80 to have what is mostly garbage piped-in to your home. That is my opinion, but it is a fact that cable companies are forced to buying the crappy channels with the good ones in a package. So, it's obvious most customers are paying for channels they don't want.
IMO, cable is obsolete. The internet is many times more entertaining with video sites like youtube. My family and I stopped paying for cable TV last month. Not only do we save a good amount of money, but we spend more time with each other instead in front of the boob-tube just because it's there. We still watch videos before bedtime, but that's about it. Yup, I'm one of the few, "poor" people without cable, and I'm proud of it!
So three weeks ago I made the jump from Cox to Verizon FIOS in Fairfax, VA. I switched for a number of reasons (about $40 of them). One of the things I hated on Cox was their Scientific Atlanta DVR. That thing was terrible. Before that I had been using a ReplayTV5504 unit which I loved, but it had no HD. The Scientific Atlanta DVR sucked only a little less than a broken Sanyo VHS recorder. I HATED it. The UI stunk. It was unreliable. Ugh. I switched to Verizon and expected to have the same terrible experience. I have to say that the Motorolla DVR on FIOS is ALMOST as good as my ReplayTV was in useability. In fact, it's getting better every day as they are releasing new features for it (i.e. watch from other rooms). That fact that Cox will have a TiVo based DVR could not be better news for Cox subscribers. But I read on Gizmodo that it was for Cox DVRs made by Motorolla, so Scientific Atlanta DVR users are out-of-luck.
While this is good news, Tivo is still a step down from my HTPC (MCE). Give me cable cards (for PCs) or give me death!
Gee, just *last week* we moved our TiVo Series2 into the boudoir and "leased" the Cox HD-DVR. So the moment I saw this story I was jumping for joy and emailing the wifey at her work... Guess what... They gave us the Scientific Atlanta box. If this is only for the Motorola box I'm going to go all postal up in the nearest Cox retail store. Hmm... I may stop by there this afternoon and start throwing a temper tantrum until I get answers. My Cox is cravin' some TiVo lovin'!
Nooooo. My cox DVR SA8300 is great. No problems, great menus, I could not ask for anything more from the DVR. As long as we can keep our current situation as is, then thats fine. I have heard that other cox locations (i'm in Gainesville, FL) do not have the same dvr software as mine, but our setup here is great.
I'm not sure if you've ever had a TiVo, but I just added a Cox DVR to my system for the HD compatibility and it doesn't even begin to compare to the TiVo I moved to my bedroom. This upgrade would absolutely be good for Cox customers, no question. Out of curiosity, what software does your DVR have? I'm in Crestview, FL and my software isn't impressive at all. I'm just curious. Thanks!
This is great news. We have an HD-DVR through Cox and while it gets the job done (sometimes) it is crap compared to even early TiVo boxes. Hopefully it will be a simple matter to upgrade.
2 things
1 J-Dawg
Cox in certain areas are simulcasting the analog channels in digital.
2 The tivo software will be $3-$4 more thant the current dvr service fee.
ajwees41