TiVo let on that November was going to be the month that both
TiVoToGo and
Multi-Room Viewing became a reality, and now with only a week to go it's finally here. But that's not all TiVo's taken the occasion to announce: in addition to being able to stream shows between your TiVos (MRV) and copy programming from a TiVo to your PC (TiVoToGo), TiVo has also announced (
hack free) eSATA drive support along with Western Digital's
My DVR Expander, which, for $199, will expand your TiVo with 500GB of space (a good 65 hours of HD). Another new feature included with this release is progressive downloads, which means you won't have to wait for TiVoCast and Unbox videos to finish downloading before you can start enjoying them. Instead, the TiVo will figured out how much of a buffer is required for uninterrupted viewing and let you start watching as soon as possible. While most of these features have been a long time coming, we can only imagine how excited TiVo owners are to know that the wait is over -- assuming they've already signed up for the priority list to received the 9.2 update.
posted Oct 23rd 2007 8:30AM
DANG I was I had a TiVo..I have the crappy one that comes with Dish Network (its not a TiVo its a "Dish DVR")!!!!!!!
ok...so how do i sign up for the priority list for version 9.2. i don't see anything on tivo site yet....please help us all get tivo to go....
http://www.tivo.com/priority
Ben,
Where do you see that 9.2 enables MRV and TTG on the S3 & TiVo HD? Even the priority page says that MRV isn't yet available on the S3 & TiVo HD.
QUOTE
** At this time Multi-Room Viewing is not available on Series3 or TiVo HD units.
/QUOTE
Am I missing something?
Yeah, you're missing the fact that Tivo's site hasn't been updated.
Yep, MRV is working for me already; TiVo's site isn't yet up-to-date. Also, in "Manage My Account" you can now enable transfers for TiVo HD units. Mine was enabled by default.
I don't think it's coincidence that this happens during the lifetime subscription transfer. I just transferred my lifetime sub from my 7 year old SVR-2000. I really think TiVo is on a roll here. :)
wait, what lifetime sub transer offer to a S3/HD is available right now?
The only ones I know about were the one last fall at S3 launch, and the one this summer for a s2-dualtuner...
in case anyone else missed the news that lifetime subs are being allowed to transfer to new HD's until 11/8:
http://www3.tivo.com/tivo-promo/show.do?pg=/buytivo/hdservicetransfer.html
The lifetime transfer is only available to those who purchased lifetimes before Oct 1 2003. Something they didnt say in the email they sent me when I went and bought an HD Tivo. So now I am gonna return it, thanks TiVo.
I found the press release elsewhere....please disregard my last comment...
The online (Tivo.com -> My Tivo -> Manage My Account -> Overview) account summary now shows "Transfers ALLOWED". This was some form of "N/A" the last time I looked. I don't know if I have received the 9.2 update yet. Does anyone have the priority update sign-up link?
Ditto that - except one of my S3's had transfers allowed checked already and the other one I had to tick the box to enable transfers.
http://www.tivo.com/priority
Nobody wants to use their stupid "TiVo Verified" external storage. There are much cheaper eSATA options that work just fine, but TiVo is being selfish about licensing for only certain drives to work. Lame.
Its not that TiVo is being lame, its just that they want to make sure the users get a drive that will work. The tivo will accept any drive you use with it, however you will be plauged with problems if you dont use a drive that is made for DVR use. This is because the drive is used 24/7 under load, which is completly different then normal computer drive useage.
Do we know yet that other brand ESATA boxes will not work? This isn't a Tivo-branded external drive, remember- it's a generic Western Digital "DVR expander", which is likely just marketing-speak for "quiet external drive".
You are wrong Eric. Only the TiVo Series 3 will allow "any" eSATA drive. The TiVo HD, which is what I have, will only take the "TiVo Verified" Western Digital box. Go to www.tivocommunity.com for all the details.
It's all about the DRM baby! wooo!
@Eric
have you ever taken apart a TiVo? I'm guessing you haven't if you think there are super-special DVR drives... they're standard hard drives.
@JJ
Have *you* ever taken apart a tivo JJ? While they may look like normal eide/sata drives, they are maxtor/seagate "quickview" drives designed to be used in DVRs. They can't (typically) be purchased off the shelf at a big box, but are available (bare/blank) through weaknees (or other similar tivo upgrade vendors) if you wanted to build an esata RAID of 'em.
http://www.weaknees.com/seagate-db35-hard-drives.php
@sqweak
Actually I have. While weaknees does use those drives for their performance (and I've used weaknees upgrade kits, so I know they are amazing), TiVos have also come with standard HDs in them by default. I've seen them with standard Quantum 5400rpm drives in them.
@JJ
Fair enough. Of the half dozen or so I've upgraded, all the S2s (both Tivo branded and Sony SVR) have had quickviews OEM while I do recall seeing "normal" drives back in the S1s.
Of course, until TiVo is able to actually play switched video, it's pretty much worthless looking forward as cable companies are starting to use that tech more and more. For example, the newer HD stations on cablevision are switched, and won't play via the TiVo, since they are not bi-directional. Supposedly TiVo is working on a fix, but until they do, I'm staying away from the Series 3/HD models and sticking with my companies box.
I got the 9.2 update last night. But it still is not showing up in my Tivo to Go. Is there supposed to be another update coming from Roxio for tivo to go to work ...???
Yes, Roxio said that they are working on it, but no time frame was mentioned.
I've got 9.2 and I'm sorry to report that it only enables eSATA. MRV and TTG are still coming in November, but in a different release. There is much discussion of this over at tivocommunity.com.
9.2 did fix a bunch of bugs in 9.1, though, which made it a welcome release for me.
TiVo will confirm that MRV and TTG are coming in another release if you call them.
Dave,
Actually 9.1 included these features, but they were just turned on today.
We don't have to call TiVo, they called us to let us know.
Ben, I'm stoked to hear this and apologize for implying you had bad info. I didn't realize they could "turn on" something outside of a software release. I'm looking forward to trying out MRV and TTG as soon as 24 hours pass - just checked Allow Transfers for my S3 :)
Woow... a black xbox360 with two red ring of death.
:-P
Nah man, these are rings of golden goodness. I'm having Sonic flashbacks as we speak.
Will these updates for with the Tivo HD DVR as well? I'm thinking of picking one up and can't justify the difference in price between this model and the Series 3.
There is no justification. Early adopters got seriously hosed here. I have a S3 and I've been very happy with it. If I was looking now, it would be a no brainer. I'd get a TIVO HD and a logitech remote.
I really wish Andy were kidding. But he's not. I have an S3 and, while I vaguely enjoy the front display and backlit remote, it hardly justifies the extra $300 I paid for the damn thing over the TiVo HD. Gahhhh
Unless (and please, someone in the know chime in here) there's something else I'm missing differentiating the two? Anybody? Anybody?
our s3 remote learns (advantage), but like I said, I'd pop the 100 bucks for the logitech remote (which will learn anything and control everything) and end up way ahead for 200 bucks less.
@Bill
It's minor unless you're an A/V snob, but the S3 is THX Certified and the HD isnt.
FWIW, there is a $200 rebate on the S3 that puts it down to $399 (vs HD at $299).
God Tivo looks way better than what we got up here in canada. Everytime I see a post on some PVR from the US I can't help myself but cry! It's unbelievably crappy up here ;) I should do a Youtube video just to show you guys. You hear that Videotron... Bring the Tivo to canada and NOW
TiVo works in Canada - but not so much for HD. Canada doesn't use CableCARD. But TiVo will handle analog content, and the S2DT can record digital content using a cable box.
MegaZone: does TiVo have listings for Canadian cable systems? It requires a US ZIP code when you set it up. And while Canadian cable systems may not use CableCard, their OTA networks broadcast ATSC, same as US networks.
In fact, I don't use CableCard with my TiVo HD. My cable company's HD offerings are totally lame, and there's nothing on digital cable I can't live without, but I can get all the local networks in HD. About the only thing I'm missing out on is Discovery HD.
i'M enjoYing THese feaTures already: stream Videos froM mY living room's masTer backend to tHe bedroom seT's slaVe backend and MY lapTop, watcH downloads in progress, Tune into internet audio/Video, MerelY paying abouT $2/montH for my TV listings.
har har har, you're so clever with your MythTV hidden message. go away troll.
My point's the same. While your set-top box probably cost less than my homebrew, you have to wait for someone else to decide you get an upgrade or not.
After the insanity of version 9.1, I'll never put my service ID on another priority list again. And I've got an S2, which is not currently in line for any bug-fix 9.2 update. KICK ME IN THE DANGLIES AGAIN, TIVO! THANKS!
So does this mean I can stop Testing "Wombat"? And will there be a final push of 9.2 or will we just keep the beta version 9.2j? Why am i asking you guys?
Ok, here is my small problem I currently have a S2 Tivo and I can do that whole lifetime transfer BS. My issue is that Tivo's big selling point was that hey you can record a show when your not at home. Since most channels have some type of on demand or you can watch the show you miss on the internet like NBC.COM or CBS.COM is it really worth it anymore to own a DVR? I guess I just cant really justify spending $600.00 when I dont even own a HDTV. Everyones advice is welcome I guess I should also say that I'm thinking about building a Media PC next year. Some pro's and con's would are welcome.
I already own a WD 500GB MyBook (home edition) drive with an esata port. Does anyone know if I can just plug this drive into a 9.2 Tivo HD? I've ordered 9.2 which is going to take seven days?? to arrive. Do I need to format the HD in some manner? Do I need to set it to "quiet" mode? Help would be appreciated.
I just plugged my wd 320 in and it's working just fine. It's more about the cable. Esata II connectors are a little bit longer on each end and they fit better and are more stable (read: work better). Tivocommunity has lots of info on this...
1 Question: Can Tivo HD do multiroom and Tivo2Go with HD programming. I'm assuming you need another Tivo HD to do the multiroom?
I have a TivoHD and received the 9.1 update earlier this week. I noticed under Account and System information that it now showed a Media Access Key selection which was not present before. I installed TivoToGo 2.5.1 and set up the access key. TivoToGo recognized my Tivo HD immediately, but it took a little while for it to stop reporting an error when listing programs to transfer. After 30 minutes or so, it was fine.
I have already transferred 15 or so programs to my PC and can view them with Windows Media Player. HD programs are transferable and playable as well. I have successfully used directshow dump on HD program files, too.
No problems at all so far.
BTW - Some were discussing Seagate DB35 drives. PC Connection sells the drives much cheaper than Weakness, though without the software, of course. But you can buy one and use WinMfs to do the upgrade.
http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=7974431
http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?Sku=7440965