TiVo HD XL DVR: 150 hours of HD recording, $599.99, available now

Aw, snap. Not even 24 hours after we learned that a new DirecTV HD TiVo was on the way, in flies word from Denver that a new standalone TiVo is hitting even sooner -- like, today. The TiVo HD XL will become the flagship unit in TiVo's line by offering up 150 hours of high-def recording space, THX certification, a Series3 premium backlit remote and a bundled HDMI cable. As with the TiVo HD, this one boasts dual tuners for recording two HD programs simultaneously and a pretty similar design, but unlike the TiVo HD, this one will set you back a full $599.99. Those unaffected by the price tag can order one today from TiVo's website, and we're told to expect the box at various other retailers "as early as next week." Full press release after the break.

TiVo Unveils the Ultimate DVR for Digital Cable, Ready to Record More HD Content than Ever

TiVo is launching something extra special at this year's CEDIA show, the TiVo HD XL, – a brand new premium DVR that comes with extra large recording capacity

Exclusive THX Certification Ensures Audio and Video Excellence

Alviso, CA -- September 04, 2008 – TiVo Inc., the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), announced today the launch of the TiVo® HD XL Digital Video Recorder. Available online today, the TiVo HD XL box offers more recording capacity than any other DVR available, be it satellite or cable. Boasting 150 hours of high definition television recording capacity, the HD XL has enough space to appease even the most devoted entertainment fans. The TiVo HD XL is also THX® Certified to ensure it delivers accurate and exceptional sound and video playback in your home theater.

"With so much HD content now available, we felt it was vital to offer consumers an easy way to record as much television programming as they'd like to watch at a later time without ever having to worry about capacity," said Andrew Morrison, Director of Product Platforms at TiVo. "What is great about the XL is it gives content lovers plenty of room for all the programming they love, saving them from having to decide if they need to prematurely delete a favorite movie or a big game memory when space gets tight. Satellite or cable DVRs simply can't match it."

On top of increased recording capacity, the TiVo HD XL DVR offers all the innovative broadband features that TiVo lovers have grown accustomed and addicted to. Users can download thousands of movies & TV shows directly to the TV, browse and watch endless YouTube videos, listen to thousands of songs from Rhapsody, or view hundreds of music videos from Music Choice.

Features exclusive to TiVo HD XL include the 150 hours of HD recording space, THX certification, a Series3 premium backlit remote control and an included HDMI cable.

Similar to TiVo HD, dual tuners allow subscribers to record two different shows in HD at the same time, while watching a third pre-recorded show. The TiVo HD XL is designed to fit seamlessly into the most discerning home theater systems, compatible with HD digital cable, analog cable and over-the-air digital HD (ATSC).

As with the TiVo HD, the TiVo HD XL box delivers the best in high definition entertainment, allowing the consumer to experience TiVo's acclaimed service features, such as Season Pass™ recordings, Universal Swivel Search and WishList® searches, in sharp, vivid high definition images. Extensive video analysis and performance testing by THX ensures content will always record and playback at the maximum quality and resolution.

"TiVo pioneered the DVR category, and they are maintaining that position with the new high performance, high capacity TiVo HD XL," said Dr. Michael Rudd, Chief AV Architect at THX. "As more consumers adopt high definition programming, they will expect their recorded content to reflect the same level of quality and consistency as the original broadcasts. With a Terabyte hard drive, the TiVo HD XL lets users enjoy more HD movies, sports and other programs in high definition than ever before, and THX certification ensures that the quality is always superb."

The TiVo HD XL box joins the existing TiVo product line, and is available online today for $599.99 at www.tivo.com. Other retailers that will unveil TiVo HD XL as early as next week include Magnolia Home Theater, Amazon, and various other high-end retailers and customer installers.

[Carl Vitullo @ Sep 4th 2008 12:06AM]

Can we just get a link to the press release?

[MegaZone @ Sep 4th 2008 3:21AM]

Since they sent it out to bloggers in an email and it isn't yet on the wire or their site - no.

[Chris @ Sep 4th 2008 12:07AM]

I'm thinking of getting one of these (or a different TiVo) can someone tell me how to go about to get one for Comcast, I already have the standard motorola DVR but its terrible and freezes a lot and I really wanna get rid of it.

[THJ @ Sep 4th 2008 1:25AM]

Just return the cable box and plug the cable from the wall directly into the back of your Tivo. Get 2 cable cards (call comcast, you'll have to rent them for 2-6$ a month each), and plug them into your Tivo. Plug the HDMI into your Plasma/LCD, and you're all set.

[Kaushik @ Sep 4th 2008 12:09AM]

This puts my MySky HDi from New Zealand to shame

[Dave Zatz @ Sep 4th 2008 12:13AM]

Carl, No you can't. Press release hits the wires tomorrow morning. Also when the TiVo HD XL will be available on TiVo's site.

[Gfxlonghorn @ Sep 4th 2008 12:15AM]

I'd still prefer the Dish HD unit, and just swap the HD with a TB hard drive or something. Way cheaper.

[Mr_Pneumonic @ Sep 4th 2008 12:16AM]

Australia has a Tivo model that has all these features except the huge hard drive since July.

[MegaZone @ Sep 4th 2008 3:23AM]

No, they don't. The Australian model is not THX certified and doesn't come with the back-lit Glo remote. And, in any case, the Australian TiVo is based on the US TiVo HD, which has been out since last fall in the US.

[P Sin @ Sep 4th 2008 12:17AM]

how big is the hd in it? 500gb? 1tb?

[MastrCake @ Sep 4th 2008 12:57AM]

A terabyte. Says in the press release shown above.

[Adam @ Sep 4th 2008 12:18AM]

Australia has a model of Tivo that has all these features except the hugh hard drive since July for AU$699

[MegaZone @ Sep 4th 2008 3:27AM]

No, they don't: http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/04/tivo-hd-xl-dvr-150-hours-of-hd-recording-599-99-available-no/comments/14104742/

[Michael Sterling @ Sep 4th 2008 12:30AM]

Okay, I'll say it:

This is a Series 3 replacement with more storage for the same price.

That is all.

[eric f. @ Sep 4th 2008 8:32AM]

Except that as far as I can tell, this doesn't display the names of the shows currently being recorded. That is a feature I love about my Series 3.

[Jason @ Sep 4th 2008 9:22AM]

That is the best feature, the OLED display on the front, I think it rocks, and who cares if the "new" tivo has far more recording, its not that difficult to add external storage to the S3.

[Jason @ Sep 5th 2008 7:15AM]

Not until there's an OLED display on the front.

That is so incredibly useful in our house (besides being cool as hell). Want to be sure something's being recorded without firing up the whole system? Just take a look. Want to see what's being recorded on the other tuner? Ditto.

This new thing's shiny and all, but it's "naked" without the display.

[jon b @ Sep 4th 2008 12:31AM]

that's 56.25 days of standard definition recording... wow

[Jerry @ Sep 4th 2008 1:33PM]

This is great but i would have liked to see the ability to order Video On Demand or PPV.

[jnook @ Sep 4th 2008 10:47AM]

Yes they are supposed to release a box with these features using the new standard that can access the cable providers system for those specific channels. Where is it, thats what folks what! I don't want a new $600 box, who would really pay that over Tivo HD. Only difference is more space for $350-400 more.

[DJ @ Sep 4th 2008 12:48AM]

I have a Series 3 and it has taken almost 8 months but the Cable Cards finally appear working well with the unit. Until now it would crash every several days. Knock on wood, seems good for now with a recent firmware update it appears.

I bought mine for cheap when they were offering $250 mail in rebates. I would wait for one of these promos before getting one.

[TavisJohn @ Sep 4th 2008 12:59AM]

OR you put that $600 into a cheap desktop, an ATI HD Tuner, 500gig HD, and Beyond TV (Or your fav TV recording software) and you have an HD PVR that can record 300+ hours of HD. (Or 600+ of SD broadcasts)

[Jason @ Sep 4th 2008 9:20AM]

Sure, if you only want to record the few OTA or non encrypted channels coming over cable/fios/whatever. Oh wait, most of them are killing off the analogue channels, which leaves you with only one option, Vista media edition or whichever MS OS supports cablecard pc cards which you can only purchase with pre build media pc's which usually run in the $1500 or more range (sometimes cheaper I imagine)

This appears to be a S3 with a large hard drive... that is all. Oh and that premium backlit remote is crap, most of the symbols/numbers on mine have rubbed off (the S3 is about 2 years old), yet my remote for my 5 to 6 year old S2 SA is just as it was when we bought it, just a little dirty.

[djstix @ Sep 4th 2008 1:27AM]

cheapest option is to buy a refurb Tivo HD from tivo.com and use MFS to upgrade to a 1TB drive for $160 from western digital - net price $340 leaves money to spare for the backlit remote if you need it which I dont. Even a brand new Tivo HD for $280 can be upgraded more cheaply internally or externally. I think Tivo should have set the price at $499.

[Fanfoot @ Sep 4th 2008 4:15PM]

A 7200rpm terabyte drive costs $150 from NewEgg. Presumably Tivo gets them for less than that.

With the Tivo HD at $299, we're now at $450. Add in a glow remote for $41. Now $491. So even with all the extras I think they could sell it at $499 and make a profit, i.e. the cost savings over retail on these parts, the cost savings of not producing the original 160GB hard disk and cheaper remote. Course Tivo is barely profitable... Don't know anything about the THX certification, but that's got to cost them something too, probably per unit. Don't care about it myself...

A Tivo HD plus a WD My DVR Expander (500GB) would be $299 + $150 = $449. Similarly the WK 70hr Tivo HD is $449.

I've always thought that Tivo was pointlessly leaving money on the table for WK to scoop up. Those who want to can still buy the system from them or do the upgrade themselves. Seems like a good idea to make systems like this available.

[Coasterfreak @ Sep 4th 2008 2:08AM]

Easy Alternative: Playstation 3 and PlayTV

[MegaZone @ Sep 4th 2008 3:26AM]

Right... first of all PlayTV isn't available in the US. Second PS3+PlayTV doesn't do most of what TiVo does.

[xanthan @ Sep 5th 2008 6:28AM]

My guess is this has a 1tb internal HD, if it also has a e-sata port that would be great. I currently own a S3 Tivo, which comes with a 250gb internal drive, I have a 500gb external hooked up to it giving me 98HD, and like 927SD hours of recording capacity.

Which means this one with a 1tb drive would give over 1200 hours of SD recording, pretty nice.

[Sean @ Sep 4th 2008 10:08AM]

Do they still charge an arm and a leg for their program guide service on top of the cost of the box?

[elbrando @ Sep 4th 2008 11:11AM]

I have an dual tuner TiVo that is $12.95/mo (Box was $199, I think). Had it for about 2 years. I've had a Cox HD DVR since Jan. 08 and I pay them $5.25 for "DVR Service" and $11.25 to rent the box. That's $16.50. And that rate just keeps going up, it started at around $8. As soon as I get the money for one of these new TiVo HD boxes, I'll get it with a lifetime subscription, which is $299 for me. That's only 18 months for a return on investment.

And TiVo is soooooooo much better for soooooo many reasons.

[Frankenstein Black @ Sep 4th 2008 12:25PM]

Come on now Tivo, stop the nonsense. Let’s get to the series 4’s already with built in SDV (Switched Digital Video). This add-on (which is still not available) along with a sling-box http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/18/hands-on-with-the-motorola-tuning-adapter-mtr700/
start to make the whole setup look like “skunk works”. A Terra bite of storage is good but adding built in SDV is when you will see my money (and I’m sure many others)!

PS Also an idea for a Series 4 marketing campaign. You should call a series 4 the “black series”. A slogan (which is indicative of the product)? “Once you go Black, “ - well you know the rest ;^/... Send my check to Ryan.Block@enga, wait a minute. He gone isn't hey?

[Fanfoot @ Sep 4th 2008 4:19PM]

I will also be waiting to see what happens with SDV before buying my second Tivo HD. The Tivo DT in the bedroom that can't transfer most of the HD shows from the L/R will have to suffice for a while. If I were to buy one, it would likely be the cheaper model because I'm still uncomfortable about the situation we're currently in, i.e. the external tuning resolvers were supposed to be out a long time ago, but seem like they could still be a long ways off...

[rendezvous65 @ Sep 5th 2008 3:39AM]

The adapters are approved by CableLabs. Doesn't mean when they will come out yet. Some cable companies want to start testing them soon. Hopefully they should be out by later this year. It could be early next year. Depends on how the cable companies test them. The Tuning Resolver just allows SDV to be watched and recorded on the Tivo HD/Series3. Time Warner San Diego says that they will be provided for free. Hope this helps.

[Angelo Iglesias @ Sep 5th 2008 5:46PM]

I have a S3 but i think it will die soon. So the XL will fill the bill for my new tivo

[Angelo Iglesias @ Sep 5th 2008 6:17PM]

I have a S3 it will die soon.TheXL is my next tivo.

[Angelo Iglesias @ Sep 5th 2008 6:26PM]

Does any one think we will have 4S soon??

[Some Kid @ Sep 6th 2008 9:01PM]

what is the difference between this and the series 3?

[Brent @ Sep 8th 2008 8:34PM]

Does anyone know if you can still add any external hard drive to the Series 3 HD Tivo using eSATA like in this hack? http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/how-to-use-your-tivo-series3-esata-port-to-add-an-external-driv/

I know that WD now sells an official add-on 500 GB drive for the Tivo, but I want to add 1 TB instead. I'm just wondering if Tivo ever disabled the ability to add on non-Tivo-endorsed drives.