New UI, tweaked hardware in store for TiVo's March reveal?
By Richard Lawler 
posted February 11th 2010 6:49PM
posted February 11th 2010 6:49PM
We already know all of you have more than a few ideas about what TiVo should or will bring to the table March 2, but an anonymous tipster claiming knowledge of recent developments in the beta program let us know what may be coming. Although it began as simple bug fixes for the Series 3 now an all new user experience is on the way that the company expects to perfect the DVR. The UI is speedy again, rising to the level of the older Series 2 but with new high res, crisp widescreen elements designed to look great on your HDTV. Other fixes that should have the faithful drooling are a capacity meter for add-on drives and Tivo Desktop enhancements including "Sling-esque" features. Naturally, add-ons like Netflix, Amazon, Blockbuster and even Facebook lead the app charge with faster and easier program access. No real details on what's new on the hardware side, but that QWERTY remote seems to be a sure bet, we'll be counting down the next 19 days until we know for sure.
Sounds good. Now, about those subscription fees...
@aubreyq Their fees are in-line with that the cable companies charge, and over time, if you go with lifetime, it will save you money. For example, my parents TivoHD with lifetime will end up paying for itself in just over 2 years. After 2 years, it will be saving them about $20/month compared to Comcast's box, and Comcast box is a POS, while Tivo is, well, Tivo.
So inventing the DVR was just a warm-up... improving the DVR is our crazy new idea?
@zangetsu2
Agreed...I hate when companies lie to stir up stories. TiVo, your dying...just let it happen already.
Does anyone find FaceBook access on the tv useful? I don't have a facebook account, so to me is pointless. However, for those that do, is that a feature you are looking for? I can see netflix being useful, though there are tons of other hardware that connect to your tv that do it. I use PS3. I don't know how the interface works on the new Tivos, but it would be nice if the Netflix results are going to be integrated into the guide... ie, you want to see the A-Team, episode 1 from season 2 (just made that up, dunno what episode that is, but play along). You see that TV land is going to have it in a week, it would be sweet if you also saw "netflix has it available for instant streaming, do you want to watch it", as opposed to being a separate application and separate search.
@xtasi
i suppose this is for people that want to tweet out with one press of a button what they are watching. In a way, attempt by tivo to go social, and i amsurprised it took them so long. They can totaly increase the user base 5x just from the facebook buzz if people start posting about watching lost on tivo.
@xtasi
I upload more photos to FB than to other photo sites nowadays. So in theory it would be nice to get a browseable TV interface complete with slideshow capabilities.
I can't imagine using an on screen keyboard to post to FB though.
@xtasi
I dunno. If you've gotta have your Facebook fix while on the couch an iphone or ipad seems like a more logical choice here. H*ll, either device could make a dandy advanced remote control. People have been doing this since the early PDA days.
Still needs more tuners which knowing Tivo they won't offer.
how bout a tivo w/a full web browser.. and a voice control button on the remote (like google voice) that's integrated w/all tivo capabilities, watch, record, search youtube, browse online, facebook etc
when will that be available? :)
oh thank god, i cant use this stupid/ useless AT&T DVR any more. its really bad, i mean really, really awful
Well, I didn't think it would be a new DVR, but if it is I have to hope against hope that they'll transfer shows between DVRs via mocha instead of by network cable. The current transfer speeds are insufficient to watch shows in other rooms in real time.
To be honest, for the UI to be ahead of everyone else once again, they'll have to add 3D elements to it. Not flashy stuff, but more like how 3D was incorporated into the Nexus One Android UI.
I'd settle for a DirecTiVo so thatI could replace my lo-def Sony SAT-T60 with a HDTV version..I love TiVo so much that even though I have a Sony 52-inch XBR9 I'm still on lo-def, until the HDTV version is released
Maybe a new logo?
This is what I've been waiting for. Forget my slow cablevision dvr garbage and give me a speedy TiVo (wow TiVo is in the iPhones text prediction memory with the correct capitalization!) I'll get one the day it's released if the UI is great and it's fast. Speed is everything in a dvr.
@pforkes I'm 99.99999% certain it will be a new DirecTiVo. It even says on TiVo's own website that there will be a new DirecTiVo box coming in the first half of 2010. TiVo's big announcement is on March 2nd, which is about halfway through the first half of 2010. They've already posted that they have renewed their partnership with DirecTV, so the announcement of a new DirecTiVo box would make sense to me.
http://www.tivo.com/dvr-products/tivo-partners/index.html
http://www.tivo.com/dvr-products/tivo-partners/tivo-directv/index.html
@aschettler
I'm sure that will be one announcement of many.
Series 3! You lucky people.
I've been a series 1 user for over 9 years now. TiVo pulled out of the UK many years ago now. It's a shame as I do feel they were victims of too much too soon syndrome. If released now, they would wipe the floor with the rubbish UI of both sky and virgin. On that note. I do believe Virgin have signed a deal with Tivo to work with them on the new nixes fir 2010 - 2011.
I for one can't wait to have TiVo ui with HD and mulitple tuners in the UK.
I think this is just catch-up to the soon to be current Dish DVRs which have always been superior to the TiVo counterparts.
I've been a long time TIVO owner, having had the series 1, 2, and now 3.
What I'd like to see from TIVO....
-smaller, faster, and more storage
-built-in wi-fi
-the ability to easily add storage internally without having to take the unit apart or having to plug in external hard drive that doesn't match unit
-dual tuner support without have to use cable card(s)
-sling capabilities
-how about a digital clock on the front?
-remote that doesn't have to be line-of-sight to use
-ability to send videos or pictures to your own TIVO without have to use client software (ie, from TIVO web interface instead)
Would love if I could obtain TIVO through my cable provider instead of having to marry TIVO plus my cable provider equipment (ie, all in one). And if storage were in the cloud or at the provider, I would be fine with that.
@Starcade
-Instead of built-in Wi-Fi, I'd rather see the built-in ethernet port upgraded to Gigbit for faster transfers
-I don't ever see Tivo boxes dropping cable cards since the FCC and cable companies make use of cable cards to decode the digitally protected channels and content.
- A digital clock is availble on the Series 3
- There are 3rd party companies that use a special battery that can turn a Tivo remote into an RF remote (i.e. no line of sight required)
I think it's going to be the DirecTiVo. Right now, there is no really good DVR on the satellite side of things, Dish has the 922 coming out, but still no DVR to DVR transfer capabilities, and DirecTV's units are a little slow and don't have Slinging abilities.
What I would like to see is:
-a Series 3 DirecTiVo with SWiM (pretty much a given)
-MRV running through the new SWiM system
-ability for the MRV to have automatic scheduling and cross-DVR conflict resolution/ live streaming if both local tuners are tied up
-a unified Now Playing List with the option to have multiple user accounts that are handled by a master DVR
-ability for one unit to share its internet connection with the other units through SWiM
-OTA tuner option like HR23-700
-at least a 1TB hard drive
-ability to do manual MRV with existing DirecTV gear (not that out there, since they all dump the satellite stream directly to HDD)
-ability to add thin clients via ethernet once you have enough tuners and HDD capacity in full-on DVRs
What I'd personally like to see is a SageTV thin client with the TiVo interface, but I highly doubt they would support a competitor's product or develop something so specialized.
I don't think TiVo is ever going to be able to develop something as open and flexible as SageTV, where a single user-built server handles everything, but then again 99% of people aren't going to build a SageTV system with terabytes of storage, an Ethernet network, and 1080i/720 component video capturing.
TiVo had PC software for a period of time, but it was a flop because it didn't do the two things that SageTV or BeyondTV can do: open, non-DRM file formats, and the ability to have a single server with thin clients.
I really hope it will feature support for standard USB keybard...
Seriously. I love and miss TiVo. I'll get it AND directv when that unit comes out, but not until then.
The new TiVo is the Series 4 (no surprise). The diagram of the rear side is correct. http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/30/tivo-planning-a-new-premiere-dvr/. The UI and software is "awesome". This is all I know.