Series3
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TiVo introduces universal Swivel Search
TiVo has announced some new-and-improved search functionality today, with its so-called "Swivel Search" promising to make it easier to find what you're looking for and stumble upon things that you may not have set out to find. Among other things, the newly-expanded search feature will let you start at one show and link through to others based on similarities in the actors or descriptions (as opposed to simply searching by title or keyword), with tags also now applied to shows to cover topics not included in the description. The new search also extends its reach beyond the standard program guide, encompassing TiVoCast and Amazon Unbox movies as well. As with most TiVo upgrades, there's a priority list for those that just can't wait to get it, although all broadband-connected Series2 and Series3 subscribers should be seeing the update before too long.[Via Zatz Not Funny]
How-to: Use your TiVo Series3 eSATA port to add an external drive
Holy crap, there's finally a way to use the eSATA port on your Series3 to expand your drive space! We've got the full writeup over on Engadget classic, check it out! Go on, 'git!
Series3 8.3 update brings new HD features
As much as we love the TiVo Series3, there are a few things that make us think HD was an after thought. The second update for the Series3 is rolling out, and with it is coming a few new HD features such as, HD searches and HD wishlists, but unfortunately still no HD suggestions. This update is also supposed to resolve some CableCARD FIOS problems, which are welcomed. Still no word on eSATA, MRV, or TiVoToGo, but you can't have everything -- or anything depending on your perspective. If you don't have the update just yet, you may have to wait as TiVo likes to roll this out to a limited number of users at first, in case things go wrong.
CableCARD M-Card in the wild
While it's no CableCARD 2.0, at this point TiVo Series3 owners will take what they can get. Most cable companies are using single stream CableCARDs which means you will need two for each of your Series3 TiVos. This means double your installation headache, double your fee. A keen eye member of the TiVoCommunity forum discovered a FCC complaint resolution in which the consumer received an M-Card to satisfy his grief from his cable company -- RCN -- refusing to supply him with a CableCARD. Not only did his letter to the FCC net results, but it is also the first time we have heard of an M-Card deployed in the wild. With some cable companies charging $4/mo per card, this would save you enough for a latte.
The 2006 Engadget Awards: Vote for Home Entertainment Device of the Year
Now's your chance to cast your ballot for the 2006 Home Entertainment Device of the Year! Our Engadget Awards nominees are listed below, and you've got until 11.59PM EST on Sunday, April 15th to file your vote. You can only vote once, so make it count, and may the best tech win! The nominees: DirecTV HR20, Slim Devices Transporter, Slingbox PRO, Sonos ZP80, Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray player, TiVo Series3, and Toshiba HD-XA1 HD DVD player. %Poll-276%
TiVo CEO promises lower-priced HD TiVo this year
Yeah, that Series3 HD recorder is great and all, but it's about time TiVo started talking about an HD DVR with even a semblance of competitive pricing -- $800 + service just isn't cutting it anymore, especially with Windows Vista's CableCARD support looking oh-so-promising. Luckily, TiVo CEO Tom Rogers has some encouraging words for us in his quarter results commentary, stating: "We will be highly focused this year on launching a lower-priced, mass appeal High Definition product." Sure, that doesn't quite explicitly guarantee an cheap HD TiVo this year, but we figure that in nine whole months they can probably (hopefully!) come up with something to relieve this situation.
TiVo just doesn't understand HD
With the Series3 update to 8.1 we got pretty excited about the new features, and yeah Recently Deleted and WPA support is great, but that isn't all 8.1 has to offer. One of the other new features is TiVoCast which brings Internet content to your HDTV. The only problem is that like many other features on the Series3 like suggestions, there isn't a High-Def version to go with the High-Def TiVo. While we understand the difficulties that HD videos pose on hardware and the Internet, other companies seem to make it happen, not to mention most Internet content like Rockeboom isn't in HD anyways, but it is widescreen and evidently watching widescreen content on your widescreen TV is too much to ask for TiVo to provide via TiVoCast. Sure we could use the stretch to get rid of both the letter box and pillar bars, we expect more from every bodies favorite DVR company, but should we? This actually adds to the list of non HD features on your ultra expensive HD DVR. First there were no HD photos and still aren't for Mac fans, then no HD suggestions and now no HD Guru guides or TiVoCasts.
TiVo Desktop 2.4 public beta loosed, enables PC-to-TiVO transcoding
It's that time again folks, when you gleefully head on over to TiVo's website and download a new release of its desktop software to add more of those PC / TiVo integration features you love so dearly. While we've watched the software mature from 2.1 to 2.2, right on up to the much-anticipated 2.3, it's now time for 2.4 to shine, albeit in beta fashion for the time being. While the now-prior rendition allowed users to convert TiVo recordings into mobile-friendly versions for a $25 fee, 2.4 seeks to offer up the process a bit in reverse by allowing non-DRM-laced video files on your PC to be transcoded for playback on your TiVo box. Unfortunately, the $25 fee for the required TiVo Desktop Plus upgrade key is still again in place, and while this process can be done manually for those looking to save a few bills, at least the company is offering up a simplified alternative for those with more money than time. Additionally, users can look forward to broadcasting "HD resolution" (read: up to 1,280 x 720) photos from their PC to a Series3 unit, but beta software wouldn't be complete without a stash of digs built in. Aside from the list of known issues that will hopefully be ironed out by the final release, Mac users won't be enjoying any of these niceties right away, and of course, the $25 fee is a debatable downside as well. Still, for those looking to get their transcoding on with non-protected WMV and MP4 / H.264 files, and don't mind the expected hiccups associated with a "preview release," be sure to hit the read link for your downloading satisfaction, and tap the Via for a few snapshots while you're at it.[Via ZatsNotFunny]
Series3 8.1 update imminent; still no TiVoToGo or eSATA support
As excited as we were when the Series3 was finally released, it became bitter sweet as we realized that the latest and greatest TiVo didn't have all the features that the Series2 had. We're not only talking about TiVoToGo and Multi-room Viewing here, as if those weren't bad enough. Other features such as the presence of a Delete Items folder and TiVoCasts were also missing. While we understand that at some point TiVo had to fork their code for the Series3, we have been anxiously awaiting the addition of these features. It appears now that the wait is almost over as TiVoPony announced on TiVoCommunity that the 8.1 update is starting to roll out now and everyone should have it in the next week or so. So starting forcing those calls now, but don't bother calling customer support, they won't help you get it any faster. Follow the read link for details on the update.[Via ZatzNotFunny.com]
Series3 PROM hack
The Series3 has been out for 3 or 4 months now and while it is great, everyone is still waiting for long awaited features like Multi-Room Viewing and TiVoToGo. Well Narf54321 of DealDatabase.com isn't waiting around and has figured out a way to hack the PROM chip which is very similar to hacking previous TiVos. Unfortunately this is less than the ideal way to hack a TiVo since it requires soldering and programming a PROM chip. Most people who hack their TiVo use a hacked Kernel instead to get around the TiVo's protections. Now before you run off following the read link, keep in mind that the DealDatabase developers forum isn't for n00bs and they won't take kindly to "how much to hack my TiVo" posts. While some hacks like TiVoWebPlus have been applied, others like content extraction are unconfirmed.
Series3 8.1 upgrade at CES
The Series3 has been around for about 3 months now and among other missing features the Series3 didn't ship with some basic features available on other TiVos including "Recently Deleted" and KidZone. The exact reason isn't known, but considering other more important features that are missing; it is reasonable to believe that somewhere along the way the code base split and TiVo has some work to do, to catch up on the Series3. Almost immediately after the Series3 released there was talk of a .1 update and at TiVo's CES booth they were demoing the Series3 with the latest software. We can't wait for this to be released into the wild and many other features to be enabled on the Series3, especially the new features that are only available on the Comcast version.More pics after the jump.
TiVo raises rates, limits WPA to own WiFi adaptor
Doing away with the generally well-regarded lifetime subscription was unfortunate albeit bearable, but now TiVo is really pressing its luck. Just in time for folks to slash that pricey Series3 off their holiday wishlist, the widely adored DVR company is not only upping its monthly service rates for new customers and those currently on prepaid plans, but also limiting WPA support to its own TiVo Wireless G Adapter. Just days after teasing high-rollers with its chromed-out $50 "premium remote," TiVo has announced that monthly rates are being raised to $19.95 per month for those in one-year commitments (up from $12.95 monthly), $14.95 per month if you're locked in for 24 months, and $12.95 monthly if you make the huge mistake of signing up for three solid years. For additional units in your crib, the extra $6.95 per month is now up to $13.95, $8.95, or $6.95 depending on your 1/2/3-year commitment. In a move to seemingly further limit your choices (and make things easier on its own tech support personnel), your only option for utilizing WPA on that Series2 / Series3 box is to fork out for TiVo's own 802.11g device. Apparently TiVo either thinks we're all made of money, or there's simply a lack of alternative DVR solutions waiting to take its place on your AV shelf -- both of which are probably incorrect assumptions.Read - TiVo's wireless adaptor supports WPA [Via Zatz Not Funny]Read - TiVo's new service rates
TiVo offers up chromed-out "Glo" premium remote
If you've weighed both sides and finally (albeit begrudgingly) handed over your $800 or so for TiVo's Series3 box, what's another $50 get the same remote again with a flashy outfit? Apparently TiVo thinks it's just a drop in the bucket, as the company is now selling a "premium remote" that bears resemblance to Logitech's Harmony 670, which supposedly lets you take "maximum control" of your oh-so-pricey PVR. The "Glo," as it's so aptly called, sports only one main distinction over the bundled flavor: a chrome rim around the edges. However, the remote will reportedly still operate exactly like the non-glamorous version with Series2 boxes, Series1 units made by Philips, and "Hughes, Samsung, and RCA DirecTV DVR boxes with TiVo service." It also touts a "DVR switch" to dictate dual TiVos with the flick of the finger, and hopes to reel folks in with its fingerprint-loving glossy black finish. While we don't see much value in this "ultimate edition," you can place you order now for $49.99 if you've just got to have it all.[Via Zatz Not Funny]
How-To: Upgrade your Series3 drive
As much as we love the TiVo Series3, for $800 we would like a bigger hard drive than 250GB. Sure it's still almost 100GB more than most Cable Company DVRs, but we need more than 35 hours of HD goodness. We have a few options; we could order a upgraded Series3 from Weaknees or even an upgrade kit, but we don't want to pay someone else to have all the fun.
TiVo Series3 to 1TB hack
An intrepid modder named lightrunner with a long and housebound winter in his sights has posted his experience of expanding the capacity of his Series3 TiVo from the standard 250GB to a whole terabyte, which takes the S3's total recording capacity up to a possible 131 hours of HD recording, or a whopping 1244 hours -- 52 days! -- of standard definition television. Like a lot of other modifications, the process of getting the TiVo to accept the array of hard drives was a long and complicated one: if you want to emulate this effort, you better be comfortable dealing with a nekkid TiVo, a RAID 5 setup, and several user-unfriendly Linux and Mac disk utility applications. Despite the well deserved kudos that lightrunner gets from this job, we've still got to wonder where the guy is going to find the time to watch a working week of high definition TV re-runs.
TiVo Series3 and JVC receivers throw DRM fit
Wouldn't you know it. After paying for anger management sessions to deal with those repetitive delays, finding out it wouldn't work right with your shiny new plasma, and wondering if the thing was even worth the $800 to begin with, we've got yet another reason to pass on TiVo's almost-excellent Series3. If your box hasn't been plagued with issues just yet, we sure hope you aren't the proud owner of a JVC receiver, or you could be facing more of those ever-present DRM snafus. During CNET's testing of the Series3 box with the JVC RX-D702 receiver, things were going perfectly smooth as the TiVo streamed video / audio to the JVC over HDMI, and separate monitors via composite / S-Video -- until they switched over to HBO HD. Programming on this channel, as well as HDNet and Universal HD, yielded a gray screen complemented by a (presumably enraging) message stating: "Viewing is not permitted using the TiVo Digital Media Recorder. Try another TV input." Further investigation (read: hitting the "Info" button) spilled the beans on the DRM-laden troubles, as testers were greeted by a statement declaring "regulations of the copyright holder" the villain. While the "glitch" would probably be a non-issue had TiVo included TiVo To Go on the Series3 boxes, the almighty media providers would have none of that, and currently, the problem can only be solved by swapping out your (presumably costly) HDMI-equipped receiver for another brand. Chalk another one up for the content guardians. [Via Thomas Hawk]
Review: Series3 TiVo
We won't lie, we were a little bitter when TiVo snubbed us and didn't offer us a pre-release version of the Series3 for review, we mean even our brothers at Engadget got one to play with. It didn't take us long to forgive them, about 30 seconds right after we got ours. The Series3 is now a permanent resident at our lab, with a full review after the break.
Moxi prepping HD DVR for retail
TiVo's great and all, but we sure wouldn't mind a bit of competition in the retail HD DVR space all the same, and it looks like Moxi is getting ready to deliver in 2007. Their upcoming set-top-box -- which they're planning on showing at the upcoming CES -- should be packing CableCARD 2.0 for some single card multi-stream action, compared to the multiple CableCARDs required by Series3 to serve up multiple simultaneous feeds. Moxi is also boasting of the ability to stream video to your other TVs, but unfortunately that signal is downconverted to SD. This box is supposed to be going for around $1,000, which isn't a terrible price for multi-stream HD DVR right now, but probably won't be looking so hot when this hits the market in fall 2007. All the same, we're looking forward to the Moxi offering -- a little DVR deathmatch does the body good.[Via Engadget HD]
TiVo Series3 + plasma TV = big problems
So you just paid $800 for your brand new Series3 TiVo ($1,000 if you transferred your lifetime subscription), waited patiently as the morons from the cable company tried to get their heads around installing CableCARDs in a non-TV device, and finally sat down on your couch to begin recording and commercial skipping all that great HD programming -- just to find out that your damn TiVo remote doesn't work! As many home theater aficionados know (first-hand, unfortunately), plasma TVs emit a significant amount of EMI and RFI signals from their surfaces that can confuse nearby IR sensors and render them useless, especially if your home theater gear juts out in front of the display. Well this problem has been happening in spades to new Series3 owners, as the box's IR receiver seems especially sensitive to other frequencies, so much so that they often need to press a button 10 to 15 times for a command to actually register. TiVo seems to be aware of the issue, but has not yet offered a solution, which is why the good folks who frequent the TiVo Community forum have put their heads together and come up with several effective workarounds. The most ghetto of these fixes involves attaching a tiny opaque "hood" around the box's sensor window, so that plasma interference can't go through but line-of-sight remote commands are still received. Since you probably don't want an ugly piece of cardboard hanging off of your beautiful $800 device, forum user "lightspeed" has come up with a slightly more difficult but much more aesthetically pleasing alternative: after carefully disassembling your Series3, you simply need to attach 6 to 8 small squares of GLAD Press 'n Seal to the inside of the IR window on the front face plate, which will serve to shield the sensor from the bad signals but let the good ones get through. Good job, intrepid TiVo devotees, but what we wanna know is: out of all the folks who beta tested this product, was there not even one of them who used it with a plasma and could have caught this problem much sooner? TiVo: makes a great product, but needs a little help in the e-commerce and quality assurance departments.Read- ProblemRead- FixRead- Fix pics
Win a Series3 TiVo from American Airlines
If the high price of the new Series3 TiVo has you down and you're not lucky enough to win a HDTV in our contest, you might just want to head over and register to win a Series3 from American Airlines. If you don't win the Series3 you might be able to pick up some of the other prizes including a Pioneer 50-inch HD television or an 80-hour TiVo with lifetime subscription or even a Zune Zen.[Via PVRwire.com]
