TivoSeries3
Latest
Older TiVo Series 3 / HD boxes will work with the iPad remote app soon
The companion app for TiVo Premiere DVRs worked out well when we reviewed it, but ZatzNotFunny points out it could get even better soon when it will feature "limited support" for Series 3 / HD boxes, along with TiVo DVRs offered by cable providers like RCN and Suddenlink. This "coming soon" info was included in an update yesterday that added a new DVR selection screen to the setup process, ability to run in the background plus assorted performance enhancements and bug fixes. Of course, we now know that TiVo's "lifetime" offers won't last forever (ten years, give or take) but for users who would prefer to stick with their existing hardware instead of upgrading to a Series 4, there are still a few new features coming down the pipe.
TiVo brings Pandora to Series3, HD boxes
About a month after debuting on TiVo Premiere, the DVR company announced Pandora's music streaming service is available on its older Series3 and HD units. The interface should be familiar to anyone who's used the app on any other devices with its custom stations and thumbs up/down rating system, just check under TiVo Central > Music, Photos, & Showcases > Pandora and it should be right there.
Comcast adds TiVo Series 3, Premiere boxes to the 3D compatible list
Last week ESPN 3D launched, and Comcast's information indicated many users with older cable boxes wouldn't be able to get on the action without an upgrade. The good news for TiVo owners is that information has since been updated and now TiVo Series 3 / HD and TiVo Premiere units are on the approved list for 3DTV broadcasts. We're not sure exactly what the hangup might have been and how it was resolved, but if you've got one of those DVRs hooked up to a 3DTV and Comcast service, it's definitely time to get on the phone and have the channel activated so you can watch the World Cup properly.
TiVo Desktop Software hits version 2.8.1, adds folder view from PC, export for iPad, Pre & more
The latest version (2.8.1) of the TiVo Desktop software is official, and it's added a few new features in both its free edition and the upgraded Plus package. The basic software has added a few additional settings, but the most notable is the ability to view folders on a PC from the DVR itself. Those paying $24.95 for TiVo Desktop Plus should notice increased video quality on PSP TiVoToGo exports, plus new profiles for the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, DROID, Pre and several Blackberry models. Dave Zatz has already gotten his hands on the latest version, reporting some issues connecting to a TiVo Premiere; hit the download page for your own copy and let us know how it works.
The processor in the TiVo Premiere is over twice as fast as the Series3
Just about all of you can tell us exactly how fast the processor in your computer is, but what about your DVR? We don't give it much thought ourselves until things slow down, but this chart from TiVo Community's Premiere FAQ really opens our eyes to why so many DVRs have such crapy interfaces. As you can see, the new TiVo Premiere sports a processor that is way faster than just about any DVR out there, and easily dwarfs the old Series3 and TiVo HD. This not only makes it easy to understand why the new Premiere interface didn't get back ported to the Series3, but it also makes us wonder what other capabilities might be leveraged by TiVo with this new found power.
TiVo Central Online adds Now Playing and To Do lists
Series 3 and HD TiVo owners have a little bit of newness waiting for them at the TiVo Central Online website in the form of Now Playing and To Do lists for their bleeping and blooping DVRs. After playing around with the new features, we have to admit that while they come in handy for managing TiVo scheduling, but we're hoping that the improvements don't stop there. For example, we keep clicking on entries in the Now Playing list, expecting to get a placeshifted stream (or at least a "Keep until/Delete now" dialog; but the video remains safely locked away on our TiVo. While we're wishing, who do we talk to about getting a guide view that shows only our favorite channels?
Telnet "hack" allows for network remote control of TiVo
It may not be very practical just yet but, as Zatz Not Funny's Dave Zatz points out, this recently discovered telnet "hack" for network remote control of a TiVo certainly offers no shortage of potential. Apparently, this one arose out of TiVo's deal with Creston to allow for integration with their home automation framework which, fortunately for those that like to dabble in such things, simply involved having TiVo HD and Series3 units listen to port 31339 for connections from a Crestron device. As Zatz notes, however, there's nothing to stop any device from telnetting to the TiVo's easily-findable IP address using the aforementioned port and inputting IR codes command line-style. Currently, that's made even less practical by the fact the codes need to be entered quickly to avoid being timed out, but we're sure it's only a matter of time before folks devise some slightly more useful means of exploiting this interesting find. Until then, you can head on past the break for a little taste of the current level of iPhone-to-TiVo interaction.[Via Zatz Not Funny!]
Mossberg harshes on Comcast's DVR (and says something or other about TiVo Series3)
Mossy has a pleasant little rant today about one of our biggest pet peeves here at Engadget: namely, how totally crap the DVRs offered by cable companies are, especially when compared with the new TiVo Series3. He focuses primarly on Comcast's abomination of a box, the Motorola DCT3412 (pictured above), but we can tell you that the garbage you get from Time Warner Cable isn't any better. Mossberg nails the dilemma facing every gadgethead who wants a DVR that can handle HD cable: you can either overpay for an elegant solution or cough up a few bucks a month for a frustrating, awful solution. The smart thing would be for the cable companies to license TiVo's technology, which would allow them to charge a little bit more for a premium experience, but still way less than the total cost of ownership of a TiVo Series3. That's supposedly what Comcast is doing (we're still waiting to see the first fruits of their partnership), but in the meantime we're keeping an eye out for the first CableCARD-ready Vista Media Center PCs. Nah, they won't be as cheap as a Series3 (at least initially), but at least you get a full-fledged PC for your money -- and there isn't a silly monthly service charge for program listings.
Weaknees selling upgraded TiVo Series 3 units
The TiVo Series 3 is still slowly finding it's way to a store near you, but that hasn't stopped the folks at Weaknees from prepping a souped-up unit for those not content with the standard issue 250GB hard drive. That, of course, translates to about 200 hours of SD recording capacity, or 32 hours of HD recording, but for the real HD junkies among us, Weaknees will sell you a TiVo S3 with a 500GB hard drive for $1299, or a box with a whopping 750GB hard drive (that's 100 hours of HD recording) for $1599. For the more adventurous, Weaknees will also gladly hook you up with an upgrade kit, with a 500GB drive running you $399 and the 750GB setting you back $599. You can order now, but don't expect them to ship before September 22nd.[Via Zatz Not Funny]
