ReplayTVBlog

This just in from Sky Plus, the UK Digital Satellite Service. They have just added a new feature to their combination satellite receivers and DVR units — the ability for users to schedule a recording from a trailer or promo!

While watching trailers or promos for certain TV shows, users will be able to schedule a recording for the show by just pressing the record button during the promo. This is a great idea! Sky Plus has definitely one upped Tivo with this one. Usually, Tivo is the leader when it comes to new and innovative features, but this is one time they have been beaten to the punch. This is such a simple but great feature that Tivo definitely needs to copy. It would be one more unique feature that would definitely put them ahead of all the other American DVRs on the market.

Technorati Tags: Sky Plus, Tivo, DVR

Popularity: 6%

With the ever increasing competition from Cable Company DVR units, which have no upfront costs for the consumer, Tivo is considering offering it’s DVR boxes for free but with a higher charge for the monthly service. According to Tivo CEO Tom Rogers, the company will soon be offering a range of pricing options, including plans with no upfront costs (free!) and one with all upfront costs — no monthly service charge!

Tivo has tried offering free DVRs before for a limited period of time. During the 2005 holiday season, 40 hour units were available for free but you had to sign up for a plan with a higher monthly charge — $16.95 per month versus the usual $13 per month when you buy the unit. I’m assuming that since they are considering offering this option on a permanent basis, it must have been successful when they offered it last year.

To be successful, Tivo needs to increase their subscriber base, which is currently approximately 4 million subscribers. While offering the Tivo units for free will definitely help them compete with Cable companies that do not charge for their DVR’s (they only charge for the monthly service), I’m not sure that this is a good long term solution for them. If they have to charge a higher price for the monthly service fee than the cable companies, the customers they are trying to get by offering the free Tivos will probably still go to the cable companies. Tivo may be better, but the cable set top boxes are catching up and their is nothing to buy and the monthly charge is less! If Tivo is going to succeed, they need to concentrate on making people believe that a Tivo is better. Otherwise, they will all just be generic DVRs and the cheapest box will win!

Technorati Tags: Tivo, DVR, Cable

Popularity: 3%

What the heck is Intel Viiv Technology? This is a question that everybody seems to be asking, but nobody seems to have a definitive answer. While it seems like it is some great new multimedia convergence technology for computers, I just don’t think that’s the case.

Browsing Intel’s website and reading what they say Viiv is (they should know — it’s their technology, after all), at first you get the impression that this is some new technology involving the new Pentium D (Dual Core) processors that will allow you to download and watch movies, music, and TV shows on your PC and share them throughout your house. It gives the impression that you won’t be able to do these things without Viiv and that you will have to go out and buy a new computer with Viiv to get these capabilities. But I can do these things on my computer now and I don’t have Viiv!

In reality, Viiv appears to be nothing more than a specification from Intel for a “Media Center PC”. From Intel’s website:

Your Intel® Viiv™ technology-based PC:

Processor
Dual-core processing power means smooth performance and complete control of your digital media.

Chipset
Advanced technology works in harmony with Intel® drivers for vivid graphics, smooth video playback and supports up to 7.1 channel surround sound.

Operating system
Windows XP Media Center Edition makes it easy to control and enjoy your digital media.

Your TV
Enjoy the benefits of dual-core power from the comfort of the couch. Access verified entertainment services that are optimized to fit your TV for an outstanding experience.

Viiv is nothing more than a fast computer running Windows XP Media Center Edition that may or may not contain a TV Tuner and remote control. But by marketing this as an “Intel Technology”, people are going to believe that they need to have an Intel Dual Core Processor and an Intel Chipset and Motherboard, when really any computer with the right hardware will work.

Viiv is marketing hard at work for Intel. And now that ReplayTV is no longer making hardware but only selling their software for computers, they are going to have a hard time competing with the Intel / Microsoft marketing juggernaut. If computers are being sold with Windows XP Media Center Edition pre installed, why would anyone buy a copy of the ReplayTV software? They already have everything they need to watch, download, and record TV and, according to Intel, they need XP Media Center Edition and Viiv to do these things.

It’s definitely going to be an uphill battle for ReplayTV. The only way they will be able to compete with Intel and Microsoft is to somehow make users see the value in their more powerful and mature solution, which is not going to be easy. Right now, most people don’t even know what ReplayTV is!

Technorati Tags: ReplayTV, Viiv, Intel, Microsoft, Windows XP Media Center Edition

Popularity: 2%

Over at Tivo Central, their current most watched shows list is dominated by the Olympics. I guess this is no surprise, although I’m still not sure what this list means — is it shows that have been watched live or recorded by Tivo users? There is a seperate list for the most recorded shows, so I’m assuming that this is the shows that were watched live.

Although it may not be a surprise for most to see the Olympics dominating this list, for me I just don’t seem to care. These Olympics seem very boring to me — no controversy, no real underdog stories, just boring. Maybe there might be some interest in the Womens Figure Skating competition with the whole Michelle Kwan and Emily Hughes debacle but I just can’t seem to find a compelling reason to watch.

On a related note, I’m surprised to see The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on this list not only once but twice. Are that many people really watching The Daily Show? I’ve never really seen it, but apparently I’m going to have to try and watch it — I must be missing out on something good …

Technorati Tags: Tivo, Olympics, Figure Skating, Michelle Kwan, Emily Hughes, The Daily Show, Jon Stewart

Popularity: 3%

TiVo has released an updated version of their desktop client for the Mac, v 1.9.2. The previous version would not work on OS X 10.4 (Tiger). If you tried to install it, the installer would crash at the end of the installation. There was a user created fix that would make it work but of course most people were probably not even aware of this solution.

Version 1.9.2 is fully compatible with OS X Tiger, although you have to wonder why it took so long for them to release this fix when TiVo users were able to fix the problem much faster!

Technorati Tags: TiVo, Apple, Mac, OS X Tiger

Popularity: 5%

It seems like at some point during every new season of American Idol, someone starts a rumor that Comcast is blocking DVR functions during American Idol. Well, it’s happened again. There are various rumors floating about the Internet that Comcast is blocking certain DVR functions like fast forward during some Fox shows including American Idol.

It’s just not true.

I currently have a Scientific Atlanta HD DVR from Comcast (and I have had it for multiple seasons of American Idol) and I have never had any issues using any of the DVR functions with American Idol or any TV Show. I think people are so paranoid that someday they won’t be able to fast forward through commercials (which may happen) that they think any problem or glitch with their DVR is a conspiracy to make them watch the commercials!

I’ve definitely had my share of problems with DVR units from Comcast and I think that’s what is going on here. Most likely, somebody had a problem with their DVR malfunctioning during American Idol and they’ve mistaken it for Comcast intentionally disabling the DVR.

If anybody has proof that they have been blocked from using their DVR with American Idol I would love to see it — while it’s possible, I just don’t think it is happening.

Technorati Tags: American Idol, DVR, Comcast, Scientific Atlanta

Popularity: 4%

Rumors have been flying around the net that Cisco may be looking to buy Tivo. CNet is speculating that since the announced acquisition of set top box maker Scientific Atlanta by Cisco, this may not be so far fetched.

While this is just a rumor, the combination of Cisco, Linksys, and Tivo would create a home media networking powerhouse. Right now, trying to integrate a Tivo into your home network is a daunting task. It’s difficult enough to find a wired usb network adapter for a Tivo and you can just forget about making your Tivo wireless — even if you can find a compatible wireless adapter, you also need to have updated to the latest Tivo software.

If Cisco were to acquire Tivo, Linksys routers and wireless adapters could be made to integrate seamlessly with Tivo units. It would even be possible for the router to recognize the Tivo unit and be able to prioritize it’s traffic so that streaming video from your Tivo over a wireless network would be much more consistent.

To Dream for the Ultimate Home Media Networking Setup …

Technorati Tags: Tivo, Cisco, Linksys

Popularity: 5%