TiVo's on-again, off-again love affair with lifetime service plans seems to be back on again. Once upon a time, the company let customers pay for service one month at a time, by the year, or shell out a few hundred bucks to get unlimited service for as long as they keep the same set top box.
A while back, the company stopped offering the product lifetime service option, but brought it back as a limited time deal right around the time TiVo launched the Series3 HD recorder. At the time, the company was only allowing customers with existing lifetime service plans transfer their plans to new boxes -- for a fee. But over the past year and a half, the company has occasionally offered new or existing customers a chance to pay for product lifetime services, with the understanding that this was always a special one-time promotion. Act now while the offer's still good!
But now it looks like lifetime service is back for good. Or at least until someone at TiVo changes their mind. But as blogger Dave Zatz has discovered, TiVo has added lifetime subscription pricing to the official payment plan descriptions. That takes the lifetime service plan out of the realm of promotion and into the world of everyday pricing.
So here's the deal. If you're a new TiVo customer, you can shell out $399 to get unlimited service for as long as you keep your set top box. If you're an existing customer, you can get the same deal on a new box for $299. But keep in mind, if TiVo comes out with a new box in 2 years that you really, really want and doesn't offer to let you transfer your lifetime service, you probably would have been better off paying by the month or year.
Amazon Unbox is probably one of the simplest non-Apple services for renting and buying downloaded TV shows and movies on a PC. The service is also compatible with TiVo, but I know a few folks who refuse to pay for any video unless it comes in high definition. And so far, HD video has not been available via Amazon Unbox.
Bu it looks like that could be changing. TiVo Vice President Jim Denney tells TV Week that HD capabilities are coming to Amazon "in the not too distant future." And judging from the source, I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that means you'll be able to download and watch HD video using a TiVo HD or TiVo Series. As MegaZone at Gizmo Lovers suggests, it's likely that Amazon will use the H.264 codec, which would let the company distribute high definition videos with relatively small file sizes (relative being the key word here).
It seems like just last week that member of the TiVo community figured out that you can control a TiVo from an iPhone (or pretty much any other internet capable device for that matter), via a simple telnet connection. Oh right, it was. In order to actually flip channels or perform other functions, you had to enter IR codes like "ircode thumbsup" by hand, but now a member of the TiVo hacking community has released a graphical utility for the iPhone that lets you press a series of buttons, just as God intended.
TiVoRemote isn't going to win a beauty pageant anytime soon. The interface looks more like a crossword puzzle than a TiVo remote control. But it gets the job done. Because the utility connects to your TiVo over an internet connection, you'll need to know the IP address of your TiVo. And the program will not be able to control your television set or other A/V equipment. Just your TiVo. In other words, this software is pretty cool and could come in handy if you misplace your remote control. But I wouldn't recommend replacing your TIVo or universal remote control with TiVoRemote just yet.
Dvico has released the FusionHDTV7 PCI express card, which is a dual HD TV tuner. Dvico claims that this is the first PCIe card capable of recording two HDTV channels (either digital or QAM) at the same time, and I can't think of any others off the top of my head, so I'm going to agree that this is at least one of the first. Like most HDTV tuner cards these days, the FusionHDTV7 can tune into either digital ATSC broadcats or analog NTSC signals.
The card allows you to record two shows at once, record one show while watching a live program on anothr channel, or view Picture-in-picture videos. Of course, you can get all of the same features by buying two cards, but at about $140, the FusionHDTV is probably cheaper than picking up two other cards. And it takes up less space in your PC.
A little while back, TiVo teamed up with home automation software maker Crestron to allow TiVo users to control their light switches, thermostat, and other information through their Series3 and TiVo HD set top boxes. But it appears that a side effect is that anyone can now connect to their TiVo units via telnet, and blogger Dave Zatz figured out that means you can use simple command line codes to replicate TiVo remote control functions from pretty much any internet connected device. In other words, you can use an iPhone as a TiVo remote control.
The easy part is that all you have to do is figure out your TiVo's IP address, use Port 31339, and you can start entering commands. The complicated part is that you have to type out commands like "ircode pause," and "ircode thumbsup," instead of, you know, using your TiVo remote control and just pressing those buttons.
But now that we know this is possible, it's probably just a matter of time before we see third party developers writing TiVo remote control applications with pretty interfaces for the iPhone, Windows Mobile devices, and other internet connected gizmos.
SuperSync is an application for keeping your iTunes libraries synchronized between multiple computers. The software works with Macs and PCs, and now with TiVo as well. SuperSync 2.3 adds support for synchronizing MP3 files with a TiVo.
TiVo users can use the software to access MP3s stored in their iTunes directories on computers connected to the home network. You can then use a TiVo remote to browse your music library by artist, genre, album, or playlist.
The latest version of SuperSync also has a new help system, improved transfer stats, and support for several other digital audio players. A SuperSync license for 2 machines runs $29, with discounted options available for 5 and 10 machine licenses.
Remember how DISH Network quickly responded to the latest (and possibly final) twist in the TiVo v. Echostar patent dispute by saying that customers would not be affected since all DISH set top boxes had received software upgrades? Yeah, that wasn't entirely true.
Now DISH is letting us know that there are actually a few boxes that not received the upgrade treatment. The four boxes in question are all on the older side and odds are you weren't going to get one installed when you signed up for DISH service anyway. But the company is letting installers know that the VIP 721, 921, 942 and Homezone 1022 models are to be pretty much taken out of service. If you've already got one of these in your house and service has already been activated, it sounds like you shouldn't be affected.
The basic TiVo software interface has maintained the same look and feel for the last few years, and that's fine because it works remarkably well and is easier to use than the interfaces most cable companies slap on their set top boxes. But the TiVo web site design has also looked the same for years, and to be honest, its age was starting to show.
Today TiVo pulled the blanket off a brand new web site filled with Flashy new features. You can watch a product demo, or see a few of the day's top TV shows from the main page without refreshing the page or loading a new one. And the sub-paged for the TiVo Shop, product descriptions, and other services sport a clean new look.
There are some parts of the web site that still sport the old look, including the TiVo Rewards page, which will be phased out in just over a month anyway. And the TiVo Central page for scheduling recordings hasn't really changed. So overall while the new site looks prettier, it's not much more functional than the old page.
TiVo has released a Facebook application called My TV that lets you find and rate your favorite shows, and share your favorites with your friends. You can also scheduled recordings, but only through a connection with the TiVo Central website. So if your primary goal is to schedule recordings online you should probably just go right to the TiVo Central page. But the Facebook app is pretty interesting as a standalone package.
When you sign up, My TV will automatically find any of your Facebook contacts who are already users and show you their shows. When you click on a TV program you can leave comments, rate the show, or post a message to the "Show Chat" box to start a discussion with other fans.
It would be nice if you could do a few more TiVo-related things with the Facebook application, like automatically import your season passes rather than picking them by hand. But whether you use TiVo or not, My TV is a pretty nifty Facebook app for TV lovers. I
It looks like the long-running patent dispute between TiVo and Dish Network could finally be drawing to a close. The US Court of Appeals for the Federal District today denied a motion from Dish (formerly known as EchoStar) to rehear the case. TiVo released a statement saying that the company is "pleased," and that the "ruling brings us closer to resolution of Echostar's infringement."
What does that actually mean? Well, it could mean that Dish Network will have to shut off service to all of tis current generation digital video recorders until the company can develop a new version that does not rely on TiVo's patented technology. It also means Dish could wind up owing TiVo a fine of nearly $90 million.
It's not clear at the moment if TiVo will negotiate any sort of arrangement with Dish that will let Dish customers keep their PVRs. It's possible, but at this late point in the game, it's just as likely that TiVo will just gloat.
Update: Dish says it has already rolled out new technology that does not infringe on TiVo's patents, which means current customers should not be affected.
We all know that DialIdol has been predicting who gets voted off of American Idol for years by tracking busy signals on the phone lines for each contestant. Well, there's a new player in town. As reported on TMZ and elsewhere, TiVo has announced that for the past four weeks they've been analyzing their second-by-second viewer statistics to determine viewership for each contestant's performances. They can see which ones are getting viewed again and which ones are getting skipped altogether.
They say they've gotten the last four eliminations correct and now they're ready to say that TiVo predicts this week's American Idol elimination. You didn't think i was going to tell you here, did you? You'll have to wait to find out...
Hot on the heels of TiVo Desktop 2.6, Tivo has released TiVo Desktop 2.6.1 for Windows. The new version includes a number of bug fixes as well as all the features originally included in version 2.6.
The main reason to upgrades is that TiVo Desktop 2.6.1includes a new Windows Certificate. The old one will expire soon so upgrading isn't really optional. But you'll want to upgrade anyway because the new version includes improved recovery from interrupted transfers between your PC and set top box.
If you hate waiting for your sluggish TiVo to accomplish basic tasks like scheduling recordings, returning to the TiVo Central screen, or changing Season Pass priorities, help is on the way. But you may have to wait a little longer. Oh the irony.
As we reported a few days ago, TiVo has begun rolling out an updated version of its set top box software. The 9.3 software update reportedly brings improved multi-room viewing, and progressive downloads from Amazon Unbox, meaning you can start watching a video while it's still downloading. But BetaNews reports that TiVo's 9.3 software update will pack a major speed increase.
Users should apparently see 10 to 30 seconds shaved from the amount of time it takes to create a Season Pass or adjust the priority of existing Season Passes. More basic functions like bringing up the TiVo Central screen, scrolling through Now Playing recordings, and changing channels will also get speed boosts, of around 1 second each.
If you've got a Series2 recorder and want to increase your chances of getting the update before your jealous friends and family members, you can sign up at TiVo's priority update web page.
TiVo is announcing a new promotional bundle that will net you a TiVo HD, a TiVo WiFi adapter, and product lifetime service for $698, which is less than the original cost of a TiVo Series3 without any service at all.
Of course, if you expect to scrap your TiVo within a year or two, you can save a few bucks by picking up a $299 TiVo HD and signing up for an annual or monthly contract. But if you plan to keep your TiVO HD for 3 years or more, it's hard to beat this price. Oh, and TiVo will throw in a plush toy. So there's that to consider.
The offer is good through June 16th, but TiVo loves to extend offers like these. I mean, don't come hunting me down with burning torches if this offer really does expire, but I think it's a safe bet that once this promotion expires, TiVo will offer a different one.
Roxio has released updated versions of its Toast Titanium 8 and 9 disc burning software for Mac OS X. Version 9.02 and 8.04 are available as free updates for existing users, while new customers can purchase Toast Titanium 9 for $80 after a $20 mail-in rebate.
Toast is more than just a CD/DVD burning utility. The application also supports HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs, and includes TiVoToGo software for OS X, which lets users transfer recordings from a TiVo to a computer. But Toast TiVoToGo users had reported that the audio and video were out of sync after transfer to a Mac. The update should fix that problem.
Version 9.02 also fixes some problems related to high definition video playback, and a problem that prevented Blu-Ray discs from playing properly on a PS3. Toast Titanium 8.02 also resolves a problem that prevented EyeTV recordings from showing up in the Media Browser.
TiVo's on-again, off-again love affair with lifetime service plans seems to be back on again. Once upon a time, the company let customers pay for service one month at a time, by the year, or shell out a few hundred bucks to get unlimited service for as long as they keep the same set top box. 
Remember how DISH Network quickly responded to the latest (and possibly final) twist in the TiVo v. Echostar patent dispute by saying that customers would not be affected since all DISH set top boxes 
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If you hate waiting for your sluggish TiVo to accomplish basic tasks like scheduling recordings, returning to the TiVo Central screen, or changing Season Pass priorities, help is on the way. But you may have to wait a little longer. Oh the irony.
Roxio has 
The Upfronts: FOX
Carter Bays of How I Met Your Mother: The TV Squad Interview
The Upfronts: CBS
