Tivo Premiere Brings On-Demand Content Into The Mix

[Jason Dunn]

<p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1267595954.usr1.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>If you're a Tivo fan, there's some really great stuff that has been announced tonight. Engadget has the <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/life-from-tivos-one-box-press-event/" target="_blank">live event coverage</a> - though it was kind of boring and short compared to the other stuff they tend to cover - and they have <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/dnptivo-premiere-and-premiere-xl-usher-in-a-brand-new-interface/" target="_blank">the details on the new Tivo Premiere</a> along with some images and a <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/02/tivo-premiere-hands-on/" target="_blank">brief hands-on</a>. This looks pretty impressive actually - it blends YouTube, Amazon Video on Demand, Netflix, and other content. I can't get too excited about it though until a cable provider in Canada decides to pick it up...</p>

[randalllewis]

I bought a TiVO HD back when Comcast dumped its old user interface in favor of the mess it replaced it with. There is no question that UI ease of use is TiVO's big advantage over the DVR boxes that Comcast used at that time.

TiVO does have its issues. Streaming pictures and music to it sometimes causes a total crash. And there have been other mysterious crashes. Not too often, but far more often than my Vista or 7 computers crash (which is never). And everytime I read about someone complaining about the start up time of a PC, I wonder if that person has ever had the pleasure of waiting around during the restart of a TiVO.

As Comcast has continued to expand its VOD offerings, I find myself wondering more and more why I pay for both cable and TiVO each month. The new models still don't offer access to cable VOD. I keep hearing about Comcast and TiVO working together on a UI update for Comcast's service. That would be the ideal for me.

[Rob Alexander]

I'm pretty underwhelmed. This is the big news that's going to change everything? Tivo updated their interface and moved downloadable movies from one menu to another? So what do we really have here? A new flash-based interface? Did you actually watch the video? (It was s___l___o___w.) Netflix and Amazon? That's already on my Series 3. Youtube? Already on my Series 3 (and on my blu-ray player and on my TV). THX certification? Already on my Series 3. Cable card slot and ESATA port? Already on my Series 3. A few new search options? Really, that's Earthshaking? I seem to find what I'm looking for now. A step up from 1080i to 1080p is good. So is the disc full meter. Support for VOD? Errrr, no. That would actually have been a big deal, but that's not happening. A great new QWERTY remote? Well, only if you buy it separately.

So what's everyone gushing about? This is like 2 1/2 years of work and it looks like nothing more than a minor update to their existing products. I particularly don't see why they can't roll out most of these changes to the Series 3 (though I don't think I even want the flash-based interface if it's that slow). Anyway, I've been a Tivo customer for years, and I have lifetime service on my Series 3 so I'm not going to get rid of it, but I think the writing is on the wall. Tivo hasn't turned an operating profit, ever, and if this is their big move against the growing competition, then I'm afraid for their future.

[Jason Dunn]

So what's everyone gushing about? This is like 2 1/2 years of work and it looks like nothing more than a minor update to their existing products.

Well, in my defence I know very little about Tivo because I don't use their product here in Canada. :o

[Rob Alexander]

Well, in my defence I know very little about Tivo because I don't use their product here in Canada. :o

I wasn't thinking of you... :D I clicked through to Engadget and they're making it sound like it's a really big deal. So I read with interest figuring that there was going to be something really big going on. But there just wasn't anything all that impressive. They really should call it the Series 3a... well, except that the non-XL version is not even as good as a Series 3 in some respects.

The other thing I'm wondering about is that Tivo is right in the middle of the stories about cablecard being all but dead. Tivo is proposing a new interface between cable providers and devices, as are some others. It makes me wonder how long cablecards will be around and whether this is the time to buy a new machine that's based on them. I'm just thinking out loud here.