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infmom
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
We had ReplayTV and loved it. They didn't know how to run a business either.
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Dacker
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
I had one of the old "DirecTivo" boxes a few years ago and absolutely loved it. Though I hate my Verizon FiOS DVR, I'm not willing to shell out significant cash and monthly (or iffy lifetime subscription) fees to TiVo.

Given their financial problems, they should get out of the hardware business and license their technology to the other DVR manufacturers. I think it would be a win for both TiVo's shareholders and to the public.
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A Pimp Named DaveR
11/25/09

@Dacker: I think you're exactly right on that point. Of course that's what people were saying about Apple back in the early 90s, too.... and they managed to rebound in the hardware department. But I think Tivo's path is a little clearer -- software is king for them.
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Adam
11/25/09

@Dacker: Yeah, but who wants Tivo software when you can use Windows 7 software?

Tivo is screwed.

Windows 7 "Net Tops" are going to take over the set top box segment in a few years, I would guess.
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Dacker
11/25/09

@Adam: No offense, but if you'd used genuine TiVo for a while, I don't think you'd be saying that. All DVRs, including Windows Media Center, work pretty-much the same; it's the details of their operations which makes one shine over another.

TiVo holds the best-of-the-best patents for the user interface and functionality of DVRs. It's this intellectual property which keeps Motorola, Scientific Atlanta, DirectTV, Dish Network, and others from adding the functionality that makes a TiVo a Tivo.

TiVo software really is that much better.

I kind of wish ReplayTV were still around; their DVRs had "Commercial Advance", which detected and commercials and let you jump past them instantly. I had it on one of my VHS decks; it worked pretty well.

ReplayTV also let you share recorded content over the internet with other Replay TV STBs. Alas, it was this feature which got them sued out of existence.
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The Lab
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
TiVo's user friendly interface won my affections but there is a significant barrier to installation when you have a cable box. Likewise, it has been shown that installing a cable card is frequently a difficult process (due to the cable company not giving a f*ck).

A good product killed by a lack of point-of-sale distribution, difficulty in installation, and the burden of distasteful subscription fees. RIP
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Poop Cooper
11/25/09

@The Lab: Agreed, the UI is truly the best thing about TiVo. I wonder if they would ever considering licensing it directly to the cable companies? Hearing that one provider has real TiVo versus a competitor's Scientific Atlanta crap would certainly sway my decision.
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ninjamurf
11/25/09

@Poop Cooper: The thing is (in my area anyway) Scientific Atlanta isn't even providing the UI anymore, just the box. TW has developed their own CRAP DVR software. They did it so they don't have to pay SA (or whoever did the Passport software, or the other one? Can't remember the name right now.) There used to be 2 different software packages that TW would put on their boxes depending on where you lived. They developed their own to get rid of them so I don't think they'd pay to have Tivo put on there. Sucks, but that's the business end I guess.
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chauncy that billups
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
I'd be on board w/ tivo if they would do deals with TWC and Comcast to provide a dvr instead of the garbage scientific american boxes. But with the hassle of Tivo's box purchase requirement, subscription and a cable card, I won't be going back to tivo any time in the near future, as much as I'm annoyed by the flakiness of the SA DVR.
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Edited by chauncy that billups at 11/25/09 12:12 PM

Joshua Pacada
11/25/09

@chauncy that billups: That's exactly why.

Tivo is dumb enough to think their UI and 'suggested programming' is enough to carry their business model. Tivo, I'm not that dumb - I can read a TV guide and figure out what I want to watch. It's the fact that I don't need a separate IR cable to use my provider's DVR, duh.
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Scotland
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
The opposite might be happening in the UK.

UK TiVo: October 2000 - January 2003. However, "TiVo branded products will return to the UK during 2010 under an exclusive partnership with cable television provider Virgin Media."
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scoobydoo
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
Serves them right. I still *love* them, but damn man, they really messed up their subscription model. Plus, the cheapest box is $250. I remember when the S2 was just $99. $250 for a box that'll do just 20 hours of HD is a crock.

Plus, the HD XL is $150 more than the HD, which is pathetic considering how cheap storage is nowadays.

I too could really do with a series 4 box, as long is it doesn't cost the same $799 I spent for my S3 :(
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Kaiser-Machead
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
If TV wasn't such shit to begin with, maybe stuff that revolves around TV would do better. Personally, I could never think of getting a DVR when there's so little I can think of watching that I'd actually want to sit through.
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chauncy that billups
11/25/09

@Kaiser-Machead: Speak for yourself. TV has been better in the last 5 years than any time in its history. The Wire, The Sopranos, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Office, It's Always Sunny, Friday Night Lights, How I Met your Mother, House, Top Chef, Curb Your Enthusiasm, 30 Rock, to name just a few.
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Kingofhearts589
11/25/09

@Kaiser-Machead: There is some fantastic stuff on TV if you actually look for it.

@chauncy that billups: Agreed! Don't forget Dexter, True Blood, Californication and Weeds!
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Kaiser-Machead
11/25/09

@Kingofhearts589: I love Dexter and True Blood, but I find season 3 of Dexter is not as good as the other two were.
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Hello Mister Walrus
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
Did anyone not see this coming? I mean, assuming that eventually all cable TV shows will be on a Hulu-like service, Tivo is a vastly inferior product.
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PunditGuy
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
I waited 2 years for TiVo's constantly delayed ATSC solution, and then laughed when they finally came out at $799. I built a MythTV box for half that, cancelled my TiVo subscription, and never looked back.
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UnderLoK
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
Does this count the DirecTV boxes? Direc was using Tivo hardware/software as far back as 2000 if I remember correctly.

On a related note, is Comcast still rolling out the Tivo software as an optional feature?
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günter macbeetle, codename: chrystlubitshi
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
TiVo was never alive in my opinion.... i've been recording television on tapes/hard drives for a lot longer than this has been out.....

sorry for those who might lose their jobs though... more people for me to fight against in the job pool....
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OCEntertainment
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
Kinda sad for the folks who use/work for TiVo. But it's unsurprising.

What place does recording have in the world of streaming video?
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wasting_company_time
11/25/09

@OCEntertainment: I don't really think the article is saying it is the end of DVRs, so there is a place for recording. Just the Tivo specifically.
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OCEntertainment
11/25/09

@wasting_company_time: The article isn't. I am. ;-)

#prematuredeclarationsofdeath
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Noobs-R-Us
11/25/09

In reply to TiVo Is Slowly Dying
This is because Tivo is run by a bunch of idiots.
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AkkiRonin
11/24/09

In reply to iPhone and Android Are Taking Over the (Mobile) Internet
The droid is already 24% of the Android market?!
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OCEntertainment
11/23/09

In reply to iPhone and Android Are Taking Over the (Mobile) Internet
Holy mother of crap. I knew that folks were actually taken with the Droid (when your "normal friends" start talking about it voluntarily, it catches your attention), but I had no idea it was moving that fast!

This is getting exciting.
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