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TiVo Introduces Series2

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the stuff-to-lust-after dept.

KMFMS writes "Yesterday, TiVo introduced their Series2 line of TiVo DVRs. The TiVo web page for the Series2 states that it will have "2 USB expansion ports to connect to peripheral devices like... network adaptors..." " Presumably this will mean Tivo will have Broadband support to compete with the new ReplayTV 4000's. It also claims to support music and stuff too.

3 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Great. Just great. by irregular_hero · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As a Tivo owner (and modifier), I can say that it's exciting that there will be an improved Tivo hitting the stores soon. I'm a little disappointed in a few things, though:

    The announcement doesn't indicate what, if any, connectivity options they intend to use by default for the Tivo2. USB ports are great and everything, but if it still requires a modem line to get guide data and uses the USB network adapter for its "extended services"... Yuck.

    And about the extended services: Why do I suspect that it'll be an extra charge for those?

    I'm also a bit put out that Tivo isn't doing anything to announce improvements in the following areas:

    - Show Send (a la ReplayTV)
    - Archival of recorded shows to media or PC
    - Show scheduling via Web page
    - Management of recorded items via Web
    - "Self-upgrade" capability via removable media

    These, given the platform it's based on, would be simple to achieve. In fact, some of the same things are out there now that others outside of Tivo have created! Why not rely on the experiences of the power users, and be a truly hip company by adopting and supporting some of their work? Isn't that how the Open Source model is supposed to work -- the Adoption of What Works?

    Or maybe I'm just mad that I spent all that time modifying my Tivo to add the above features and wish that I had the obviously superior Tivo2 hardware at the time.

    :)

  2. Nice, but... by tswinzig · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I've bought 3 TiVo's in the last year. One for me, one for my parents, and one for my brother. All three were the cheap 20-hour units, upgraded with a 3rd party hard-drive.

    I sure as hell am not going through this again until they add HDTV support and dual tuners.

    I would also love to see:

    - 802.11b options, not only for downloading the updates via your local LAN, but also for streaming MPEG to other PC's and wireless devices on your LAN.

    - Optical digital audio outputs (to go with the HDTV support).

    - Newer video codecs with better quality (maybe they have added this in the latest release ... it says they have a new graphics engine)

    - Firewire output would be nice, also.

    Of course, my dream unit would be one that is integrated with TimeWarner's digital cable box, so that it can take advantage of the digital channels, much like DirecTiVo does. The integration with TW's channel guide alone would be awesome...

    --

    "And like that ... he's gone."
  3. Re:Thanks but ill pass on TIvo...why ? by Blackwulf · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Actually a bunch of folks on the TiVo Underground on the AVS forum actually sniffed the data.

    It sells composite viewing habits by area code. Basicailly, it knows that 25% of the TiVo Owners in zip code 30075 (for instance) watched Buffy on Tuesday night...But that's it. Nothing about your personal viewing habits - just your zip code's viewing habits.

    And it takes a whole whopping 5 minutes to opt out. Unfortunately, I actually like the fact that they know I have Babylon 5 and MST3K season passes. Call me dumb and naive, but I want these shows to stay on the air (and possibly make spinoffs to have new episodes!)