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TiVo to support HDTV by "Year-End"

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i'll-believe-it-when-i-see-it dept.

JMorgan in Seattle writes "TiVo has (finally!) announced support for HDTV. It's a ways off (end of the year), but at least we know that HD TiVo is on the horizon. In two separate press releases, we learn that TiVo will support both standalone and DirecTV hi-def PVRs. TiVo is really on a roll--first Rendezvous support, and now this. Now if only DirecTV would add more HDTV channels..." I've been waiting to get an HDTV receiver for this. Joy.

11 of 267 comments (clear)

  1. 90 Minute Delay? What about outputs? by eudaemon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    More like -- is it going to support the 90 minute delay
    proposal before the FCC?

    I.E. Some content can only be viewed no later than 90 minutes after it was recorded, or
    not at all.

    Is it going to have DVI or Firewire connectors with forced-down low-res on the firewire
    is another important one.

    1. Re:90 Minute Delay? What about outputs? by Pii · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Actually, the HD DirecTV receiver's missing Firewire support to this date was a decision of DirecTV. There's been a great deal of discussion over on the AVS Forum, and the Tivo Community Forum about this. (Samsung, as an example, makes a new OTA HD set-top box that has Firewire, but the corresponding new HD DirecTV box lacks the Firewire port.)

      It appears that DirecTV has finally decided to relax the Firewire restriction, and you'll be able to see HD DirecTV receviers with Firewire support. (Which will kick ass... My TV has Firewire.)

      No clue what connections will come on the HD DirecTivo, but I sure hope to see them with Component Out, DVI, and Firewire, supporting both early adopters (Component In only), and both digital interfaces.

      (I'd like DVI to die a horrible death, but I recognize that most HDTV buyers can olny get one, or the other, and there's no reason they (the people with DVI) should be left out on the cold.)

      --
      For those that would die defending it, Freedom
      has a sweet taste that the protected will never know.
  2. Which ones? by TooTechy · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Which of the multitudinous World Wide HDTV standards are they going to support?

  3. Hmm by ShooterNeo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Be interesting to know how much faster the hardware has to be to record the full 1080i HDTV stream (or will Tivo cheat and downsample?). Its 20megabits a second I believe, and already comes compressed so the requirements may not be that high. Probably just need a much bigger hard disk.

  4. Is this really good though by Jack+Wagner · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I think the specs for HDTV call for about three times the RAM usage for storing data as opposed to their analog counterparts. I think you'll need to probably update your entire motherboard in that case because the current TiVo's memory bus speed isn't upgradable to the new FSB specs.

    Bascially this means that all the current Tivo users will be forced to upgrade or either throw away the unit they already bought because it will be essentially useless.

    Warmest regards,
    --Jack

    --


    Wagner LLC Consulting Co. - Getting it right the first time
  5. Interested by Aknaton · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I am interested in Tivo but I really do not like the fact the Tivo requires a subscription. Will the Tivo operate with no subscription?

    1. Re:Interested by Ciannait · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Only with certain versions of the software, and with certain hardware.

      With newer versions, and units such as the Series2, the unit will go into "boat-anchor mode" (their terminology) if the unit has not been able to make a call for about a month. At that point, you can watch what you've already got recorded, but not much else.

      --
      A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
  6. Just out of curiousity... by MasterSLATE · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If you remember, a few days ago I was talking about Dish Network's weak grasp on the market... Does this mean that DirecTV will now completely own the market? Or is Dish Network also supporting HDTV (and consequently TiVo)?

    --

    [sig]www.masterslate.org[/sig]
  7. wow, all I need is a HDTV to watch it on... by otis+wildflower · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ... goddamned recession.. I WANT MY TOYS!!!

    Seriously though, time warner in nyc (at least in my 'hood) recently introduced HD-capable boxes and a range of channels (7XX) in HD, including the local broadcast networks and HBO.. IIRC the HD boxes are priced the same as the normal digital boxes and can be swapped with an office visit..

    Then again, the next round of upgrades includes an HD-ready set _and_ a new receiver (to handle Xbox, PS2 digital connections).. damn lack of motivation...

  8. How about digital cable? by grimarr · · Score: 5, Interesting
    What I'd like to see is a Tivo that can directly receive digital cable signals, without a set-top box. Why have a box that converts D to A, then have the Tivo immediately do A to D conversion right back?

    Does anyone know if there are patent issues or something similar preventing it? I've looked all over the net with Google, trying to find a board for PCs that will receive digital cable, and turned up nothing. A few places say things like "no products available" or "we hope to have a product like this someday" but that's as close as I could find.

  9. All For Three Whole HDTV Channels by ausoleil · · Score: 2, Interesting

    DirecTV is seriously screwing up by not getting on the ball when it comes to HDTV.

    Free programming is irrelevant to me -- $600 out of pocket for a Sony HDTV-capable IRD is still $600 out of pocket. Whether DirecTV "finances" it or not, I still have to write a check somewhere.

    IMHO, they should sell these new IRD's at their cost in order to keep their customers. Sadly, I decided after five years with Direct to go to Time Warner Digital cable because I will get all of my local channels in HD, plus HBO as well. Directsimply could not match that. I won't be getting HDNet, as TWC doesn't have it, but I honestly believe that I would end up wanting the locals more anyway.

    Long story short: DirecTV banked on a merger with EchoStar for getting themselves up and running in the HDTV world. It didn't happen and their terrestial-based competition wasn't sleeping. Hence, they lose this round.