This highlights a bit of a problem with Tivo's latest offerings, one that I bitched about on the Tivo Community forums back when I was still welcome there. They are charging, on a monthly basis, for what is essentially a one time software update. Every feature of the HMO (Home Media Option) stuff, with the exception of web access to your Tivo, is done by the unit itself and requires no external connection as such. The MP3 playing, show sharing, picture viewing, all of that doesn't need the unit to call home to be able to do any of it.
I don't know where you got your information, but HMO is NOT a subscription based service. TiVo charges a one time fee of $99 for the first unit and $49 for each additional unit. And just like lifetime service the HMO capabilities are permantely tied to the TiVo for which they were purchased for the duration of that TiVos life.
In fact the only thing that makes this different then the purchase of lifetime service is that the price and MRV capabilites of the unit are determined by the account for which the unit is currently tied to.
Dan (Dan203 - Moderator TiVo Community Forums)
P.S. While you may feel unwanted over at TC, most of us actually miss you.
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This highlights a bit of a problem with Tivo's latest offerings, one that I bitched about on the Tivo Community forums back when I was still welcome there. They are charging, on a monthly basis, for what is essentially a one time software update. Every feature of the HMO (Home Media Option) stuff, with the exception of web access to your Tivo, is done by the unit itself and requires no external connection as such. The MP3 playing, show sharing, picture viewing, all of that doesn't need the unit to call home to be able to do any of it.
I don't know where you got your information, but HMO is NOT a subscription based service. TiVo charges a one time fee of $99 for the first unit and $49 for each additional unit. And just like lifetime service the HMO capabilities are permantely tied to the TiVo for which they were purchased for the duration of that TiVos life.
In fact the only thing that makes this different then the purchase of lifetime service is that the price and MRV capabilites of the unit are determined by the account for which the unit is currently tied to.
Dan
(Dan203 - Moderator TiVo Community Forums)
P.S. While you may feel unwanted over at TC, most of us actually miss you.