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Gadgets TiVo Series3 Now Official
Howard Johnston (Blog) - September 12, 2006 1:50 AM
Print 16 comment(s) - last by RamarC.. on Sep 13 at 11:11 AM

The Series3 shows off its OLED display - Image courtesy Engadget

Inputs of the Series3 - Image courtesy Gizmodo
The Series has landed!

Today the non-disclosure embargo for the Series3 TiVo lifts, and sites everywhere are starting to disclose the details.  Gizmodo has a few images and videos up already, sporting the new OLED front display and a sleek new look.

The biggest draw to the Series3 is, of course, the CableCARD support.  The new Series3 supports two CableCARD 1.0 adaptors capable of decrypting a single signal per card.  Multi-stream support will be available later this year.

CNET also was able to get a shot at the new Series3, which particularly emphasized on the networking capabilities of the Series3.  All reviews so far have been disappointed with the lack of TiVo2Go, a service that used to allow users to rip content from the TiVo to a PC.  Also absent from the Series3 is the ability to use external hard drives, although an e-SATA connector is present for future support.

Engadget reports "Units go on sale today at TiVo.com and should be showing up within the next week or so at Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry's, and Ultimate Electronics."  However, at the time of publication the TiVo.com links had not been enabled yet.  CircuitCity has its buy page up already.

The Series3 will still come with the $800 price tag as reported earlier.  Additionally, you'll still need to pay a monthly fee for the TiVo services.

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This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
By michal1980 on 9/12/2006 8:23:32 AM , Rating: 4
The post should have been...


"Thank You Tivo.... For making the PS3 seem cheap."




By rushfan2006 on 9/12/2006 11:33:14 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
The post should have been... "Thank You Tivo.... For making the PS3 seem cheap."


First, I agree with you on the grounds that Tivo is just plain INSANE to charge $800 for this unit, especially considering its lack of any really breathtaking or much desired features that the DVR using community would like to see in a product.

Second, However your PS3 comparison makes no sense at all. You are comparing apples to oranges as the saying goes. What does a PS3 have to do with single purpose DVR player?



By GoatMonkey on 9/12/2006 12:26:13 PM , Rating: 2
Both seem relatively expensive compared to earlier versions of each product.


Could someone please explain for me...
By AmbroseAthan on 9/12/2006 9:37:49 AM , Rating: 2
What Tivo does that my TimeWarner DVR Cable box doesn't? I honestly don't know and am curious.

Currently, with TW's DVR, I can:
1) Just open my guide and press the record button on any two simultaneous shows I see running (including HD) and off they go (though the guide only goes 48 hours out).
2) Pause a show, rewind a show I have been watching, fast foward back to the live feed.
3) Record series, so I don't have to worry about recording it per episode (heck, it even adjusted for shows that started late due to a prior sport broadcast or such).
4) Currently this costs for $5 a month extra for my DVR box.




By michal1980 on 9/12/2006 9:58:56 AM , Rating: 1
its not called tivo...?

I think I'd actually perfer a tivo box that worked better then my SA8300hd timewarner HD box.

useing on demand reboots the freaking thing all the time.

and the software tivo uses is 'nicer' then the 8300.

BUT, I won't pay that big of a mark up for a tivo box.

Honestly there NUTS to think that tivo software = 800 dollars, and a measly 250gigabyte hard drive! phhff.

sorry tivo years late, and way overpriced. plus you still have to pay 13 bucks a month. WOW, just slap me in my face.

Maybe, Just maybe, if it came with a transferable lifetime sub.
but they don't even through you a bone.

I think i'd rather blow my money on blu-ray, or hd-dvd before the dust settles on that, then this.


RE: Could someone please explain for me...
By dajeepster on 9/12/2006 11:52:17 AM , Rating: 2
something that everyone seems to miss...

I can program my TIVO from anywhere.
i.e.
from work, from school, from anywhere I have internet access. I don't have to be sitting in front of my TIVO to record a show. I just need to go to TIVO's website and pick the show I want to record. It's a real convenience when i'm on the road for business, or I hear about some show that sounds like it would be interesting to watch, but can't get home in time to set up my TIVO.

I don't hear about this capability available with other DVRs.

But seriously, the price really needs to come down for the series3


By GoatMonkey on 9/12/2006 12:30:44 PM , Rating: 2
I don't know of other DVRs that do that either, but HTPCs can. I know Snapstream BeyondTV can for example.


How Much?
By Lazarus Dark on 9/12/2006 11:30:02 AM , Rating: 2
so...
digital cable +
cablecard fee x2 +
tivo box +
tivo service fee =
umm.. a bunch. is tivo really that good? I've never actually used one, the only dvr ive used is a friends directv dvr and it has a guide and you just press record on a show. so what does tivo offer that's so addictive that people will go to rediculous lengths to get digital cable on it. This seems almost as complicated as avsforums directions for getting the firewire on your cable dvr to stream to your pc.
I don't get it.




RE: How Much?
By Sanctusx2 on 9/12/2006 12:14:36 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, the current Tivo series2 is that good. Especially if you don't own a DVR yet.

With that said I don't think this new one is "that good." I think if you want to criticize Tivo make it clear you're attacking this latest model, their older units are still fantastic and cheap(even free).

Have to agree that as long as Series3 has taken to develop, there doesn't seem to be a need to have pushed it out now. HDTV is still pretty rare and Cablecard has yet to achieve any widespread adoption. Series 3 seems strictly targetted to the early adopter market and it's priced as such. However earlier Tivos were pretty pricey on release as well, so I would expect we'll see this one come down in the next few years.


RE: How Much?
By RamarC on 9/13/2006 11:11:22 AM , Rating: 2
Dual HD recorders, THX cert, and OTA HD and cable HD support are what makes the series 3 special and expensive. but considering i pay $14/month for my sa-8500HD DVR/cablebox (dual HD recorders), $800 is too high. HD should reach the tipping point in 2007 so maybe HD recorders will start dropping in price.


you are confusing 2.0 and multi stream
By pesos on 9/12/2006 3:20:30 AM , Rating: 2
i think you're confusing Cablecard 2.0 with multi-stream cablecard (still 1.0). Series3 will support multi stream 1.0 cards (coming around October) so that you only have to have one card to get dual tuner recording, however the Series3 does NOT and will NOT support Cablecard 2.0 (the 2.0 spec hasn't even been finalized yet). This is unfortunate because it is the 2.0 spec that handles two-way communication, so it's necessary for things like on-demand.




By michal1980 on 9/12/2006 8:22:31 AM , Rating: 1
for making the ps3 seem cheap.


where is HDMI
By coldracerx on 9/12/2006 8:56:30 AM , Rating: 1
I was looking at the connections and saw nothing for HDMI
is that not the best connectiong for HD content and if so why pay $800 to use composit or svideo. regular cable boxes have that. What a waste. I use comcraps dualtuner dvr with my hdtv and it has hdmi, external sata(does not work yet)usb1.1 and 2.0, ethernet(does not work),firewire (connects to my computer) and what seems to be a 200gig hdd i paynothing just for the service. TIVO is trying to make a buck from it's name as I still call my comcast dvr tivo but I will never really buy one.




RE: where is HDMI
By BornStar on 9/12/2006 9:00:20 AM , Rating: 2
HDMI is between the Cablecard slots and the USB ports.


Question about Cable card
By sweetca on 9/12/2006 2:22:12 PM , Rating: 2
Hi, I am a total noob.

It seems the biggest feature is the cable card thing.

Can someone explain briefly why this is so wonderful and what its purpose is?

Thanks

samjabr@hotmail.com




RE: Question about Cable card
By michal1980 on 9/12/06, Rating: -1
"Game reviewers fought each other to write the most glowing coverage possible for the powerhouse Sony, MS systems. Reviewers flipped coins to see who would review the Nintendo Wii. The losers got stuck with the job." -- Andy Marken









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