macnn/electronista
05/29/2008, 4:25pm, EDT
Thursday, May 29thTiVo planning "whole-home" DVR
TiVo is prepping a digital video recorder that would serve as a hub for an entire house, company chief Tom Rogers confirms at the D6 Conference. He notes that current TiVos are essentially limited and can't record or offer content to more than one TV set in the home; the Wi-Fi adapter that lets the TiVo work remotely is only a part solution to the problem, Rogers says. Instead, TiVo is working to produce a version of its self-titled hubs that could give "whole-home" access, though the executive doesn't provide more details.
The mention both hints at a potential advantage for TiVo over rival DVR makers, which are also usually tied to single TVs, and also gives the company greater reach as a digital media provider. Subscribers with a broadband Internet connection have access to podcasts and other Internet video features directly through a single TiVo, including Amazon Unbox movies and upcoming YouTube access.
Filed under: gadgets
Other story tags: Amazon, YouTube, tivo, Unbox
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AppleTV already does this
I've ripped our DVD library and have all AppleTVs in the house running off an old mac I use for a media hub.
If Apple would add DVR capabilities, it would kill.
I have an ElGato hybrid that I record content from cable to Mac, but has to be converted to be available on the AppleTVs. Needs to be a completely transparent process (complete Apple solution) where shows can be accessed WHILE they are being recorded.
Well...
"Whole home" access sounds all well and good, but right now I'd settle for a current-generation TiVo that can support HD satellite broadcasts.
As it is now, if I wish to receive HD programming I either have to switch to my local cable company (which has a paltry selection) or ditch my TiVo and go with a DVR from DirecTV or Dish Network.
I love my TiVos (yes, I have two of them), but it's all about the programming content. If they don't fix this soon, it's likely they who are going to go.
Re: Apple tv
Actually, your Apple TV does NOT do this. Your old Mac upstairs does this, but not the AppleTV.
A comparable would be downloading a movie to one AppleTV, and then viewing it on another AppleTV.
Re: Well
The problem with satellite is that they aren't covered by the same rules as Cable (as if Cable is covered by rules), so if they don't want to play with TiVo, they don't have to. The cable companies were supposed to move to CableCard (which the satellites don't, go figure), but that's happening very slowly and soon will be just ditched altogether, most likely.
And I don't care what some people say, the new DVR from DirecTV just sucks so bad it isn't even funny. I'd rather live in Standard Resolution TV on my DirecTV TiVO then use their DVR for HD.
wish
I'm still hoping for Apple Tivo. I was very excited about the rumors that Apple would be buying them.
Until AppleTV gets an HD DVR, I'll stay with my Tivo. I think Tivo is still pretty amazing.
Can't Wait
I was thinking of getting another Tivo HD for the bedroom but maybe I'll hold off.
http://www.onlinetivostore.com