Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

[Thanks to Chris for the pic & everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

So it’s true — hordes of DirecTV users weren’t just dreaming about a glitch that required a painstaking reboot to start the week off. DirecTV has sent out e-mails to loads of affected users which were unexpectedly forced to mash the red “Reset” button located within a door on the front panel of their HD DVR / receiver in order to get things going again. Of course, even the mighty satcaster can’t replace any missed recordings that were scheduled, but it is “sincerely” sorry for the inconvenience. You’ll still be paying your full bill, though, so it’s not that sorry.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Generally, we’d pass something like this off as just coincidence, but when over 95% of 1,000+ respondents confess to sharing the same issue, we simply can’t turn the other cheek. It’s assumed that DirecTV botched up a software update early this morning that affected a number of HR2X set-tops. Over at DBSTalk, the vast majority of readers who voluntarily took part in a poll affirmed that at least one of their HR2X units required a restart / reboot this morning. We know there’s no real point in asking if you too were affected, but that aside, what was DirecTV attempting to send down? The world may never know.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

We know, you’re still digesting the whole Nero LiquidTV / TiVo PC introduction, but once you get through your head that said product brings TiVo functionality to your PC, we’d like you to have a look at something only mildly related. In the best form possible (that’d be video, for those curious), a walkthrough of a potential new user interface for TiVo as a whole has been hosted up. According to the lucky soul who was able to grab this information from a recent survey, there’s no telling if it’ll ever actually be released. ‘Course, we highly doubt TiVo pays its engineers to cook up new software for nothing, but we’ve heard of zanier scenarios. Check out three UI vids after the break, and be sure to look carefully for the oh-so-subtle differences.

[Thanks, Dave]

Continue reading Potential new TiVo user interface shown on video

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

Rejoice, HTPC fans — that partnership between Nero and TiVo has finally borne fruit in the form of Nero’s new LiquidTV / TiVo PC DVR package, which brings the TiVo interface and featureset to Windows. The $199 package comes with a year of TiVo service, a Hauppage USB ATSC tuner, an IR receiver, and a Nero-branded TiVo remote, and does exactly as you’d expect — it’s TiVo on your PC. There are some interesting PC-specific features bolted on the usual kit — you can navigate using the keyboard and mouse (there are even some nifty contextual menus) and you can export directly to iPod and PSP-compatible .mp4 from within the interface — but for the most part it’s the same TiVo experience you’re used to, including streaming shows to and from other TiVos and TiVo PCs. If you’re already running an HTPC setup, you can get the TiVo PC software and a year of service for $99, but your Media Center remote might be a little wonky without a remap, and Nero reps didn’t make any promises about CableCARD compatibility apart from “it should work if Windows recognizes it.” Obviously we’d like to see that firmed up a bit — and maybe get some tru2way support in the deal — but it’s definitely a start. Should be available now.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

No surprises here, but AT&T is doing the right thing by getting official with its Total Home DVR — which we’ve been expecting for like, ever. A number of loyal U-verse users received word of the change last week, but now the provider is rolling the software out to the Bay Area at no additional charge; as for everyone else, expect to receive it before 2009 dawns. So, what’s so fresh about Total Home? Oh, just the ability to watch five HD programs simultaneously throughout the home, among other nice extras listed in bulleted fashion after the jump.

Continue reading AT&T gets official with U-verse Total Home DVR

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Well, what can we say? Here we have a TiVo HD with a subtle “XL” logo there on the bottom left, a more capacious hard drive and a Series 3 remote. That being the case, at least the one parked at CEDIA was outstandingly shiny — seriously, check it out over at Engadget HD.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Aw, snap. Not even 24 hours after we learned that a new DirecTV HD TiVo was on the way, in flies word from Denver that a new standalone TiVo is hitting even sooner — like, today. The TiVo HD XL will become the flagship unit in TiVo’s line by offering up 150 hours of high-def recording space, THX certification, a Series3 premium backlit remote and a bundled HDMI cable. As with the TiVo HD, this one boasts dual tuners for recording two HD programs simultaneously and a pretty similar design, but unlike the TiVo HD, this one will set you back a full $599.99. Those unaffected by the price tag can order one today from TiVo’s website, and we’re told to expect the box at various other retailers “as early as next week.” Full press release after the break.

Continue reading TiVo HD XL DVR: 150 hours of HD recording, $599.99, available now

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV, Home Entertainment

While we new LG had a pair of DVR-packin’ plasmas lined up, nothing was officially official until now. The 42- and 50-inch PG6900 plasmas were designed to hold up to 86-hours of programming (SD, we assume) on its 160GB of internal hard drive space, and the 8-day EPG should give you a pretty decent view of what’s coming on in the near future. Additionally, you’ll find a 30,000:1 contrast ratio, Energy Star compliance, a DVB-T tuner (plus an analog tuner), three HDMI 1.3 ports, 100Hz refresh rate and integrated speakers which are said to be “invisible.” Look for these to pop up soon (at least in Europe) for $1,799 and up.

[Via Gizmag]

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Filed under: Displays, HDTV

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Filed under: Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment

Time flies when you’re having fun, but not when you’re waiting anxiously for a new piece of kit — particularly one that has been delayed numerous times. For Europeans waiting on pins and needles for the release of the PlayTV DVR for PlayStation 3, your time has arrived. Before rushing out to get one, however, might we interest you a short unboxing and a brief overview? No pressure whatsoever, though.

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Filed under: Gaming

Er, you know that September 10th, €99 (about £78) PlayTV launch announced by David Reeves? Well, turns out that the Sony Europe president jumped the gun or the product’s been dragged through a trough of delay. Whatever the case, Sony Europe told Eurogamer that the PS3 TV tuner / DVR add-on will launch on the 19th of September now and cost a bit less at just 70 Quid. It’s also said to be HD ready should local DVB-T broadcasters decide to throw that switch.

[Via PS3 Fanboy, thanks Jimb]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

Break out the tissues — the rumors were true. Or, at least it sure looks that way. As of right now, the only two TiVo units available on the outfit’s webstore are the TiVo HD and the Series2, and even if you do a bit of digging and find the still-active Series3 page, you’ll notice a glaring Out of Stock notification. Of course, you can still find leftover inventory hanging around at various resellers, but all signs are pointing to this being the final hurrah for the S3. Any touching moments you’d like to share in comments as we all bid the device a fond farewell?

[Thanks, Tim]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment

Back in May, TiVo’s VP of product marketing got all of our hopes up that the next announcement involving it and Amazon would include HD Unbox content. As you can very clearly see, this is most certainly not the case. Instead, we have the immense pleasure of informing internet-connected Series2, Series3 and TiVo HD owners that they can now buy wares from Amazon without leaving their couch. If browsing through Amazon’s extraordinarily huge store with just a remote sounds appealing to you, you’re in luck (and mildly insane). Also of note, the new Product Purchase feature will enable advertisers to “market products sold through Amazon on any broadcast or cable network, any TV show, or via any of TiVo’s extensive interactive advertising features.” In other words, next time you see Dwight using that iconic shredder, you can buy that bad boy right then and there. Take that, Staples.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]

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Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

So much for early 2008 or even July for that matter. Sony’s David Reeves now confirms that PlayTV — the €99 PS3 TV tuner / DVR add-on — will hit the UK on September 10th. The service will then march onto the continent before completing the European rollout in December — Australia and New Zealand get theirs in January or February. Notably, the service will in fact record television in the background without interrupting your regularly scheduled gaming regimen thanks to the recent 2.41 firmware PS3 update. Phew, for a moment we felt threatened by a lack of manufactured distractions.

[Via gamesindustry.biz]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Storage

So, your cable company stuck you with one of those boring, no-frills Scientific Atlanta DVR boxes. We feel your pain, but you don’t have to just take it lying down. Iomega’s new DVR Expander offers up 500GB of extra storage over eSATA for compatible Scientific Atlanta boxen. That’s about 300 hours of SD TV, or 60 hours of HD. Using those incredibly intuitive SA menus it shouldn’t be too hard to stumble through configuration and get this thing added on to your setup, and there’s even an eSATA cable included to start things off on the right foot, but it’s not like there’s anything going on here other than a fairly standard-issue eSATA drive. Right now the drive is compatible with the 8300 DVR and the 8300HD DVR, but future models from Scientific Atlanta will be compatible as well. DVR Expander should be available this month for about $200.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

During his sit-down at D6, TiVo’s head honcho Tom Rogers was grilled with a flurry of questions. Aside from a lengthy back-and-forth over the DVR’s ability to skip through ads, we finally got to some real meat. First off, Mr. Rogers noted that he was “hopeful” that TiVo would be launched in the UK “soon.” Secondly — and probably most interestingly — was the notion that TiVo was working up a “whole home model” in order to solve the problem of needing multiple boxes to service an entire house. Sadly, that snippet is all Tom uttered, so we’re left to ponder what’s really going on behind the tightly sealed doors at TiVo. Here’s to hoping we know more by the time CEDIA rolls around — you listening, Mr. Rogers?

[Via Electronista]

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Storage

Great, just great. Soon after Western Digital made a fool of itself by introducing an external hard drive “certified” for use with DISH Network HD DVRs, along comes Seagate to further fuel the hype machine. Announced at this year’s Cable Show (after being mentioned at CES), the Showcase storage solution is “designed” to extend storage capacity of DVRs and media centers. In a similar vein, the outfit’s newest drives are “compatible with Motorola’s s-SATA-capable HD DVRs,” and they also come with USB 2.0 ports and up to 1TB of space. No word on a price or any of that jazz, but those who can’t figure out that an external hard drive is an external hard drive can look for ‘em to land in Q3.

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Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

The popular DVR / DVD combo trend continues with Sharp’s new, just-released Aquos players. The three new combo machines — updates from last fall’s models — pack Blu-Ray playback with DVRs of various sizes ranging from the 250GB BD-HDW22, to the 500GB BD-HDW25, to the 1TB BD-HDW30 big daddy of TV-recording doom. The Blu-Ray section looks pretty standard, but the DVR records in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 at three different bitrates - 4.8, 8, and 12Mbps. If you’re thinking these will record from BD to HDD or the other way around, think again. The movie studios will have none of that.

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