Neo HDTV » dvr

TiVo Desktop Software hits version 2.8.1, adds folder view from PC, export for iPad, Pre & more

Richard Lawler — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:33:00 +0000

The latest version (2.8.1) of the TiVo Desktop software is official, and it's added a few new features in both its free edition and the upgraded Plus package. The basic software has added a few additional settings, but the most notable is the ability to view folders on a PC from the DVR itself. Those paying $24.95 for TiVo Desktop Plus should notice increased video quality on PSP TiVoToGo exports, plus new profiles for the iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, DROID, Pre and several Blackberry models. Dave Zatz has already gotten his hands on the latest version, reporting some issues connecting to a TiVo Premiere; hit the download page for your own copy and let us know how it works.

TiVo Desktop Software hits version 2.8.1, adds folder view from PC, export for iPad, Pre & more originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

USPTO rules against TiVo’s “Time Warp” patent, but the fight vs. DISH rages on, again

Richard Lawler — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:42:00 +0000

The never ending TiVo / DISH Network patent saga continues, with the latest twist presented as U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled TiVo's "Time Warp" patent is invalid. Both sides have issued press release in response, with TiVo pointing out this is "just one of several steps" in the review process" while DISH's Facebook status was predictably "pleased." For now, the only thing to report is that, as usual, nothing has really changed, the Appeals court is still undertaking a review of its previous ruling, and it will probably finish that before this Patent Office decision is resolved , given the opportunity for appeals to its board, and even through the federal courts. Still, depending on how this goes, it could have the most affect on TiVo's lawsuits against Verizon and AT&T, but right now we're just going to go grab (another) Snickers, this one will be going on for a long while yet.

Continue reading USPTO rules against TiVo's "Time Warp" patent, but the fight vs. DISH rages on, again

USPTO rules against TiVo's "Time Warp" patent, but the fight vs. DISH rages on, again originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sharp plunges headfirst into 3D market with LV-series Quattron TVs, Blu-ray DVRs

Sean Hollister — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:01:00 +0000

Looks like Sharp's keeping its word -- next month, the fourth-largest LCD TV maker will launch a slate of new 3D TVs in Japan, just as planned. Based on the same Sharp Quattron quad-pixel technology that made George Takei's jaw drop, the new LV-series of AQUOS panels will come in 40-, 46-, 52- and 60-inch sizes when they debut July 30th, and feature 1080p resolution, UV²A panels and a high-speed signaling technology named FRED that Sharp says increases brightness and reduces crosstalk. More interesting are the AN-3DG10 glasses that come with them, which reportedly allow each individual viewer decide whether to view content in 2D or 3D -- we're guessing by tweaking the glasses to show either the left or right image to both eyes simultaneously, instead of flipping back and forth. Of course, you'll also need something to watch, and thus Sharp will also release a pair of Blu-ray DVR units, the BD-HDW700 and BD-HDW70, which record two simultaneous Japanese television programs onto terabyte-sized hard drives when they're not sending Blu-ray 3D content to the aforementioned displays.

While mum's the word on pricing, Impress Watch believes the TVs will start around ¥280,000 (around $3,067) and top out at a cool ¥600,000 ($6,581) for that 60-incher, and says that US and European variants are expected later this year. While you wait, why not take a deep dive into the details -- you'll find an entire brochure's worth at our source links.

Sharp plunges headfirst into 3D market with LV-series Quattron TVs, Blu-ray DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Elgato’s EyeTV HD records shows to your Mac, slings live to your iPad

Paul Miller — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:48:00 +0000

How's that Apple tattoo treating you? Good, good. Well, Elgato has something for the faithful: the new EyeTV HD. The device grabs a 1080i signal over component from your DVR or cable box or Blu-ray player, and records that video to your Mac using Elgato's own desktop DVR software. The shows can then be auto-transcoded to iPhone or iPad-friendliness, providing you a bit of much needed Animal Planet during your commute the next day. That's all well and good, but the real kicker is the live streaming the device can push to your iPad or iPhone, using an IR blaster to change the channel on your cable box. It's all rosy except for the fact that you'll need to plug this directly into your Mac and your cable box, meaning that they'll have to be in fairly close proximity (there's a six foot USB cable included). The unit retails for $200 and is available now directly from Elgato or Apple stores. PR is after the break.

We haven't plugged in the box yet, but we played around with Elgato's setup using an iPad 3G and found it pretty impressive. The streaming quality isn't really at, say, a Netflix level (it's more suited to a phone screen), but it's certainly passable, and the interface for browsing your own channels and recordings is very pleasant. We also loved the inclusion of meta data and chapters in the recorded shows and movies that had been loaded onto the device (you can check that out in the gallery below). Elgato might've just released the most elegant "analog hole" yet.

Continue reading Elgato's EyeTV HD records shows to your Mac, slings live to your iPad

Elgato's EyeTV HD records shows to your Mac, slings live to your iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 May 2010 11:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

TiVo, Technicolor cut a deal to push DVRs internationally

Richard Lawler — Sun, 23 May 2010 15:16:00 +0000

Don't expect TiVo's international ambitions to stop with Virgin Media, as it's announced a deal with Technicolor (formerly Thomson) to develop "an advanced, TiVo-ready, high definition PVR set-top box" (sounds like Premiere to us, but one can never be sure.) Technicolor is putting TiVo's software on its DSI803 box (pictured above) designed to meet European Low Power Code of Conduct standards, with dual tuners and a minimum 320GB hard drive. Between that and an earlier deal with Conax it expects to be able to offer the combined product to operators worldwide, but there's no word yet on who will be first to bite.

Continue reading TiVo, Technicolor cut a deal to push DVRs internationally

TiVo, Technicolor cut a deal to push DVRs internationally originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 23 May 2010 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RCN starts offering TiVo Premieres in NYC

Richard Lawler — Sun, 23 May 2010 01:36:00 +0000

RCN's Netflix, Amazon VOD and HD UI-lacking TiVo Premiere boxes are now available to Empire State customers, the first region outside of Washington D.C. to get access. It looks like the bundle packages vary from D.C.'s slightly based on internet speed, but adding a Premiere on is still a $19.95 per month charge. So New York City TiVo fans, the choice is yours: RCN's VOD or everyone elses, which do you prefer?

[Thanks, Dave Zatz]

RCN starts offering TiVo Premieres in NYC originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 22 May 2010 20:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

TiVo Premiere patched to version 14.4 for better performance

Richard Lawler — Fri, 21 May 2010 04:11:00 +0000

Say hello to another firmware update for the TiVo Premiere, now up to version 14.4. TiVo reps tell ZatzNotFunny that it's still only running on one processor core, but reports indicate speed has been noticeably improved on the new HD menu system. Considering that's likely one of the main reasons for people to purchase the new boxes it's a very good sign for this "performance and stability" update, but don't get too excited, it could take a while before the phased rollout reaches your box. Anyone out there already living the 14.4 lifestyle want to report in on what it's like?

TiVo Premiere patched to version 14.4 for better performance originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 20 May 2010 23:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

PS3’s Torne digital TV tuner / DVR adapter gets 2.00 software update next month

Richard Lawler — Fri, 21 May 2010 00:31:00 +0000

Japan hasn't had a lot of time to get used to the PlayStation 3's Torne digital TV tuner since it launched in March, but it's already getting an update which will add a few more DVR features to improve the experience. Coming in June, v2.00 will enable MPEG-4 AVC compression to squeeze HDTV recordings by as much as 3x their original size as opposed to just copying the original MPEG-2 stream even while playing a game, plus the ability to start watching a program and fast forward/reverse while it's still recording and update the user's PSN status. The free update will be issued in June, until then Torne fans can argue with European and Australian PlayTV owners about whether or not their new features are better than Facebook integration while the U.S. sits out like the ginger kid of a previous marriage it is.

PS3's Torne digital TV tuner / DVR adapter gets 2.00 software update next month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 May 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

U-Verse updates Total Home DVR, Yellow Pages app features

Richard Lawler — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:56:00 +0000

It looks like U-verse customers won't be left out of all the set-top box upgrade madness going around lately, as AT&T has announced two upgrades on the way for the services. Total Home DVR users will get more was to customize their recording settings with a Series Priority option to help resolve any programming conflicts four tuners can't take care of, a Keep At Most feature to specify how many episodes of a particular program to keep and Series Delete to remove an entire series with one stroke. The Yellow Pages TV App has also been upgraded, beyond just letting viewers search local business info on their TV, there's now a "Make a Call" button to automatically ring the business from their home or mobile phone. Still waiting for mobile program downloads? So are we.

Continue reading U-Verse updates Total Home DVR, Yellow Pages app features

U-Verse updates Total Home DVR, Yellow Pages app features originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 20 May 2010 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

SageTV 7 due to arrive tomorrow with new look

Ben Drawbaugh — Thu, 20 May 2010 01:02:00 +0000

We're big fans of HTPCs around here, but admit that when it comes to 10-foot user interfaces that we're pretty superficial. It isn't that we always believe in form over function, not at all. It is just that we're willing to sacrifice a some features for a little eye candy and overall usability. This is one of the reasons we're not the bigest fans of SageTV even though it's always had some great unique features like Windows Home Server and HD PVR support as well as software extenders for just about every platform. Good news for SageTV and shallow HTPC users alike though as tomorrow finally brings SageTV 7 and a revamped user interface. At first glance we can't say we're blown away, but the apparent improvements are a step in the right direction and we do want to give it a try and run it through its paces. The upgrade will run existing customers $49 and includes many under the hood upgrades as well.

SageTV 7 due to arrive tomorrow with new look originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 19 May 2010 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments