View Full Version : Disabled eSATA is a troubling issue !!!
I find it troubling that the external hard drive feature is disabled on the S3. This begs the question; why is it not functional?
Did TiVo get the feature working properly and then disable it for some reason or were there operational problems, which they think can be corrected via future software updates?
If it works and was just disabled, I smell CableLabs in this scenario. If eSATA was problematic and TiVo rushed the S3 to market before it was solved, then we have to hope it is a software issue and not a hardware one.
In either case I have to wonder if the eSATA port on the back of the S3 is just eye candy or if it will ever become a reality.
Bierboy
09-14-2006, 12:22 PM
...In either case I have to wonder if the eSATA port on the back of the S3 is just eye candy or if it will ever become a reality.Eye candy? Eye candy?!
Jill Wagner is eye candy. Elisha Cuthbert is eye candy.
An eSATA port = eye candy? :down: :down: :down:
TiVotion
09-14-2006, 12:37 PM
Yeah. And on top of that, you can't plug anything into Jill Wagner or Elisha Cuthbert.
Bierboy
09-14-2006, 12:38 PM
Yeah. And on top of that, you can't plug anything into Jill Wagner or Elisha Cuthbert.I ain't touching that comment...
sharding
09-14-2006, 12:56 PM
If it works and was just disabled, I smell CableLabs in this scenario.
I don't think this is really it. TiVo has been up front about the CableLabs issues with TTG and MRV; I don't see why they wouldn't do the same if that were the problem with esata.
Ereth
09-14-2006, 01:16 PM
Remember that the DTivos originally shipped with the second tuner disabled and TiVo turned that on later with an upgrade. I see no reason to believe the eSATA will be different.
acvthree
09-14-2006, 01:24 PM
How long did it take them to turn on the USB ports?
Al
SullyND
09-14-2006, 01:27 PM
My guess (as others have noted as well) is the issue revolves around how the external and internal devices are married. The average consumer would probably not be happy having their internal drive go toast if they remove thier external device. I assume they are working on a friendlier solution to connecting and disconnecting the drive in software.
Remember that the DTivos originally shipped with the second tuner disabled and TiVo turned that on later with an upgrade. I see no reason to believe the eSATA will be different.
I have to believe a lot of people are hoping you are correct. However in my mind this is a major feature and the lack of information on eSATA is stopping me from taking the plunge.
megazone
09-14-2006, 01:51 PM
I have to believe a lot of people are hoping you are correct. However in my mind this is a major feature and the lack of information on eSATA is stopping me from taking the plunge.It was simply a development decision to not make eSATA a launch priority. That's all. Nothing special, just a typical development decision. The eSATA software was not seen as required to launch, so it was pushed into a future update. It just wasn't a priority.
Canoehead
09-14-2006, 01:57 PM
I can see why people are a little freaky about this - with no TTG or MRV, the S3's HD capacity is its best feature, in a number crunching sense. Right now it has the capacity of about 2 cable-co DVRs, good but not phenomenal. I'm going to try to stick it out without upgrading the internal drive - hopefully we'll see something by the end of the year.
The next concern will be what, exactly, one can attach. One option might be a Tivo-branded enclosure that is certified to work with an clean SATA drive you choose to insert.
rainwater
09-14-2006, 01:57 PM
It was simply a development decision to not make eSATA a launch priority. That's all. Nothing special, just a typical development decision. The eSATA software was not seen as required to launch, so it was pushed into a future update. It just wasn't a priority.
I feel sure that is probably true. However, rampant speculation will continue until someone at TiVo clarifies it.
jazzsax
09-14-2006, 02:14 PM
The first ReplayTVs had firewire on them.
Turns out it was eye candy.
Bierboy
09-14-2006, 02:37 PM
It was simply a development decision to not make eSATA a launch priority. That's all. Nothing special, just a typical development decision. The eSATA software was not seen as required to launch, so it was pushed into a future update. It just wasn't a priority.That's would seem to make sense. TiVo's been under pressure to release this puppy; they promised 2006. I think any later into the fall "premiere" and football season might have hurt them. It makes good business sense to me to hold off, get the unit in people's hands, then enable eSATA later.
toots
09-14-2006, 02:48 PM
Gee, when you buy a car and cheap out on the options, there are often plastic plugs in the dashboard in place of the switches for those options. Like the "You're too cheap to buy this feature" plugs.
This is sort of in reverse: The "We're too cheap to implement these options" jacks.
Yes, it did remind me of the early ReplayTV's firewire ports.
ADent
09-14-2006, 02:52 PM
The first ReplayTVs had firewire on them.
Turns out it was eye candy.
And there are the USB ports on the DirecTiVos.
Dan203
09-14-2006, 02:55 PM
How long did it take them to turn on the USB ports?
They were enabled via a backdoor code within a couple of months. It took over a year before the 4.0 software release enabled them without the "hack".
Dan
DixonJDixon
09-14-2006, 02:56 PM
This is a dealbreaker for me. I'll buy the S3 the day the external drive is operational.
toots
09-14-2006, 02:57 PM
Ok, everyone write this down. We're gonna hold you to it.
;)
The next concern will be what, exactly, one can attach. One option might be a Tivo-branded enclosure that is certified to work with an clean SATA drive you choose to insert.
I like this idea - I'd like a quiet enclosure, preferably with a fan, that has a nice Tivo logo on it.
I already have SATA drives, so I don't want to buy the drive again ...
Stormspace
09-14-2006, 03:41 PM
Yeah. And on top of that, you can't plug anything into Jill Wagner or Elisha Cuthbert.
That because that connection is both proprietary and subject to review. :D
kosherbacon
09-16-2006, 07:01 AM
This is a dealbreaker for me. I'll buy the S3 the day the external drive is operational.
Same here
rainwater
09-16-2006, 07:26 AM
The next concern will be what, exactly, one can attach. One option might be a Tivo-branded enclosure that is certified to work with an clean SATA drive you choose to insert.
It would be more important to provide a preformated drive than a eSATA enclosure. I really don't see why they would need to certify a eSATA enclosure. If the software automatically formats the drive, then there would be no issues for TiVo to deal with before purchase.
snathanb
09-16-2006, 07:50 AM
I still think the eSATA port being disabled is directly related to the TTG and MRV issue. They are all methods of getting recordings out of the physical TIVO box.
If someone doesn't want you using the network to transfer recordings to your computer, why would they be ok with you saving them on an external drive you could then just plug into your computer?
Bierboy
09-16-2006, 08:00 AM
I still think the eSATA port being disabled is directly related to the TTG and MRV issue. They are all methods of getting recordings out of the physical TIVO box.
If someone doesn't want you using the network to transfer recordings to your computer, why would they be ok with you saving them on an external drive you could then just plug into your computer?Wrong....TiVo has stated the eSATA would be "married' to the internal drive. There's no way you'd be able to disconnect the eSATA drive to "move" recordings anywhere.
toots
09-16-2006, 08:22 AM
Even if the drive was separable, I'd bet that its contents would be encrypted, and it probably wouldn't be that big a problem to make the encryption key unique to the individual box.
ITGuy72
09-16-2006, 08:23 AM
If the other eSATA enabled DVRs are anything to go by (SA8300HD to name one) then the drive is formatted when first connected, and then all subsequent contents encrypted. In addition, the drive is married to the DVR unit so it can't be moved to another DVR (without re-formatting) or its contents seen if plugged into a PC. This is the way it works today on the cable co. DVRs so as long as TiVo is in line with this I can't imagine why the current S3 would not be approved for that functionality. Since TiVopony stated (I think) that it was a launch decision and they just weren't ready rather than a cablelabs issue I would tend to believe that. Who knows how long it will take though.
snathanb
09-16-2006, 08:28 AM
Wrong....TiVo has stated the eSATA would be "married' to the internal drive. There's no way you'd be able to disconnect the eSATA drive to "move" recordings anywhere.
I see. Well, then, that's better. :)
That could take some development. Especially considering you could have multiple external drives, etc.
MediaLivingRoom
09-16-2006, 11:35 AM
TivoPony said we were going to have an ESATA option. Was this a lie? or is it still coming in the second half?
http://www.gearlive.com/videocast/gearlivetivoseries3.mp4
Dan203
09-16-2006, 12:33 PM
This is supose to be turned on as part of the KidZone update, which is supose to be released in November. So technically yes it would still fall into the "second half of 2006".
Dan
megazone
09-20-2006, 12:39 AM
This is supose to be turned on as part of the KidZone update, which is supose to be released in November. So technically yes it would still fall into the "second half of 2006".Did TiVo actually say that? When I talked to them during the Review the eSATA update was not linked to the fall feature update. My impression was that eSATA wasn't in the fall update but 'future'.
ADent
09-20-2006, 01:20 AM
They were enabled via a backdoor code within a couple of months. It took over a year before the 4.0 software release enabled them without the "hack".
Dan
Um 4.x never shipped on the DirecTiVos. It is a hack just to install it.
Innerloop
09-20-2006, 01:23 AM
The first ReplayTVs had firewire on them.
Turns out it was eye candy.
These Comcast Motorola boxes have about 5-6 ports on them that are nothing but eye-candy. So nothing new in the cable industry.
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