What happened to the TiVo DVD Recorders?

[thewells5]

I own a Toshiba TiVo DVD recorder. I went out to buy one for my parents and can't find one. Does anyone know why did are they not selling them in the retail stores?

[TydalForce]

there's a 40-hour refurb Humax on TiVo's "Web Specials" page

Beyond that, I think the 3rd party hardware vendors are getting out of the TiVo brand ... haven't seen anything besides TiVo's own models promoted anywhere lately...

[funtoupgrade]

These are readilly available on eBay.

[DevdogAZ]

Toshiba, Pioneer, and Humax were the only ones that made them, and I don't think any thirp parties are making TiVos now. It's become mostly unnecessary with the ability to transfer to a computer over the network and burn to a DVD on the computer.

[megazone]

Yeah, the DVD combo units are no longer manufactured, but you can find them still for sale online.

[Justin Thyme]

Oddly enough, my DT Tivo records with less artifacts than the Toshiba DVD recorder. This should not be the case, because the DVD recorder actually records at very high resolution- 720x480, while I think the resolution for cable on the DT is 480x480. It puzzles me, because the hardware encoder is essentially the same.

My mom likes the DVD Tivo because she refuses to go through hassles with the PC. But she hates to delete good shows. So she pops a 23 cent dvd in the slot and records it. She never watches them, but she is able to let go that way. Not that she doesn't keep a massive number of shows- she has got stuff on there from January.

[bicker]

Unfortunately, T2G doesn't effectively support Closed Captioning, so hearing impaired folks are stuck with the combo units, and of course they're hard to find now.

[Justin Thyme]

Huh? If I were hearing impaired, I'd Tivo everything with the captions from the STB on. Sounds pretty simple to me.

[bicker]

There is no STB, Justin.

[DevdogAZ]

Huh? If I were hearing impaired, I'd Tivo everything with the captions from the STB on. Sounds pretty simple to me.
Captions are encoded into the signal, and decoded by the TV and superimposed on the video. Even if you turn the CC on the STB on, they won't become part of the video (picture) that's transferred to DVD or to the PC via T2G.

[davezatz]

It's become mostly unnecessary with the ability to transfer to a computer over the network and burn to a DVD on the computer.

I like *watching* DVDs on my TiVo. One less box in the bedroom. Also burning from my Humax is so much more efficient than using TiVoToGo. True, I'm stuck with commercials but I'm willing to make the trade to save a few minutes.

[ZeoTiVo]

I like *watching* DVDs on my TiVo. One less box in the bedroom. Also burning from my Humax is so much more efficient than using TiVoToGo. True, I'm stuck with commercials but I'm willing to make the trade to save a few minutes.
does the Humax have the TiVo interface on DVD playback. I am likely to keep my Toshiba TiVo much longer simply because I love, love, love watching DVDs with the 3 FF options and 8 sec skip back when I miss some line or something

[davezatz]

does the Humax have the TiVo interface on DVD playback. I am likely to keep my Toshiba TiVo much longer simply because I love, love, love watching DVDs with the 3 FF options and 8 sec skip back when I miss some line or something

It does. The Toshiba SD-H400 may be the only bastard DVD hybrid with deviant GUI. I think we're both happy to have moved on to something more TiVo-like. :)

[ZeoTiVo]

It does. The Toshiba SD-H400 may be the only bastard DVD hybrid with deviant GUI. I think we're both happy to have moved on to something more TiVo-like. :)Actually my kids have the SD H400 and know to be happy they have a DVD player along with a TiVo DVR. No complaints from them :)

[Justin Thyme]

Captions are encoded into the signal, and decoded by the TV and superimposed on the video. Even if you turn the CC on the STB on, they won't become part of the video (picture) that's transferred to DVD or to the PC via T2G.
I know all about where CC info is stored.

I have no idea why you think the STB is not changing the video picture. Think about what you are saying. If you still can't figure it out, just try it. The STB is doing the video overlay, and at that point the visual video image is altered. The CC box doesn't know what is on the other end of the composite cable. If it were as you say and the overlay magically disappears if the composite cable goes into a dvd recorder, then why doesn't it magically disappear when the signal goes into the TV? Although the CC info may still be in the VBI, what on earth are you thinking- that a TV with a CC option could somehow turn off this video overlay and magically remove the video overlay that the STB put on the display portion of the screen? Of course it can't. So why is it any different for the Tivo.

Answer- it isn't. That's why if you Tivo a show with the STB set to CC display, the Tivo records the show with the CC displayed.

Bicker- I have no idea what you mean there is no STB. If I were hearing impaired I think I'd be motivated enough to figure out how to get an STB or converter box if I was on analog only.

[bicker]

Bicker- I have no idea what you mean there is no STB. If I were hearing impaired I think I'd be motivated enough to figure out how to get an STB or converter box if I was on analog only.That's pretty insensitive. So you think hearing impaired people should be expected to pay extra for their cable television, while people with good hearing need not? Wow. That's pretty cold. (I should check, but eventually it might be illegal, too.)

The reality is that the problem is that the software doesn't transfer the data over (either from the TiVo to the computer, or from the computer onto the DVD) in the correct format to be displayed on playback. It's a software problem -- not additional equipment should be necessary.

[Justin Thyme]

That's pretty insensitive. So you think hearing impaired people should be expected to pay extra for their cable television, while people with good hearing need not? Wow. That's pretty cold. (I should check, but eventually it might be illegal, too.)

The reality is that the problem is that the software doesn't transfer the data over (either from the TiVo to the computer, or from the computer onto the DVD) in the correct format to be displayed on playback. It's a software problem -- not additional equipment should be necessary.

Having invested my own money and time producing products for the sensory impaired community, I find your comment out of touch with that community. Folks are interested in practical solutions, not people feeling sorry for them.

The solution I described works and is exceptionally inexpensive. For those with satellite or digital cable, they already have the capability to do what I said. And those old analog converter boxes are dirt cheap. So I am not seeing the huge problem that you are. Perhaps if you could provide a specific scenario where there is a huge problem.

Yeah, you should check on CC requirements. You will see the big offender is the content and distributors industry not providing CC support. If it can be believed, recently the FCC granted permanent waivers for CC compliance to five hundred operators who only requested a temporary waiver. Source (http://www.hearinglossweb.com/Issues/Access/Captioning/Television/0609/0609.htm)

Yet more evidence that FCC is in the pocket of these industries.

[HDTiVo]

Justin:

DNFTT

[jmemmott]

Justin:

DNFTT

Could be but my guess would be frustration. I have thirty some odd years doing volunteer work and it has always seemed it has been artificial and unnecessary barriers that have made it the hardest. Reality wins - but the personal effects are real as well.

[mattack]

does the Humax have the TiVo interface on DVD playback. I am likely to keep my Toshiba TiVo much longer simply because I love, love, love watching DVDs with the 3 FF options and 8 sec skip back when I miss some line or something

BTW, the various FF options and skip-back are not exclusive to Tivo.

My Toshiba XS32 (and the later versions in the same line) let me do various FF speeds, 30 second skip, ~8 second skip back, etc., on DVDs as well as hard drive recordings (and commercial DVDs too). I use the first-ff-with-sound on all types of recordings too.

Plus it lets you edit recordings before burning to DVD _and_ lets you tell how much will fit on a DVD, and doesn't finalize the DVD when you're done recording.
I would have paid lots for the Tivo interface if it did these things.. but since they don't, I got this to use along with my Tivos.

[bicker]

Having invested my own money and time producing products for the sensory impaired community, I find your comment out of touch with that community. Needless to say, everyone is entitled to their own feelings. You've not been appointed to speak for anyone other than yourself.

And those old analog converter boxes are dirt cheap.Analog converter boxes here in Burlington do not have that capability. You'd need to also add a specific CC decoder.

[bicker]

Could be but my guess would be frustration.Absolutely, HDTivo's personal grudge against me notwithstanding.