Can't Catch The Big Game Ads

[Emacee]

I have Series 3 running version 8.0.1c....
TiVo Central has an announcement that I can view the Super Bowl commercials through my Tivo ("See What You Missed Between Plays").
When I click on the link, it tells me to go to the Tivo web site to get connected.
I am connected. (I set up TiVo for my home network when I first got it and Tivo Desktop Server is on.) I can access the Photos, weather, traffic, podcasts and the rest. But nothing for Super Bowl commercials.
I don't know if this is a related issue, but I have not been able to access my Tivo "Now Playing List" from Tivo Desktop on my PC, either.
Any ideas? Thanks.

[hookbill]

I have Series 3 running version 8.0.1c....
TiVo Central has an announcement that I can view the Super Bowl commercials through my Tivo ("See What You Missed Between Plays").
When I click on the link, it tells me to go to the Tivo web site to get connected.
I am connected. (I set up TiVo for my home network when I first got it and Tivo Desktop Server is on.) I can access the Photos, weather, traffic, podcasts and the rest. But nothing for Super Bowl commercials.
I don't know if this is a related issue, but I have not been able to access my Tivo "Now Playing List" from Tivo Desktop on my PC, either.
Any ideas? Thanks.


I just looked at it via "showcases" and it says "once your SERIES 2 is connected..."

Look at it this way, those were absolutely the worst ads I've seen in any Superbowl. Your not missing much. :)

And your "now playing" list isn't available over the internet.

[rdrrepair]

Look at it this way, those were absolutely the worst ads I've seen in any Superbowl. Your not missing much. :)I liked the Toyota truck ad with the closing gate and canyon and also the gay mechanics Snicker ad! But, your right, the ads were for the most part - blah...

Staying somewhat on topic:

There was an award show called the Cleo Award for best commercials - I have not seen this in several years. Does anyone know what happened to it?

I did manage to record a great 1 minute fishing (Pepsi/Coke) commercial for RC Cola on an old VCR tape (remember those?), has anyone else seen it?

[gwsat]

Look at it this way, those were absolutely the worst ads I've seen in any Superbowl. Your not missing much. :)
I didn’t watch the Super Bowl commercials – thanks TiVo! Nevertheless, I saw what several of the ESPN guys had to say about them yesterday and most of it wasn’t very complimentary, so we apparently didn’t miss much.

[Emacee]

I just looked at it via "showcases" and it says "once your SERIES 2 is connected..."

Look at it this way, those were absolutely the worst ads I've seen in any Superbowl. Your not missing much. :)

And your "now playing" list isn't available over the internet.

Does that mean the Super Bowl ads (and Desktop access to Now Playing) are available ONLY with Tivo 2 (not 2 or higher)? That's strange that features would be available in Series 2 but not 3.

[Maeglin]

That's strange that features would be available in Series 2 but not 3.
Not if you've been paying attention.

Of course, the 8.1 update (whenever it gets pushed out) is supposed to at least narrow that gap. Highly doubtful that it'll completely close it.

[Emacee]

Not if you've been paying attention.

Of course, the 8.1 update (whenever it gets pushed out) is supposed to at least narrow that gap. Highly doubtful that it'll completely close it.

I gather that's a yes.
My Series 3 is new. Before that I had a DirecTivo and before that a Series 1, so I have not been paying attention to the networking features until now.

[Fofer]

Look at it this way, those were absolutely the worst ads I've seen in any Superbowl. Your not missing much.
While I applaud your desire to consistently paint the Series 3 in the best possible light, that "review" is irrelevant to this feature, and this product, and it's advertisement on my TiVo.

I didn’t watch the Super Bowl commercials – thanks TiVo!
I didn't watch the Super Bowl, only the commercials - thanks TiVo!

Still, my new Series 3 told me I'd be able to watch them again on my TiVo. I was very much looking forward to using that feature, to show off the new capabilities to family and friends.

Does that mean the Super Bowl ads (and Desktop access to Now Playing) are available ONLY with Tivo 2 (not 2 or higher)? That's strange that features would be available in Series 2 but not 3.

It's also strange that my SERIES 3 box has been touting this "promotion" on-screen, since I installed it last week. I have a gold star on TiVo Central right now that says "See What You Missed Between Plays" -- even though it leads me to nothing but a page telling me to "Get Connected."

The top of that page tells me to go to tivo.com/connect to "find out how."

Thanks, I already am connected. That's how I get guide data downloads, and connect to my Mac for music and photos (and the other HME apps.)

And when I select "Get Connected," it tells me:

In addition to downloading the Big Game ads, your broadband-connected TiVo® box has even more exclusive features, all included as part of your standard TiVo® service. Once your Series2(™) or Series3(™) DVRs are connected to your home network, you can enjoy:

Yahoo!(™) Photos - View...

...and continues to list the other features already in my "Music, Photos, Products, & More" menu.

This raises a lot of questions.

Are the SuperBowl ad downloads exclusive to the Series 2, and not Series 3? If so, why? Does it rely on the TiVoCast feature? Or in my case, does it require the PC version of TiVo Desktop or something? (I'm using the Mac version.)

If they are not available to the Series 3 (being a TiVoCast, perhaps,) why the heck would TiVo tout it so heavily it on a Series 3 (effectively taunting me, for dropping serious coin on this new unit?) Don't they "know" I have a Series 3? Couldn't they prevent my machine from displaying an ad (and a feature) that doesn't work for me?

Why doesn't TiVo know that my box is, in fact, already "connected?"

And why would those instructions on "how to get connected" mention "Series2 or Series3," if the Superbowl ads in question, the very reason we are brought to that screen, only download to Series 2 boxes?

All in all, this comes off as unprofessional and unpolished... especially on TiVo's most expensive, flagship product. Believe it or not, I'm okay with it not working. I understand it's a new product and the code base needs to catch up... I can be patient.

I'm not okay, however with being teased and misled.

[VanGoghLikesTivo]

TiVo has been doing a poor job getting the Series 2 features moved onto the Series 3. Likely this is caused by all the effort TiVo has been putting into the software for the Comcast boxes. TiVo views this partnership as more important for its future than the Series 3 market.

[ewilts]

TiVo screwed up - plain and simple. At a minimum, they should not have offered the gold star "See What You Missed" item to S3 owners. After all, they *know* it's an S3, the S3 *knows* whether it's connected, and an if/then/else could have solved the problem. The S2 owners would have seen the gold star and the S3 owners wouldn't have. This would have been much better than putting useless items on our menus (like the Nikon HD item that always fails).

.../Ed

[hookbill]

While I applaud your desire to consistently paint the Series 3 in the best possible light, that "review" is irrelevant to this feature, and this product, and it's advertisement on my TiVo.





Awww BS. I wasn't trying to paint any light and why didn't you include the first part of my comment? I was simply saying the ads this year sucked.

Originally Posted by hookbill
I just looked at it via "showcases" and it says "once your SERIES 2 is connected..."

Look at it this way, those were absolutely the worst ads I've seen in any Superbowl. Your not missing much.

Geeze, give a hookbill a break, will ya? :p

[Fofer]

TiVo has been doing a poor job getting the Series 2 features moved onto the Series 3. Likely this is caused by all the effort TiVo has been putting into the software for the Comcast boxes. TiVo views this partnership as more important for its future than the Series 3 market.

As a longtime DirecTiVo owner, and as a Mac owner who *just* got "official" TiVoToGo (by way of Roxio Toast 8,) I'm getting used to this feature disparity.

-sigh-

I was excited to get the Series 3 and be a "full-fledged" member of the TiVo family again. I knew full well that TTG and MRV aren't here (yet?) I also know that TiVoCast is coming "any day now."

But I saw no reason why we'd miss out on the Super Bowl Ads... in fact, I was encouraged by the fact that the Gold Star was advertising it for a week (and the Gold Star is still there, BTW.)

To see promotions and features advertised on my TiVo that end up not working, without any explanation, is not a great way to get those warm and fuzzies.

Still, I'd like to hear from TiVo on this.

[cbordman]

Yeah, it plainly says Get Your Tivo series 3 connected...

[greg_burns]

Are the SuperBowl ad downloads exclusive to the Series 2, and not Series 3? If so, why? Does it rely on the TiVoCast feature?

It is a Product Watch feature. On the S2 you'll find it as an app under Music, Photos, Products, & More->Product Watch menu..

TivoCast is found on the Find Programs->TiVoCast menu.

Neither seems to be on the S3. Maybe Product Watch does rely on TivoCast. :confused:

Heard that 8.1 would bring TivoCast to the S3. Don't recall anybody asking (or caring) about Product Watch ever showing up on the S3. :D

[TiVoJerry]

Still, I'd like to hear from TiVo on this.

TiVoStephen addresses this over on another thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4853569#post4853569).

[Fofer]

TiVoStephen addresses this over on another thread (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=4853569#post4853569).

Thanks, TiVoJerry (and TiVoStephen, indirectly.) It's nice to see the mistake acknowledged, at least. I do hope this feature disparity and miscommunication gets taken care of soon.

Incidentally, the Gold Star is now gone from my Series 3 (being 4 days after the "Big Game" and all.)

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that 8.1 will roll out for S3's soon, bringing us not only TiVoCast ability, but also Product Watch and the rest of these interesting promotions. May I suggest that TiVo not send Gold Star announcements (or other notifications) to S3 units that they won't work on in the meantime (if your infrastructure allows for that?)