Series 2 Features... Why?

[jlh3590]

Why is Tivo limiting the Netflix and Youtube features for Series 3 or HD models? It's not like the Series 2 can't handle it. I guess it's just a sells technique to rope you into upgrading. Not happy about it. :(

[scandia101]

Why is Tivo limiting the Netflix and Youtube features for Series 3 or HD models? It's not like the Series 2 can't handle it. I guess it's just a sells technique to rope you into upgrading. Not happy about it. :(

The S2 can't handle it. It's mentioned in every single thread on the subject.

[wmcbrine]

It's not like the Series 2 can't handle it.Yes, it is.

These features use hardware-based decoding of h.264 (YouTube) and VC-1 (Netflix), respectively, using hardware that's built in to the S3/HD, but not the S2. ALL decoding is done in hardware on TiVos; they don't really have the horsepower to do it in software. But the S2 only has the hardware for MPEG-1/2.

[dylanemcgregor]

I probably shouldn't add to this thread, but I do wonder about the other new features that they added to the S3 platform recently like folder play, and the ability to view in progress downloads. I assume that the S2 should be able to handle both of these, and I imagine at least in the case of the downloads could cause people to be more likely to use the service, and ultimately get TiVo some extra revenue.

[rainwater]

I probably shouldn't add to this thread, but I do wonder about the other new features that they added to the S3 platform recently like folder play, and the ability to view in progress downloads. I assume that the S2 should be able to handle both of these, and I imagine at least in the case of the downloads could cause people to be more likely to use the service, and ultimately get TiVo some extra revenue.

All of the current VOD features that can work for the S2, do work for the S2. The only new features that will not is Netflix and YouTube. TiVo can't do anything about the way these companies encode their files. TiVo will use the S2 platform to make as much revenue as possible, they can't add features that aren't possible.

[dylanemcgregor]

All of the current VOD features that can work for the S2, do work for the S2. The only new features that will not is Netflix and YouTube. TiVo can't do anything about the way these companies encode their files. TiVo will use the S2 platform to make as much revenue as possible, they can't add features that aren't possible.

You quoted my post, so I guess you were referring to me, but I wasn't saying anything about Netflix or Youtube not working on the S2 platform, I completely understand the reasons for that and am fine with it. But there are some additional features (the two I mentioned above are a couple of examples) that I don't think there are technical reasons couldn't be implemented on the S2, and I'm not a programmer and don't know how different the code bases are between the S2 and S3 right now...but my guess is they shouldn't be that hard to do on the S2.

This is very much like when the S2 came out with the 4.0 release that had all the network features, but also included folders. The S1 technically should be able to do something as simple as folders, but that was where TiVo decided to draw the line on new features for the S1. IT looks like TiVO is doing the same thing with the S2 now, which is fine, it has had a long run and I've gotten a lot of new features. I'd be happy to move to an S3, but unfortunately they don't make one with an included DVD player, which is a must have feature for me right now.

[wmcbrine]

I agree, there's a bunch of stuff in 9.4 that ought to be ported to the Series 2, but they seem to be stopped dead at 9.3.x.

[pdhenry]

the ability to view in progress downloads. I assume that the S2 should be able to handle both of theseThe S2 can view in-progress downloads, once enough of the program has downloaded that it will likely be able to play through without pausing. This is a fairly recent addition (i.e., this year).

[steve614]

Folder play and folder delete are the two features I want to see added to the S2.
Are they not included with the fall 2008 update? :(

[scandia101]

Folder play and folder delete are the two features I want to see added to the S2.
Are they not included with the fall 2008 update? :(

No, they're not.

[Adam1115]

The fact that the series 3 can skip day by day with the skip to tick in the guide but the S2 can't is annoying.

[LifeIsABeach]

The fact that the series 3 can skip day by day with the skip to tick in the guide but the S2 can't is annoying.

Also the fact that the Series 3/TiVo HD can now view the guide while watching a previously recorded program while the Series 2 drops you back to Live TV. This still happens even after the latest Series 2 update. TiVo - please add this before stopping Series 2 updates! :(

[Adam1115]

Also the fact that the Series 3/TiVo HD can now view the guide while watching a previously recorded program while the Series 2 drops you back to Live TV. This still happens even after the latest Series 2 update. TiVo - please add this before stopping Series 2 updates! :(

yea... See I love the new guide features, I've been dying to skip days at a time forever.

But unlike the youtube stuff, these are features that affect your day to day DVR use, not just extras. It's really frustrating that features like the GUIDE operate differently on a Series 3 vs. a Series 2.

[snedecor]

The only things that will be added to series 2 are additional means to slip advertising into every button press, every action you take.

That, and putting ways to make it easy to spend money on a whim (VOD, pizza, Norton Utilities, etc.)