TiVo announces Series 3 HD TiVo, due this year.

jcblack · 01-05-2006, 08:54 PM

Sorry if I missed the thread on this:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/01/05/t...due-this-year/

Quote:

TiVo just announced their TiVo Series 3 HD Digital Media Recorder, with dual HD recording and 300 hours of recording space. The device supports dual CableCARDs, of the 2.0 or 1.0 a variety, so either way you can get dual signals, with one 2.0 card or two 1.0 cards. Of course you can still rock the analog cable, but you'll have more fun with digital cable or ATSC over the air. You can even go for some straight up NTSC over the air and relive your snow-filled childhood memories. They're also launching an external SATA drive to hold all this HD video you're going to be PVRing now through oh-so-many sources. The new box looks good, the new remote is backlit, those snazz download capabilities are still in force, and the good times should roll this year, so all is well in TiVo fandom.

markp99 · 01-05-2006, 09:00 PM

TiVoPhish has posted several images taken by megazone at CES

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...&&#post3648556

newsposter · 01-05-2006, 09:01 PM

Look sharp. Wish DTV would have stuck with it.

HiDefGator · 01-05-2006, 09:54 PM

What does it cost to rent a cable card? Or do you have to buy them?

Steve_Martin · 01-05-2006, 09:59 PM

I'm currently renting a 1.0 CableCard for under $2 a month. I don't believe they can be purchased.

BigJimOutlaw · 01-06-2006, 06:07 AM

CableCARDs are cheaper than renting a cable box. My cable co leases them for $3/mo.

They give me the option to buy, but I'd rather lease it just in case they update them (version 2).

Oknarf · 01-06-2006, 07:11 AM

Excellent.

mav63 · 01-06-2006, 07:37 AM

When you say the cable card costs $3/mo, is that on top of basic cable or can you just rent the cablecard and nothing else? Any Comcast customers, what does cablecard and basic cost you?

WizarDru · 01-06-2006, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigJimOutlaw

CableCARDs are cheaper than renting a cable box. My cable co leases them for $3/mo.

They give me the option to buy, but I'd rather lease it just in case they update them (version 2).

It depends on your cable provider: Comcast charges $15 for a cable-card...the exact same amount as having a box. Mind you, they try their damndest to hide the fact that they even support cable-cards, so that's no suprise.

D_Doherty · 01-06-2006, 07:57 AM

Well it looks like the hard part (technically) is done.

Nice, now all Tivo needs to do to win me over from D* is:

1. Release a similar box with everything except the HD tuners to replace my SD Directivos
2. Come up with a pricing model that works for me. I have 2 HD and 5 SD DirecTivos. My cost is $4.99. With Tivo it would be around $55 I think.

emeril2k1 · 01-06-2006, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WizarDru

It depends on your cable provider: Comcast charges $15 for a cable-card...the exact same amount as having a box. Mind you, they try their damndest to hide the fact that they even support cable-cards, so that's no suprise.

What? Are you SURE about that. I've heard other people say Comcast charges nothing for CC. The average cost seems to be about $1.50.

I have Adelphia, soon to be Time Warner.

Steve_Martin · 01-06-2006, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mav63

When you say the cable card costs $3/mo, is that on top of basic cable or can you just rent the cablecard and nothing else? Any Comcast customers, what does cablecard and basic cost you?

The rental cost is in addition to the charges for whatever level of cable services you are paying for. The current version of CableCards (1.0) do almost all of what set top boxes do except you can't order pay per view or video on demand services, and you don't get the on-screen cable guide that normally is available with a set top box.

sp1dey · 01-06-2006, 08:53 AM

Never would I have imagined I'd be sitting here considering jumping back to Comcast... but D has until this thing is release to try and keep me. I'm even willing to absorb a cancellation fee.

swizzlest · 01-06-2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sp1dey

Never would I have imagined I'd be sitting here considering jumping back to Comcast... but D has until this thing is release to try and keep me. I'm even willing to absorb a cancellation fee.

I've got to agree with this.

That HR20 better show so serious moxie.

ebonovic · 01-06-2006, 08:59 AM

The HR20 information: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb...d.php?t=280430

Note... To continue with current patterns..
The HR20 should be discussed on www.dbstalk.com

tivolocity · 01-06-2006, 09:17 AM

Has anyone heard pricing for the series 3?

sp1dey · 01-06-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tivolocity

Has anyone heard pricing for the series 3?

Honestly, to have a dual tuner HD tivo with FULL TIVO FUNCTIONALITY, i'd be willing to pay a premium. Just speculation, but I'd bank between $600-1,000.

ebonovic · 01-06-2006, 10:02 AM

At least the "cablecards" are "supposed" to be free....

As much as I love my HR10-250 for what it can do...
I don't know if I could drop another $1k on a device.

Nahh... who am I kidding.

btwyx · 01-06-2006, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sp1dey

Never would I have imagined I'd be sitting here considering jumping back to Comcast... but D has until this thing is release to try and keep me. I'm even willing to absorb a cancellation fee.

My thoughts precisely. I don't even need to absorb a cancellation fee.

The thought of Comcast is distinctly unpallatable, but I'm not seeing an option.

tivolocity · 01-06-2006, 10:19 AM

90% of what I record is off the major networks. I could be tempted to leave D* and go with a series 3 and basic cable or even OTA (naaaa). My biggest hesitation with going back to an SA TiVo is the subscription. I hate it. But, with the amount of money the series three is going to cost, the lifetime subscription isn't that big of an addition. Then again, a cablecard PC tuner, and the possibility of a D* PC tuner, opens up a whole new world of possibilties. If the series 3 is ~$1k, plus the subscription, I would really lean toward MCE. It's going to be an interesting year.

hiker · 01-06-2006, 10:23 AM

Who said cable cards are supposed to be free?

In my area, Comcast charges the same as another STB ($6.95/mo. each) for cable cards. In addiiton, you have to pay a one-time installation charge ($15.00, I think).

tivolocity · 01-06-2006, 10:27 AM

From the Comcast web site.

What is the cost for CableCARD service?

There is no additional charge for CableCARD service above what you currently pay for Digital Cable service (NOTE: additional outlet charges for programming may apply).

tivolocity · 01-06-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiker

Who said cable cards are supposed to be free?

In my area, Comcast charges the same as another STB ($6.95/mo. each) for cable cards. In addiiton, you have to pay a one-time installation charge ($15.00, I think).

I'm guessing the "NOTE" is the $6.95

hiker · 01-06-2006, 10:34 AM

OK, I guess, technically speaking, the addition $6.95/mo. charge is an "additional outlet charge for programming". Still a ripoff!

tivolocity · 01-06-2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiker

OK, I guess, technically speaking, the addition $6.95/mo. charge is an "additional outlet charge for programming". Still a ripoff!

It's Comcastic!!!

Shawn95GT · 01-06-2006, 10:37 AM

I'm upset that they don't have a component / DVI / HDMI Input on the S3 tivo. Do they not realize that there is much more HD content out there beyond what the cable co's offer?

At least they got an ATSC tuner on-board.

I'm disappointed... and won't be buying one of these.

HogarthNH · 01-06-2006, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn95GT

I'm upset that they don't have a component / DVI / HDMI Input on the S3 tivo. Do they not realize that there is much more HD content out there beyond what the cable co's offer?

As stated here many times, it would cost several thousand dollars to build a TiVo which could encode HD.

This box simply saves the cable QAM stream just like the HR10-250 saves the satellite MPEG-2 stream.

Don't be upset. You wouldn't even remotely consider buying it if it cost $3,000.

H

sp1dey · 01-06-2006, 11:09 AM

Having ever owned only one Tivo... the HR10-250, D has a shot at keeping me. I'm not a huge fan of Comcast but it's nice to know if D fails me I now have a fall back plan. That HR20 better be sweet, and I better see some new National HD channels or I will be making amends with Comcast real soon.

beaudot · 01-06-2006, 11:13 AM

I was as big a Tivo fan as anyone at one point, but I can't imagine paying much money for one of these when I can rent basically the same thing from Comcast for a fraction of the cost. Although it doesn't have quite the same feel as a Tivo, the 6412 does pretty much everything useful that Tivo does. Maybe a year ago, I could have been convinced, but we are used to the 6412 now, and it works fine for us. Also, (no fault to Tivo) there is no cable card 2 out yet. It is hard to justify spending whatever this will cost to lose functionality(on-demand) that we currently have.

Also, we now have 3 hdtv sets. So the choice is spending $1500-$3000+ whatever they charge per month + cable card costs. Or spend the $30/month that Comcast currently rents 3 dvr's for. I'm guessing that the Tivo fee + 3 cable card fees will come pretty close to $30 too. I can't justify spending a couple grand for something with a better interface, but less features compared to what I get for free.

Shawn95GT · 01-06-2006, 11:24 AM

<-- Accepting HD defeat.

I don't think cost is all that's involved. I think it's a DRM issue that has the MPAA / FCC scared stiff.

This S3 box seems to be a VERY niche market deal.

For what it'll cost you for the cable card you can rent the HD DVR from the Cable co. Yeah it won't be Tivo, but it didn't cost you a dime either.

The monthly Tivo Fee + the cable card fee will likely cost more than some pay for cable TV services. We all know the box itself isn't going to be a 'free after rebate' deal like the S2 has been either.

The only way this seems justifiable is if you rent / lease the S3 Tivo from your Cable co. in place of their STB.

I don't quite have a compelling reason to upgrade from my S2 + external ATSC tuner solution yet.

Shawn