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02-15-2006, 09:11 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,663
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Hawk talks to Mack
Thomas Hawk had lunch with our own E. Stephen Mack, and then blogged:
http://thomashawk.com/2006/02/lunchi...phen-mack.html
I wonder if the conversation ended like this:
"Blog on Thomas!"
"Blog on Stephen!"
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02-15-2006, 10:06 AM
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#2
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Not so Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,556
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Blog
And finally, a bit of TiVo trivia for you: did you know that the last Friday of every March is a company holiday at TiVo? Stephen told us a story of some of the early days of TiVo when Mike Ramsay had called the entire TiVo team together to get their product out and released against impossible odds during their initial launch in March of 1999. According to Stephen, this is a story oft told by early TiVo employee and Marketing Manger Bob Pony. The team put in all night hours, weekend work, etc. and compressed their efforts over a four week period on a project code named "Blue Moon," and a March 31 launch deadline.
Against a ticking clock and an unbelievable mountain of work, TiVo engineers worked all day and all night towards a deadline that many saw as impossible. Then on March 31, 1999 TiVo was born. As a subsequent reward and to recognize the hard work TiVo's employees had given during that four week push, then CEO Mike Ramsay instituted an annual company holiday on the last Friday of March. The company holiday stands to this day.
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Well its a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket the end of every March.
Be all the earlier the next day.
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02-15-2006, 11:56 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 468
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Pure fluff piece. No interesting information whatsoever.
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02-15-2006, 12:03 PM
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#4
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Funkadelic
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 4,043
TC CLUB MEMBER
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Actually... it is VERY interesting to read that TiVo doesn't want to be bought at this time and has poison pill measures in place.
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02-15-2006, 03:41 PM
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#5
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formerly TiVoOpsMgr
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Alviso, CA, USA
Posts: 2,465
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TechDreamer, sorry you didn't like it. It's a fine line -- anything I tell Thomas or you, I'm also telling to our competitors.
But you've got us here. What would you find interesting? What would you like to know?
__________________
E. Stephen Mack, Director of Operations at TiVo (
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02-15-2006, 03:45 PM
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#6
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formerly TiVoOpsMgr
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Alviso, CA, USA
Posts: 2,465
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by HDTiVo
Well its a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket the end of every March.
Be all the earlier the next day.
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Huh? I don't get what you're saying at all.
We pulled out all the stops almost seven years ago to release the world's first DVR. Mike Ramsay set up a great company tradition of a day off as a reward. What's not to like about that story?
__________________
E. Stephen Mack, Director of Operations at TiVo (
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02-15-2006, 03:50 PM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NH
Posts: 249
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The fact that the netflix deal may not be competly dead was news to me and of great interest.
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02-15-2006, 04:07 PM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 663
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by segaily
The fact that the netflix deal may not be competly dead was news to me and of great interest.
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Yes, this was interesting. ... and matches what Om Malik was reporting.
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02-15-2006, 04:18 PM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,663
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I, too, found the article interesting. I am eager to see more posts in the TiVo blog, and it sounds like that might happen now. And I think it would be great to hear from various employees on the blog, as well.
I also found it interesting that Hawk thinks the Series 3 box is in outside beta. I know that didn't come from Mack, but I hope it is true.
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02-15-2006, 04:48 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2001
Location: MA
Posts: 637
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I liked the interview very much. Thanks.
__________________
"Never underestimate the goodness of people"
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02-15-2006, 07:29 PM
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#11
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formerly TiVoOpsMgr
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Alviso, CA, USA
Posts: 2,465
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ChuckyBox
I am eager to see more posts in the TiVo blog, and it sounds like that might happen now. And I think it would be great to hear from various employees on the blog, as well.
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I just came out of a meeting with Nova and our VP of Marketing, and everyone is in favor of the idea.
Folks, who would you be interested in hearing from? What areas of the company would you like to see post in our official blog?
__________________
E. Stephen Mack, Director of Operations at TiVo (
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02-15-2006, 07:36 PM
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#12
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Funkadelic
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 4,043
TC CLUB MEMBER
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by TiVoOpsMgr
What areas of the company would you like to see post in our official blog?
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I'll leave the topics to other folks, but I love pictures. Any kind of pictures... inside of TiVo units, coffee stations, dev or testing labs, Yahoo app server farms, warehouses, um TiVo topiaries on the front lawn, better pictures of the interior than I posted, a group shot of the main TCF posters, etc.
EDIT: Also video would be cool... you guys probably have extra or unused footage from various features we've seen (FearFactor) or things we might not (V-day bash?). Not sure what sort of licensing/legal issues that would raise but it would be neat to present and archive that stuff.
Last edited by davezatz : 02-15-2006 at 07:45 PM.
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02-15-2006, 07:40 PM
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#13
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tivo_xml developer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Outside Phildadelphia
Posts: 2,094
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by TiVoOpsMgr
I just came out of a meeting with Nova and our VP of Marketing, and everyone is in favor of the idea.
Folks, who would you be interested in hearing from? What areas of the company would you like to see post in our official blog?
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Anyone with enthusiasm and wit  . In all seriousness, I personally am interested in developers' thoughts on any of the following: anything from HME, TiVo Desktop/TTG(bonus points for a Mac dev blogger!!), the actual TiVo unit software and it's historical points of interest.
I know technical stuff won't appeal to everyone, but the occasional post would be welcomed.
/edit: Upper/older Management too, but not if it's fluff. It would be amazing to see Tom Rogers, for example, blog.
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02-15-2006, 08:04 PM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,663
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by TiVoOpsMgr
Folks, who would you be interested in hearing from? What areas of the company would you like to see post in our official blog?
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Wow, how do I answer that? You might as well ask what I want to see on TV. The answer is "lots of stuff I can think of, and even more that I can't."
But here is a short list (and I know there are things that cannot be revealed or discussed, for competitive reasons, but maybe you could let people write (under certain guidelines) and then have someone review the material before release):
- I'd like to hear from any of the engineers about their projects and what makes them challenging.
- Anybody in marketing could talk about what they're doing, and I'd find that interesting.
- I'd love to hear from any of the new VPs -- Katie Ho, Todd Juenger, Tara Maitra -- about their impressions coming into the company, what they are doing, and where they see TiVo going.
- Corporate culture stuff can be interesting, especially if it involves characters we know -- you, Pony, Shanan, Jerry, Dick Cheney...
- A TiVo "response" to anything timely. Remember the DRM debacle last fall? It would have been nice to hear a calm, reasoned explanation from someone inside TiVo. TiVo gets a lot of attention -- much of it doesn't warrant a Press Release, but the news services are very bad at reporting the whole story. The blog could be used to get your side of the story told -- and people would link to it, even if they disagreed.
Thanks for asking.
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02-15-2006, 08:26 PM
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#15
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Beware of Conky!
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: florida
Posts: 2,573
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by ChuckyBox
A TiVo "response" to anything timely. Remember the DRM debacle last fall? It would have been nice to hear a calm, reasoned explanation from someone inside TiVo. TiVo gets a lot of attention -- much of it doesn't warrant a Press Release, but the news services are very bad at reporting the whole story. The blog could be used to get your side of the story told -- and people would link to it, even if they disagreed.
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Whoo, Boy! I'll second that!!!
It'd be nice to see responses to stuff like this:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ZDM...621836&ad=true
I know some folks can't read directions too well. Heck, some of these guys can't chew gum and walk at the same time!( )
But I hate seeing stuff like that and then hearing tivo-detractors crowing, "If it was not true, don't you think Tivo would say something?"
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02-16-2006, 12:17 AM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 663
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I'd like to hear from someone in Tara Maitra's corner, content services. Gimme downloads!!
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02-16-2006, 05:40 PM
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Oakland
Posts: 1
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Just wanted you all to know that I'm listening...
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02-16-2006, 06:52 PM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 663
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Hi Nova, why don't you get an orange, tivo framed avatar like other official tivo people, or is that too corporate for you?
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02-16-2006, 07:07 PM
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#19
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Funkadelic
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 4,043
TC CLUB MEMBER
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I'm sure someone in the office can do better, but if you need a place-holder...
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02-16-2006, 10:18 PM
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#20
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Hardcore TiVo Geek
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: .worcester.ma.us
Posts: 3,301
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Ideas for blog content:
- Teasers when a new feature is coming
- Mentions of big items like Series3, Mac TTG, etc, which every other TiVo-related blog, forum, etc, already talks about.
- Tivo Tips and Tricks - as in the newsletter, but the blog is a new venue.
- Developer info - what's coming on HME, etc. I know this is a fine line, but see see MS's IE Blog for a good example.
- How about contests of some sort?
- TiVo Stories - personal histories of the company, etc.
- Meet the People Behind TiVo - profiles of different TiVo folks. Might be a morale thing to - select someone each week to be profiled, etc.
- How about polls on what features people would like to see, etc?
- Maybe celebrity TiVo user interviews? Talk to famous people who love TiVo - that'll draw people in.
- Pimp other TiVo related forums (like this one), blogs, etc, from time to time. That's part of being in the blog *community*. Maybe have the employees who are profiled list their top X favorite blogs, forums, sites, etc - TiVo related or not.
A lot of the things from the email news letter would translate well into blog entries.
Drop the big legalease block that always appears - who else does that? The lawyers are out of control. If you need it, put it in the blog template *once*, on the bottom or side or something. (Actually I noticed it wasn't on the last post, I hope that's a sign of the way things will remain.) Open up the comments - take the bad with the good and devote someone(s) to fielding the disgruntled people and making them gruntled if possible. TiVo has always had an 'open and friendly' vibe, keep it going and be willing to take heat with praise. Delete only vulgar, profane, etc, comments and allow all the others through.
__________________
-MegaZone, Editor,
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02-16-2006, 10:39 PM
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#21
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I can't explain
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 25,486
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by HDTiVo
Well its a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket the end of every March.
Be all the earlier the next day.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by TiVoOpsMgr
Huh? I don't get what you're saying at all.
We pulled out all the stops almost seven years ago to release the world's first DVR. Mike Ramsay set up a great company tradition of a day off as a reward. What's not to like about that story?
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it was what Scrooge said to Bob Cratchett about taking Christmas off.
as for the Blog , all my topic entries have been covered above - but keep in mind a big point of a Blog is to let the people behind it shine through. Let the TiVo employees becoem people to the subscribers.
I think a great use of the blog would be to let the CSR folks become people to us instead of just voices on the phone when people are frustrated. It would be rough for them to post in here with such a quick back and forth and the flames they might take, but a Blog would let them speak their side of the phone call and be heard as people
__________________
You just need to disable your sense of shame for all humanity and click past the break
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02-16-2006, 10:59 PM
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#22
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Not so Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,556
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Forget the Blog. Do it right here. Take the heat and the insults. Listen to them a bit. You'll all be better off for it.
Blogs are insular.
Insular is bad.
Bet Mr. Rogers agrees with that.
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02-16-2006, 11:05 PM
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#23
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tivo_xml developer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Outside Phildadelphia
Posts: 2,094
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by HDTiVo
Forget the Blog. Do it right here. Take the heat and the insults. Listen to them a bit. You'll all be better off for it.
Blogs are insular.
Insular is bad.
Bet Mr. Rogers agrees with that.
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I'd argue that forums can also be insular. For instance, forums don't generally get a lot of syndication, blogs do.
I don't see any reason why they can't participate here and through their blog and other people's blogs. Conversations can happen anywhere
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02-16-2006, 11:13 PM
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#24
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Not so Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,556
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And I want...
Tons and tons and lots and lots of this...
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02-17-2006, 09:59 AM
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#25
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,663
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by nova-tivo
Just wanted you all to know that I'm listening...
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Hi, Nova. Nice entry today. You're on the right track. Keep it up.
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02-17-2006, 10:02 AM
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#26
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Funkadelic
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 4,043
TC CLUB MEMBER
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I was also glad to see the disclaimer info was not repeated...
PS For anyone who doesn't have a feed aggregator/reader, Bloglines is my preferred tool. Actually, I'll take any server/web based reader over a software app since I'm often using different computers (and of various OSes).
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02-17-2006, 10:36 AM
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#27
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bug lover
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Quad Cities
Posts: 9,968
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by TiVoOpsMgr
....Folks, who would you be interested in hearing from? What areas of the company would you like to see post in our official blog?
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TiVoShannan!
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02-17-2006, 12:06 PM
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#28
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Not so Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,556
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Quote:
Nova: What gadget do you most covet, right now?
Amir: TiVo Series3 HD...That's not just a plug for TiVo. I really can't wait.
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So there's a Series3 SD too?
Quote:
Nova: How long have you been at TiVo?
Amir: About 14 months.
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That gives you about 3.5 months to do something really great with HME/VOD before my irritible rants start to include you. 
Quote:
Nova: How many TiVo boxes do you own?
Amir: Well, I've bought several for friends and family, but I'm also friendly with our Beta team, so I have a few loaners at home.
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So there's at least one model in Beta - maybe a few. 
Quote:
Nova: What can you tell me about the new TiVo Online services?
Amir: Online services are useful and fun features that TiVo is making available for Series2 subscribers who connect their box to a broadband network. They're hosted at TiVo and show up under Music, Photos, and More menu on the DVR.
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The theme "Hosted at TiVo" is a biggy. Tension between revenue/business model by being proprietary vs independent 3rd party development potentials. What is Rogers' view on this?
I reference Leon/Galleon discussions elsewhere...
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02-17-2006, 12:10 PM
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#29
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TiVo Forum Special Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Alviso, California
Posts: 2,194
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by megazone
Ideas for blog content:
- Teasers when a new feature is coming
- Mentions of big items like Series3, Mac TTG, etc, which every other TiVo-related blog, forum, etc, already talks about.
- Developer info - what's coming on HME, etc. I know this is a fine line, but see see MS's IE Blog for a good example.
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Back before we became a publically traded company, (and before Sarbanes Oxley) teasing and hinting was much easier to do. Now it's not kosher...none of your online TiVo friends are in a position to pre-announce any products or features...there's more structure around those decisions, which is good. That said, we do try to make sure that we are ready to provide some color commentary when something is announced...but don't expect us to tell you about anything before we're ready to discuss it officially (except for Jerry's Washer/Dryer/HotRod/TiVo combo thingy).
Just trying to set expectations...
Pony
__________________
Director of Product Marketing
TiVo Inc.
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02-17-2006, 12:56 PM
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#30
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Not so Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,556
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by TiVoPony
(except for Jerry's Washer/Dryer/TiVo combo thingy).
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You'd have to redub HME to HoMe Economics.
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