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Major update coming before July according to CNET

10K views 94 replies 30 participants last post by  Alex_7 
#1 ·
#49 ·
Unless Tivo is going to abandon making any new DVRs and focus on software and streaming. Then there is no reason to update apps. They put all the DVRs that are already out there in maintenance mode until their end of life.
I have it from an inside source that the only department / division of TiVo that is even solvent is the patent and licensing group (or however they're arranged, we didn't get into the internal structure), which includes their "if you like this, you might like this" algorithm that is used by pretty much every app that isn't YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon (I'm sure there are others, but you get the idea).

From what they said to me this weekend, there is an overall internal shift to pushing more software development for the purpose of selling it to smaller players who find it cheaper to license than develop their own. They said that the TS4K was TiVo's first foray into Android for the mainstream market and they're testing the waters to see what kind and quality of data they can glean from its data collection (in general) and Stream app (in particular). The idea being that they would then move almost exclusively over to licensing and software. So TiVo would start to become less prominent as a name to consumers and more prominent as a name to manufacturers.

Take it all with a grain of salt, of course. While my source does indeed work for TiVo, we don't talk a lot and so I don't know them very well. They've been there for years and are privy to some higher-level company strategy, but not all of it. They have nothing to do with the TS4K directly.
 
#50 ·
What you wrote seems to make sense from everything we know or interpret from and about TiVo. At least to me, it is clear that the TiVo hardware business and their retail business are significant money losers. There is no way that TiVo makes money in those departments. Relatively speaking, I am sure the TiVo 4K stream is significantly less costly to manufacture since it is based on an existing product. And since TiVo seems to be going in the direction of a software company, I am guessing that the development of the TiVo stream application and it's underlying data mining capability is consistent With the direction they are going in.

I would put money down on the idea that the TiVo edge was the last of the TIvo DVR's that will get manufactured. This is why I am also suspicious that, as discussed in another thread, the TiVo mini is being replaced by an upgraded version of the TiVo mini. I just do not believe that TiVo would put money into it.

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#52 ·
Use of the hardware, sure, but it's not the hardware that's generating revenue...it's the services and software.

It's the same premise behind subsidized cell phones: cell provider sells the phone at a loss because they lock you into a contract (even the "bill credits" model is a contract, they just know it's not cool to call it that anymore). The individual pays significantly more than it ever costs the company to provide the service (even factoring in maintenance, regulatory licensing, upgrades, marketing, etc) and when it comes down to it, the network is there whether it's used or not. So they make up the lost cost of the phone pretty quickly and everything after that is a decent profit.

TiVo hardware is a fixed cost, one that (as an admittedly non-user of TiVo DVRs) is probably sold to the consumer at a minimal loss. It's the service behind it that you pay for, and which makes TiVo money. Meanwhile, they collect your data, refine their software and algorithms, and license the functionality to other companies.
 
#56 ·
I really hope the hurry up with this update. I need the volume fixes or to be able to manually program a code and have it stick. Tried switching to my new tv it works there automatically but won’t connect to the internet there which is all of 20 feet away and works fine in the other room so can’t be my network smh


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#57 ·
It would be nice to have that HDR fix. Having to use adbLink to turn the auto HDR off is annoying because it doesn't remember the setting.
And by the way. Take ANYTHING that CNET has to say with a big ol' grain of salt. If you haven't noticed, they take old articles, change the date and pass them off a as new. These guys have become a joke over the years. I prefer Tom's Hardware over those clowns.
 
#59 ·
By and large, the TS4K is just as buggy now as it was on day one. I believe there was a "fix" for CEC that worked for some folks / hardware, but not all.

Always-on HDR, flickering (especially using Kodi or Plex), and remote programming weirdness are all still present.

If you buy the TS4K, make sure you're happy with the way it is now, because it seems quite possible that this thing is being downright ignored by TiVo.
 
#60 ·
By and large, the TS4K is just as buggy now as it was on day one. I believe there was a "fix" for CEC that worked for some folks / hardware, but not all.

Always-on HDR, flickering (especially using Kodi or Plex), and remote programming weirdness are all still present.

If you buy the TS4K, make sure you're happy with the way it is now, because it seems quite possible that this thing is being downright ignored by TiVo.
The only way I was able to eliminate screen flickering for Kodi and other movie apks was to lower the refresh rate settings below 30hz anything above 30hz causes flickering for me.
 
#64 ·
I got the same DM from tivopm on Reddit. I responded... not gotten any reply. Will be curious to see if it amounts to anything. In the mean time I had to make a decision so moved the family to Apple TV 4K for now. Not sure if I'm going to return the TS4K or hang on to it to see where it goes. The main issue that was driving me crazy was in spite of me trying all the disabling of CEC and such, the remote would keep forgetting how to control volume on my Sony TV; and the flickering, but would have toughed it out with that if the remote wasn't playing "50 First Dates" with me.
 
#77 ·
Oh, they absolutely test stuff first. They just release it anyway, to the angst of the testers. Hardware deadlines trumping software readiness has been in their DNA for 20 years.
I beta tested the original S3 for over a year before it was released to the public. That was probably the most bug free release in TiVo's history. I also tested the original S2 for about 6 months before it was released and it still had quite a few bugs at launch. And while I got the Premier invite very late in the cycle (only about 6 weeks before launch) the software problems with that took YEARS to work out so beta testers did the best they could do.
 
#78 ·
The testers do their jobs, for sure. I blame Tivo for launching on a schedule most of the time, regardless of readiness. Namely with my experience, the Premiere was nuts in many ways for a full year past launch, Premiere Elite was crashy as hell for few more months, Roamio was problematic for Fios customers for a couple months, TE4 usability was poop for the first year and a half (IMO), and some others I won't specifically point out. The testers are great in the process. The launch schedules and Tivo's historically glacial pace, not so much.
 
#79 ·
No HDR fix in the coming release. [emoji2959]

Code:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Tivo/comments/i0xuz4/stream_4k_firmware_update_and_stream_app_updates/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
r/tivo
u/tivopm

Stream 4K Firmware Update and Stream App Updates

Hi All,

Along with the Pluto VOD update we released yesterday we are rolling out new Stream 4K device firmware as well as Stream App updates over the next week or so. These have a number of additional features and functionality in them as well as fixes and general improvements! We've detailed some of that information below:

* Apps are now accessible from the Left Navigation Menu on the Stream App
* Remote Control pairing and TV/Audio Improvements
* Additional Dolby Atmos support
* Flashing video playback in some apps
* HDMI-CEC Improvements
* Many additional fixes

We know many of you have experienced a number of these issues and we hope these releases are well received. One item I know you're also concerned about is the HDR issues - whilst the changes in functionality missed this release please rest assured we'll have those in another release shortly.
 
#88 ·
Update coming very soon! I got the update and it FINALLY fixed my remote!!! New remote setup screen yayyy :)

on Tivo Reddit-

Stream 4K Firmware Update and Stream App Updates

Hi All,

Along with the Pluto VOD update we released yesterday we are rolling out new Stream 4K device firmware as well as Stream App updates over the next week or so. These have a number of additional features and functionality in them as well as fixes and general improvements! We've detailed some of that information below:

  • Apps are now accessible from the Left Navigation Menu on the Stream App
  • Remote Control pairing and TV/Audio Improvements
  • Additional Dolby Atmos support
  • Fixes for flashing video playback in some apps
  • HDMI-CEC Improvements
  • Many additional fixes
We know many of you have experienced a number of these issues and we hope these releases are well received. One item I know you're also concerned about is the HDR issues - whilst the changes in functionality missed this release please rest assured we'll have those in another release shortly.
 
#90 ·
They appear to have locked out the developer options with the new update I received this morning. I had available before update and now I get developer options are not available for this user when I try to go into the developer menu option. Clicking the build just tells you that you are already a developer.
 
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#94 · (Edited)
Just FYI, I received the new home screen with the Google staff picks at the top today and just noticed developer options are back. No changes in TiVo Stream 4K software version or build, still have v9.0-4.1.6 and build PI.4800. Not sure if it is related to this update or not, but I can go into developer options now.
 
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