Early holdouts -- What will it take for you to upgrade?

Not that exciting. We'll see what the 6-tuner Bolt has feature wise. I really want 4k, but any new 4k TV has 4k Netflix and Amazon and a HEVC decoder built in, so that's a total non-feature for a TiVo.

At this point, I can't see why I'd want to upgrade even from my Premiere XL4. 6 tuners is the only thing I'd want, and Bolt doesn't have that yet. Commercial skip would be cool, but I'm a long-time TiVo user, so I'm really, really good at button mashing my way through them anyway.

 

TiVo doesn't support Amazon yet, but the Fire will stream a 1080p HEVC encoded stream to the new Fire, which should yield slightly better quality at a lower bitrate than H.264, but it's not actually taking a 4k stream and scaling it down, it's just a HEVC encode. If you have a 4k TV, then you actually get 4k.

 

http://assets.tivo.com/assets/resources/HowTo/Roamio_VG_r3_Jan2015.pdf

 

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I was thinking that new features had been added since the last update to that manual.

 

I can barely live with four tuners for cable only because I have an extra four tuners for broadcast OTA. Even then I have to reschedule a lot of cable recordings to other showings to avoid conflicts. A return of lifetime service at previous pricing is my first prerequisite. Easily self-upgraded internal storage is a second prerequisite. A six tuner model with OTA capability would be nice as well. They can even take out the BS 4K stuff because that makes no difference to me.

Wait a minute. That almost describes a Roamio, except for the OTA capability on a six tuner model, the faster processors and FF features.

 

When netflix first starting offering 1080P, it was able to be downscaled to 720P.

As far as 4K, the new FireTV is the first truly mass market streamer that has the 4K streaming apps. And it comes out in a few days. So I don't know what they will do. I would love for it to be able to downscale the 4K content. But I'm really not expecting it. But you never know.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

I have became addicted to the six tuner capability. Why did they downsize that instead of upgrading? Those with 3 or more mini's will be disappointed. The hard drive should be bigger and I hate the curve design, there's no where to place the tuning adapter on top for those of us who are required to have one and have limited space for placement of both TA and Tivo Bolt. I was hoping to see two inputs for Cable and Antenna instead of a choice between the two. IF there is a Tivo Bolt Plus/Pro in the near future, I hope there's a better box design and the two inputs. Just my 2 cents. This new box is not for me.

 

Aarrrrgh.... They didn't downsize. The Pro w/ 6 tuners is still available; the current BOLT is an upgrade replacement for the 4-tuner CableCARD/OTA base Roamio. TiVo is yet to release any upgrades for the OTA, Pro or Mini hardware.

For 6-tuner Plus/Pro owners, there simply hasn't been an upgrade. The Pro is still considered the current "high end" product.

 

Wow, I was going to disagree, and it took a few minutes to find images of the vague memory.. but I guess this *is* worse than the Boxee Box!

 

Both are ugly. My three Boxee Boxes are still hidden away, out of sight. Although I rarely use them any more. If I do pick up a Bolt, it will also need to be hidden away. No way would I want a Bolt out in the open like my Roamios or Premiere are. The Bolt would look so out of place with dozens of components that are black.

 

Well, yeah, 'cause all of the vomit on it, amiright?

 

Which means it should get SkipMode feature then.

 

I think all of us think it (and all the Roamios) "should" get SkipMode, but so far TiVo disagrees. Hopefully they will change their minds.

 

I don't have plans for 4k anytime soon since I am happy with my Plasma TV.

I would definitely want 6 tuners and 3TB preferably more recording space.

I think if a Bolt Pro was launched and it supported MRS to and from a PC I would make the jump especially if the content was integrated into OnePass.

 

Technically, you are correct. But if that's really what TiVo intended, this is a very odd marketing move. I don't think I've ever seen a company release a new product with lots of hype and fanfare, only to have the fancy new product be a replacement for a base model but not for the customers of their higher-end models.

It's almost like they're unsure of whether this product will actually be any good. So they're intentionally not making a version that would appeal to their best customers. They'll let the less -significant customers act as beta testers for this new product and then release a Pro version when all the kinks are ironed out.

 

TBH I don't think I'd get one even with 6 tuners and 3TB at this point. My Roamio Plus, upgraded to 3TB, has lifetime service. Two years in, it still works just fine. The new features are meh IMO, and I don't yet have a 4K TV (and if I did I'd use the in-built apps...)

I have a feeling I won't be doing much upgrading until 4K is normalized.

 

Look at the Bolt in the context of attracting "new" customers. Entry level makes senses, 4K & new feature hype makes sense, $300 price with 1yr. service makes sense. I am sure TiVo wouldn't mind all of us buying one too but are we really the target market? And without cable companies wanting a 6 tuner 4K version does it really makes sense for TiVo to make one now? and if TiVo did, does it really make sense for people with Roamio +/Pros to upgrade already?

In reality the Bolt at $300 with 1 year service is cheaper that the Roamio with monthly or annual service was at release and the Bolt is a significant upgrade over the base Roamio. Also there is an OTA only version coming for us OTA only people. It will be interesting to see what they do with that units pricing.