Should I upgrade to the new interface?

The new experience, AKA Hydra, has less features, such as the ability to copy shows to/from Tivo and the computer are gone. You also risk losing the shows already there if you were to revert back.

 

Yes, S3 is considered legacy and even online.tivo.com has removed them.
Premiere and above would still work there.

 

But, you could use pyTivo Desktop to get the shows from your Hydrated Bolt to your PC, and then to transfer them from your PC to the S3. (Sad, that one would have to go that circuitous route.)

 

It's definitely a lot slower and less efficient to get around in, but it is a more modern looking interface.

I tried it and reverted back.

 

It is easy to rollback -> How to Rollback Hydra from Roamio and Mini's v1

After a week the Roamio that I used for Hydra, then did a rollback, reappeared on the new experience upgrade web page. I can't promise it still works that way. On my TE3 Roamio boxes, there is an app to upgrade, but I leave it unchecked and have not tested it.

 

The thing to keep in mind: if you revert from Hydra, you lose the recordings then on your box (and so, transfer any shows you want to save off your box first).

 

you can still transfer to pc using third party software and to a tivo using tivoonline

 

I was very interested in the Voice remote. I ordered that online and when came in, I realized I had to upgrade to the new interface. The upgrade process was easy and it brought all of my OnePasses and recorded programs over. However, I thought the interface was slow, too busy and cluttered and I did not care for the guide. We tried it for a couple of days, then reverted back knowing that I would loose all of my OnePasses and recorded shows. However, there is 3rd party software out there where you can save your OnePasses, thumbs up, etc. I ended up sending the VOX remote back.

Regarding the interface, I prefer the current text list with folders. The new interface has pictures of everything all over the place. It may be more modern, but for someone who has been with Tivo since the Series 1 in '99, the new interface is confusing. From what I've read, if you're recently coming from a Cable provider DVR, you shouldn't have any problems.

 

I had no problems using Hydra even after using TiVos for sixteen years. I thought it was very intuitive.

 

I agree it's intuitive and easy to get around in. But slower and inefficient.

i.e. If looks nice having all those pretty pictures, but it means much less space on the screen for the information we need. (e.g. You can see a lot less shows on one screen in the new interface)

 

I did not like the new interface. It is not user friendly. I switched back. I also have a Dish Hopper with Icons and I like it.

 

At some point are we going to get stuck with this ******* interface whether we like it or not?

I despise all that real estate being wasted just to be pretty! The current interface has enough of that near the top, please don't take away my easy to scan lists. They are the best part of the interface.

 

Tivo said no, and for Premieres they kept the promise of no forced upgrade. I will not be upgrading my Roamio and Minis.

 

That is good. Hopefully they do the same for Roamio!

Are new Bolts automatically on Hydra? If so, do they have some type of downgrade UPGRADE! option.

If they are stuck with Hydra, that is probably enough that I will never buy one. I will be sad, but I really can't stand that interface. All I can think of when I see it is that Moxi interface from just before I got my first Series3. Ugh.

 

New Bolts nowadays seem to come with Hydra installed. But yes, at least at present, one can fall back to the Gen3 interface.

 

If you remember, when you install a new TiVo, hit the Info button on the remote when you are asked to select a country. That will answer your question which software you have. Yet, you will still get Hydra on the first install. Changing back to the other interface is easy. I've done it several times.

How to Rollback Hydra from Roamio and Mini's v1 works on a Bolt also.

 

My wife HATES the new interface. Wish I could roll back, but I have tons of copy-protected recordings. The new guide sucks, the new interface looks ugly. It feels like a '90s cable box.