Things I'd like to see in Series 3 -
Hardware Upgrades -
Software Upgrades -
And that is about it! Nothing too outlandish like 2GHz processors or anything. This is still supposed to be a low cost PVR appliance. A lot of this stuff is software updates, and the hardware stuff is really not too much to ask for. Come on TiVo!!!
<edit1> Added two tuner, Cable Card, and WMA/WMV to list
<edit2> Removed HD encode/decode request; changed support for HD resolutions via already compressed streams; USB ports on front; switch video source w/o guided setup.
<edit3> 1/31/2005 - Added component/HDMI ins and outs; high bit-rate recording; firewire support; Tivo as media server; out of box networking/no phoneline guided setup; 16:9 UI support; free space indicator; separated Hardware and Software Upgrades into their own lists
<edit4> 2/3/2005 - Added user adjustable buffer
Hardware Upgrades -
- Support for 480p, 720p, 1080i via already compressed video streams (satellite, cable box/card, etc.)
- Component and/or HDMI inputs (HD cable/sat box) and outputs (to TV)
- Higher bit-rate recording, required for HD broadcasts, but SD content should be up around 7-8 mbps by default on Best quality rather than the current 5mbps or so.
- USB 2.0 physical ports
- Minimum of 4 USB 2.0 ports, with at least 1-2 on the front
- Built-in 10/100 Ethernet port
- An appropriate amount of RAM to support HD UI, menus, large media lists, etc (128MB?)
- Slightly faster processor (~ 300MHz) for handling large media lists, large numbers of season passes, etc.
- Two tuner support
- Cable Card slot, QAM tuner
- Firewire port for plugging in the video camera (not really too important, but nice to have)
Software Upgrades -
- Integrated LBA48 kernel enabling >137GB drives for all TiVos
- Free space indicator letting you know how much space is available (i.e 27GB free = XX hours at BEST, XX hours at High, and so on)
- Software support for USB 2.0
- Support for adding USB 2.0 external Hard Drives
- Drivers for 802.11g USB wireless adapters
- Integrated TivoWebPlus type features for web control
- Built in TiVo ToGo functionality (program transfer to PC for DVD burning, laptops)
- Support for WMA/WMV streaming from PC
- Ability to store media locally on the Tivo as a media server (MP3, photos, WMA/WMV, MPG, etc.)
- Easier switching of video sources (cable, satellite, etc.) without going thru full guided setup
- Out of the box support for networking, NO requirement for phone line for guided set up (some people don't have land lines)
- Option in Settings for 16:9 widescreen UI support (so you don't have to zoom or stretch on a widescreen TV).
- Option in Settings to allow user adjustable buffer. Come on, I should be allowed to determine whether I'd prefer a 15 min, 30 min, or 1 hour buffer.
And that is about it! Nothing too outlandish like 2GHz processors or anything. This is still supposed to be a low cost PVR appliance. A lot of this stuff is software updates, and the hardware stuff is really not too much to ask for. Come on TiVo!!!
<edit1> Added two tuner, Cable Card, and WMA/WMV to list
<edit2> Removed HD encode/decode request; changed support for HD resolutions via already compressed streams; USB ports on front; switch video source w/o guided setup.
<edit3> 1/31/2005 - Added component/HDMI ins and outs; high bit-rate recording; firewire support; Tivo as media server; out of box networking/no phoneline guided setup; 16:9 UI support; free space indicator; separated Hardware and Software Upgrades into their own lists
<edit4> 2/3/2005 - Added user adjustable buffer