HDTiVo? TiVo Goes High Definition with Series 3 HDTV Recorder
By Chris Boylan
According to an
announcement made today, TiVo's next generation Series 3 recorder will support 32 hours of HD recording, and will be shipping this month for a list price of $799.99. As with regular TiVo, the monthly TiVo service fee is $12.95/month, but multi-month and multi-year discounts are available.
In stores and available online beginning mid-September, the TiVo Series3 HD box is the world's first THX®-certified, digital video recorder, delivering audio and video that "truly maintains the fidelity of the original broadcast."
Its dual tuners (and dual cable card slots) allow you to record two HD programs while simultaneous watching a third pre-recorded program. The unit is compatible with digital cable and over-the-air high definition broadcasting.
Dual tuners allow subscribers to record two different shows in HD at the same time, while watching a third pre-recorded show. With the , the TiVo Series3 HD box will show what is recording, even when the television is off. The TiVo Series3 HD box enables the user to record up to 32 hours of HD programming, or up to 300 hours of recording capacity in standard definition. The TiVo Series3 HD box also features a high quality OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) front-panel display as well as a new, sleek, backlit remote control.
TiVo's Series 3: all the benefits of TiVo in High Definition... and there was much rejoicing.
Later this year, it will also support the newly released TiVoCast service feature which allows users to access content directly through their broadband connection. Future software releases can even enable advanced MPEG-4 based download features.
With a built-in Ethernet jack and USB ports, the TiVo Series3 HD box also provides advanced connectivity and easy networking, as well as remote programming. Forget to set your TiVo to record this week's spisode of "The Amazing Race?" No problem, just go online from any computer with an internet connection and set your home device to record. You will even be able to program the Series 3 via cell phone, assuming your carrier is Verizon Wireless and one of their "TiVo-approved" smart phones.
Broadband connected TiVo Series3 subscribers will have access to a variety of multimedia services, networking options and entertainment choices:
- TiVoCast: Download video programming via broadband to your TiVo box. Programming comes from a diverse selection of media brands and producers, including The New York Times, CNET, the NBA, iVillage, and many others. TiVoCast will be available on the Series3 HD later this year.
- TiVo Online Services: View both personal photo slideshows and those shared by friends with Yahoo! Photos, and check local weather and traffic from Yahoo!. Additionally, browse and buy movie tickets from Fandango, discover new music on Live365, and listen to entertaining podcasts.
- TiVo Mobile: Browse TV listings and schedule recordings directly from select Verizon Wireless phones. The downloadable program will be available later this year.
The product will be shown in Denver this week at CEDIA in booth 378 (9/13-9/17).
More information at
TiVo.com.
