All PVR

Why should you care? It comes in Black, that’s why!!!

If you have been waiting for a reason to pick up 360, this one has several. It comes with long awaited HDMI connection (and cable!) and expanded 120GB hard-drive. It has a fine HD-DVD drive that you can purchase (still not built-in), for under $200, making it into excellent HD-DVD player to boot.

And did I mention the gaming goodness? Not convinced? How about ability to download lots of XBox Marketplace HDTV 720p content? You can pick up those Prime-time shows that you love, in HD quality, for about $4 in XBox points, to own.

And it’s one of the best HD media extenders out there. Just pair it over the home network with your Windows Vista Premium (or Ultimate) or Windows XP Media Center Edition.

And did I mention it’s black? Oh, yea, I did

Check out your local EBGames, today!

xbox 360 elite

Everyone wants to play in Networked Home Theater space these days, but it’s very hard, of course.
Check out the Mini-Review of JVC DD-3 Networked Home Theater unit, from our friends at Gizmodo.

As usual, the basic functionality is fine. Things like DVD playback and even basic Standard Definition DivX playback, which many cheap players gotten down by now.

But, from $1000 HDMI capable system, one expects more, of course. And where are DVR/PVR functions?

With rapidly evolving technology, embedded device solution just isn’t going to cut it. I think Xbox 360 is better networked home theater solution, since it talks with configurable/upgradeable computer, for it’s media streaming functions. Connect it to capable Windows Vista Premium with TV-Capture card, and you’re off!

[via Gizmodo]

JVC, DD-3, networked home theater

Sharp is about to release new DVR with 250GB hard-drive, built in DVD recorder and … VHS slot?
Although there are still plenty of people out there with old VHS tapes (admittedly, we still own some also…), I can’t see how addition of VHS to a DVR/DVD combo is a smart idea.
A lot of mechanics goes into making VHS works, which not only making this DVR bulky, but also prone to failures. And there is an old wisdom in buying combination devices, if one component breaks, the entire device needs repair, usually.
Most people should probably work to convert their existing VHS tapes to DVDs as soon as possible, me thinks. There are plenty of solutions for that, from simply mailing it in to conversion service, to purchasing inexpensive cables and connecting your VHS to your DVR or your DVD-Recorder. Or, you could simply buy Analog Video-Capture card for PC, and transfer it that way.
Oh well, in any case seems that his DVR will only be available in Japan, and may not be released in US, ever.

[via MediaMentalism]

Ok, second Friday deal, but much better one.

You can get Tivo Series3, which has HDTV and CableCARD support, for only $499.

You even get free Wireless card with it, and free shipping!

Also check out $299 prepaid 3 years subscription, which works out to only $8.31 per month.

What, $800 is still too much? Of course it is!!

Tivo, Series3, Deal

Comcast is reporting a 72% jump in HDTV and DVR subscriptions. I think doesn’t surprise anyone, and with continued fall of HDTV sets the trend will no-doubt continue.

For some odd reason, Comcast doesn’t count non-DVR HD subscribers versus HD-DVR subscribers, but I am sure people moving to HD are most likely getting HD-DVR receiver and not just any old HD cable box.

The transition to Digital TV is only likely to accelerate, now that Analog over the Air transmissions end is fast approaching.

[via TVPredictions.com]

comcast, hd-dvr

Actually, the title is a bit misleading.

It does presume that you already have a computer which you can dedicate to help you with PVR functionality, although as I understand, the computer can continue doing other things concurrently (presuming it’s powerful enough).

This setup also isn’t the most user friendly in the world, so consider yourself warned.

But, no more monthly fees for Tivo is a big plus, and you get to use those cheap Huge hard-drives on your PC to store tons of shows. Another advantage is rather small box which is all that is needed to be setup next to your TV, the computer can be elsewhere in the home, as long as PC is near Cable outlet and is connected to your home network (another pre-requisite, btw).

Here are the details.

pvr, dvr

I was considering a Title of ‘I told you so’ sorts, but maybe it’s still premature, just a tad. Still, I am planning my stories right now and you should too!

Yes, I can see it now. Sitting in my grandson’s room, and as he’s raving about the latest thing he just saw on his Ultra-portable-PIM (UMPC? Micro PC, whatever it will be called), I will tell him that there used to be days, many years ago, when everyone had to sit and watch TV together. And there used to be a small number of Channels, where you couldn’t just select your show or fast forward or rewind or anything, you just had to watch whatever is scheduled, whenever it’s scheduled.

I can see his reaction now, the confused awe in his eyes, followed by mild facial disgust and realization of horror.

You think I’m lunatic? Try the Turn-Off TV week, then! Oh, and better yet, find some 10-16 year olds and see what they think, today.

webTV, IPTV

This morning comes announcement from DishNetwork and TV Guide about their new Interactive guide.

I think it’s long overdue. Most people pretty much stopped looking at TV Guide channel or anything similar since it wasn’t possible to actually auto-activate relevant channel or show that you notice while there.

I also felt they lost their focus, pushing Movies in Cinema or other such things that are clearly not on my TV. If it’s not on my TV, why is it in TV Guide?!

[via itvt]

NewTeeVee is asking an excellent question: Can Closed Set Top Boxes survive the upcoming sweeping changes in Entertainment distribution industry?

Tivo is very programmable and has extensive set of APIs in HME and other areas. Still, the content on Tivo remains encrypted, in addition to potential watermarking. This makes media flow around connected home a seriously limiting factor.

Make sure to also click through to first impressions of LinkSys/Cisco vision of connected entertainment.

via NewTeeVee

cisco, newteevee, tivo

Our household had HDTV for several years now. I am talking about on-the-wall kind, not just small high-resolution LCDs. And I am not even one of those folks who would consider buying $10k plasma, ever. So I feel like mainstream in that regard.

So, is there HDTV signal yet? Better still, is there HDTV Tivo yet?

The fact is, I have to agree with PC Magazine article on this, Series3 is totally overpriced. It’s not so much that the technology in there isn’t expensive, I know it is. But Tivo always had in their business model the monthly fees as part of the long-term revenue!

And with rollout of Tivo on Comcast HD DVRs fast approaching, why would you ever consider such a pricey Series3 as an option?

Oh, and don’t forget that DishNetwork is giving away their superior HD-DVR for free and DirecTV charges a fraction of Series3 cost for theirs.

Tivo, HD DVR

Ok, it is Confession time for me…

Until now, I only saw Tivo’s at friends place and such. Our own household had the DishNetwork DVR, which we have been enjoying for many years.
However, my recent dispute with DishNetwork’s unfair pricing practices for existing customers versus new customers ended our relationship.
So, we switched to local Cable, and our household seemed to enter dark depressing times. Not so much because of any troubles with the Cable, but because of lack of DVR!!! While I do have a computer based DVR, I wasn’t happy with the recording quality (of all things).
And so we got a Tivo, which I was busy installing and configuring throughout last week.
More on Tivo later, but what was really interesting for me is how much entire household was impacted by the loss of DVR.
I really thought we could get away without it for a few months, while I figure out our new entertainment strategy, but everyone seemed to become depressed. My daughter gently kept asking things like - ‘How do I pause this?’, or ‘Where is the rewind button?’, and I kept trying to explain that we don’t have DVR any more…
But now we are a Tivo home, and I must say, transition has been hard. I guess I had high expectations, seeing how Tivo is supposedly easy to use. But since we were all so used to DishNetwork’s PVR, it wasn’t easy at all.
It seems to me that Tivo doesn’t try to be your home PVR at all, but instead wants to take over TV viewing habits altogether. I haven’t decided if it’s good or bad, it’s just different, for now.

Meanwhile, in order not to bore you to death, here are some exciting news from BBC archives. It looks like BBC is planning to have their entire archives online, for viewing, and searchable, I presume. I say this is another excellent step in the right direction for personalized TV.

dishnetwork, tivo, bbc archives

I really think everyone should visit Tivo’s Top 25 Season Passes page once a month or so.

Why? To trust the “mob smarts” to help you figure out what are the best shows out there that you should be spending your precious time on.

If you have a Tivo, you can conveniently click through from Top 25 list and get Season Pass for your self, or choose to record one upcoming episode, to give the show a try, without commitment.

tivo

Having troubles with that Motorola DVR from your local Cable company?

Check out this excellent Wikibooks guide for the Motorola DVR.

Pay special attention to the Remote Control Programming chapter. It covers all the basics to let you search for appropriate device codes and set things like Global volume control.

motorola DVR

Is this a new tradition we are starting? Maybe, we’ll see how many sales show up out there!

For starters, if you don’t yet own a DVR, make sure to grab free (refurbished) Series2 Tivo. You will need to commit to 1 year $12.95 per month payments, and I understand that you can’t get a Multi-device discount with this one (for those that already got Tivo and want a second/third/tenth one).

Or, maybe you want to lower your monthly bill, with Tivo or another provider? Here’s is some real-world advice that just may (or may not) work.

And here is another post, about how to extract better deal from your TV provider company. But, what I find most interesting, is the low low prices being paid in Canada, and with HD-DVR too?! How come lowest HDTV package here in the US is usually above $50 and often $70 or more, before premium channels?!?!

Already have Tivo? Did you try Amazon Unbox yet, with their limited time sign-up bonus?

tivo, deals

Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

• Grief counseling
• Memorials
• Communication expenses
• Comfort expenses
• Incidental needs

If you plan to give, please click the link below: