TiVo DVR - Digital Video Recorder

Pause live TV, skip commercials, watch TV on your own schedule.
Record hours and hours of your favorite entertainment without videotape. Pause, rewind, slo-mo and instant replay live TV. No more searching for a show on videotape or handling cassettes, just go directly to your show which is digitally recorded on disk.

What is TiVo?

TiVo is a company, www.tivo.com and they created  the TiVo software which is used to run their Digital Video Recorders (DVR) sometimes also referred to as a PVR or Personal Video Recorder. TiVo's software is used in units sold by Sony, Phillips, AT&T, Hughes, and others. 

The TiVo Corporation started in 1997. In 1999, TiVo introduced the digital video recorder (DVR). A DVR can be compared to a VCR, in that you can manually preset times to record programs. Unlike a VCR, however, the TiVo DVR uses a hard disk drive as its storage medium, which means you no longer have to deal with recording and storage of video tapes. TiVo will work with a cable system, satellite system and an over-the-air antenna. In 2002, TiVo introduced the TiVo Series 2 recorder.

How TiVo works

You purchase the TiVo recorder and sign up to receive the TiVo Personal TV Service. Tivo service is $12.95 per month or $299.99 for a lifetime service.  Both the Service and the Recorder are compatible with cable, satellite and rooftop antenna.

The Recorder simply connects between your TV set and cable box, satellite receiver or antenna/coaxial cable. A VCR can also plug into the Receiver/Recorder to act as an archive device.

The Service works by making a nightly phone call to get the up-to-date program information it needs to function. The data provided by the TiVo Personal TV Service works to identify and record shows that you have specifically asked for and other shows that may be of interest to you. In this way, TiVo is always full of programs you'll want to watch whenever you turn on your TV. (TiVo no longer supports the dial-up service. TiVo stopped supporting dial-up and phone connections on September 30, 2018)

TiVo also delivers the following to your receiver every day: Exclusive TiVolution Magazine--a daily insider's guide to the best programming on television. Exclusive Network Showcases--highlights and up-to-date information on the latest movies and best programs from television's biggest networks.

TiVo does not manufacture its units; the manufacturing and retail sales are done through Philips, Sony and Hughes. These manufacturers pay TiVo a royalty for the licensing of the TiVo software, as well as for the TiVo DVR technology. TiVo units are also sold at Best Buy electronics retail stores.

DVR stands for Digital Video Recorder. PVR stands for Personal Video Recorder. Both mean basically the same thing: a device that records television shows onto a hard drive — making recordings easy, and much more accessible than on a VHS tape VCR.

A TiVo is a type of DVR/PVR. It runs software like a personal computer and has connections for your TV and VCR. It records TV shows onto a hard disk drive, but it also makes intelligent decisions, saving you a lot of work. For example, TiVo offers things like a "Season Pass," where it automatically seeks out and records all episodes of a TV show, regardless of when they air. Items placed in TiVo's "WishList" — actors, directors, subjects, or titles —can be recorded automatically, whenever they air.

In short, TiVo is a DVR/PVR, but not all DVR/PVRs sport TiVo's intelligent features. Some make you schedule recordings manually, for instance, by entering a show's channel, date, and starting/ending times. TiVo handles those tasks automatically, requiring nothing more than a show's name.

TiVo works as your robotic television manager, constantly scanning upcoming show listings. It juggles the recordings to avoid possible overlaps, and it saves your selections until you're ready to watch.

Simply put, TiVo makes you the boss of your television. You're no longer at the mercy of the networks, their rigid scheduling, and their loud commercials. You no longer have to watch "whatever's on" when you sit down. Your TiVo insulates you from some of the bad aspects of TV.

You select names from a list, telling TiVo your favorite show titles, movie titles, actors, directors, or subjects. With a few pokes on the remote, you can even type in subjects like "parrots" or "James Bond." TiVo scours the show listings for the next two weeks, automatically scheduling and recording shows that match your interests.

TiVo immediately tunes to the right channel at the right time, unattended, and records your show. It repeats the process as often as needed to record whatever you want.

When you feel like watching TV, you choose from TiVo's list of recorded shows — shows you know you'll enjoy. 

The Tivo Digital Video Recorder is a device which records television shows for you, but it's much smarter than your VCR.  A TiVo "knows" the network schedules, it "knows" which shows are new, which shows are re-runs, what time all the shows are on, what actors are in them, and, best of all, it "knows" what you like.

TiVo also allows you to pause and rewind live TV.  Phone rings in the middle of your TV show?  Just hit pause and answer it, there's no reason to miss your show, or miss a call.

Some technologists pinpoint the difference between DVR and PVR to the machine's IQ. A TiVo is a Personal Video Recorder, because it adjusts to your personal tastes by automatically recording your favorite shows. A Digital Video Recorder, by contrast, merely records shows onto a hard drive: You still need to tell the thing what date, time and channel you want to record, just like a VCR.

I can record TV shows with my VCR, why do I need TIVO?

The ease with which TiVo is programmed is what makes TiVo better than a VCR.  You don't need to set the time you want TiVo to record. Tivo is recording almost all the time. TiVo records for you automatically. To set a schedule, here is what you'd do:

1. Push the TiVo button on the remote control.
2. Select "Pick Programs To Record" from the menu that appears.
3. Select "Search by title" from the next menu
4. Select "All Programs" from the next menu.
5. Enter "SEINFELD" with the remote, at which point SEINFELD should appear on the right side of your screen.
6. Select "Get a Season Pass" which will tell TiVo you want to record more than just one episode of the show.
7. Click Ok.

TiVo will record every episode of SEINFELD even if the times change because TiVo "knows" when the show is on by using the daily downloaded TV schedule.

Tivo's onscreen menus show you everything you need to know.  And, there are more options, for instance, you can tell your TiVo to only record new episodes, so you don't bother with re-runs.  It's much easier than programming your VCR, you don't even have to set the clock on your TiVo, that's done automatically!

Keep in mind, there's no fumbling with tapes, no forgetting to turn off the VCR so that it won't enter timer mode, and no missed recordings because the power went out briefly and the clock on the VCR was reset.

You can also do Wish-list recordings, by title, subject, director, actor, etc.  For instance, you could set your TiVo to record every football game with the words "Dallas Cowboys" in the description, automatically, regardless of what time, what channel or what day it is shown.  You can set it to record every movie that John Wayne was ever in.

You can also start watching a show on TiVo as it's still being recorded, or watch one show while TiVo records another.

This is what the Series 2 TiVo looks like, about the size of a standard VCR:

Note that it does have S-Video, RF/Coax, and Composite/RCA Cable inputs and outputs.  It does not have Component video out, however.  The TiVo has a modem jack on the back, as well as jacks to allow the included IR blaster and serial cables to control your digital cable box or satellite receiver.  

In short, the TiVo will work with pretty much any configuration of home entertainment center.  Another great thing is that TiVo comes with every cable you'd need to get it working, including 50 feet of phone cable and a splitter for your phone jack.

The Tivo Digital Video Recorder is basically a computer hooked up to a television signal input source, the internet, and your television. The Tivo box has a CPU processor chip, operating system software, and a hard disk drive just as a home personal computer does. The TV shows are recorded on the hard disk under control of the software.

How much does a TiVo cost?

Models of TiVo that have been released:

Series1 Standalone:
Philips 14, 20, 30, 60 hour 
Sony 30 hour
Thomson 40-hour (for the United Kingdom)

Series1 Combo:
Philips, Hughes and Sony 35-hour dual-tuner DirecTV recorders

Series2 Standalone:
AT&T 40-hour Series2
TiVo Series2 DVR, 40, 60 and 80 hour models
Sony 80-hour Series2 DVR

Series2 Combo:
Hughes 35-hour dual-tuner DirecTV recorder

Standalone models will work to record from an antenna, from cable, and from a Dish Network or DirecTV DBS system.  You can even set it up to record from both a cable/antenna (for your local channels) and a Dish Network/DirectTV for the rest of your channels. 

The other class of machine, the DirectTV TiVos, also sometimes referred to as DirecTiVos or DirecTV w/ TiVo service receivers, only work on DirecTV. 

So, for most people, the standalone unit makes the most sense, unless you live in an area where your local channels are available by DirectTV. 

By far, the cheapest way to get a TiVo is to pick up a Series 1 unit on eBay.  A search on Google for "refurbished TiVo" should give you a list of places to start.  This is a great option if you want to "hack" your TiVo, as the Series 1 units are the most hackable, or if you want to get a TiVo at the lowest cost.  You should be able to find something in the $50 to $100 range. Hacking means running third party software on your machine, which is a complicated process.

Retail price on Series 2 TiVos is $200 for the 80 hour model, and $100 (after rebate) for the 40 hour. Rebates sometimes offer you up to $150 off. 

TiVo needs information about TV shows.  

In addition to needing the Tivo recorder above, you need to subscribe to the TiVo service data, so that your TiVo knows what is on TV.  There are two ways to subscribe:

Monthly:  
$12.95/month (or $155 per year) $6.95/month for additional boxes

"Lifetime" service: 
$299

Lifetime is the best choice if you're buying a new TiVo.  If you've bought an older model, stick with monthly. If you buy lifetime service, versus monthly service, you'll break even in about 23 months.  So, after your 24th month of service with that TiVo, you've saved money by buying the lifetime service.  Note that Lifetime is the Lifetime of the TiVo, not of you.

This is a reasonable cost, as the TiVo unit has a built-in modem that has to dial in and retrieve the guide data via the Internet. 

But I have DirecTV with local channels, so I want the DirecTV with TiVo service.  How much does that cost?

These are the best units. They can record two shows at once, as they have two tuners.  The picture is superb, since they record the digital streams directly from DirecTV with no loss of quality.  And, they're cheaper for the service!

The TiVo service for these units only costs $5 a month now, and if you have the Total Choice Premier package from DirecTV, it's free!

What's the difference between Series 1 and Series 2 TiVos?

Series 2 TiVos have faster CPUs and external USB ports.  The Series 2 unit is also a little faster in going through the menus, and makes adding Ethernet to your TiVo cheaper and easier.

What is the Home Media Option?

HMO is a software update from TiVo that came out in April, 2003.  It costs an additional $99 for your first TiVo, and $49 for each additional TiVo that you have.  It gives you the ability to share shows between your TiVo devices in your house, as well as play MP3s from your PC, view your digital photos, and program your TiVo to record shows via the Internet.  All of these options require a home Ethernet / wireless network.

Can I record from my TiVo to a VCR?

Yes, there's even a "Save to VCR" option in the menus of TiVo.

What are Suggestions?

You can rate each program with 1-3 thumbs up or down, depending on how much you like it.  TiVo compares what you like with what other TiVo users like in order to find new shows you may also like. 

Suggestions are only recorded in your free disk space, and only when the TiVo is otherwise idle.  You'll never miss or lose anything that you told TiVo to record because of suggestions.  There is no way they can hurt your enjoyment of TiVo in any way, and it's a great way to discover new shows that you may also like.

How does my TiVo get guide information?

As mentioned above, TiVo gets guide information via a built-in modem.  It dials in to a local UUNET dial-up number in your area and downloads it.  If there's not a UUNET dial-up number in your local calling area, you're either going to have to call long distance, live without the miracle of TiVo, or use your home network, as detailed below.

As of version 4.0 of the TiVo software, you can use a USB Ethernet or 802.11b Wi-Fi network adapter so that you can use your broadband network to retrieve the guide data.  This is handy for those of us who don't have landlines, or a phone jack near our television. 

What Ethernet and Wi-Fi adapters work with TiVo?

Officially, TiVo only supports Linksys Ethernet adapters, though many other (and possibly cheaper) brands work just as well. 

The two officially supported adapters are:

Linksys WUSB11 Wireless adapter

Linksys USB100TX wired Ethernet adapter

Other Wireless Adapters

TiVo recommends the Linksys adapters mentioned above, however, customers have reported success with other makes and models of wireless USB network adapters, depending on which TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorder (DVR) they own.

Look at the first three digits of your DVR's 15 digit TiVo service number, and then check the list below. (You can find your DVR's TiVo service number by going to Messages & Setup and then System Information, or by looking on the label printed on the back of your DVR.)

Other Wired (Ethernet) Adapters

TiVo recommends the Linksys adapters mentioned above, however, customers have reported success with the following makes and models of wired (Ethernet) USB network adapters for all TiVo Series2 DVRs.

Does the TiVo have 30-second skip?

Yes, there's a not-so-secret code that you can enter with your remote that turns the advance button into a 30 second skip button. 

1. Grab your TiVo remote.
2. Bring up any recorded program. (You have to be watching a recorded program rather than "Live TV" in order to enable the feature.)
3. On your TiVo remote, key in the following sequence:
   SELECT PLAY SELECT 30 SELECT
4. If you've successfully entered the code, you should hear three "bings" in succession to inform you that you've successfully enabled the 30 second skip.

Note that any time your TiVo is rebooted (such as after a power outage or a software update) you'll have to re-enable this feature.

Should you not like the 30 second skip, you can disable it by re-entering the Easter Egg exactly as you did to enable it.

What is the current OS version on Series 2 TiVos?

The latest OS version is 7.2 for Series 2 standalones but upgrades come out frequently and additions are always creating newer versions.

Where can I find out more about Tivo?

The best place to go for TiVo discussion is the TiVo Community forums at:

http://www.tivocommunity.com/

http://www.tivofaq.com/

http://www.tivofaq.com/hack/faq.html

How does TIVO work?





TIVO wiring diagram 

Connecting TIVO into your existing setup of VCR and TV. This cable configuration gives you the ability to get your normal TV signal into your VCR for recording on video tape as you have done in the past and view video tapes and TV shows on the TV using the RF connection from the VCR. There is nothing new so far, but now we add a TIVO box into the mix. By splitting the TV input signal, we can route the signal source also to the TIVO unit antenna input, thereby providing TV programming to the TIVO so you can record to the hard disk. In addition we connect two sets of RCA audio/video cables going out from the TIVO, one set to the TV for viewing TIVO recordings and another set to the VCR to save TV shows to video tape when the hard disk gets full or you want to share a copy with someone. In addition, you could connect TIVO's stereo audio output RCA cables to a receiver or amplifier's AUX input and listen to the sound thru loudspeakers which typically provide richer audio than the speakers on standard TV sets.


TIVO BACK PANEL



TIVO BACK PANEL

Consider the following:

• If the network preempts your show because of a late-running ball game, TiVo grabs the late-running ball game. (Of course, everybody else also missed the show. TiVo will still catch your unwatched show when it repeats, though.)

• After awhile, the concept of watching live TV will seem foreign and outdated. You'll forget when your favorite shows air, because you no longer care: That's TiVo's job.

• If you arrive home 20 minutes after a favorite show started — and you've told TiVo to record it for you — you can watch the show as soon as you walk in the door. TiVo plays the show from its beginning for you, all the while continuing to record the rest of the show.

• TiVo substantially lowers your movie rental tab. Why rent a movie when your TV is filled with so many movies you already want to watch? It no longer matters that the good films aired at 4 a.m. — TiVo stayed awake to record them for you. (And you no longer must remember to put in a videotape; TiVo never needs them.)

TiVo offers several magic hat tricks with live TV; some to be expected, others a pleasant surprise. When you first turn on your TV, for instance, you usually see live TV on the screen, just like before TiVo arrived. Press the TV Power button on your TiVo's remote to turn on your TV; the TV displays whatever channel it's currently tuned in to. Or, if your TV's already turned on, press the Live TV button from any TiVo menu to jump quickly to the currently playing channel.

The first pleasant surprise comes with the Rewind button: When first turning on the TV and seeing live TV, feel free to hit TiVo's Rewind button a bit to catch up. Because TiVo's always recording something, it constantly records up to the last half hour of the currently tuned live show, just in case you might want to watch it. 

As you watch live TV, TiVo won't forget your scheduled recordings. In fact, when it needs to record one, it lets you know a few minutes beforehand: TiVo explains what show it needs to record and asks permission to change the channel.

If you don't press any button at all, TiVo assumes you've nodded off and it's expected to record your show as scheduled. So, when the recording time begins, TiVo changes the channel automatically and records your scheduled show.

If you're so deeply engrossed in live TV that you simply must keep watching, choose the "Stay on this channel (cancel recording)" option and press Select. TiVo won't change the channel, and you can finish your live TV show. However, because TiVo wasn't allowed to change the channel, you lose your originally scheduled recording.

• If you demand full access to live television — without TiVo interrupting you when it needs to record a different show — you must hook up your TiVo and TV set a little differently.

• You may also jump to live TV by selecting Watch Live TV from the TiVo Central menu.

• Pressing the Rewind or Fast-Forward button speeds up the action threefold in the appropriate direction. Pressing again increases the speed 30 times faster; one more press increases 60 times faster. (Pressing a fourth time reverts to three times faster, as punishment for the greedy.)

• Is TiVo's remote having problems turning your TV on or off? It's time to program TiVo's remote control

Recording live TV

If you've suddenly stumbled across an intriguing live show that you wish you'd recorded, it's not too late. Just press the Record button.

To record immediately, press Select. TiVo immediately grabs as much of the show as it currently holds in its "buffer" (up to a half hour), tosses the show onto your Now Playing list, and then continues to record the show until it ends. You won't miss a single second.

To create a Season Pass that records the entire series, select Season Pass & other options. From there, you may record that individual show, as well as choose options for your Season Pass.

Finally, if you pressed the Record button by mistake, choose the third option: Don't record this showing. TiVo quickly removes its menu and pretends it didn't notice your fumbled fingering.

• The simplest option is the first: Press Select to record immediately. After TiVo has begun recording your newfound show, mosey off to the Season Pass area and tell TiVo to record all the episodes, if you want.

• When you record live shows with the Record button, TiVo uses Best Quality. Because TiVo always displays live TV at Best Quality, it simply keeps those settings when recording the rest of the show.

• If you're waffling on whether to grant a Season Pass to a newly discovered live show, press the Record button and choose Season Pass & other options. From there, choose View Upcoming Showings to peek at future shows in that series. That helps you decide whether the show warrants an entire Season Pass, or whether the current episode is enough.

• When you record from live TV, you'll find your newly recorded show waiting on TiVo's Now Playing list.

Pausing and restarting live TV

TiVo's Pause button works just like the one on a VCR: To pause a TV show, press the remote's Pause button. To begin playing the show from where it's paused, press the Pause button again. (Or press Play.)

Unlike a VCR, though, TiVo can pause live TV as well as recorded shows. While the live show's paused, TiVo continues to save the rest of the show in its buffer for up to 30 minutes.

If you don't return within 30 minutes, TiVo assumes you've given up; it begins playing back the show from where you paused it. (You'll probably hear the TV's sound blast back on, alerting you of your neglect.)

TiVo uses a subscription-based Service Agreement, with the subscriber having two pay options - either per month or lifetime subscription ("Lifetime Subscription" is defined as the lifetime of the TiVo unit.) Space has been reserved on the TiVo which can be sold as advertising spots, which can be a combination of both text and video. The Service Agreement assures you get the latest software updates and the Scheduling Guide, which is customized to the system or combination of systems (i.e., Cable, Satellite, or OTA) you have. The TiVo service allows you to easily schedule programs for TiVo to record, using a point and click Menu System. Scheduling Guide information is provided daily from TiVo through a daily "call home," using TiVo's built-in modem. The daily call home takes place 24 hours after TiVo has finished the previous call home, so it is on a rolling schedule.  The TiVo Corporation continually improves and refines its software and user interface, and adds new features, as well.

The TiVo software provides the option to set a "Season Pass" on a viewer-selected program, which means that TiVo will record every episode of that selected program, even if the date and time slot changes during the program's viewing season. It is possible to set the Season Pass to omit program re-runs, too, so you won't have to watch re-runs of your program. TiVo also has a feature called the "Wish List," which allows you to search for and record programs based on your favorite actor, team, topic, hobby, etc. Another unique feature is TiVo's ability to allow you to actually pause and rewind live television broadcast programs. TiVo calls this feature "trick play."

The TiVo "Suggestions" feature helps the TiVo unit 'learn' your viewing preferences as you watch television. This feature keeps track of the programs you watch, and automatically records them for you, so you won't miss any of your regularly viewed programs. The "Thumbs Up/ Down" feature allows you to rate programs, so that TiVo can learn the programs you like and dislike. Based on your ratings, TiVo has an option (which can be disabled) that will attempt to seek out other programs of the same type and record them for you.

TiVo systems function similarly to VCRs, but use non-removable hard-disk storage, and contain much more sophisticated software to record programs - not only those the user specifically requests, but also other material the user is likely to be interested in. Additionally, programs being watched "live" can be paused or "rewound" to repeat a sequence just watched. Unlike tape-based recorders, a program that is still being recorded can be viewed from the beginning.

DVR function

A TiVo DVR allows a user to specify which programs to record by time, by program title, and by specifying combinations of genre, actors, directors, etc. Based on a database of programs available to the user - based on their location and/or cable/satellite services they use, and updated roughly once a day via phone or network connection to TiVo headquarters - it selects and records the desired programs. Programs may be stored until internal storage is filled, at which time the unit will dispose of older programs (unless flagged to be saved until manually deleted), to allow for new programs to be recorded. "Season passes" instruct the TiVo to record a show every time it comes on, regardless of when and on what channel, with the option of not recording reruns.

In addition to recording programs specified by the users, a feature pioneered by TiVo is the recording of additional programs based on the viewing habits of the household. TiVo users can also rate programs favorably or unfavorably (ranging from three "thumbs up" to three "thumbs down"). These ratings as viewing habits are correlated with the content of other programs to identify similar programs that the viewer is likely to find favorable.

The TiVo unit constantly records the incoming television signal, allowing users to pause or rewind "live" TV within a short (generally 30 minute) buffer. Many viewers use this capability to watch "live" TV with limited interruption for commercials, starting to watch from the beginning of the program 10-15 minutes after it started, then fast-forwarding through commercials.

Another advantage over traditional tape-based recorders is that users can watch a recording from a TiVo unit as it records another program. In addition, unlike generic DVRs, TiVo Series2 units can be easily connected to a home network, which allows TiVo users to schedule recordings via a web browser, transfer recordings from a TiVo unit to another TiVo unit or to a home computer, and use some other home networking features. The TiVo Series2 models can also view pictures and play music stored on home computers through a home network.

Hardware

The TiVo unit was designed by TiVo Inc., which currently provides the hardware design, Linux-based TiVo software, and operates a subscription dial-up service (without which some models of TiVo will not operate). TiVo units have been manufactured by various OEMs, including Philips and Sony, which license the software from TiVo Inc.

TiVo systems are based on PowerPC or MIPS processors, connected to MPEG-2 encoder/decoder chips and high-capacity IDE/ATA hard drives. Early TiVo units used one or two 13GB drives; typical units have a drive of 40-140GB in size. Although not supported by TiVo or equipment manufacturers, larger drives can be added.

Some recent models manufactured by Toshiba, Pioneer and Humax, under license from TiVo, contain DVD-R/RW drives. The models can transfer recordings from the built in hard drive to an industry standard DVD playable in most modern DVD drives.

Standalone TiVo systems can only record one channel at a time. Even with digital cable or satellite services that may provide multiple simultaneous signals, these units rely on an external converter to select and decode digital signals. Most digital cable providers opted to provide their own DVR systems, integrated with their own cable boxes; unlike TiVo, these boxes do not require a hardware purchase, but are rented from the cable companies with service. Many of these boxes are capable of recording a HDTV program at full resolution.

Some TiVo systems are integrated with DirecTV receivers. These "DirecTiVo" recorders record the incoming satellite MPEG-2 digital stream directly to hard disk without conversion. Because of this and the fact that they have two tuners, DirecTiVos are able to record two programs at once. In addition, the lack of digital conversion allows recorded video to be of the same quality as live video. DirecTiVos have no MPEG encoder chip, and can only record DirecTV streams.

The latest DirecTiVo units (HR10-250) can also record HDTV to a 250 gigabyte hard drive, both from the DirecTV stream and over-the-air via a standard UHF- or VHF-capable antenna. They have four tuners (two DirecTV and two over-the-air) and, like the original DirecTiVo, can record two programs at once, and the program guide is integrated between OTA and DTV so that all programs can be recorded and viewed in the same manner.

TiVoToGo

TiVo has continued to expand their offerings as a media convergence device. January 2005 saw the release of TiVoToGo, a feature allowing the transfer of recorded shows from TiVo boxes to Windows PCs. TiVo partnered with Sonic in the release of MyDVD 6.1, a software program which allows for the editing and conversion of TiVoToGo files. Other means of manipulating files are described at the TiVoToGo Unleashed tutorial.

Tivo subsequenty rolled-out software in August 2005 that extended TivoToGo. Users can now transfer video files from their PC to their TiVo for playback by the DVR.

TiVo hacking

Many people and groups have organized to "hack" the TiVo box, some to improve the service and others to provide service in countries where the TiVo is not currently being sold. TiVo has generally remained on good terms with these projects, although it has lately tried to clamp down on many of the "back doors" in the software.

Many users have installed additional and/or larger hard drives in their TiVo boxes to increase their recording capacity. Others have designed and built Ethernet cards, a web interface, and figured out how to extract / insert or transfer video among their TiVo boxes.

Service availability

The TiVo service is only available to the United States, United Kingdom and Canada at present. TiVo does not sell boxes in Canada however, so Canadian residents must purchase boxes in the U.S. and import them. TiVo DVRs have also been modified by end users to work in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

TiVo service was launched in the United Kingdom in the autumn of 2000. However TiVo decided to cease production in the UK in early 2002. The TiVo service continues to be provided to existing customers, and the price of second-hand machines with lifetime subscriptions has soared on online auction sites above the original market price.

Market 

Despite its innovative functionalities and ease of use, TiVo has had a difficult time penetrating consumer markets as well as traditional digital video recorders. Many TiVo adopters testify that they love TiVo so much that they cannot imagine watching TV without it. In contrast to other PVR companies, TiVo is well-known for loyalty of their users. Still, TiVo has remained a niche product. Some argue that this is because consumers are unfamiliar with the benefits of a system like TiVo. It may take a few weeks of use to fully understand the magnitude of the change TiVo brings to television viewing. Consumers that are not comfortable with such technology thus tend to prefer cheaper, more familiar systems like traditional tape recorders.

Another factor is the cost of the monthly or lifetime subscription fees. TiVo's market share growth has also been slowed by the proliferation of Digital Video Recorders being offered by cable television operators. They are often touted as having no up front equipment costs and a lower subscription fee, as well as seamless compatibility with the cable television system.

While its main competitor, ReplayTV, has adopted a commercial-skip feature, TiVo has decided to avoid automatic implementation of that feature, fearing such a move might provoke Hollywood movie companies. There is however, a 30 second skip feature activated via the remote control that many find nearly as useful.

TiVo and cable television giant Comcast reached a nonexclusive distribution deal in March 2005 easing some investor concerns over TiVo's future. The companies announced that they would make TiVo's service available over Comcast's cable network, with the first co-developed products available by the end of 2006, using the TiVo brand.

In January 2005, TiVo announced a long-term strategy that includes support for HDTV recording, integrated tuning using CableCARD technology, the ability to download and view content from the Internet, and a program allowing third parties to develop applications for the platform. The company has stated that the first HD/CableCARD unit will ship in early 2006.

Privacy 

Some users are concerned about TiVo's ability to collect usage data from units via the telephone line; TiVo stipulates that (currently) all usage data is aggregated by zip code, so that no information about individual viewing habits is being collected. In the United States, users can request that TiVo block the collection of Anonymous Viewing Information and Diagnostic Information from their TiVo DVR by calling 1-877-367-8486. Nielsen and TiVo have collaborated to track anonymous usage information.

Automatic software updates

TiVo Inc. has always provided updates of the software that runs TiVo units, usually downloaded along with programming data. These updates have occasionally had flaws and even removed or disabled features available in the previous versions, which has resulted in criticism from many TiVo users. Early TiVo units were marketed as being capable of functioning (in a much more limited capacity) without a subscription to the TiVo service, and customers who have had their older units remotely updated to versions of the software which does not offer this functionality have noticed that TiVo is retroactively violating that agreement.

Pop-up advertisements

In March 2005, TiVo began testing "pop-up" advertisements to select beta testers, to explore it as an alternative source of revenue. The concept is that, as users fast-forward through certain commercials of TiVo advertisers, they will also see a static image ad more suitable and effective than the broken video stream.

At its announcement, the concept of extra advertisements drew heavy criticism from TiVo's lifetime subscribers, who have historically been among the company's biggest supporters. Some were upset that they had already paid for a service based upon their previous ad-free experience, while others argued that they had purchased the service for the specific purpose of dodging advertisements.

Early testers complained that the pop-up detector was buggy, and would sometimes pop-up during unrelated commercials, or even during regular TV programming. They also state that the ads are aesthetically unpleasant, and take up a quarter of the screen. TiVo says that they are looking into these issues and will fix all of these problems before the advertising functions are rolled out to the public. It is unclear if these advertisements will be rolled out to TiVo's joint venture boxes with DirecTV and Comcast or just to their own standalone boxes.

Content flagging

In September 2005 a TiVo software upgrade added the ability for broadcasters to "flag" programs to be deleted after a certain date. Some customers had recordings deleted, or could not utilize their flagged recordings (transfer to a computer or burn to DVD), as they could with unflagged material. TiVo has stated this was a bug in the software. In 2004 TiVo entered into an agreement with Macrovision to make TiVo machines copyright-protection flag aware, ostensibly to protect future pay-per-view and video-on-demand content.

FAQ

Does the TiVo service include program listings for my area?
The TiVo service includes complete listings for over 13,000 cable systems, DIRECTV, Dish Network, and terrestrial broadcast TV systems in the U.S.



Can I use the new Home Media features with my DIRECTV® DVR with TiVo®?
No, at this time the Home Media features are not compatible with the DIRECTV DVR with TiVo boxes.



How many days of future program listings does the TiVo service include?
The TiVo service provides up to two weeks of program guide information.


At this time, the TiVo service is only available in the 50 United States of America, the District of Columbia, and in the United Kingdom via the TiVo partnership with BSkyB. The TiVo service is currently not supported in Canada, Mexico, or any U.S. territories including Puerto Rico.

Why buy a TiVo?

1. Use your time more efficiently. - At the most basic level you can watch a 60 minute show in about 45 minutes just by skipping commercials. But for some programming, a PVR can save you a lot more time. For example, you can watch a 3 1/2 hour show in about 45 minutes. Wait until the show's about 2/3 of the way through then start watching it. By skipping commercials, performances you don't care to see, and all else you don't want to hear you'll save an incredible amount of time. How about watching a football game in 30 minutes? This is a great use for the 30 second skip button. Start watching the game about 90 minutes after the start time. As soon as a play ends hit the skip button and instantly the teams are just about to snap the ball for the next play. Before you know it the game's over and you didn't miss a thing. You can also use the 30 second skip button liberally during basketball games. Shooting foul? Skip. Injury? Skip. Game's becoming a blowout? FF to see if it gets closer, otherwise delete the game and move on.

2. Watch TV according to your own schedule (timeshifting) - This is what PVRs are all about. Why be a slave to when the networks say you should watch a certain show? I know my TiVo is always working for me so I never have to worry about getting home in time to catch a show. Record the Tonight Show and watch the parts you want to see while eating breakfast the next morning. Do you get home too late to catch the local news? Put your PVR on the job, and then spend 15 minutes watching only the parts you care about.
   
   
3. Season Pass™ and WishList™ - A Season Pass will allow you to choose your favorite shows and the TiVo service will automatically record every episode, whenever it airs. With a WishList you can find and/or record shows by favorite actor, movies by favorite director, games by sports team or programs about a subject matter that interests you. 

4. Trick Play (Pausing Live TV and Instant Replay) - Both of these are great features. Once you use the instant replay button, you'll want it everywhere. It's so nice to be able to just tap one button and go back several seconds. Most TiVo owners never watch live TV. 

5. No, your VCR can't do what a PVR can do - There's a contingent of people out there who have been saying 'my VCR can do everything a PVR can do'. Those people are fooling themselves. A VCR has nothing on a PVR! Sure you can timeshift with a VCR, but not as effectively or efficiently as with a PVR. A VCR won't allow you to watch a program from the beginning while it's still being recorded. Or allow you to watch a show in the middle of the tape, erase it, and reclaim that space. With a PVR you don't have to worry about having enough space on your tape for your recordings, nor do you have to worry about whether you put the right tape in the machine. Or how about wondering if you put the VCR into 'Timer' mode? Or what about when the network decides to air your favorite show on a different night and/or time? Did your VCR automatically catch the change? How about finding a show on a VHS tape? Find yourself searching through a couple of tapes to find a certain show? With a PVR all your recording are listed by name, making it easy to find what you want.
   

In a nutshell just think of a PVR/DVR (Personal/Digital Video Recorder) as a specialized computer that records TV programs onto a hard drive instead of tape. The good ones, like TiVo and ReplayTV, download TV Guide listings and allow you to do the types of things described above.