Category: TiVo News

TiVo is looking pretty good right now. It’s almost unimaginable, but a judge has ruled that Echostar (DISH) must shut off DVR features on its users’ DVRs within 30 days. Our guess is that something else will happen before a shut-off – maybe Echostar will make a licensing deal with TiVo.

But Echostar has let things get out of hand before. They refused to make a deal with Viacom and lost Viacom programming for a while. So maybe they’ll hit their customers with another round of that here.

More info is on the Bloomberg site and many other places this morning. And today should be a very, very interesting day for TiVo stock.

We get this question often, in various forms. We have had callers who pull plug on their TiVo when they go sleep, and plug it back in when they wake up (or when they next want to watch TV). Others put the unit in “Standby,” assuming that the unit will stop recording.

Not that it’s worth much, but no one at weaKnees does any of this stuff. We all leave our TiVos on 24/7 (and we all have them connected to a UPS, too, just to beat it in a bit). Here’s why:

First, the TiVo is meant to be running all the time. The thing is meant to allow you to “set it and forget it” (to steal a catchphrase from some infomercial that I remember watching long before I had a TiVo)…so if you ask it record something that happens to be on at 1:30 a.m., it will record. If you shut the TiVo down, it can’t record. So our advice: Never routinely pull the plug.

Second, although “Standby” does serve a limited purpose, it does not cause the unit to stop recording. Rather, this function will do the following (all taken from TiVo’s website):

• Stops sending video and audio from the DVR to the TV.
• Causes the lights on the front of the unit to go out.
• Re-enables Parental Controls if they have been temporarily disabled.
• Enters KidZone Now Playing screen upon return from standby (if KidZone is on, and if your unit has this capability).
• Programs that are being recorded or are scheduled to record will still be recorded (if a program is being recorded the red light will turn on.)
• If you used an RF coaxial cable to connect a program source to the DVR and to connect the DVR to the TV, Standby mode provides RF pass through. This means you can watch channels on your RF program source while the DVR is in Standby mode.

Bottom line: Unless you need to take advantage of one of the items listed below, just keep the unit on.

Ok, we’re in a networking mood. And our excitement over our new networking stuff is growing daily. Today, TiVo announced a new “TiVoCast” enhancement to its Series 2 Standalone DVRs.

With TiVoCast, TiVos connected to the Internet via a home network will have access to a huge amount of new content! You will be able to get shows and programs that are not available through your cable or satellite provider, and it will appear right on your Now Playing list. We’ve got a lot to do this afternoon (if you’re on our email list, you’ll soon see why), so I’m going to copy from TiVo’s press release. These are the first bits of content that you’ll be able to access from your TiVo when the TiVoCast software update is automatically downloaded:

* NBA and WNBA — As the first professional sports leagues to team up with TiVo, fans will have access to NBA and WNBA video showcases during the season that will be available to all TiVo subscribers. During The Finals, which tip off on Thursday, June 8 on ABC, a special “Finals Showcase” video package highlighting the greatest Finals moments in NBA History will be available for fans to view on TiVo.

* The New York Times — The New York Times will offer a selection of original video segments on a variety of topics including A.O. Scott’s signature Movie Minute film reviews, news analysis from the Times’ Washington DC bureau, David Pogue’s technology product reviews and many more.

* Heavy.com — Heavy.com is the Number 1 digital entertainment brand for 18 – 34 year old guys with more than 12 million unique viewers monthly (Nielsen) and a viral reach of 65 million taste-challenged pop culture junkies. Its programming staples include “Behind the Music that Sucks,” “American Suck Countdown” and “The Massive Mating Game.”

* iVillage — Featuring original video clips from one of the strongest and most widely recognized brands on the Internet for women. Informative and entertaining segments will include real stories and how-to advice covering beauty, parenting, fashion, home & food and relationships, among other topics.

* CNET — the place consumers go to understand and compare consumer electronics, computers, and software to find the right choice and a property of CNET Networks, Inc., will provide viewers buying advice and how-to segments that help them get the most out of their technology products. Content will include video from CNET TV’s popular franchises such as Insider Secrets, Weekend Project, and First Look from the Labs, and feature popular CNET editorial personalities Brian Cooley, Molly Wood, and Tom Merritt.

* Danger Rangers — These animated characters will deliver exciting, action-adventure series that empowers children to make smart safety decisions. Content will be premium, quality entertainment to improve children’s safety awareness, making them less likely to be injured, disabled or even killed in a preventable accident.

* H2O: HipHop on Demand — Provided content will focus on delivering viewers’ world and television premieres of HipHop/Urban themed programming targeting the large and growing multiracial Urban TV consumer market.

* Union on Demand — USA’s first on demand action sports film network will provide premium Surf, Snow, Skate, BMX and Motocross content to the consumers and enthusiasts.

* Rocketboom — Currently one of the most popular videoblogs on the Internet. As early pioneers of online video, Rocketboom brings creative news and political commentary in 3 to 4 minute bites of internet culture, daily.

* Here!: Offers a wide variety of original movies and series appealing to the broad based and diverse gay and lesbian audience.

New technology makes it a breeze to connect your TiVo to your computer!
Network your standalone* Series 2 TiVo DVR, and take advantage of these great features:

• Program your TiVo from any computer on the Internet
• Copy shows to your laptop or PC, and then burn them to DVD (or just
  watch them from your hard drive)—great for travel!
• Copy shows from your PC to your TiVo
• Watch recordings from one TiVo on another
• Stream MP3s from a Mac or PC through your TiVo (albums, playlists
  from iTunes, etc.)
• View Photos from a Mac or PC through your TiVo on your TV
• Download movies, video blogs and other special shows from the Internet
  to your TiVo
• Do much, much more… the list continues to grow!

Connecting TiVo to your computer is easy, especially with new products designed
to make networking a snap. There are two basic steps:

1) Connect your computer to a router
2) Connect your TiVo to the router

Let us show you how easy this truly is:

Connect your Computer to a Router

Many people already have a router or a home network, so if you do, skip this
step.

First, purchase a router. We recommend a NETGEAR
or Linksys router, because they are widely available and in the unlikely event
you need it, phone support is quite good. WeaKnees carries TiVo-compatible routers;
please feel free to contact us if we can help. For other router options, see
here.

Next, follow the router’s instructions to connect it to your PC. This
is typically VERY easy. Simply install the included software, then remove your
Internet cable from the PC and connect it to the router. Then connect the router
to the PC. Software from Netgear and Linksys routers almost always automatically
configure the router to your computer and setup!

Connect your TiVo to the Router

Most people cannot run a wire from the TiVo to the router because they are
in different rooms of the same home. This is no longer a problem! There are
two options:

1) Connect your TiVo to your router using your home’s electric (power)
wires
2) Use a wireless adapter to connect the TiVo to the router

Although it is a more-expensive option, we highly recommend option #1. With
the new PowerLine 85Mbps adapter,
you can create a turbo-fast connection between the TiVo and your router with
absolutely no programming required. Simply plug one adapter into an electrical
outlet in the room with your TiVo. Then run an ethernet cable from the TiVo
to the adapter. In the room with the router, plug another adapter into an electrical
outlet, and run a cable from the adapter to the router. When we first installed
this product at our warehouse and in our homes, we were stunned at how simple
and fool-proof this product is. (To add security settings, run the software
included with the adapters.)

NOTE: If you do not have one of the new dual-tuner standalone TiVo DVRs, you
will also need a USB to Ethernet adapter.

To summarize the connections from your TiVo to the router using the new PowerLine
adapters: (1) Plug a PowerLine adapter directly into an electrical outlet; (2)
Connect a USB to Ethernet adapter to the USB port on your TiVo. (3) Connect
the PowerLine to the USB adapter using an Ethernet cable (included with the
PowerLine adapters).

If you’d rather go wireless, we recommend the TiVo-branded
G-wireless adapter. Using this product requires a wireless router (which
we carry). It also requires a bit of configuration, especially if you want your
network to be secure. You’ll just need to set a password on the router
and then enter that password in the TiVo’s setup screens.

Finally, you’ll need the TiVo Desktop software on your PC or Mac to get
many of the features listed above.

SUMMARY

Networking your TiVo using a new PowerLine HomePlug Adapter is extremely easy.
To make things even easier, weaKnees has a complete networking package, which
includes a set of PowerLine adapters AND a wireless G router. To add additional
TiVos and additional rooms, simply purchase additional adapters. You may also
need USB to Ethernet adapters, sold separately from the networking package.

*“Standalone” TiVo DVRs do not have built-in DIRECTV
receivers. DIRECTV has not activated the networking ports on its boxes.

We just sent out an email to all of our previous customers (and those who’ve signed up for our newsletter) with a great summer time recording tip (and some coupons). We thought we should share both with readers of the blog also.

So here’s the tip:

Since most shows are in repeats for the summer, now is a great time to have your TiVo harvest movies. That gives you something fresh to watch and you can catch up on all of the movies just coming to TV. But how do you search through and find all of the latest ones only? Make a Wishlist for the keyword “2005” or “2006” and restrict it to the category “Movies.” Then view the upcoming matches, and select away!

And now for the coupons:

To get $100 off of our new 200 hour HD TiVo use coupon code 100HD.

To get $75 off a dual 750 GB TiVo Upgrade kit for your current TiVo use coupon code DUAL750.

Both coupons expire on June 6, 2006.