Tag Archives: HdDvr

Comcast’s X1 availability widens, mass-deployment still planned by year’s end

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DNP COmcast X1 DVR adds smartphone control, available now in tktktk

Comcast's advanced cable-box footprint keeps getting bigger. While currently you can only get the X1 set-top box in 18 of its service areas, that's growing, as it's come to several new markets recently. A company spokesperson recently told us that the cable giant is still on track to have the new unit as an option for all of its customers by year's end. As of now, new and current Triple Play subscribers in Nashville and Knoxville, TN; Jacksonville, Sarasota and Naples, FL; Baltimore and Frederick, MD and Brunswick, GA can snag the hardware as a free upgrade with select programming packages. Or, if you're patient, you could wait for the X2.

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Source: Comcast X1

Comcast’s X1 availability widens, mass-deployment still planned by year’s end

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DNP COmcast X1 DVR adds smartphone control, available now in tktktk

Comcast's advanced cable-box footprint keeps getting bigger. While currently you can only get the X1 set-top box in 18 of its service areas, that's growing, as it's come to several new markets recently. A company spokesperson recently told us that the cable giant is still on track to have the new unit as an option for all of its customers by year's end. As of now, new and current Triple Play subscribers in Nashville and Knoxville, TN; Jacksonville, Sarasota and Naples, FL; Baltimore and Frederick, MD and Brunswick, GA can snag the hardware as a free upgrade with select programming packages. Or, if you're patient, you could wait for the X2.

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Source: Comcast X1

DirecTV GenieGO DVR streaming app arrives on Android

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DirecTV GenieGO arrives for Android viewers

DirecTV subscribers with a penchant for travel have long had access to the Nomad (now GenieGO), a box that packages their DVR recordings for viewing on PCs and iOS devices. They haven't had an Android app, however, until now. Like its iOS peer, the new GenieGO client (which is new, despite the version number) can either directly stream recorded shows or download them for offline catch-up sessions. Don't expect just any old Android hardware to work, though -- DirecTV can only vouch for compatibility with a small roster of devices that focuses mostly on Motorola, the Nexus line and Samsung. Nonetheless, any customer who has both a GenieGO and a Google inclination can give the app a shot at the source links.

[Thanks, Alex]

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Source: Google Play, DirecTV

TiVo Premiere fall update starts rolling out with more HD menu screens and a few other tweaks

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We got an early peek at some of the newly revamped menus from TiVo's fall update a few days ago, and now the company has announced it is officially rolling out to retail Premiere DVRs, with cable-provided boxes getting the update at some point in the future. Those on the priority list are first up so some TiVo Community posters report they've already received it and can confirm the Netflix app is "still terrible." Besides the upgraded screens for Season Pass Manager, To Do List, History and My Shows (beyond the new look, they each have gained a few new features), Parental controls has replaced KidZone settings, there are some new games in the apps menu and users can name their DVR in the menus. Hit the source link to check out the full list of changes,

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TiVo Premiere fall update starts rolling out with more HD menu screens and a few other tweaks originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 16:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTiVo Blog  | Email this | Comments

TiVo teases long-awaited HD guide upgrades for fall DVR update

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TiVo teases longawaited HD guide upgrades for fall DVR update

When we originally reviewed the TiVo Premiere DVR back in 2010, one of our laments was that its revamped HD guide style didn't cover all of the screens in its menu system, and the issue still existed when we reviewed the XL4 earlier this year. Finally, that's being addressed, as TiVo VP Margret Schmidt has confirmed the upcoming fall update will bring reworked screens for the To Do List, Season Pass Manager and My Shows (for networked DVRs), and tweeted screenshots. Also of note are a number of Comcast areas recently added to the list of places that support Xfinity VOD via TiVo, so check your zip code to be sure. As far as the update goes, as usual, if you'd like to be first on the list to try it out, go ahead and sign up on the Priority list right away.

Continue reading TiVo teases long-awaited HD guide upgrades for fall DVR update

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TiVo teases long-awaited HD guide upgrades for fall DVR update originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTiVo Priority sign-up, Margret Schmidt (Twitter)  | Email this | Comments

Comcast quietly updates DVRs with ability to list stored programs from the web, mobile apps

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Comcast quietly updates DVRs with ability to list stored programs from the web, mobile apps

While being able to schedule DVR recordings from your mobile device is nice, an update currently being pushed to some Comcast DVRs is adding the ability for users to check exactly what shows are stored there from an app or web browser. Previously the only remote info users could get from their DVRs was the percentage of storage currently in use and what recordings were scheduled to take place, but now users can see individual recordings, choose to watch any of them now, change their deletion priority, or even delete them remotely. Hopefully that doesn't lead to any unintentional interhousehold griefing as users manage the often inadequate hard drive space in their cable DVR, but it can certainly put ones mind at rest to know The League (or whatever your show of choice might be) was successfully archived.

The update is quietly being pushed out as a software update for the DVR itself, and should appear automatically for users on the web or in their iOS app's DVR manager (Android users can access it as well, but via the browser). We noticed the change after our Motorola DVR got an update that also made the name of a channel appear under the number when typed in from the remote. It worked well, although a few much older recordings were not listed online every new one was, which could explain the quiet rollout that Comcast confirmed to us just began yesterday. One other change taking place at the same time is a new Xfinity TV Player app for iOS that is focused solely on streaming VOD, mirroring a similar app already out on Android. While the Xfinity TV app on the platform has handled streaming duties since 2010, the dedicated player has a different menu and even player interface, and we wouldn't be surprised to see the feature excised from the general app eventually.

Continue reading Comcast quietly updates DVRs with ability to list stored programs from the web, mobile apps

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Comcast quietly updates DVRs with ability to list stored programs from the web, mobile apps originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 19:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceXfinity TV Player iOS, Xfinity TV  | Email this | Comments

DirecTV Genie DVR and interface launch with advice for the indecisive

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DirecTV Genie DVR and interface launch with five tuners, advice for the indecisive

We got a peek at DirecTV's Genie system just a few weeks ago with promises of a system that would both suggest related shows and optionally record them unbidden. It's here, and it's being joined by some rebranding. The company's flagship HR34 DVR has been relabeled as the Genie and makes the new software its centerpiece, with those five tuners letting even the chronically uncommitted take new recommendations as seriously as they like. As before, simultaneous viewing is otherwise the biggest angle: there's support for up to eight RVU-capable TVs hooked up at once, two shows playing on one TV and up to four TVs watching the same show. You'll have to be a new subscriber to get the video recorder under the Genie moniker, although we don't see too many existing customers dropping everything to get that symbolic distinction.

Continue reading DirecTV Genie DVR and interface launch with advice for the indecisive

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DirecTV Genie DVR and interface launch with advice for the indecisive originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 22:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceDirecTV  | Email this | Comments

Sky+ launches 7-day Catch Up TV, 2TB HD DVRs and adds zeebox extras to its iPad app

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Sky launches 7day Catch Up TV, 2TB HD DVRs and adds zeebox extras to its iPad app

Sky+ in the UK has bundled several updates to deliver all at once, including expected ones like zeebox integration into its iPad app and an expanded Catch Up TV lineup, plus a new 2TB Sky+ HD DVR. Viewers will notice the new 7-day Catch Up TV section in their video on-demand section stocked with shows from Sky, ITV Player and Demand 5, with BBC iPlayer arriving this fall and 4oD next year. The Sky+ iPad app has been updated to v4.1 with a notification for possible recording conflicts plus expanded content info and social tie-ins powered by zeebox. Now, you can not only change channels from the tablet, but also find out more about what's playing. Finally, the new expanded size DVR outpaces the stock configuration available from competitor Virgin Media, and we're told it is priced the same as the previous 1TB offering. Check after the break for a press release with all the details, the gallery for screenshots and a look at the DVR or hit iTunes to grab the updated app right now.

Gallery: Sky+ September Catch Up TV, 2TB DVR iPad update

Continue reading Sky+ launches 7-day Catch Up TV, 2TB HD DVRs and adds zeebox extras to its iPad app

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Sky+ launches 7-day Catch Up TV, 2TB HD DVRs and adds zeebox extras to its iPad app originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 06:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSky, iTunes  | Email this | Comments

TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is ‘exploring’ Redbox Instant support

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While some patent lawsuits continue to drag on, the battle between TiVo and Verizon over DVR technology has come to a resolution. In exchange for cross licensing their patents and dismissing all pending litigation, the two parties have agreed Verizon will pay TiVo $100 million up front followed by recurring quarterly payments totaling $150.4 million through July 2018, as well as monthly license fees for each FiOS DVR user above certain levels. Now that they're no longer at war the two companies may find a few things to work together on, and there is a provision for "certain commercial initiatives" which, if pursued this year, could count as credits toward the amount Verizon has agreed to pay.

Additionally, the press release indicates they are exploring support for the upcoming Redbox Instant service (which Verizon is a partner in) on TiVo's DVRs. This all follows TiVo's $215 million settlement with AT&T earlier this year and last year's $500 million agreement with Dish Network. Meanwhile, lawsuits are still pending against Cisco, Time Warner Cable and Motorola. The press release is after the break and associated filings are linked below, with any luck this infusion of cash will help TiVo on new projects like dropping the price of the Stream.

[Thanks, Dave Zatz]

Continue reading TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is 'exploring' Redbox Instant support

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TiVo settles patent lawsuit with Verizon for at least $250 million, is 'exploring' Redbox Instant support originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTiVo 8-K filing  | Email this | Comments

DirecTV HR34 DVR ‘Genie’ recommendations and autorecording get previewed ahead of fall launch

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DirecTV HR34 DVR 'Genie' recommendations and autorecording get previewed ahead of fall launch

DirecTV paired its HD interface with the five tuner, RVU ready HR34 Home Media Center DVR back in March, so what will it do next to take advantage of the multiroom boxes with five tuners and massive hard drives? The answer is Genie, a new feature / rebranding that should be very familiar to TiVo users, since its aim is to find other shows you might be interested in and store them on the DVR without being prompted. The folks at Solid Signal and DBSTalk have had an early preview of the fall software update that will enable it, and have both posted hands-on impressions.

Once the user enables the feature, after a few hours it begins episodes of shows similar to the ones they already watch and recording them automatically. The feature uses hard drive space that's already reserved for DirecTV's video on-demand (so user accessible recording space is not impacted) and works in selections available from VOD. Watching a program at your leisure VOD-style, setting up a series recording for a new favorite or blasting it from your drive is just a click of the remote away on the DVR or one of its multiroom extenders. Helping viewers discover new content is a field suddenly filled with competition, from the social networking based to Dish Network's Hopper that records everything on primetime network TV and even filters out commercials. That Genie can let you watch already recorded episodes right away and pull from any broadcasts its finds may give it a leg up, but so far we haven't seen recommendation systems good enough to promote switching from one service to another. Hit the source links for more details on how it all works, along with a video preview, also embedded after the break.

Continue reading DirecTV HR34 DVR 'Genie' recommendations and autorecording get previewed ahead of fall launch

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DirecTV HR34 DVR 'Genie' recommendations and autorecording get previewed ahead of fall launch originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Sep 2012 19:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceSolid Signal, DBSTalk  | Email this | Comments