It’s about time, DirecTiVo at Tech Generation

It’s about time, DirecTiVo

07Sep07

I have a TiVo. Actually, it’s not a real TiVo, but a TiVo-enhanced DirecTV receiver. I just tell everyone I have a TiVo because it’s just easier that way. It has the TiVo interface (and sounds), but the difference is that I don’t get all of the features of a real TiVo like the Home Media Option (remote scheduling, access digital photos and music) that was introduced back in 2003 or the TiVoToGo feature introduced in 2005. When I got my DirecTiVo in 2003, I had also purchased an extra internal hard drive intending to hack it and upgrade its capacity which never happened due to a serious of unfortunate events involving my Windows XP machine. I suppose that was better for my well-being as that would have just encouraged more TV.

More recently I was excited about TiVo HD which consolidates your HD cable receiver and TiVo in one, however I was very disappointed to find that it will not work with satellite TV. I was ready to upgrade my TV to a widescreen LCD HDTV because of it, too.

On another note, the other day I discovered that LCD TV screens now go up to 52″ at the consumer level, up from 46″. According to Costco calculations, the ideal size for my living room given the viewing distance is 60″, so I might wait for the next increase.

I thought DirecTV was trying to phase out DirecTiVo and was neglecting its customers especially since if you want to time-shift HD shows, the only option you have is to get DirecTV’s DVR, which is no TiVo. Two years ago, a friend of mine called her DVR a TiVo, a pretty shocking of moment of brand dilution since the user interface for TiVo is why people swear by TiVo.

Yesterday I received a mailer from DirecTV about new changes to my DirecTiVo service:

DirecTV Remote Booking - remote scheduling
Recently Deleted Folder - recycle bin/trash
Overlap Protection - clipping end of first show or beginning of second show based on priority

In 2008! I will kind of have a TiVo… if you count remote scheduling that was so 4 years ago. Since I have DirecTV, any last minute realizations for non local channels will have to come three hours earlier though since DirecTV airs cable channels on east coast time (MTV, FoodTV, etc.).

It will probably be another couple years before we can take our shows to go. I think I’ll have better luck waiting for TiVo HD for satellite TV instead, though.