Tivo Releases Series3 HDTV DVR for digital cable
Tivo finally released its next-generation Series3 HDTV DVR. This is Tivo’s first product designed for digital cable and high-definition television. It replaces the cable box.
The Tivo Series3 fully supports Verizon FiOS TV service.
The TiVo® Series3™ HD box seamlessly integrates tuners for analog, off-air digital, and digital cable to allow owners to record two different shows in HD at the same time, while watching a third pre-recorded show. The product enables the user to record up to 32 hours of HD programming, or up to 300 hours of standard definition, and features an external SATA port for off-the-shelf hard drive expansion. To top it off, the TiVo Series3 HD box features a sleek, backlit remote control with learning capability.
The product carries a hefty price tag of $799 MSRP, but that buys you Tivo’s acclaimed ease of use, unparalleled reliability in recording, quick and easy commercial skipping, built-in networking, and home media features for music and photos. While the Series3 does offer a number of usability, reliability, and performance advantages over the FiOS DVR, that’s to be expected for the price. The Series3 is the first DVR to receive THX video certification for its high-definition picture quality. The Tivo Series3 is available today at Best Buy and Circuit City stores around the country.
Megazone has posted a nice review of the TivoHD with plenty of high-resolution photos, plus a FAQ with answers to frequently asked questions. PC Magazine posted their own review as well as a video — they loved everything about the TivoHD but the price.
FiOS customers with the Tivo Series3 should call Verizon to schedule an installation for two CableCards, at a cost of $2.95/mo. When multistream CableCards are available from FiOS in November-December, only one card will be needed. These plug into the back of the Series3 and act as access cards to decode the encrypted television channels on FiOS. Note the Series3 does have one limitation — it won’t support video on demand.
Tivo Series3 Features & Specifications
- Replaces cable box
- Compatible with all major cable providers, including FiOS
- Built-in tuners - two analog (NTSC), two digital cable (QAM), and two off-air digital (ATSC)
- Watch one SD or HD channel while recording another
- Records any two SD or HD channels simultaneously, while watching a third pre-recorded show
- All digital SD and HD channels recorded at 100% original quality
- Supports SD and HDTV in MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (H.264), and VC-1 (WM9)
- Built-in capacity of 250Gb (32 hours HDTV, 300+ hours of SDTV )
- Supports “off the shelf†external SATA drive expansion (with software update)
- Two built-in CableCard slots - supports standard and multistream
- Program guide seamlessly integrating analog cable channels, analog broadcast channels, digital broadcast channels (ATSC) in SD and HD from an antenna, and encrypted digital cable channels in SD and HD (with CableCard).
- Season Pass recordings, Wishlists
- Home Media Features — digital music player, digital photo viewer
- Online (Internet) scheduling
- Inputs: 1x cable, 1x antenna (internally split for dual tuners)
- Outputs: HDMI, component, s-video, composite; digital audio (optical)
- Video formats: 480p, 720p, 1080i, hybrid, and native-passthrough
- Networking: 1x 100Mbps ethernet, 2x USB 2.0
- Back-lit learning “peanut†remote with glossy black finish
- THX Certified
- Price: $799 MSRP (Best Buy’s cost is ~$500)
- Available now from Buy.com, Circuitcity.com, Amazon.com