Today at CES, TiVo unveiled several new services and products.
Products:
First off is the DirecTV HDTiVo. This first High Definition DVR from TiVo features not one, not two, but four tuners and can automatically identify whether an incoming signal is satellite or from off-air, and use the appropriate tuner. TiVo says this will be released Q1 of this year. Other hardware includes DVD/TiVo combo units from Toshiba and Humax, both available in the fall, and Humax stand alone Series 2 units in 80 and 250 hour units in Q2 of this year.
Home Media Option additions
TiVo also announced additions to its Home Media Option service that allow new photo and music options integrated into the TiVo experience. Two photo additions and two music additions encompass the new additions to HMO. On the audio side, TiVo will now be able to access XM PC Radio devices over the home network, scroll through all of the XM Stations and the digital quality using the TiVo menus and the TiVo remote. There is also support with Moodlogic that automatically categorizes and manages music based on Genre, Artist, Tempo, Year, and Mood using it’s internet based service. You can access your MoodLogic properties, as well as create playlists from within TiVo. On the photo side, album publishing capabilities from Adobe and Picasa help make it easier to manage and publish photo albums for viewing on your TiVo either as a slideshow or a one-by-one presentation.
TiVoToGo
The most exciting thing for me was the announcement of TiVoToGo, a new service release (now is this an included update or an add on like HMO, that’s the question) for subscribers with Home Media Option can move programs from a TiVo DVR to any PC for viewing as well as burned to a DVD. TiVoToGo utilizes Sonic Solution MyDVD and CinePlayer to playback and record TiVo programs, as well as requiring a TiVo Content Security Key. The key is used on the PC to unlock the files for playback or burning, preventing files from being shared online (for now 😉 ), outside of the user’s home network. TiVo is planning extra services and capabilities developed by themselves and third parties to extend or work with TiVoToGo, including such products like those from BravoBrava! that allow TiVo owners with HMO to program their TiVos remotely from a PDA or cell phone. TiVo says the key and software bundle will be sold at TiVo’s website, www.tivo.com, and is expected to be available in fall 2004.
All in all a very large announcement from TiVo, and it makes me want to plunk down the extra $99 now for HMO, so I can be first in line for TiVoToGo!
Press Releases:
TiVo CES Product Press Release
TiVo Home Media Option additions
TiVo TiVoToGo Product Announcement