According to this thread on AVS forum, Comcast plans on beta testing their HD DVR with TiVo software next month! This could just be a rumor but it sounds legit since the Comcast TiVo deal has been in the open for quite some time now.
If anybody gets their hands on a Comcast TiVo DVR, I would love to hear about it. I’m not a Comcast user but, I’m sure there are a lot of people who would be interested in getting more information.
Thanks Mike!
The new Comcast enabled box, will not be available immediately, due to Production schedules and coordination with our prime vendor, Motorola.
If you currently have a “series 3 DVR” your upgrade will be a software download. Beat testing will not generally with the general public, but with Comcast employees through out the various market, with simultaneous testing by Cable Labs for certification with FCC requirements..
Pricing has not been established by Corporate Marketing, and will generally roll out with an AD campaign when established..
The reason you did not see a Tivo offering prior to the 2005 partnership, was that Tivo was under contract with most of the Dish Companies. These agreements wer terminated in 2005, as the dish companies negotiated separate deals with other hardware suppliers, and developed relationships with software providers to development channel guides. This move was made to improve cost controls, and more revenue to the dish providers.
Comcast purchased a minority interest in Tivo, and worked with Microsoft, Guideworks, and other software providers, to develop software which would throughout our entire national networks.
Remember, we do not sell equipment to our end users, as required by most Dish companies, and thus wanted a product in the field with all the standard functionality TIVO users were accustomed to, without having to make the up-front investment in hardware.
For example, The TIVO series 3 unit currently available at retail, launched with a retail price of $999.00. Currently available around $799.00, plus the cost of the TIVO service.
This unit has the ability to record/Watch 2 HD programs, has 2 cable card slots, and a 160 Gig HD.
Comcast will offer the same functions as the Series 3, but will also include:seamless OCAP platform access, Follow ME TV(think Sling Box),and Motorola’s Linux, Java base software Platform.
We weren’t dragging out feet, we just wanted to get it right.
Can’t you already buy a Tivo box and a Comcast Cable Card for it? Being provided as a Comcast box would sure open it up to a lot more people though…
I ordered a TiVo HD box after reading the TiVo/Comcast announcement. It wasn’t an easy decision. The TiVo box will be my 4th TiVo, so obviously I love TiVo. Plus I have a Comcast HD DVR.
The pros of going with Comcast/Tivo seemed to me to be lower cost: while the Tivo option added to Comcast has an unannounced cost, I would guess even at an additional $10/month it will be cheaper over 5 years than the $800 cost plus $200 lifetime service of the TiVo HD box. Note that the TiVo HD box requires two Comcast cable cards added to it, at $7/month in my area.
The pros of going with the TiVo box is that it has “800 hours” of non-HD storage (I’ll guess that that is 80 hours of HD storage?). The Comcast box I have now — which can be software upgraded to have the TiVo interface — has less than 10 hours of HD programming storage before it is full. That is a pretty paltry amount if you get behind in watching programs!
The Comcast HD box had a terrible interface, and its remote only makes it worse. I understand from the announcement that the TiVo upgrade will include replacement software, but it wasn’t clear if you’d get a TiVo remote or not. The remote matters, I’ve found.
So, I decided to go with TiVo. My two cents (or $1000, I suppose).
John
Sorry I am off topic but to end such I post this update. thanks
UPDATE:
They exchanged the Moxi box for another and two days later I called them. I requested a 6414 or a 6416 and to make this short I now have a working 6416III and after one week it is working just fine. Rummer has it that they are “soon” to make a change…LOL
now back to my easy to see and use menus and HD TV shows.
Mac4TBH@hotmail.com
BTW I have used the internet to FIX problems that I have had under my HMO therefore posting what others do to me gets results.
So should I upgrade my series II to a series III now? Or should I just wait? I assume that the series II DVR will not support the TIVO software from what I am reading?
I’m not exactly sure what you are asking. Are you currently a Comcast customer? If yes, I would probably wait on upgrading to the Series 3 TiVo since Comcast is going to start rolling out the Series 3 TiVo shortly.
Sorry for the misunderstanding Alex.. was pretty late when I wrote that
I am asking if I should swap out my 6412 Series II for a III. From what I have heard, the Series II will not support the update. Just wondering if you guys could shed any light on if this is the truth?
The Comcast TiVo software will run on your existing set top box not a TiVo. Series 2 & Series 3 TiVos will NOT be upgraded to this software.
OK Alex… but there is a series 1 2 & 3 of the 6400 series Moto DVRs and 3400 series. I currently have a 6412 Series II. I have “heard” through the grapevine that I will need to upgrade to a series III Moto STB in order for it to be able to handle the TIVO software…
Was just wondering if this was just a empty rumor or if there was some truth to this.
I’m sorry! I thought you were talking about the Series 2 & Series TiVos
. I don’t know the answer to your question but maybe somebody else will….
I hope the Comcast TIVO unit comes available very soon. I’m about to move and am giving up my DirecTV TIVO capable unit (yes, TIVO vs. thier below par non TIVO dvr units), and hope I time it right so I can get the Comcast TIVO unit.
If not, what appears to be the right track is to ensure they give me a Motorolla 3412 (since I need HDMI) series III and then get a software upgrade from Comcast, and a new remote mailed to me. Do I sum it up right here?
Question
I want to set up a wireless connection from my computer to the new HD Dish DVR. Can I run Tivo software for file transfer to the TV?
I was wondering if there is anyway to keep the guide up to date without a phone line? and if so how?
Im trying to figure this thing out. Thanks for all the info. I want cable since my directv switches channels so slowly. Comcast is now available, and im just trying to get it right. Im not sure the comcast tivo remote will be user friendly so i guess ill go with tivo series 2.