From now until August 31st, TiVo.com is running a special whereby you can get an 80 hour Series 2 Dual Tuner TiVo with a one year subscription for only $155.40!  According to the website, this saves you $404.40!
If the Dual Tuner TiVo doesn’t interest you, you might want to pick up a “regular” Series 2 TiVo for $83.40 ($375.40 savings).

I personally am not going to get one however, this really is a good deal.  If you’re in the market of a Series2 Dual Tuner DVR, now may be a good time to purchase one or two for that matter.

• TiVo wins an emmy (ZatzNotFunny.com)
• TiVo and BellSouth sign a deal (Yahoo News)
• TiVo is watching when you don’t and it tattles (NY Times)

Update 08/04/2006 @ 8:57 PM EST: Time Warner Cable Raleigh, NC has apologized for providing misinformation!

When all the news came out about TWC not supporting the Series3 TiVo, William Tello decided to email TWC directly so that he could figure out what was going on. Well, according to William, a TWC manager contacted him directly about the issue. The TWC manager told William that TW will provide CableCARDS for TiVo installs.

1. Cablecards will definitely be available to customers for use with the TIVO series 3 and as many as the customer needs. (I didn’t discuss pricing with him because frankly I’m not concerned about pricing for entertainment at all - I’m always willing to pay whatever it takes for exactly what I want).

The manager also told William that the CSR that William originally talked to didn’t have the correct information and that SDV won’t be as big a deal as some people were saying.

2. He has told me that the CSR(s) that I talked to, did not have the correct information to give me. He said that all of the currently available programming in a local TWC channel lineup, be it: analog, digital, standard-definition or high-definition will remain available to the cablecard and will not use SDV.

3. He assured me that when SDV is deployed it is only going to be for new programming only - anything not currently on a local TWC channel lineup. (That is a huge relief - so I might just buy a TIVO S3 now).

After reading this thread I feel a little more optimistic about the whole situation. This entire debate really comes down to what TWC and other cable companies mean by the word “support”. As somebody over on engadget said, just because the cable company doesn’t “support” your VCR doesn’t mean that they will try to keep it from working. Based on everything that I’ve read, it looks like TWC and other cable companies are simply trying to cover their a** so that when one of their customers has a problem with a third party DVR (ie: TiVo) they are not responsible for it.

Does anybody disagree with my analysis?

Today is TiVoBlog.com’s two year anniversary!  I don’t know where two years have gone but it sure has been a lot of fun.  The people who read this site make it all worth while.  Stay subscribed and keep sending me those news tips.  After all, sometimes it is tough to come up with new content when you’ve been blogging about TiVo for two years :).

Update 08/04/2006 @ 8:57 PM EST: Time Warner Cable Raleigh, NC has apologized for providing misinformation!

Update 07/31 @ 9:22PM EST: TWC has contacted a user on TiVoCommunity.com to let him know that TWC will provide CableCARDs for the Series3 TiVo.

In case you don’t already know, Time Warner Cable in Raleigh, NC has said that they won’t support the Series 3 TiVo. Now it looks like TWC in Los Angeles (San Fernando Valley) is saying the same thing.

I received the following email from Phil which contains a response he received from TWC in Los Angeles (his email address has been removed upon his request).

To: Editors of Engadget, Gizmodo, ZatzNotFunny, TiVoBlog and Tivo Pony
re: TimeWarner in Los Angeles — NO Cable Card for Tivo Series 3

Here’s the answer from Los Angeles Time Warner (San Fernando Valley)

A big fat NO.

Let’s light a fire under these guys — throw the FCC at ‘em whatever… who’s
with me?

PK

[If you run this -- please remove my e-mail address.]

—— Forwarded Message
From: “Cust.Ops”
Reply-To: “Cust.Ops”
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:45:36 -0700
To:
Subject: Re: FEEDBACK_Customer_Service (KMM1035923V50920L0KM)

Hello

Thank you for your inquiry. We do offer Cable Card technology, however, we will not install Cable Cards onto equipment aside from the television itself.

We will not support any 3rd party equipment devices such as Tivo.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via our Live Online Help. Our Live Online Help Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 9 AM to 7 PM at:
http://www.TimeWarnerLA.com/chat/ .

Time Warner Cable
(888)TW-CABLE

Now you can pay your bill online or with your digital remote! Just visit http://www.TimeWarnerLA.com/PayXpress or tune to channel 1 and select “Interact.”

Original Message Follows:
————————

** THIS IS MESSAGE HAS BEEN FORWARDED BY THE ONLINE FEEDBACK SYSTEM **

TIME WARNER CABLE WEBSITE CUSTOMER FEEDBACK
Thursday, July 27, 2006, 10:35:47

The following inquiry was received through the TimeWarnerCable website feedback form.

NAME: XXXXXXXX
E-MAIL: XXXXXX@XXXXX
PHONE: XXXXXXXXXXXX

MESSAGE:
I am a current customer of Time Warner for Cable Modem service. For TV, I switched to satellite a few years ago — BUT I am expecting to return to Time Warner for Cable TV service later this year.

However, my coming back to Time Warner is dependent on the answer to one very important question.

Will you be supporting CableCard installation in the new Series 3 TiVo which is about to come out? This is a CableLabs certified device and should fall under the FCC mandate for CableCard support.

I’ll be a customer of yours again, IF you will be supporting this. It all depends on whether the new TiVo Series 3 will have your CableCard support. Please let me know asap.

Best Regards,
XXXXX

What if anything can we do to fight this? Anybody know who we should contact? I’m willing to host a letter or email template that everybody can send to the FCC (if that’s who we should be contacting).

Even since I purchased my HDTV, my TV watching diet has consisted of mostly high definition content.  The colors and clarity of high def has me addicted.  In fact, I’m so addicted to HD that I now feel cheated when I’m “forced” to watch a show in standard def.  Shouldn’t all TV programming be in HD :).

Since the Series3 HD DVR isn’t out yet, I’m forced to watch all of my HD shows live.  No more time shifting or pausing shows really sucks however, I’m willing to watch commercials for HD.

Are you the same with your HDTV?  Have you found that the quality of HDTV outweighs the benefit of a TiVo?

After writing this past I’m back to thinking that I should buy a Series3 TiVo as soon as it is released.  Or, maybe I should wait on the Series 3 TiVo and cheat on my TiVo instead…

Damn I’m confused…

Update 08/04/2006 @ 8:57 PM EST: Time Warner Cable Raleigh, NC has apologized for providing misinformation!

Update 07/31 @ 9:22PM EST: TWC has contacted a user on TiVoCommunity.com to let him know that TWC will provide CableCARDs for the Series3 TiVo.

According to a complaint on consumerfury.com, Time Warner in Raleigh, NC has said that they won’t support installing a CableCARD in the Series3 TiVo. Nor will they allow TiVo to access their network (not sure how they would prevent this).

Dear G***** C*****, TRACKING NUMBER: 88187 Inquiry: Just to confirm, you are saying that when the Series 3 Tivo’s are released, you will not be providing cablecards for Tivo Series 3 owners? Submitted: by gc****@**********.com

Response:Time Warner Cable of Raleigh does not provide support for or allow TIVO devices on our cable network. Time Warner Cable provides DVR service and equipment for customers that would like to record programs and watch them later. Cable Cards will only be installed on Cable ready, Cable Card slot available television sets. This policy is subject to change at the discretion of Time Warner Cable of Raleigh.

If this is true there are going to be a lot of people who are going to be pissed off. I’m not even sure if Time Warner can do this since the whole CableCARD thing was a government mandate.

If you want to find out what your local Time Warner has to say about this you can contact them using this page. If they tell you that they won’t support the Series3 TiVo then you can file a complaint with the FCC.

I plan on calling my cable company (Adelphia) tomorrow. I will let everybody know what they have to say. If you get a chance, you might want call your cable company. I’m interested to hear what Comcast and other cable companies have to say.

Digg here, Thanks Rob!

Update: 07/27 @ 11:16 PM: Looks like TWC in Los Angeles is saying the same thing…
Update: 07/26 @ 9:58 PM: The consumerfury.com complaint has been updated. Apparently the individual who posted the complaint contacted the Raleigh Telecommunication Commission about the problem. The RTC replied back essentially saying that TW is under no obligation to support a CableCARD install in a Series 3 TiVo. Check out the complaint for more information and additional followup.

I’m especially concerned about this because my cable provider (Adelphia) is about to switch over to TW in the near future. Has anybody else contacted their cable provider to find out what they have to say?

As many of you already know, TiVo’s remote does not work if you don’t have a direct line of sight to the DVR. How many times have you tried to pause your TiVo or turn a channel only to be denied by some obstacle in your way? This is not a shortcoming of cute little peanut, rather it is a problem with IR remotes in general.

Back in February, the WeaKnees blog put together an interesting post which discussed how to control your TiVo without a line of sight. Since the TiVo uses IR technology, you need to use a RF extender or some other type of gadget/remote which sends out a RF signal.

I personally haven’t tried out the RF extender however, it really does look like a neat device. Does anybody have a setup which requires you to use a RF extender? Is your TiVo tucked away in some closet where you don’t have a direct line of sight?

The other day a buddy of mine asked me if I was going to buy a Series3 TiVo as soon as it is released. Initially I said yes however, now I’m starting to think that I might wait a little while before I throw down my hard earned cash.

Like most first generation technologies, I expect the Series3 TiVo to have some hardware and software issues. TiVo is normally pretty good about releasing a product that is relatively bug free however, the Series3 TiVo is a big jump in technology and there are bound to be problems (IMHO).

This may all change of course once the box is released and I read some of the reviews. Also, if the DVR comes in at a decent price then I may decide that it is worth the risk. Don’t forget that I just purchased a $2,200 TV so my technology budget has been reduced somewhat :).

I know that I’ve been pestering TiVo about releasing this device however, I want to make sure that when I buy the device is solid and that I don’t have to worry about any issues.

Does anybody know if the first generation Series1 and Series2 TiVos had issues when they were first released? I’ve only had my TiVo for two years now so I don’t have any experience with a first generation device. When I purchased my TiVo, the Series2 TiVo had been out for quite some time.
Are you planning on getting a Series3 TiVo as soon as it is released or are you going to wait?

TiVo has informed both the FCC and cable providers that the Series 3 TiVo with CableCard support will be released soon and that it is currently in beta testing.

This product is currently being tested by a small number of consumers in cable markets across the country, and will be generally available in retail stores soon. Thus, we wanted to ensure that you are aware of this product in time to make any necessary preparations to support customers who request two CableCARD decoders for their TiVo Series3 HD DVR.

In the same letter, TiVo also expressed a concern they have with the cable companies and their Series3 TiVo:

….Specifically, TiVo expressed concern that if a cable operator distributes linear cable channels (apart from PPV and VOD) via switched digital technology, subscribers with a competitive entrant UDCP will not have access to the same channels as those subscribers leasing set-top boxes from the cable operator. Consequently, consumers will be hesitant to invest in UDCPs. This concern, which TiVo has heard from a number of customers, is captured by the attached e-mail, copies of which were distributed at the meetings. TiVo emphasized that it is not against cable’s use of switched digital technology, but simply wants those cable operators adopting the technology to take whatever actions necessary to ensure that subscribers with competitive entrant UDCPs have equal access to the same digital content offerings available to subscribers with MSO-leased set-top boxes.

Looks like the Series3 TiVo is coming out soon! I know I’m ready! Are you?

Spotted on, Digg (ZatzNotFunny)!