Series 3 TiVo in the wild
We all know TiVo said they were beta testing the Series 3, we don't know about anyone else, but we aren't part of the beta. One of our tipsters is and they were nice enough to send in some pictures, but not nice enough to send us the unit so we could play. We can't say we blame them, we wouldn't give it up either.
These pictures should help hold us over until the Series3 is released whenever that is. We have a few details as well, the Series 3 seems to be very speedy, but TiVoToGo is not on yet. It does have HME functionality including Yahoo Web Stuff, Live 365, TiVo games as well as others. They haven't started testing the eSATA drive yet and the biggest issue was the complexity of the CableCARD setup; big surprise. It took three visits from the local cable company and four cable cards before they were able to get all the premium channels working.
More Pictures after the break.
Yeah, ethernet, eSATA, and HDMI! Note the two CableCARDS on the right.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
dpratt @ Aug 22nd 2006 10:55PM
Finish the beta test already and release this thing. I've been waiting for almost 3 years now.
D @ Aug 22nd 2006 11:51PM
It's not a TWC system, that's a Scientific Atlanta Explorer 3100HD on top, digita cable STB.
Two cable cards, so it's possible to watch one program (on card 1) and record a second (on card 2).
SA cable cards are crappy dumb devices that only act as a SA PowerKey decrypter (and they don't even do that correctly sometimes).
Phoenix @ Aug 23rd 2006 12:18AM
I bet you that some cable companies will say "sorry, but we don't put cable cards into DVR's, you must use ours." I know Cox cable here doesn't allow it.
Davis Freeberg @ Aug 23rd 2006 1:06AM
I was under the impression that the beta testing was going on with Comcast in their Philadelphia region, but I'm not sure if this is 100% accurate. Hard for me to think that TiVo would test this in a Time Warner region given their partnership with Comcast. While this is certainly exciting the lack of TiVo to Go is a little depressing in that it makes me think we might be further away from a series 3 release then I had hoped. After waiting four years for this upgrade I'm dying to see this released. If TiVo doesn't hurry up, I'll just get a Media Center Vista instead in January when they come out.
Jim @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:15AM
Not true I am in Chicago and testing for RCN and it only was 1 visit with a Moto cable card with ADS service.
Jake @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:44AM
Davis: you are confusing the S3 with the Comcast/Tivo Moto box that is also forthcoming. The S3 is in national release beta test and is in no way affiliated with any cable company. Beta testers can be from any region and have any cable service.
BTW: not sure why everyone is refering to TWC. Was the post edited or something? Because it doesn't say a word about TWC. And the front of that cable box clearly says CABLEVISION on it.
Oh, and Phoenix: if Cox tells you that again, make sure you speak with the highest level supervisor that you can. They have to by law put a cable card into any appliance that accepts it. See Engadget for some recent stuff that TWC tried to pull telling customers in advance that they wouldn't put a CC in a Tivo S3. Went all the way up to a VP before the idiots reneged and apologized for their ill-informed support staff...
Rob @ Aug 23rd 2006 8:53AM
Based on the label on the box this is from a Cablevision system. However, there is no smart card inserted in that box and Cablevision boxes won't work without one. BTW that is a SA4200HD box, that's what Cablevision uses.
CBell @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:32AM
Series 3 is announced to the world on 9/12 and available for sale on 9/13.
Will @ Aug 23rd 2006 11:56AM
Acutally #7, if you look closely, there is a SmartCard inserted into the Cablevision box.
And for those who don't know who Cablevision is, it's the cable provider for NY,NJ,CT.
siva @ Aug 23rd 2006 12:20PM
I have a Sony DHG-HDD250 HD-DVR that contains a cable card slot. I don't subscribe to cable and just use OTA but there are several owners of these boxes that got their card from the cable companies. Some cable companies do object to putting them on DVRs but by law they have to.
DaveTehWave @ Aug 23rd 2006 10:28PM
@ # 3
It is a requirement by the FCC that cable companies provide the Cable Card to customers who ask for them.
They won't have a choice, other than renting the cards out (suposedly less than a full box) in addition to renting their own boxes that include the cards.
Of course it's still up in the air *when* this will be finalized as covered by HDBeat here:
http://www.hdbeat.com/2006/08/20/cablecard-fight-continues-courts-uphold-integration-ban-ncta-s/
Jeff Keegan @ Aug 24th 2006 2:26PM
> They won't have a choice, other than renting the cards out..
As I remember it, the whole point was that they could NOT charge for the cablecard, as it was the FCC's remedy for the cable companies gouging their customers on required rental fees for cable boxes, etc.
When I got mine from Comcast for my TV, their scam was that they told me the CableCard is free (because it legally has to be), but that my REGULAR cablebox (which I still wanted to keep) would now cost $5 EXTRA (since IT was now considered a "second cable box" according to their own rules).. So basically they charge me for my CableCard - which they're not supposed to be able to legally do.
xjonx @ Aug 28th 2006 9:19PM
Replay to Jeff Keegan - #12
No the point of the cable card is to allow consumers to use the equipment they have purchased and not be "hobbled" by cable companies requiring the use of cable boxes, that break the functionality of PIP windows, time shifting, extra remote controls, and the like.
In general they cost less than the box to rent as there is less investment for the cable company in the hardware.
I am in the St Louis area and Charter charges $1.50 a month. I think the box is some where between 5 and 10 bucks a month.
They do have to provide them when you ask, but as they are a hot item, supply is very limited and the CC may try to put you off by down playing it's usefulness ("You won't get our crappy program guide or be able to view our porn if you get the card.") or telling you that it requires a serviceman to install. KEEP AFTER THEM! They will lie back and give it up in the end.
I would also like to add that I am a "died in the wool" ReplayTV fan, but since the parent company (who ever it is this week) is dead ending their hardware development in favor of an WinMCE clone, I am very excited about TiVoS3 and will be one of the first in line to get it.
d_anders @ Aug 31st 2006 1:42AM
No TivoToGo yet? Who Cares? For now at least?
Don't be surprised if not all of the features from Series 2 are ready when Series 3 is released.
A lot of people just want a true HD TiVo DVR w/dual tuners working off their cable system.
If it's the difference from shippping early or going through another round of testing for TiVo2Go, I'd say ship now and then add-on TiVo2Go later.
The big question for me as a Comcast customer is what additional features are going to be on the standalone S3, and what's provided on the Comcast/Moto box w/TiVo software.
Wryker @ Aug 31st 2006 11:28AM
As a Comcast customer and using their HDMI box for my 62HM196 Toshiba 1080p TV- they charge $6.95 per month for the CableCard and $9.99 for the HD-PVR box. The PVR pales in comparison (feature-wise and 'smartness') to my TiVo 2 but since getting the box ($3 'savings' w/the card?) I love the dual tuner ability (record 2 shows at the same time) and recording in Hi-Def. With the S3 rumored to be @$600 PLUS the monthly subscription service it'll be hard sell to get me to buy an S3. I'm looking forward to Comcast SOMEDAY putting out their TiVo"box"PVR.