Time Warner readying modified fast-forward functionality for DVRs
While Time Warner Cable (partly owned by Time Warner, parent company of AOL, which owns Engadget) won't go down as the first cable company to modify the oh-so-lovable fast-forward feature, at least the latest hamstringing won't affect those willing to pay up. Dubbed "Look Back," the newfangled DVR feature will reportedly come "without a monthly fee," and will only allow customers to skip ahead and back in predetermined chunks of time; moreover, it will be limited to programs that are watched back before midnight of the day they air. The firm plans to test it out this October in South Carolina before "gradually introducing it around the country," and it was also noted that this -- along with the "Start Over" feature that functions exactly as it sounds -- would not require viewers to "remember to record programs," but alas, it also eliminates the ability to keep a library of stored content onboard. Ah well, so long as we diehard DVR users can keep on coughing up the dough required for a fully-functional FF button, we've no real qualms with this option joining the fray.

















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
_TMS @ Aug 13th 2007 4:49PM
This will definitely help when the DVR doesnt record as scheduled. Maybe if they fixed the bugs in the software first instead of introducing more features.
Big Sam @ Aug 13th 2007 5:58PM
I'll welcome any additional functionality.
And I hacked my TW remote to add FF. For free.
horngreen @ Aug 13th 2007 6:10PM
A nice new feature, and free is good. The NYT article says the ff is off for commercials. So ff works for program only, I assume?
Just don't take away my firewire box, and how about adding some new features to it. Like IPTV cabability, and expanded firewire functions.
horngreen @ Aug 13th 2007 7:17PM
Will we still be able to switch channels during the commercials like always? Or is big brother watching/preventing that now as well?
Phour ZwanZig @ Aug 13th 2007 10:35PM
Start Over is dif than a DVR box.. This is content comming from the HeadEnd via a stream like VOD service.. Start Over will only require a Digi Box.. Im excited to work with this when we launch this in our area..
Joe @ Aug 14th 2007 7:53AM
Buy a TiVoHD
horngreen @ Aug 14th 2007 9:37AM
Requires a digi subscription with monthly fee. Ah, there's the rub - it't not free.