TiVo Series3 and HD FINALLY get TiVoToGo, MRV, eSATA drive, other new features

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Oct 23rd 2007 at 8:30AM

TiVo let on that November was going to be the month that both TiVoToGo and Multi-Room Viewing became a reality, and now with only a week to go it's finally here. But that's not all TiVo's taken the occasion to announce: in addition to being able to stream shows between your TiVos (MRV) and copy programming from a TiVo to your PC (TiVoToGo), TiVo has also announced (hack free) eSATA drive support along with Western Digital's My DVR Expander, which, for $199, will expand your TiVo with 500GB of space (a good 65 hours of HD). Another new feature included with this release is progressive downloads, which means you won't have to wait for TiVoCast and Unbox videos to finish downloading before you can start enjoying them. Instead, the TiVo will figured out how much of a buffer is required for uninterrupted viewing and let you start watching as soon as possible. While most of these features have been a long time coming, we can only imagine how excited TiVo owners are to know that the wait is over -- assuming they've already signed up for the priority list to received the 9.2 update.

Filed under: DVRs

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, eSATA, Multi-Room Viewing, Multi-roomViewing, Series3, TiVo, TiVo HD, TivoHd, TiVoToGo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Lowest Ranked

Fred Peterson @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:00AM

Still way behind Dish HD DVR. and dish DVR is free.

Highly Ranked

Ben @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:37AM

You mean the DVR that can't even record two OTA channels at once despite the fact that Dish carries HD locals in almost no markets in the US. Yeah, that's comparable.

Neutral

MegaZone @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:57PM

Dish PVR has all of TiVo's network features - MRV, TTG, music & photos, TiVoCast, Amazon Unbox, etc? And isn't Dish PVR's USB drive support only for secondary storage - ie, not direct recording or playback, but kind of attic space? TiVo's eSATA drive is 'live' just like the internal drive, immediately available for recordings and playback.

Dish PVR also lacks dual OTA tuners.

And it isn't 'free', they just bury the costs in your subscription.

Neutral

Jean @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:33AM

My guess is that TiVo is releasing these updated features to distinguish its own branded hardware Vs. the Comcast/Cox TiVo software upgrades that will be rolling out very soon (which I doubt will have any of those features).

Neutral

Scott @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:38AM

What are the restrictions for MRV? Can ANY show (including those with no-copy flags set) be streamed between units? Also, does MRV let you statrt watching immediately or do you need to wait for the entire show to be copied from the remote unit to the local unit?

Neutral

MegaZone @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:23PM

MRV is viewable immediately, modulo your network speed.

But copy restricted content cannot be moved to another unit. The TiVo obeys the copy flags.

Neutral

SolidOni @ Oct 23rd 2007 11:39AM

I use a DVR and I love it, no need for this just yet, but when even more functionality is introduced like the ability to log into an account and get programs you have recorded onto a server that can stream onto any pc or other tivo box I won't get one. Imagine recording a documentary from HBO that is rather interesting and you wanna show your friend at their house. Well just log into your tivo account and show it off. Won't happen til net speeds are better than they are now but when it does happen I'm sold

Neutral

Kaiser @ Oct 23rd 2007 2:56PM

Is this available now? When I go home today is the feature going to be on there? Or is it rolling out? It didn't seem clear to me in the post.

Neutral

MegaZone @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:54PM

If you have 9.2, you get it today. Caveat: If you don't seem to have it, log into Manage My Account online and make sure the transfers enabled box is checked for your units. Then make them call home.

If you don't have 9.2 yet, sign up for it: http://www.tivo.com/priority

Neutral

Jake @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:27PM

Read link??

Neutral

Ben @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:28PM

The PR was emailed to us, so there isn't a read link.

Neutral

MegaZone @ Oct 23rd 2007 8:53PM

TiVo emailed the press releases directly to blogs - I posted the complete releases from TiVo and WD in my post: http://www.tivolovers.com/2007/10/23/tivo-officially-launches-esata-support-as-well-as-mrv-ttg-and-progressive-downloads-for-the-s3-hd/

Neutral

CcntMnky @ Oct 24th 2007 2:20PM

I noticed my Series 3 has version 9.1, but I suddenly can see my Series 2 programming! I didn't used to have this feature, but why is it available before 9.2?

Neutral

MegaZone @ Oct 25th 2007 7:03PM

9.1 had the code for MRV/TTG. 9.2 is required for eSATA & progressive downloads.

Neutral

cseabrooks @ Oct 25th 2007 10:16AM

Here is the deal as far as I know it... My S3 can see my S2 with DVD and my S2 and move shows. My S2 with DVD can only move content that is not recoreded in HD, even if the show was not actually in HD. I haven't looked at my S2 to see if it can see the S3 now, but it's my daughter's so it's no biggie. I would have liked to have the option move those HD shows to my S2/DVD even if it is compressed. I'm not looking to record them to DVD, just want the option of 2 additional tuners recording shows that maybe I can watch in another room. I have my S2/DVD hooked to Comcast HD right now and if I record a HD show, it is compressed, which still cool by me. If I want to watch the show live in HD, I can by-pass the Tivo or take my butt into the family room.

Neutral

Jim @ Nov 9th 2007 1:43PM

All the great Tivo comments aside for a minute... Forgive me for being pedantic, but has this writer heard of grammar check? ("the TiVo will figured out" . . . "they've already signed up for the priority list to received the 9.2 update.")

Neutral

Jimmyz408 @ Nov 29th 2007 8:20PM

Has any one tried the SeaGate Free Agent Pro 750 Gig Hard Drive with this new upgate?
I think this is great, but wonder if I have to use the Western Digital 500 Gig
DVR Exspander. 500 is nice, but how about 750 or 98 + 32 for 130 Hours of HD
Goodness!!!!

Neutral

Hamlet00 @ Dec 2nd 2007 4:31AM

I am using a Seagate 1tb drive in an Icydock enclosure with zero issues.

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