TiVo has a new Search
by Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Jan 7th 2009 at 12:01AM
In the world of consumer electronics we have come very accustomed to seeing evolutionary instead of revolutionary changes. This can make it very hard to discern what's new, so when we received the latest news from TiVo, we really had to read it carefully. After a very thorough analysis we've determined that there really isn't that much new about the new TiVo Search. In fact the only thing we can tell is different from the older Swivel search is the cool new look and the focus on HD -- which is welcomed. But now that we've got an official glimpse of this new image rich UI, we wish TiVo would completely replaced the entire UI, something TiVo persists it isn't ready to do. Another picture and a full release after the break.
TIVO TRANSFORMS THE TV WORLD ONCE AGAIN BY OFFERING A NEW WAY TO SEARCH
& DISCOVER CONTENT
Introduction of New TiVo Search Means Channel Surfing is a Now Thing of
the Past
Find What You've Been Missing
LAS VEGAS, NV. January 7, 2009 -TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of
and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs),
today showed the future of television, unveiling a redesigned TiVo
Search feature that offers improved search results with a completely new
High Definition design, all at no additional charge. TiVo Search brings
users the power of choice, offering millions of pieces of content not
available via cable or satellite, along with thousands of linear TV
choices. Delivered via broadband, TiVo Search combines a graphics rich
experience with simplicity and relevancy that makes it a truly
revolutionary way to get more out of your TV.
"What Google did for the Internet, TiVo is now doing for the TV,
bringing people a combination of excellent search results and innovative
discovery that can't be found anywhere else," said Tom Rogers, CEO and
President of TiVo Inc. "TiVo has always been known as the best way to
watch what you want, when you want it. Now we're taking that to a new
level, using TiVo technology to find just the right program from
hundreds of channels and thousands of broadband options, all in seconds.
It is clear TiVo is leading the way in providing more choice, and also
leading the way in finding content quickly. TiVo Search is a new way to
find what you've been missing."
TiVo Search takes advantage of extra screen size afforded by high
definition televisions by showing more details about a highlighted
program than ever before, eliminating the need to dig down into each and
every program to learn what it is about. It ensures the most important
information is surfaced right up to the screen you're already on,
equaling less navigation and quick, accurate results.
"One of the best things about the new TiVo Search feature is how it
works as a discovery engine, helping users find content they didn't even
know they could get," said Jim Denney, Vice President of Product
Marketing at TiVo Inc. "We've added a new discovery bar that gives a
quick guide to relevant content, and the search experience incorporates
content from broadband sources like Amazon Video on Demand and YouTube.
The newly tuned search engine also displays the most popular search
results of the day automatically, even when typing only a single letter.
Searches work not with just the first word of a title, but any word of
the program, which is especially handy when looking for programs with
specific search words."
The new interface not only displays in high definition, it has a focus
on finding high definition television content. TiVo search
automatically recommends high definition television channels and
episodes when users schedule a program to record. Additionally, users
can now browse shows season by season and select any episode they want
utilizing a robust episode guide. Depending on availability users may
record content from cable/antenna, download it from Amazon Video on
Demand, or use WishList searches to record it the next time the content
is broadcast.
Seeing equals believing, and the new TiVo Search is no exception.
Starting today broadband connected TiVo Series3, TiVo HD, and HD XL
subscribers can experience a beta version of the feature on their TiVo
DVR, which can be found under Music, Photos, and Showcases. For an
online preview and to provide your comments and feedback on this new
search tool to TiVo visit www.tivo.com/tivosearch.
TiVo Search will be on display at the TiVo Inc Booth at the Consumer
Electronics Tradeshow, Room N202 running January 8th - 11th.
Filed under: DVRs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
shamon @ Jan 7th 2009 2:23AM
I really enjoy this new look alot .
Pip @ Jan 7th 2009 9:54AM
Replace the entire UI? Are you nuts? The entire reason I've stuck with Tivo for over a decade is because the UI is bullet proof. Compared to everything else out there, it is very simple, quick, and the layout in intuitive. If they want to just make it look more pretty, go for it, but don't change the functionality, move stuff around, make me get lost, or slow it down any. Otherwise it isn't worth it, and wont be the best DVR anymore.
MegaZone @ Jan 7th 2009 11:51AM
I disagree. I've been a TiVo owner for seven years now and the UI just hasn't changed much - and that's not a good thing. Even on the Series3 and TiVo HD the UI is still optimized for 4:3 SD TVs. Visually it doesn't look great on HDTV, and functionally it wastes the screen real-estate available on 16:9 HD displays. And it is also lacks visual impact and the use of graphics, which would be very helpful and useful. When designed the UI ran on 66MHz PowerPC processors in the Series1 - the TiVo HD has a 300MHz MIPS core CPU, eight times the RAM, and just generally faster hardware all around. It can handle a graphically more complex UI without any performance loss.
It is time for a forklift upgrade of the UI - dump it and create a new UI that sets a new high water mark. If TiVo doesn't other vendors will. One of the few things I actually like about the Digeo Moxi is the look of their UI. Next to TiVo it makes TiVo look like something out of the 90s - which it is.
And functionally this new UI offers a lot more, I already think I'll like it better than the existing one. I posted a lot of screencaps of the UI as I played with it: http://www.gizmolovers.com/2009/01/07/tivo-unveils-an-all-new-search-interface-which-is-familiar/
nz @ Jan 7th 2009 1:53PM
I agree completely with MegaZone -- the UI is tired, and on my Series 3, pretty slow. It was revolutionary, but TiVo has confused "simple" with "easy-to-use."
My main concern with this current UI is the show images across the top. My biggest pet peeve about TiVo is that I buy the box, pay for monthly service and then still get harassed by advertising throughout the menus. Those image across the top of the screen may start off as nice-looking shows you might be interested in, but I guarantee it is only a matter of time before they're advertising Tide up there.
I'd love TiVo to return to that innovative spirit that made them who they are, but for now the DirecTV DVR has over taken in terms of features and ease-of-use, while TiVo continues to add lipstick to a pig.