DirecTV HD DVR owners keeping an eye on Cutting Edge releases got a special treat this weekend with a new update that enabled multiroom viewing and dual live buffers on HR2x and R22 receivers. Allowing users to pause one tuner for up to 90 minutes while they watch the other, DBSTalk notes this test release is a "Very High Risk" so don't bother calling customer service if it doesn't work properly, and if you missed the downloading window Friday then you'll have to wait for the next test period -- or whenever DirecTV is confident it has worked out all the kinks -- to give the new (or old, if you're a DirecTivo owner) features a try.

[Thanks, Kevin]

[Thanks to Chris for the pic & everyone who sent this in]

So it's true -- hordes of DirecTV users weren't just dreaming about a glitch that required a painstaking reboot to start the week off. DirecTV has sent out e-mails to loads of affected users which were unexpectedly forced to mash the red "Reset" button located within a door on the front panel of their HD DVR / receiver in order to get things going again. Of course, even the mighty satcaster can't replace any missed recordings that were scheduled, but it is "sincerely" sorry for the inconvenience. You'll still be paying your full bill, though, so it's not that sorry.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Generally, we'd pass something like this off as just coincidence, but when over 95% of 1,000+ respondents confess to sharing the same issue, we simply can't turn the other cheek. It's assumed that DirecTV botched up a software update early this morning that affected a number of HR2X set-tops. Over at DBSTalk, the vast majority of readers who voluntarily took part in a poll affirmed that at least one of their HR2X units required a restart / reboot this morning. We know there's no real point in asking if you too were affected, but that aside, what was DirecTV attempting to send down? The world may never know.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

We can't count the number of times we've gotten to work and remembered we forgot to schedule that night's American Idol football game to record on DirecTV, and wished we could do it using just our cell phone. Well, the satellite provider is adding the capability to do just that: with the DVR Scheduler (previously known as Remote Booking), you can log onto the mobile site at m.directv.com, and bounce a record signal from DirecTV's satellite down to your DVR in minutes. The soft launch has HR20-700 DVR models going live right about now, with more models and an official rollout scheduled for February. Even the venerable TiVo HR10-250 is scheduled to get this feature, and it's sure to be a big hit with commuters, travelers -- and the rest of us who don't properly set up our season pass recordings.

The folks over at DBSTalk got an early look at DirecTV's latest HD DVR, the HR21-700. This unit appears to be an alternative to the HR20, rather than a replacement. The main difference between the HR20 and HR21 is that just like the HR21 Pro, the HR21 doesn't include an ATSC tuner for OTA HD broadcasts. This may be a problem for some because DirecTV doesn't offer all the HD locals in most markets. The HR21 also includes two Ethernet ports to eliminate the need for a switch when stacking multiple units, and is reportatly only available in a piano black finish. What really confuses us is that the MSRP is the same as the HR20, despite the lack of OTA tuner. Unfortunetly, the "first look" doesn't really provide much insight into the functional differences between the HR20 and HR21, but does say "Some sections of the HR21 setup menu seem to be faster than those on the HR20, while other parts are slower". The new unit does include faster chips so once the box hits the street we'll be very interested in hearing how the performance of this unit compares to the HR20.

DirecTV's new hardware rollout has been in the making for some time and now the latest addition to the lineup has been officially unveiled at CEDIA. The HR21-200 was leaked last week, and we've seen prototypes at other shows, but now the prosumer DVR will finally go into production around the end of October and offers some nice features for custom installers -- or anyone who's serious about their home theater -- like being rack mountable without a Middle Atlantic shelf, having a built in fiber HDMI port for long runs, or double the storage capacity of the HR20 (about 100 hours of MPEG-4 HD). In fact, the only downside seems to be the omission of OTA tuners, which is a non-issue if DirecTV HD locals are available in your area, but that can be a drag until DirecTV adds all the HD locals in every market.

It's been a long time comin', but it looks like DirecTV's bonafide video-on-demand service is nearly ready for primetime. Judging by a descriptive thread over at DBSTalk, the service -- dubbed DirecTV on Demand -- has been rolled out in beta form to at least some users, so here's a quick look at what you can expect. First off, DoD will reportedly "be available for internet connected HR20's that are running on a compatible version of software," and requires that a user request a program via the 'net or through their HR20, after which the DVR "downloads that content via the internet, and stores the downloaded content just like any other recorded program." Feel free to hit the read link for all the nitty-gritty details, but for those into abridged versions, click on through for a few key points...

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

DirecTV's HR20 has been available for almost a year and with DirecTV's latest bird in the air -- and getting ready to bring all those promised HD channels -- many are wondering; is the it ready for primetime? It wasn't very long ago that HD DVRs were a rare bread, but these days everyone is making 'em and unfortunately switching to a provider also sometimes means buying into their DVR offering. So while we all want those new HD channels, we wonder if it's worth it if. So HR20 owners, let us know, should we let the HR20 stop us from switching to DirecTV?

Love it or hate it, the HR20 is here to stay, and one thing its got going for it is a 300GB hard drive, which is bigger than just about any DVR sold today -- including the Series3. But, just like many other DVRs out there, it is possible to upgrade the drive to expand its capacity and WeaKnees is there for the faint of heart. WeaKnees is well known for their TiVo upgrades, but now they are adding the HR20 to list. So for $999, you can now get an HR20 with 1TB of storage, which should go a long way in the world of MPEG4 or HD-Lite.

After DirecTV's long-awaited HR20 HD DVR finally got its rightful announcements and actually hit users' hands, it wasn't too long before folks were plugging and praying in hopes of getting their new toy to play nice with that HTPC beside it. While we knew the two firms had gone hand-in-hand awhile back, we finally got the thumbs-up that a new, Viiv-alicious DirecTV Plus HD DVR would be unveiled soon to interact out-of-the-box with Viiv-enabled systems, but more importantly, that a software update was coming to the plain ole HR20s to accomplish the same thing. The time has come, and users are reporting over at DBSTalk that the "0x108 software" has opened up the Ethernet port for use, and allows browsing / connections via a Viiv-certified machine, but definitely made things difficult for those not exactly keen on shelling out for a few new components. Nevertheless, there's already been somewhat of a workaround worked out, which allows PCs with just Windows MCE installed to "see" the HR20, but not "serve up files in a way that HR20 can work with," which we're all but certain will change as the wheels spin in owners' heads. Reportedly, DirecTV is establishing a dedicated website to getting folks up and running with the new connectivity options, and be sure to keep an eye on the linked thread for any "future developments" regarding non-Viiv-savvy PCs.

[Via PVRWire]

JJ over at PVR Wire has an interesting article up about the quirks and problems people seem to be having with their recently-released DirecTV HD PVR, the HR20. It's the satellite company's MPEG-4-based box which has enabled them to begin shifting customers to the lower-bandwidth codec and hopefully alleviate some of the problems they seem to have with getting enough space for all those HD channels -- without turning others off, of course. The product was launched nationwide just about two months ago -- beta test launches notwithstanding -- so customers have had a chance to mess around with their units and get familiar with its features. Or, perhaps they're doing too much messing around, as the article mentions all the problems and complaints about the device. As Ben will tell you, it's no TiVo, but it should do as well as any other cable or over-the-air box, right? Among the issues mentioned on blogs and forums are freezing and crashes, slowness, and general interface problems.

Are our readers having the same problems? Is it just people who don't know one end of the remote from another? Or are we expecting too much from a new (to DirecTV anyway) product and technology launch? Let us know.

CNETs previewing DIRECTV's newest HD DVR. DIRECTV threw out the TiVo interface in favor of one of their own design and this is CNETs, and many other peoples, complaint with the receiver. The predecessors interface was intuitive and slick but the HR20 lacks these creature comforts. CNET's users did give the unit a modest 71. rating even though it lacks TiVo'ish controls thanks to the ability to receive and record the newer MPEG-4 signals. Plus, the unit can record up to 200 hours of SD and 30 hours of HD programming at an affordable $300 list price with new customers scoring it for $200 after a $100 mail-in rebate. We agree with those guys over at CNET that it is a great recorder for the price even though it lacks the TiVo interface.

UPDATE: Here is another mans view that isn't so upbeat.

DIRECTVs long awaited MPEG-4 HD DVR is slowly making its way into new markets nationwide via Best Buy Stores. This DVR started in the Los Angeles market but thanks to the power of the Internet, all hail the Internet, the unit can now be ordered from BestBuy.com for a cost of $399. We have discovered via their store search that it is in fact available in new markets across the country signaling a nationwide roll out. Interestingly enough, CircuitCity.com, another large DIRECTV provider, doesn't list this model anywhere and a quick call to a local store proved that Circuit City isn't carrying this model just yet. Just a quick warning though: unlike DIRECTV's first HD DVR, this model does NOT come with an HDMI cable. They had to cut costs someplace.

Despite earlier reports, it looks like DIRECTV might have their HD DVR ready to go within a few weeks. We don't have confirmation of this yet, but according to some quotes on TV Weeks website, DIRECTV is aiming for an August launch. The HD DVR is set to come out only in the Los Angeles market first and then slowly work its way into other major markets within the following weeks. We, and many angry investors, hope this is in fact right on the money even though we don't know how we feel about a limited roll out. Well, we guess it's better then nothing.