Indiantelevision.com Team

(13 September 2006 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Tivo which creates television services for digital video recorders (DVRs) in the US has launched the high end TiVo Series3 High Definition (HD) Digital Media Recorder.

This the first stand-alone Tivo product that is HD compatible. The company says that the Tivo Series3 HD box is the world's first THX -certified, digital video recorder.

Tivo CEO and president Tom Rogers, says, "Tivo continues to be the best way to watch television and we are very proud to extend the TiVo experience into the world of high definition with the release of the TiVo Series3 HD box."

The Tivo Series3 HD box allows the consumer to experience Tivo's service features, such as Season Pass recordings and WishList searches, in sharp, vivid high-definition images. Extensive video analysis and performance testing by THX ensures content will always playback at the maximum quality and resolution. The advanced chipset in the TiVo Series3 HD box also lays the groundwork for support for more advanced download features in the future.

Dual tuners allow subscribers to record two different shows in HD at the same time, while watching a third pre-recorded show. With the high quality OLED front-panel display, the TiVo Series3 HD box will show what is recording, even when the television is off. The product enables the user to record up to 32 hours of HD programming, or up to 300 hours of recording capacity in standard definition. The TiVo Series3 HD box also features a new, sleek, backlit remote control.

The product TiVo says is designed to fit seamlessly into the most discerning home theater systems. It is compatible with digital cable, analogue cable and is the first TiVo to support over-the-air digital HD (ATSC). Later this year, it will also support the newly released TivoCast service feature which allows users to access content directly through their broadband connection, introducing the next revolution of Internet and cable delivery. Future software releases can even enable advanced MPEG-4 based download features.

With a built-in Ethernet jack and USB ports, the product also provides advanced connectivity and easy networking, making it simple to access an additional suite of exclusive TiVo features.

Tivo adds that its subscribers have anticipated the day they can use its services in high definition. The product the company states gives customers the best way to experience HDTV in visual and audio performance, an easy, intuitive way to find and record HD programming and a broad set of multimedia and networking capabilities.

Features of the product include :

TiVo Online Scheduling: The user can schedule last-minute recordings from the office or on the road from anywhere one can access the Internet.

WishList Searches: One can find programmes by actor, director, keyword or topic. The Tivo service works to find and record all the programs related to that topic — like an advanced search engine for your television.

Season Pass Recordings: This allows one to automatically record every episode, even if the network schedule changes. It can even skip repeat episodes.

TiVo KidZone: The comes later this year to the Series3 HD box. Tivo gives parents the power to easily create a customized area for their children, with only the programs they have pre-approved.

Broadband connected TiVo Series3 subscribers will have access to a variety of multimedia services, networking options and entertainment choices.