The Scoop on TiVo DVR

The Scoop on TiVo DVR

Article by Mike Selvon

One of the first (and still most popular) digital video recorders was the TiVo DVR. This device allows users to record live television digitally. The main benefit of this service is the ability to pause, rewind, and play back live television.

When coupled with a satellite TV service, TiVo DVR is a great way to record several shows at once so you can watch them later. Never miss another event, movie, or game.

TiVo DVR first showed up in about 1997, introduced by Jim Barton and Mike Ramsay, who had initially wanted to introduce a home network device. As they worked on developing their home network device, TiVo was born instead.

They were the first to actually develop the recording of digitized video on a hard disk of some sort that could be utilized by individual consumers for their home television sets.

The original TiVo DVR device could record material from any source, whether it was from traditional television cable sources or through satellite sources like a direct TV channel. In 2000, TiVo developed a device that would integrate itself with DirecTV receivers.

This came out of a partnership between TiVo and DirecTV that allowed subscribers of DirecTV, the largest satellite provider in North America, to utilize TiVo DVR units and have them repaired through the DirecTV service agreement.

A number of TiVo upgrade technologies introduced through the years have expanded the company’s market base. One TiVo upgrade is the addition of HDTV TiVo, which allows the recording and playback of high-definition programming.

HDTV TiVo may help the company experience resurgence as the television industry embraces high-definition television programming at a rapid rate.

The actual TiVo unit looks a lot like a VCR and operates much the same way. A VCR, however, uses magnetic tapes to hold the information. TiVo DVR units simply store the information right on to a hard disk drive within the unit.

TiVo will also record material that it thinks the viewer might be interested in, which can be a great feature for some users but an annoying feature for others.

If you have satellite TV service, you may be interested in TiVo DVR. It may come with the system you already have, or you may be able to purchase a TiVo unit for a reduced price.

TiVo is currently in talks to collaborate with other satellite TV service providers, enabling them to expand the company’s reach into the home entertainment field.

As the level of competition grows, TiVo DVR has struggled to keep up. For several years, they were the only product of its kind available to consumers, so they became complacent.

In order to remain a major player in the digital video recorder marketplace, they are going to have to stay ahead of the competition in quality, service, and value.

About the Author

Mike Selvon is a great fan of Satellite TV Systems. Find out more about the TiVo DVR technology from his portal site, and post a comment at the satellite tv blog.

Posted in DirectV Articles | Tagged Scoop, Tivo