TiVo is coming to Canada. Inspired or irrelevant?
For many Canadians, TiVo is sort of like the iPhone. We’ve heard about it, read about it and some of us may have even seen it or used it. Until now. Next month, the device that helped create the PVR revolution will be available to Canadian TV fans for the first time.
For many Canadians, TiVo is sort of like the iPhone. We’ve heard about it, read about it and some of us may have even seen it or used it. Until now. Next month, the device that helped create the PVR revolution will be available to Canadian TV fans for the first time.
Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) are a no-brainer. They give TV viewers the kind of control over their viewing preferences that VCRs and even DVD-recorders failed to deliver in the past.
For some, it’s the ability to never miss their favourite show. For others it’s the ability to call up their kids’ favourite shows on-demand regardless of the time of day. And let’s not forget the near-magical "skip forward" and pause buttons. Any way you slice it, PVRs have completely changed the TV landscape. Most folks who own one can’t imagine a world without it.
In the U.S., the brand that has done the most to push forward the adoption of this relatively new technology is TiVo. South of the border, the brand has become synonymous with recording TV shows and it’s not uncommon to hear TV show hosts and others talk about "TiVo-ing" something. As Canadians, we’ve largely had to stand back and curiously watch while our American friends gush effusively about their set-top boxes with the smiling-TV logo.
Not that we’ve been suffering up here in silence or without options. PVRs come in many shapes and sizes here in Canada. We have a ton of choices including either renting or buying a PVR from our cable or satellite providers, or picking up an off-the-shelf solution like the combination DVD recorders with hard disk drives. Still others choose to use their PCs as PVRs. For more than 3 years, there have been models from HP, Sony and Dell that come with Windows Media Center software allowing PVR functionality on their desktops.
The real question current or prospective PVR owners should be asking themselves is, what can a TiVo do for me that other PVRs can’t, and is it worth the difference in price?
From what I’ve been able to gather, the TiVo unit that is hitting store shelves will:
- pack about 80 hours worth of standard definition programming
- give users access to the TiVo Service
- allow them to remotely program their PVR via the internet
- give them the ability to transfer their recorded content to their iPods, PSP or laptop
- connect to the user’s broadband internet connection via ethernet or an optional wireless USB adapter
- provide access to some web-based content such as podcasts and weather data
The price is $199, but that does not include the mandatory subscription to the TiVo service which will run you $12.95 a month or $129 a year.
The hardware is optimized for cable, and the ability to watch one show while recording another will not work with satellite receivers. As well, the unit has to be connected to either a phone line or your broadband internet connection in order to receive the on-screen programming guide from TiVo’s servers.
For most people, the alternative to TiVo will be a PVR provided by their cable or satellite company. These boxes can (depending on the configuration) run anywhere from $299 to $599. But in all cases, these are one-time hardware costs, with no ongoing monthly or annual fees (unless you decide to rent). We recently covered the launch of ExpressVu’s latest HD PVR the 9242, which does most what the TiVo does, and a few things it can’t.
So tell us, have you been patiently awaiting the arrival of TiVo in Canada? Is the subscription fee justified by the features it offers? Or are you content with the current PVR solutions already available to you?
This dose not intrest me one bit. It is just another way for the cable companiies to gouge there customers for for more money.
I live in Canada and have had it for 9 months. I can't image TV without it! I love my TIVO. We now have a second one. It has many features you can't get with satellite.
Having used TiVo I am excited that it is finally here.
My cable box already does all of what Tivo does. The only good that can come from this is to drive the ridiculous price of the Motorola cable boxes down which cost 350% more than Tivo for no good reason.
I've had my Tivo for over a year now, they work in Canada, they just haven't been sold here. I got a Version 2 on ebay for 57$, and have never been happier with it. The amount my cable company wanted for a DVR was crazy- hundreds and hundreds of dollars. I have never had a problem with the tivo, and the monthly fee doesn't bother me. I get to watch exactly what I want, without the aimless channel surfing of olden days. Glad that Tivo is finally being retailed up North!
Without the ability to record high definition programming, the Tivo service is not be of interest to me.
NO BIG DEAL!
I prefer the DVD recorder with a hard-disk. It can work on any supplier. TiVo is more of a gimmick and groupies with a notion that they have something special.
I'm glad I saw this news item as I have wanted this feature and can't stand Bell's overpriced monopoly with laughable Customer Service and lack of selection. I phoned them about other receiver/PVR items on the market for the DISH network and they will not activate if not bought from them. This TIVO allows me to get around that and Bell oses $15.00 a month they couild have of thery would open up their eyes.
I wish TIVO would put equal focus on satellite so as to have the 2 channel feature
Hope it works on Express Vu as advertised TIVO's website does have an icon/link for Canada and a Canadian section up and running but nowhere do they mention Express Vu compatibility nor is it in their drop down list of satelite provioders elsewhere in their site (they do mention the DISH network which I understand is what Express Vu is part of)
H. Noble
I agree with Ron and Richard. A question? Why can we not generate/create things in this day and age that are going to help improve peoples minds and their well being rather than just using their fingers and unstimulating their minds. It doesn't take a whole lot of brains to give/use the finger. Everything is all about use the finger and push a button. I am happy that today I can still pick my nose and I get immediate results (breathing better) and it doesn't cost me a friggin cent.lol
Joan
I have had a hacked version to work in Canada of Tivo for the last 4 years and just recently got a Shaw PVR. I have to say the Tivo system is much more user friendly. It is easier to fast forward through commercials, it makes recording suggestions based on personal preferences, you can set recording options by type/theme or even an actor, it has a lot more memory, can easily save recordings to a VCR or DVD and there are no adds in the guide listings like Shaw. I much better system. If you have never tried it you just don't know how good it works.
Yes, you can have Express Vu with TIVO service. I have StarChoice. You can select Express Vu in the setup.
I don't understand – I bought a used TiVo that came from back in the days when they used to offer lifetime subscriptions (i.e. no monthly fee), and it works perfectly here in Nfld with Rogers Cable.
It recognizes where I am, what timezone I'm in, and all the channels that Rogers is piping into the house: I had no idea that TiVo wasn't supposed to work up here!
I had an old Tivo given to me by a friend in the states a few years ago. We currently use a pvr from Bell. There are many functions that the old Tivo handles in a much better way than my new Bell multituner PVR. The old TIVO did things that my latest and greatest PVR is still unable to do. I think much greater thought and planning went into the functionality of Tivo, than the PVR's here in Canada.
The big Tivo/PVR debate…
Sure there are many pros and cons about "consuming" television broadcast and the costs it may occur. That is a personal choice and what you get out of it.
For us, our Tivo has been very useful and the relative cost is well worth it. Features like not having to scan through schedules to find broadcasts of interest is a great feature; we are currently planning a trip to Argentina and our Tivo as been very useful: we simply entered the word "Argentina" and our Tivo scans all channels at all times (till we tell it to stop) for any mention of Argentina in broadcasts descriptions and it records the broadcasts till we are ready to view them. Great feature and reduces the long and frustrating channel surfing needed to find these broadcasts. This is but one of the features. Imagine using it to pick up all your favourite shows on all channels at any time? Can you say: "My own private library of Seinfeld, Start Trek, Canadian Idol or whatever…".
We have copied onto our computer and then onto DVD any broadcasts we wish to keep in our DVD library (over 1000 strong).
This brings me to another point: Tivo, though now available, remains technically illegal in Canada. The CRTC and related legislation does NOT allow the use of personal video recording to record any broadcasts. Though there is currently a push to review many of the laws governing media rights, the PVR and alike have been specifically left out by the Harper government. Like copying a store bought and registered software CD (therefore legitimately owned by the user) onto a CD as a back-up (in case of a computer mishap) remains illegal in Canada.
Once Canada was a leader in telecommunications and now we have been surpassed by most countries in Africa… Just look at our cell phone oligarchy: crappiest limited services at the highest prices in the world…
I love my HD PVR from Rogers. I don't see the need to change.
I don't understand how anybody can be interested in TIVO without the ability to record in Hi-Def. And I can't see any current HD viewers buying a TIVO, that's for sure.
No matter what features TiVo offers, it can't make up for not offering the ability to record in high definition.
And to those who complain about the price: talk to me in 5 years.
Shaw HD PRV: $650
5 yr TiVo: $844
What a rip off!
Record movies in HD. With TiVo HD, you can record shows in standard or high definition. Plus, you can pause or rewind HD instant replays without sacrificing the original razor-sharp HD resolution.
TIVO craze began in USA and the makers grabbed the market through ads.on TV, web 7 magezines ETC.
Marketing , availibity and subscription was made available to USA subscribers ONLY, NOT to canadians.
Now several manufacturers have come up with numbers of devices to burn and store programes TIVO sales are suffering in USA thus they now began to oblige canadian consumers.
This I find typical of many USA businesses.
Who in their right mind purchase a thing like TIVO, pay high $s to buy and for ever pay monthly fees to be able to use it when several electronic equipments are available everywhere to do the same job. All you have to do is walk into any electronic shop and such devices are staring at you to be picked and in the long run cheaper to operate too.
i have had 2 tivos for about 3 years. i record my satellite on one and digital cable on the other. the best thing about having 2 is networking them. i transfer shows between them, i can listen to music off my cpu wirelessly through them and i have never had any problems. both my tivos have upgraded hard drives and can record 500 hours of quality television, which no other pvr can do. i also was able to pay a one time subsciption fee so i will never have to pay again. in the time i have had them, it has paid itself off. oh yeah, and the best thing sbout my series 2 tivos, they both have burners. so if i want to back up any of my shows on to dvd, i can within 10 minutes.
with anyone concerned about recording in "hd", i would wait anyways. most providers only put out a 720dpi hd signal. it is rare to get a true 1080dpi signal here in canada. and seriously, most of the shows out there in hd are sports. so why would you want to record a 3 hour game in hd anyways…i think that is just a waste of space anyways. trust me, you can find them cheaper on ebay (where i bought both of mine) or on websites here in canada that have been selling them for years. it was an investment that i have never regretted. i even got one for my inlaws!