What is TiVo?

TiVo is one of the first consumer brands of DVRs to come out on the market. TiVo is not just a brand of DVR it is an entire entertainment service that includes many extra features. Some of the satellite companies that offer DVR systems for its subscribers include the TiVo system. If you are buying your own TiVo you can expect to pay a monthly service charge on top of the price for the system. Currently, TiVo charges $12.95 a month for their service or you can pay a one-time fee of $299. With this you will get features such as wish list search, season pass recording, online scheduling, and home media.

 

·        Wish list searching: With this feature you can use a search engine just like you would on the Internet to find shows of a certain topic that you might be interested in watching, or you can search by a specific actor or director. Simply type in a topic or favorite actor’s name and it will find and record all the shows including those specific entries.

·        Season Pass: Season pass allows you to record every new episode of a favorite show without worrying about programming the channel or time. So if you tell it that you want a season pass of “NCIS” it will find and tape every episode (minus repeats) regardless of line-up changes.

·        Online Scheduling: This feature allows you to program your TiVo from any Internet connection. For example, if you are away on vacation and wish to record a special program you won’t be home to watch, you can go online and set your TiVo to record it.

·        Home Media Features: With the home media feature you can transfer taped shows from your TiVo to a personal computer for viewing. If you have a laptop you could take it with you and watch those shows on a flight or take it in the car to entertain children. You can also take your digital pictures from your computer and view them through your TV or play digital music through your home theatre system.

 

TiVos are considered by many to be the best DVR system due to their convenience and easy to use bonus features. The subscription service downloads a two-week program guide through your telephone line. You can find TiVos in several electronic stores and many times they even come with a $50 rebate that brings down the price. Currently you can get the 40-hour capacity model TiVo for about $100 with the rebate. The 160-hour model is around $250 with rebate.

 

Whether you choose to go through your cable or satellite provider, with the TiVo system, or other brand of DVR, feel certain that the capabilities of DVRs will bring more convenience to your television viewing experience.

 

Sources:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com

www.tivo.com

http://about.com/