In an attempt to boost demand for its high definition service, TiVo has today debuted a trimmed-down , less pricey version of its digital video recorder, 10 months after the original went on sale.
The firm announced that its newest TiVo High Definition DVR model, capable of recording up to 20 hours of high-resolution television, would retail for around $300 USD, and hit store shelves this September.
In contrast, the TiVo Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder, which is capable of holding about 30 hours of HD programming and has greater high-end audio and video features, already retails at $800 USD.
That said, both aforementioned models are more expensive than the average cable set-top box, a device that many millions of viewers receive from their TV provider for a miniscule monthly fee.
Broadband Video Functions
The TiVo HD is packed with the following innovative broadband video offerings:
- Download thousands of movies directly to your TV using Amazon Unbox
- Share home movies with your friends and family on their TV
- Get broadband videos, music and photos on your TV
- Discover broadcast and broadband shows with universal Swivel Search. This integrates regular broadcast programming, TiVoCast (i.e video blogs) and Amazon Unbox downloads in one search.
Chasing Viewers
TiVo hopes to distance itself from its rivals as it searches to bag more cable distribution deals, banking on the fact that the selection of web-related and home network features it offers will justify its monthly fee, which is generally more than that of rival TV suppliers.
Jim Denny, vice president of product marketing for TiVo said he was unsure whether the company would be manufacturing a new Series3 model, but believes that the existing goods should be available at least until the beginning of 2008.
The new $300 HD TiVo might just be the ticket the firm needed after the first Series3 model was received without too much of a fanfare, but we can’t help but wonder how the first Series3 purchasers will feel now that the new TiVo HD model has arrived at a considerably lower price, albeit with less impressive specifications.
[Click here for more information on the new TiVo High Definition DVR]
