RSSTiVo Blames EchoStar for Problems
By Nate Mook | Published March 29, 2006, 2:39 PM
TiVo faced off against EchoStar Communications in court on Wednesday, telling a jury that the satellite TV operator's Dish Network is infringing on TiVo's patent regarding the pausing of live television. Dish claims it invented its own digital video recorder and says it did not steal any technology from TiVo.
TiVo received its patent in 2001, but until now it has been largely unenforced. Industry watchers say the case could have a big impact on the company's bottom line if it is able to extract royalties from makers of TiVo-like devices. EchoStar, however, asserts that the patent is not enforcaeble and plans to detail how its own technology differs from TiVo.
Lawyers for TiVo told the courtroom that EchoStar's refusal to license its intellectual property is a prime reason why the DVR maker has never posted a profit since 1997. Despite a loyal following and nary a bad review, TiVo has struggled to increase its subscriber numbers in recent years. The company also is facing pressure following news that DirecTV would begin phasing out TiVo hardware.
Still, things are looking up for the company that says it changed the way Americans watch television. TiVo recently signed a deal with cable provider Comcast, and indicated that it would sacrifice profitability in order to bring on new customers.
Earlier this month the company rolled out a new pricing plan that would offer free TiVo boxes to customers in exchange for slightly higher monthly fees. News of the new pricing plan structure came on the same day as better financial news for the company. For the quarter ending January 31, TiVo finished with 4.4 million subscribers, which showed 45 percent growth from last year.
Dish, in comparison, currently counts some 12 million subscribers.
TiVo will ask for $100 million from EchoStar if it wins the case, but has agreed to provide the technology free of charge if Dish pays for TiVo advertising. EchoStar has filed a countersuit against TiVo, but that case will not be heard until next year.
I have a Series 1 Tivo that I have hacked and added just about everything you can. I paid $199 for lifetime service about 5 years ago when it came out. Still works perfectly!
However, I ditched it about 6 months ago.
LONG LIVE MYTHTV!!!! www.mythtv.org
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|Tivo is a little slow on the draw. Panasonic showstopper had the technology before Tivo and it was purchased by Replay TV and I have no idea where it went from there, but perhaps it is TIVO that should ante up to Panasonic or who they sold the rights to. Next thing TIVO will want to hold the copyright on Super Heroes
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|Yah, fer shur: blame others for your own malfeasances and inadequacies!
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|lol, at this rate, lawsuits will be so common as younger people ending up sued by older people with similar names ...
Anybody here named ED .... 23 years or younger so i can sue you for using my name ??
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|hahah.. Did you patent it? At least copyright it, then you might have a chance.
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|lol ..... see, but now if i do that, you're probably going to sue me for "using" your suggestion ....
unless you didnt copyright nor patent it
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|LOL, sue every magazine that has letter or editorial or QA section answered by the editor signing with "ED"
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|No, Tivo can't blame Echostar..
I had a TiVo, I dumped it. Why?
1) NO HDTV / DVR
2) NO Dual Tuner
3) Their add-on for TiVo is 100 bucks PER unit.
Those reasons are enough that I think other customers, run, not walk, from Tivo.
I have Comcast now, ALL of that is included, and I only pay 10 bucks a month for the DVR box, and I can use it across a network on as many computers as I want. I pay a rental fee, but its the same as paying Tivo for their service?
The one thing TiVo does well, is the scheduling of shows. That's nice. But largely, TiVo service doesn't give you much..
Not to mention, they don't have anything bigger than a 160 gig drive. They sued some hackers for trying to improve the TiVo units by using Linux, and that was just lame. If I buy a unit, why can't I modify like I want?
Its not like an XBox where the games and hardware is proprietary, its just recording TV shows.. I am not stealing gaming code.
Anyway, I called TiVo several times, sent emails (no response - big surprise) and they basically don't care about customer wants/needs.
I just saw something recently where they are PLANNING an HDTV unit.. in the next 18 months..
18 months? Get real, this is the 21st century, wake up! You should be WAY past that
That's why Tivo is failing.. poor planning and behind in technology.
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|Agreed. Heck, even the most stubborn bigshot companies would have found someone to blame waaayyy before now anyways... :)
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|Where have you been??
1) NO HDTV / DVR
http://www.pvrblog.com/p...11/hdtvrecording_t.html Since 2004
or http://www.tivocommunity...b/forumdisplay.php?f=36
2) NO Dual Tuner
Again where have you been the Series 1 TIVO units had duel tuners
3) Their add-on for TiVo is 100 bucks PER unit.
Not quite sure what you mean on this one
4) Not to mention, they don't have anything bigger than a 160 gig drive
Again where have you been do alittle search
5)
Its not like an XBox where the games and hardware is proprietary, its just recording TV shows.. I am not stealing gaming code.
Hmmm do you think that there is no software that controls telling the box what to record? Or do you think it works based on magic. Both the OS (I think the OS is) and the software that records the shows are proprietary
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|No they don't. Even on Tivo's website, they even mention that in order to watch 2 different TV stations you need an external source.
This is *TIVO* not Replay TV. It does *NOT* have a DUAL Tuner. Dual tuner means built in support for 2 separate tuners where you can have picture in picture, from 1 unit, not 2. I want to watch some and record something else with *1* unit, not separate units. This DEFINATELY isn't on a SERIES 1, and its NOT on SERIES 2 either, so I am not sure where you are getting your info, but its *NEVER* been a part of their lineup.
Why would they make a SPECIFIC announcement about HDTV/Dual Tuner support.. if it was an existing feature, hmmm? That would be because its *NEVER* been there.
This is TIVO!.. I am not sure what product you are looking at..
1) NO HDTV / DVR-
Did you even bother to read the link, or just sent me some news article? Its a PROTOTYPE you retard!.. Its right on the site. ITs not even out yet.
3) The multi-room add-on to network Tivo units across a LAN. That's what I am talking about. You have to pay extra for the feature/service AND buy the unit.
I owned a TiVO for 5 years, I have had 3 of them, I even hung on to them hoping I could convince them or wait for them to catch up. The Dual Tuner is ONLY on SATELLITE, not CABLE VERSIONS. And they don't make those units, they are by SONY and PIONEER. They have the TIVO SERVICE, *NOT* manufactured by TIVO.
You need to do your research there.
Tivo site, look at it. 160 gig drive is the biggest they have.
What are you reading, a comcast ad? Tivo 160 (80 hours) is the biggest they make.
I said TIVO sued some people for modifying their box, did you even bother to read the article, moron? I know there is software, I said they don't like people to remove their software.
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|DUDE! are you behind the times or what,
i have two 300hr, and 1 80hr stock tivos, weaknees,com will also upgrade any tivo to bigger drive.
high definiton 250hr tivo comes out sept this year, that's what 6 months away, with ability to add extra hours externally. reg model dual tuner tivos should be out before that, 80 and 180hr showing up on amazon for pre order.
i have 3 units i transfer shows back and forth to each unit with wireless adapter.
i can program my tivos from yahoo from any where in the world,
i can view photos from yahoo photos on my TV via tivo.
i can buy movie tickets, check times and reviews from my tivo.
i can check local weather, local traffic from my tivo.
i can 30sec skip the commercials.
all above included in $12.95 a month for first unit additional only $6.95
PLEASE, besides basic dvr function please post all the cool features your cable dvr does please, i may want to switch to generic cable dvrs if better than my 3 tivos, thanks
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|Fine. Satellite TIVOS maybe, but what about CABLE? Not everyone can get Satellite can they?
Where are those units, eh?
You don't have a TIVO Satellite unit, you have a Pioneer, DirecTV, or Sony unit with TIVO service. There is a HUGE difference.
Tivo is complaining about loss of service, because they are behind the times, not me. Cable DVR boxes are selling better than TIVO, because TIVO doesn't have what they need.
CABLE! I am aware that Echostar is a Satellite provider, and my mistake was in NOT pointing out that CABLE (potential Tivo customers) can't get a dual/hdtv network capable box.
Satellite comprises about 5% of the total tv viewing audience...That's hardly a vast majority.
and it still doesn't dispute the fact that people openly modify their Tivo boxes, but Tivo did sue some people for modifying them. Maybe you upgraded the hard drive, fine. I am glad, that's good idea, but that didn't keep Tivo from suing others for doing the same thing.
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|This is *TIVO* not Replay TV. It does *NOT* have a DUAL Tuner. Dual tuner means built in support for 2 separate tuners where you can have picture in picture, from 1 unit, not 2. I want to watch some and record something else with *1* unit, not separate units. This DEFINATELY isn't on a SERIES 1, and its NOT on SERIES 2 either, so I am not sure where you are getting your info, but its *NEVER* been a part of their lineup.
BULLS***
The Series 1 Phillips 6000 Unit WHICH IS WAS MADE BY TIVO WITH THE TIVO NAME but marketed by phillips ON IT has ONE unit that allowed me to RECORD 2 DIFFERENT SHOWS at the same time AND WATCH a recorded show at the same time. This unit is several years old. Dont tell me that Tivo doesnt have duel tuner support
Why would they make a SPECIFIC announcement about HDTV/Dual Tuner support.. if it was an existing feature, hmmm? That would be because its *NEVER* been there.
Did you check the DATE of the post?? 2003
I only have experience with the Sat TIVO's (and the artical is talking about a suit against Echostar which is a Sat Provider) so the TV Tivos I can not comment on but you are making a BLANKET statement about Tivo. In the future Please state TV/CABLE versions of the TIVO units
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|Whoever this guy is that says the satellite units are not Tivo's is an idiot. The design is licensed from Tivo, hardware and software. The software that is run on the satellite units is the EXACT SAME software that runs on standalone Tivo's.
The only problem with satellite units is that Directv disables most of the cool features that the standalone units have. This is easily bypassed by modding your unit.
Just like the other guy said, check the date of what you're reading, HD Sat Tivo's already exist you moron.
Next time before you spout your mouth off, check your facts so you don't look like a little schoolboy who hasn't figured out how to read yet.
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|rijp,... Dude. STFU! Your an IDIOT!
Every single thing you mentioned on this thread is wrong.
Get a f**king clue...
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