RSSTiVo launches in Canada, but without HD
By Nate Mook | Published November 26, 2007, 11:04 AM
While TiVo is pushing new high-definition models in the United States, the company has gone up north to sell its standard-definition DVRs, with an 80GB Series2 TiVo now available in Canada.
Canadians who have desired to fast-forward through commercials and pause live TV can pick up a TiVo at Best Buy, The Brick, London Drug or Future Shop for $199 CAD. This does not include TiVo serivce, which runs $12.95 per month, although is cheaper when prepaid annually.
The Canadian Series2 won't dispense maple syrup, but it does include dual tuners and features TiVo's standard SeasonPass, WishList, Online Scheduling, TiVoToGo and Multi-Room viewing features. 80 hours worth of standard definition content can be recorded to the device.
TiVo says it has received overwhelming demand from Canada and the expansion up north was a natural progression of the company's business into international markets. The company's previous international foray into England, however, was largely a bust and TiVo service is no longer sold there.
Missing from TiVo's Canadian launch is high-definition support; TiVo HD is now the company's flagship model in the United States. This is largely due to the CableCARD standard the set-top boxes employ, which is not used by any Canadian cable companies. European video providers also use a different standard called DVB, further hindering TiVo's ability to expand overseas.
Still, the company is bullish about its potential in Canada, and those who previously brought US versions into the country will surely be pleased since the Zap2It television data they relied on previously is no longer offered.
For the time being, TiVo is not being sold in Quebec, ostensibly due to the DVR only being available in English.
Damn, I was looking forward to that Maple Syrup Dispenser. It would have gone perfect with my mini beer fridge that I use as I watch hockey 24/7 with my pet beaver in my igloo.
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|Mini?
Feh...
Drill a hole, install tap, remove one or two racks, insert full-size keg. Who needs a mini fridge when the big one's work so well? (And the top freezer compartment is perfect to store the ice cold mugs)
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|Canada looks forward to cell phone service some day, too.
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|"The Canadian Series2 won't dispense maple syrup
what pure comical genius this little bit is.
fine u.s. journalism at its best.
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|Does the "help" Button on the remote/guide;/setup screens say "eh?" instead of just the question mark?
Does it at least turn Ham into Bacon??
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|Way to go with the tired old jokes. Why did you spell ham and bacon with capital letters? That fine American education system hard at work, no doubt. *rimshot*
I got one American joke for you that trumps every and all tired Canadian joke: TERRORISM!
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|The oldies are usually the best. :)
How'd they come up with Canada's name anyway? Something about pulling letters out of a hat.... :p
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|Canada: is from Kanata, meaning "settlement" or "village" in the language of the Huron.
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|....or was it:
"C", eh?
"N", eh?
"D", eh?
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|No - you're thinking of the song by Stompin' Tom. Oh, wait ... there's another reference that only a true Canadian could appreciate :)
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|*laughing*
There's plenty of Canadian talent out there. Stompin' Tom Connors probably one of the most prolific if not most well-known(at least in terms of sheer volume, the guys got what 20(?) albums, not counting compilations...).
Hell, I wouldn't give up my copies of Strange Brew, the first season of Kids in the Hall, or my Red Green collection for damn near anything (all pretty low-brow humor, but coming form the land of rednecks, it's a compliment...really.)
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