TiVo Goes HD With Series3 DVR

TiVo on Tuesday introduced its highly anticipated Series3 digital video recorder, its first standalone HD-compatible unit. CableCARD functionality allows the box to act like a cable box, and dual-tuner functionality would allow up to two programs to be recorded and/or watched at the same time.

The Series3 box records up to 32 hours of high-definition or up to 300 hours of standard-definition programming. An OLED display on the front of the unit would allow the user to see what is recording on either tuner. TiVo said that the device will support its TiVoCast feature later this year, which allows consumers to download content over a broadband connection.

THX has certified the Series3, meaning that recorded content on the device preserves the quality of the original HD transmission. TiVo said it was the first DVR to receive such a certification.

"Our subscribers have eagerly anticipated the day they can use our services in high definition," said Jim Denney, Vice President of Product Marketing at TiVo.

To ensure that the device would stay current, TiVo has engineered the chipset within the device to be able to support advanced download features coming in the future based on the MPEG-4 standard.

Like its Series2 predecessor, the Series3 is also built around broadband connectivity, and it includes an Ethernet and USB port to add a wireless network adapter. Standard features such as WishList, Season Pass, and KidZone are all available, and Online Scheduling and TiVo Mobile are also compatible with the Series3.

The device is expected to be available in the coming days at retail outlets and through TiVo.com at a retail price of $799.99. A check by BetaNews indicated the box was already available for order through the TiVo website Tuesday.