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TiVo Introduces Dual Tuner DVR

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

April 25, 2006, 6:40 PM

Responding to customer demand, TiVo on Tuesday introduced its first standalone digital video recorder with dual tuner capability. The new model will be optimized for cable households and features built-in Ethernet and a refreshed look.

The company said the first shipments would arrive at Circuit City, Best Buy, Amazon.com and its Web site on May 1. The dual-tuner model will offer 80-hours of recording time.

"We've been hearing from our subscribers that they wanted a TiVo DVR that could record two shows at once," said Jim Denney, Vice President of Product Marketing at TiVo. "With the TiVo Series2 DT DVR, we've delivered that capability to our customers at a very affordable price."

The TiVo box will retail for $99.99 USD after rebate and service activation. TiVo would also give consumers the option to purchase the unit bundled with service from tivo.com, the company said.

All the standard features of the Series2 systems would be included, such as TiVoToGo transfers, the capability to schedule programs to record through the TiVo Web site, and online services provided by Yahoo and other sources.

Until Tuesday, the only dual-tuner DVR with TiVo capabilities was available through DirecTV. However, since the satellite operator began promoting its own DVR, it has stopped selling the popular units. Those wishing to obtain the box have had to turn to eBay, shelling out $100 or more.

Add a Comment (18 Comments)

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By TomA102210

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 9:43 AM

I've had this built in to my DirecTV receiver for about 4 years. It's pretty nice.

Score: 0

By SorenMD

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 9:36 AM

About GD time!

Score: 0

By bigsexy022870

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 8:53 AM

my DVR thru my cable company has had a dual tuner for at least 3 years. It shocks me that the all mighty Tivo is just now getting it. This doesn't give me alot of confidence is there ability.

Score: 0

By jsc315

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 7:46 AM

took them long enough.

Score: 0

By Practice

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 12:18 AM

Just goes to show how far behind Tivo is. Dual tuner DVRs have been around for a long, long time. There are even tri and quad-tuner DVRs available and Tivo is only now moving from single to dual tuners.

Score: 0

By rijp

edited Apr 26, 2006 - 12:37 AM

Tell me about it. I complained about this for 2 solid years. They even had my notes from all the calls I made every week, yes every week.

I am not just a pain in the a** on here, I give every one crap! LOL

This was back in the days when the Series 1 Tivo was the shiznit.

Anyway, at some point they even told me, sir, could you please just be satisfied with the tuner you have and wait for our technology to develop, and once the new technolgy is released, we will keep you informed.

That's a true story. I called so many times, I had the VP of TiVo replying to my voice mail..hehehe..

I was immediate escalation.. But alas, it did no good, that's how I ended up with DirectTV.. but that's another story . . . . .

Score: 0

By kholdstare

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 9:56 AM

LMAO you actully complained for 2 years to get tivo to make a new product. man they must have had you on there retard list. although nothings more fun than giving hell to tech support lines :)

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 11:43 AM

well what can I say.. I am persistent, and I wanted my Dual Tuner Tivo, alas, Tivo is too little too late, as far as I am concerned..

Although, I love the Tivo scheduler.. It still ranks as #1 for me. I may switch back to Tivo, and get rid of my Cable DVR... I don't watch movie channels anyway.

BUT, Tivo STILL needs HDTV/Dual Tuner, then we will talk.. Let me see, where did I put that Tivo phone number..:)

Score: 0

By BeeJay

edited Apr 26, 2006 - 1:12 PM

I saw a video which demoed the Series 3 Tivo at a trade show severl months back. It has Dual HDTV Tuners, support CableCard v2, 2 analog tuners, etc! :)

Video: http://tinyurl.com/conm2

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 8:45 AM

They called you, "Sir"?

Man, they really didn't know you, did they?

*grin*

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 11:44 AM

Hey, its on the script...

"Please refer to all customers as sir/maam".

It was orders, not courtesy.. hahaha..

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 12:27 PM

Obviously. ;P

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Apr 25, 2006 - 6:52 PM

Its about TIME! This proves my point from an earlier post, about TIVO does NOT have a DUAL TUNER DVR!

Satellite is NOT the same.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

edited Apr 25, 2006 - 8:19 PM

"This proves my point from an earlier post, about TIVO does NOT have a DUAL TUNER DVR!"

Funny thing is...when I saw this headline, I thought man, this proves that earlier post that rijp had made is correct.

What exactly is rijp by the way? Initials? Acronym for something?

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 12:29 AM

OK, here is the story (no, its not about a lovely lady).. I signed up with chat on Yahoo. So I used my first, middle, and last name initials. Yahoo (in their infinite wisdom) chose NOT to allow less than 4 characters, so (in my endless quest of pursuit of the ever perfect place) I appeased them, but I added my second initial of my first name.

So there you have it, RiJP (As its properly capitalized). Wow a mistery of the world is now revealed! woo hoo!

So anyway, after about 20 years of Yahoo! ID, it stuck, and I use it for pretty much everything..since it is rather unique.

Score: 0

By horsecharles

edited Apr 25, 2006 - 11:01 PM

If they're proper name initials, then he's gotta be Latin-- something like:

Rigoberto Inosencio Jaramillo Palomino

Imagine going on interviews: Good Afternoon! And you're......?
Sí, Buenas Tardes! Rigoberto Inosencio Jaramillo Palomino-- at your service!!!
Huh!!??
Ah, you can just call me Rig.
Oh, ok Rig-- ppsshheeewww!!! You know, I grew up watching Lucy-- and I loved Leetle Ricky--did you watch that too?
Ahh, no homes!! What-- you take me for some mindless fool? Whachu trying to imply here? Why you dissin' me, gúero pendejo? Wassup with dat?
Why nothing!!! You know, i was just trying to tell you we already hired someone...Sorry!
Cabrón, i oughta bust your joto a** right here!

Score: 0

By rijp

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 12:32 AM

Wow that is most incredible use of multi-lingual, flash back, slang complete with accents and everything, that I think I have ever seen.

I can't even comment. Its just so beautiful -sniff-.

Score: 0

By Frostek

posted Apr 26, 2006 - 7:36 AM

*applaudes horsecharles*

I enjoy days like this when everyone's not at each other's throats and we can all have a good laugh.

I came really close to buying a Tivo about 5-6 years ago, and always wondered what I was missing out on.

Then again, since decent broadband came along, I've virtually stopped watching TV altogether. The net and an abundance of local second-hand bookshops seems to fulfil most of my media needs.

Still, Tivo does seem to have a certain amount of hackability (apologies for made-up word!), and the new improvements seem useful indeed.

Score: 0

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