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View Full Version : TiVo is finally coming to Australia.



griffin
12th July 2008, 12:34 PM
But a decade too late, with TV digital recorders and internet downloading.

For those who have American friends, or follow a lot of American shows, the word TiVo is nothing new. In fact, it is such a commonly used word in America, it is used like 'google' is used these days (a noun that is now also used as a verb). The first time I heard it used at a BotCon, I asked what is 'TiVo', and the response was like, how could you not know what it is?

Anyway, for those who don't know what Tivo is, it is a digital recorder for TV shows. Not really advanced technology now, but ten years ago when it was launched in Nth America, it was, and still is a leading form of AV medium recording device there.
Here though, with the government (or at least their financial backers pulling the strings) preventing the legal usage of these sort of recording devices (recordings are okay if for private use, but this sort of technology makes it easy to redistribute copyright material more publically), we have only recently seen a similar device by Foxtel introduced to this country.

The TiVo recording device is quite interactive these days, and offers a lot of features for recording different shows, but is probably a bit wasted here if you just have free-to-air channels. And if you have all the channels of Foxtel, you probably use their device. Or if you have Broadband internet access, you already download all your shows and music through that.

But Network 7 have been trying to get it approved (since 2007) for usage in Australia for the Olympics (after their failed attempt at setting up a pay-TV sporting network, I guess this is plan B), and the recording device should be available from Harvey Norman (only at this stage) in time for the games.

Okay, big deal, but it's one of those Americanisms that I have been familiar with through all those trips to the US, and thought it worth describing here now that it will be something Australians will probably be buying in the lead up to Christmas. It is priced at $700, but no subscription fees (that may change later though).

TiVo's release in Oz:
http://www.news.com.au/technology/story/0,25642,23986827-5014108,00.html

The device appears to use program codes, like the g-codes that tv-guides used to have (still have?), but now can upload them directly from the internet automatically.

TiVo on wiki.com:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TiVo

Interesting to see in the wiki article that the TiVo was launched in the UK in 2000, but abandoned within 2 years, because the UK pay-TV network had their own digital recorder that was more useful and thus popular. So by the sounds of it, if Foxtel already have a digital recorder available here (Foxtel IQ), I can see TiVo failing here as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foxtel#Available_Models
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AUSTAR#The_MyStar_Personal_Digital_Recorder

Gutsman Heavy
12th July 2008, 01:25 PM
pfff, just get a Topfield.

Waaaay too late to the game TiVo, willing to bet there will be a sub at a later date.

gamblor916
12th July 2008, 02:31 PM
I agree, get a toppy and you'll never look back.

Burn
12th July 2008, 02:46 PM
But it's only available in certain areas as well isn't it?

GoktimusPrime
12th July 2008, 03:30 PM
yeah, it's called civilisation. ;) :D

Pulse
12th July 2008, 04:08 PM
But it's only available in certain areas as well isn't it?

I don't think TiVo will work inside of a box... :p

Burn
12th July 2008, 04:36 PM
yeah, it's called civilisation. ;) :D

Touche. Enjoy life without fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat then while watching your fancy TiVO on your fancy big screen tv's. :p


I don't think TiVo will work inside of a box... :p

Won't know unless we try! :D

kup
12th July 2008, 04:41 PM
Tv is so crap in Australia that there was no need for it. Cable is also substandard by International standards.

GoktimusPrime
12th July 2008, 04:42 PM
My produce is fresh....... from the "Fresh Food People(TM)" :D (Woolies wouldn't lie to me now would they?!) :p

I agree with kup about the crapness of Australian television. So b o r i n g.
Japanese TV adverts are more entertaining than our programmes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-B52PV876I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTGifrYPTas

Burn
12th July 2008, 06:26 PM
Banging your head against a wall can be more entertaining.

Pulse
12th July 2008, 06:33 PM
I don't know if you guys have ever seen "The Man Show" but that is pure gold! :D

But those Japanese commercials?
That first one left me shaking my head (in weirdness alone :p) & those Pepsiman ones? :D I liked the coke one the best :cool: