Gadgetopolis » Home Theater

Does the TiVo Premier Really Make the Invention of the DVR Look Like a Warmup?

George Thiruva — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:00:49 +0000

It’s been a long time in the making. Three and a half years after TiVo’s last major hardware introduction, TiVo finally announced something new today at their New York City unveiling. For much of the last month, TiVo watchers have been waiting to see what was coming after images of the press event invitation was [...]

The Sad History and (maybe) Bright Future of TiVo

George Thiruva — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:01:10 +0000

For a company that hasn't announced a new hardware platform in years, TiVo seems to be all abuzz in recent weeks.

It's been a long time since TiVo released a major new hardware product - about 3 1/2 years since the last major DVR release, the high definition Series3. Sure, they also released the TiVo HD and HD XL, but those were just variations on the Series3 with no significant new features.

Investors need something to cheer about. For pretty much the last three years, TiVo has been losing subscribers every quarter.

Fans like me were waiting for something new. I speculated on (or rather dreamed about) what might be coming prior to the start of CES. But TiVo disappointed us and announced nothing new at the big show.

But now TiVo looks like it's waking up from its hibernation and is ready to do something. Oh, but what? ...

Sony Shelves OLED TV: Tech Tradgedy in the Making or Learning Opportunity?

Robert Giambitaq — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:06:37 +0000

OK, I don't own a Sony OLED TV. And at today's prices and screen sizes I wasn't going to buy one! Apparently, I'm not alone. So Sony has decided to pull out of the OLED market.

But, with the way that this news came out, the announcement from Sony can only be interpreted as a black mark on OLED technology. That's too bad, since OLED was the hot topic at the Consumer Electronics Show for the previous two years. And if you've seen it, it's very clearly the best display technology out there - the technology of the future. There are only two reasons why OLED is not the technology of the present - cost and small display size.

But as is with much new technology, things are always expensive when you're on the cutting edge. LED and plasma is no longer cutting edge technology. LCD is now the mainstream. And to a certain extent, plasma is perceived of as the past.

Plasma and LCD each still hold on to their own benefits. LCD tends to be more energy efficient, inexpensive, and thinner. Plasma tends to offer a better contrast ratio, which many videophiles love.

But to the general market, it was very difficult to explain why OLED is worth a cost premium. Sony, failed to convey the message of OLED as a premium technology.

But more than that, Sony just screwed up. Present cost aside, OLED is better than both LCD and plasma technology.

OLED could (and should) still be the technology of the future. But what could Sony have done differently? And are there any opportunities for Sony's competitors? ...

Is Apple Leaving Money on the Table? Part One

George Thiruva — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:23:22 +0000

Given that Apple makes a fortune, am I serious about that headline? Yes! Really!

And I'm not talking about the Apple Tablet, iSlate, iPad or whatever is coming out on the 27th? I'm talking about tweaks Apple could make to its existing Mac product lines that could very easily juice profits up a little more. And Apple can do it with minimal additional R&D just by doing a couple of rather simple things.

In this part we'll take a lost profits with their Apple TV and Mac Mini products.

Let's check it out ...

It’s App Overload at CES!

John Hong — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:17:13 +0000

The two big topics at CES this year seem 3D and Apps. But app-mania (really app platform mania) seems to be a faster spreading disease than swine flu. And it seems liket every CE manufacturer has now caught it. We're not just talking about apps on cell phones platforms like iPhone and Android. Samsung, Vizio, Boxee, Roku, and even the Ford Motor Company. The real trouble with all of these new app platforms is many of them are all new platforms - incompatible with iPhone/Android. Are these companies really thinking that they can all attract thousands of developer to write to their API just because they said the magic word?

It’s No-time TiVo!

George Thiruva — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:23:35 +0000

So, a couple of days ago, I surmised that TiVo wasn't going to announce anything of significant interest at CES. Turns out I was right and wrong. Not only have not announced anything cool, they basically didn't announce anything (unless you count this crap).

It’s Showtime TiVo!

George Thiruva — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:49:58 +0000

By George Thiruva

It's CES week! And as a TiVo addict my first duty (as in past years) will be to check out TiVo's new Digital Video Recorder offerings for 2010. (2009 was a major disappointment)In the past few days, we've seen rumors of a new TiVo called the TiVo Premier. Sadly, this doesn't look like anything new - just a slimmed down version of the TiVo HD - which itself was a slimmed down version of the first TiVo Series3 HD (which yours truly has been using at home for about *three* years now).But could it surprise us with some unexpectedly great new features? Will it be enough to help turn around TiVo's fortunes?