TiVo HD DVR

TiVo has launched their new affordable TiVo HD high definition DVR, which can be pre-order today for $299.99.  As the original TiVo Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder costs $799.99, the affordable TiVo HD should bring TiVo lots of new costumers this year, just remember there's a monthly $12.95 - $16.95 service fee on top of that.

Described as the ultimate HDTV companion, TiVo HD is also a Digital Cable Ready set-top-box that works seamlessly with any cable provider in the U.S.   It's also compatible with analog cable and digital antenna (ATSC), and offers 20 hours of HD or up to 180 hours of standard definition content. With the new TiVo HD DVR, you can record two HD channels at the same time, while watching a third previously recorded show. For additional hook-ups and networking, it has a built-in Ethernet jack, two CableCARD slots and USB ports.

TiVo HD includes access to a number of TiVo features such as:     

*  Movie & TV Downloads - In partnership with Amazon.com, TiVo brings you Amazon Unbox(TM) on TiVo(R), allowing you to download thousands of movies and TV shows straight to your TiVo DVR. Amazon Unbox on TiVo allows you to rent or buy movies from Amazon Unbox using your remote, download them to your TiVo box over your home network, and enjoy them right on your television set whenever you want. The movies you want are always in stock and new releases are available for purchase the same day they arrive on DVD.  Best of all, order with your TiVo remote from the comfort of your living room and your rentals and purchases end up in your Now Playing list, right where you'd expect them to be. It's like having an entire video store connected to your TV.    

*  Universal Swivel(TM) Search - Exclusive to the TiVo service, universal Swivel search lets you quickly find everything you want in the world of broadcast and broadband television with a single, powerful search.   It's the first truly TV centric onscreen search tool that allows subscribers to explore and discover broadcast, cable, and broadband content in an easy-to-use experience. TiVo subscribers can search using the way they intuitively think about television; that is, by starting with a program they currently enjoy and using elements of that program to find more of what they like.  Universal Swivel search allows viewers to seamlessly link from descriptions of one program to all others that have common elements, including program name, actors, or suggestions based on other viewers' feedback.    

*  TiVoCast - TiVoCast delivers original video programming directly to your TiVo box over your broadband Internet connection from a variety of media brands and producers, including the New York Times, CNET,      iVillage, The Onion, and many others. The content appears in your Now Playing List, alongside regular broadcast programming as well as your  Amazon Unbox rentals and purchases and even Home Movies. It's all seamlessly integrated into the entire TiVo experience.      

*  Home Movie Sharing - Instead of burning your home movies to DVD and mailing them to friends and family, now you can share them through a private TiVo channel of your own. Simply upload your video footage or photographs to One True Media (www.OneTrueMedia.com), get a channel code, and send the code out to your audience. Your home videos will show up right in the Now Playing list on their TiVo boxes, so they can enjoy them on their own TV. No need to huddle around a computer screen anymore, home movie sharing delivers those precious moments directly to the TV.    

*  Online Services - With your TiVo box connected to your broadband home network, you can access a variety of online services right on your TV, including Yahoo! Traffic and Weather, Fandango movie tickets, live radio, podcasts, games and more.    

*  TiVo KidZone - Only TiVo-branded DVRs give you total control over what your kids see on TV. With TiVo KidZone, you get to choose which shows your children can watch and record. It also helps you discover great new shows for them through recommendations from leading national children's organizations. TiVo KidZone provides a customized Now Playing List for your children that displays only the shows you pre-approve, keeping their shows separate from your own shows. TiVo KidZone relies on your own personal settings and password to ensure your kids only see what you want them to see, keeping TV as safe as  possible.