Comments on: TiVo Beefs Up Search Functionality

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:24:02 +0000

Love it. I find myself looking up random stuff.

By: MickeS

MickeS — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:23:56 +0000

“I believe they use a third party for some development (think Rhapsody integration) ”

The less I think about the TiVo-Rhapsody integration, the better… that’s the absolute worst piece of TiVo-related software ever created.

This new search looks very promising. I like the 16:9 interface. I do hope they figure out a way to enter text other than the on-screen keyboard – cellphone-style character-entering would be much preferred.

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:56:36 +0000

I believe they’re developing it in house. Though, I believe they use a third party for some development (think Rhapsody integration) and much of the Java/HME tech came via their acquisition of Strangeberry a few years ago. In regards to licensing, the TiVo experience is being ported to DirecTV, Comcast, and Cox… so it’s not out of the question, those these are partnerships.

By: newbee

newbee — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:50:20 +0000

Dave – is this search TiVo’s home grown stuff or, are they licensing it from someone? If it is homegrown, would it be available for licensing to other set top box makers?

By: Dave Zatz

Dave Zatz — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:14:08 +0000

Regarding speed, there are two issues here.

One, the Java app is running on top or within the TiVo software. Should this become the actual platform, I expect it would be more responsive.

The other speed issue might have to do with network polling, latency, etc. So we have to wait for a response from the network, and again, some of the interface elements are remote – but should this become the OS/platform, they’d be local. (In general, I get noticeable network performance improvements using Ethernet over TiVo’s wireless adapter.)

By: cypherstream

cypherstream — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:02:38 +0000

Oh one more thing to add… I noticed on Tivo’s demo site, the UI doesn’t look as smooth as the alpha we saw on engadget a few months ago.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/09/29/potential-new-tivo-user-interface-shown-on-video/

The early previews show a real slick smooth transitioning interface. Maybe the full blown performance UI will come in the form of a Tivo S4.

By: cypherstream

cypherstream — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:59:07 +0000

Wow that’s pretty cool. Finally a 16:9 HD interface. You know what, it’s using a Broadcom CPU similar to those in Motorola DCH set top boxes cable uses. Although if Tivo goes 16:9 HD interface in all of it’s screens with reasonable performance, it could be time to finally ditch the Comcast DVR.

Regarding the font size… I would hope that it would be a setting. Someone with a larger 50″ and up TV may benefit from the smaller fonts for more on screen information. With the larger screen size it would still be readable. Although those on 32″ TV’s or those with a much further viewing distance may want to set the font size a tad bit larger.

Looks to me like it’s a step in the right direction. I’m still debating… wait until I go grey and Comcast update their DVR interface, get a Moxi, or get a Tivo HD…

Kind of hesitant loosing HD-VOD, but if someone blows me away it might be worth it.

By: Ben

Ben — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:51:00 +0000

Wow, what an amazing DVR search…This is something ive been wanting for a really long time, and it clearly blows away “Swivel Search”. The only Issues I see are

1. you have to go to the slowest menu on tivo to access it.. I hate how slow the Music, Photos, and Showcases page loads. If they fixed that, or added another link to this search from where the swivel search is, I think it would get used way more.

2. As Dave said, they need to increase the font size. I found it hard to read over my slingbox, whereas the old search was 100% readable over any tv/sling/phone.

But wow, I love the season and episode break down. Something Ive requested for years, to save me from always having to run and IMDB a show to figure out the episode list.