Never enough time…

• Download your TV; the current options. (TechCrunch)
• ABC.com users watch more than two million streams. (PVRBlog)
• TV networks blissfully ignore TiVo problem. (CNN Money)
• Windows Vista requires analog tuner. (jkOnTheRun)
• Paramount embraces blogosphere. (Technorati)

Remember that Guru Guides feature TiVo inadvertently announced with their updated privacy policy? Well, TiVo just put out a release with the details. Because Guru Guides uses the same technology as KidZone, you won’t see this feature for another few months. Initially subscriptions will be handled via TiVo’s web site, though I expect we’ll ultimately see a HME registration app as with KidZone. Reading between the lines indicates GG has the potential to move beyond television show recommendations and into BrightCove distributed video as well.

TiVo today announced the upcoming launch of TiVo Guru Guide(TM) recommendations. TiVo’s newest feature will be available to subscribers in the coming weeks. It allows TiVo subscribers to discover exciting programming and automatically record great collections of shows, recommended by editorial experts at some of the nation’s top consumer magazines and news sources. Guru Guide(TM) recommendations will create a virtual television channel from each of these authorities, while leaving the ultimate selection and choice to the consumer.

Gurus from Entertainment Weekly, Star, Sports Illustrated, Automobile, Billboard, CNET and others will offer TiVo subscribers program recommendations based on popular television categories including sports, films, music, comedies, drama and more. As an added benefit, TiVo subscribers will be able to automatically record Guru Guide recommendations via the company’s online scheduling feature.

(more…)

I just stumbled across this cute little write up… which many of us can appreciate. The site does require registration, so here’s a convenient link to BugMeNot.

Arkansas Democrat says: In time, they start to forget things. Like what day their shows come on - after all, it’s not like they have to remember for themselves. Which leads to them forgetting what day it is - is today Monday? Or is it Tuesday? Eh, whatever, The Apprentice got recorded, so who really cares? Before long, the DVR Disorder-stricken grow utterly inattentive. They become so accustomed to being able to fly past uninteresting footage and rewinding and replaying scenes they weren’t focused enough to appreciate sufficiently the first time around that they begin zoning out in everyday life. They find themselves grabbing for nonexistent skip forward and skip back buttons on their car radios, spouses, church pews, children, conference room tables, sporting event seats and movie theater armrests.

Enrollment and distribution has begun for folks interested in receiving a weekly CNET tech news segment, as announced last month. The service is being offered to both Cox cable customers, and in this case, broadband-enabled TiVo units. CNET had also announced their intention to include advertising, partnering with Best Buy as a charter sponsor. The inaugural 15 minute episode took slightly over an hour to trickle down and contains E3 footage from the floor… without any Best Buy references.

I find this only mildly interesting (where’s my VOD?), but I took Thomas Hawk’s advice and bought a tripod — so consider this a photographic test.

Never enough time…

• TiVo VP podcast: DVR meets broadband. (iMedia)
• NBC Nightly News rebroadcast on web. (MSNBC)
• Windows Media Player 11 Beta released. (Microsoft)
• How TiVo is cashing in on the interactive age. (Thomas Hawk)
• Samsung intros plasmas with built-in DVR. (HD Beat)
• Elgato EyeTV software updated. (MacNN)

Never enough time…

• Time Warner Cable to test “Start Over” service in Greensboro. (News Record)
• Discovery Channel content arrives on iTunes. (Apple Insider)
• Movielink and CinemaNow suck. (Thomas Hawk)
• Pioneer Inno XM2GO video review. (PC Mag)
• Netflix adds Blu-ray option. (Hacking Netflix)

As I originally reported, TiVo and Blockbuster has had a partnership in the works. TiVo inadvertently revealed the deal first, and Blockbuster just returned the favor… They’ve prematurely published the TiVo Blockbuster promotion web page. Oops! Additionally, TiVo.com has launched their page and reactivated the Blockbuster bundle shopping cart links (here, here, and here).

This doesn’t appear to be anything more than a cross marketing arrangement. In fact, individuals can cancel the Blockbuster movie rental portion of the subscription and drop down to a TiVo-only $19.95/mo service. I expect we’ll see a formal press release in the next day or so.

For a limited time, sign up to receive a 1 (one) year TiVo® Package Subscription (including an 80 hour TiVo Series2™ DVR) and a 1 (one) year subscription to BLOCKBUSTER Online, with up to 3 movies out at a time. Offer valid for new BLOCKBUSTER Online customers only; limit one offer per household. You must have internet access and provide a valid e-mail address and a valid credit card, check card, or checking account to participate in the TiVo-BLOCKBUSTER Combined Subscription. A minimum 1-year TiVo-BLOCKBUSTER Combined Subscription commitment is required. If during the 12 month term of your TiVo-BLOCKBUSTER Combined Subscription, you cancel your BLOCKBUSTER Online subscription portion of the TiVo-BLOCKBUSTER Combined Sbuscription, you will automatically revert to the $19.95 per month one-year TiVo Package Subscription. If you cancel your BLOCKBUSTER Online membership, BLOCKBUSTER Online rentals must be returned no later than ten (10) days past your cancellation date to avoid additional charges. Membership in the BLOCKBUSTER Online subscription service is subject to the Terms of the BLOCKBUSTER Online service.

While you are a subscriber, you will receive four free rental coupons each month delivered to your email address. Each coupon is good for a free movie rental at any participating BLOCKBUSTER® store location in the U.S. These coupons are only valid in-store and are not redeemable online. Separate in-store membership required. In-store membership rules apply to in-store rentals.