Sky V Tivo technology

[chili]

why is it that sky have not got the same technology as virgins tivo box? on the tive you can record 3 while watching a 4th.
has sky an plans to copy this?

[reddwarfcrew]

Sky has been playing with quad tuners for a while. With +1 channels and sky anytime etc etc the need for multiple tuners does reduce. If there was more hd on these services then it would be better.

TiVo is more for the enthusiast and sky at this point are focusing on the mass Market.

Just my take before we hit the whole sky v vm and sky+ vs TiVo debate.


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[Scubbie]

One aspect of the TiVo I do like is that you can link a NAS drive to it and massively expand the potential storage space.

It would be nice if Sky could make more use of their USB, eSata & LAN ports and allow people to easily expand the storage space available and to also allow people to use an app such as Sky Go to stream content from their own STB to a Laptop or iPad or some other device connected on their home network.

It would also be nice to expand this so that you could stream some content from your STB to your Laptop, etc., when you are not at home.

Virgin are pushing the TiVo like crazy at the moment, but it is not something that they created. TiVos are available direct from the states.

[speedyrite]

Just to clarify, a TiVo purchased in US will not work in the UK.

TiVo support for the original UK Series 1 (launched about 1999( was withdrawn on 1 June 2011. These units can continue to be used by installing "AltEPG" (AltEPG - Home Page - the alternative EPG project for UK TiVos).

Otherwise only Virgin Media provide the latest generation TiVo unit in the UK.

In my opinion and experience, TiVo provides a far superior experience to Sky+HD in terms of scheduling - Season Pass (which works much better than Series Link) and Wish Lists are more intelligent, spotting and re-scheduling clashes etc.

[SadBloke]

Virgin are pushing the TiVo like crazy at the moment, but it is not something that they created. TiVos are available direct from the states.

Virgin had a lot of input into this version, which took over 12 months to develop. It uses TiVo software on a Cisco set top box, customised for their network. One example is the concept of going backwards in the EPG to watch archived material. That isn't available on any US TiVo box, it is a Virgin idea which they have been able to integrate. As speedyrite says, you can't just pick up a US TiVo and run it in the UK.

@chilli, it's a bit ironic really as Sky were TiVo's original partners in the UK. Sadly they fell out because TiVo wanted a more open software platform than Sky so Sky developed the Sky+ box. TiVo didn't catch on over here because of terrible marketing and the high cost (original boxes were £399 + £199 for a subscription).

[Scubbie]

With a reasonable processor, DVB and/or Freesat Tuner, display & sound cards, it is possible to make your own PC with many of the functions of a TiVo STB.

Admittedly if you miss a program you wouldn't be able to rewind the planner and automatically download it, but you could integrate the various iPlayers and perhaps even Sky Go.

With the DVB or Freesat tuner you could set it to record specific programmes or films quite easily.

As for storage space, I'm sure a 3TB drive would prove to be useful, but you could always double it up if required.

[Scubbie]

Channel 5's Gadget show is going to host a feature on these two next week.

...It could be interesting

[SadBloke]

But then again it's the Gadget show, so expect a superficial item telling you nothing as usual!

[dms05]

But then again it's the Gadget show, so expect a superficial item telling you nothing as usual!

I've often wondered if the Gadget Show is just marketing hype where manufacturers pay to have their items shown on TV with little or no substantial editorial comment. It can't be as it's illegal but it sure looks as if it is!

[Old_nick]

The Gadget Show is a joke. It's biased towards everything Apple, and they often don't understand the technology that they are reviewing. And..... even worse..... it's not even in HD !