PVR Wire

1. So if Cisco were to buy TiVo what would be the result? Here are some possibilities:
1. Mandatory Jazz music soundtrack while in Menus and while fast forwarding.
2. Higher cost (everything is worth more with a Cisco label on it).
3. Different TiVo features will now be ala-carte, pay extra for HMF (again), pay extra for IR Blaster funcionality.
4. The only networking configurations that will be supported is if EVERY piece networking, video & voice component in your house is a Cisco product, your'e on your own if you have a D-Link or SMC broadband router or a Motorola set top box.

Posted at 1:07PM on Jan 31st 2006 by Robert Aitchison

2. I would hope, HOPE, that the Scientific Atlanta UI would disappear in favor of the tivo interface.

The networking thing is a concern, but it would be more likely that you will get "better" support with cisco products. But then again you are looking at features that would appear a year or more out. So series 3 would be before this deal happened and therefore Cisco would have some "strategery" to think about.

Posted at 1:58PM on Jan 31st 2006 by chus3r

3. Right now Tivo is a service. . .They don't actually make the hardware. If Cisco bought them you would probally see the different Tivo brands go away. This might lead to an increase in cost?


Could also mean dropping the "subscription" fee? It would be easier for Cisco to do and instead make money up in advertising, promotions, and selling "Media" routers.

What about competitors? Intel VIIV / Microsoft MCE for example. . .

interesting

Posted at 7:00PM on Jan 31st 2006 by chris

4. I disagree with some of Robert's statements: TiVo would remain an independent brand, just as Linksys has. Cisco has owned them for years, and their prices have never been jacked up (and the WRT54G is still the best reviewed router on the market).

As for the patent, it's not just PIP PVR instant replay; IIRC, one of the important aspects overlooked here is the fact that the instant replay data is stored in the remote control itself, which is what made the patent unique (obscure?) enough to be granted. A patent has to claim something original -- it can't just combine two existing patented ideas (like, say, PIP and instant replay).

Posted at 8:03PM on Jan 31st 2006 by Keith

5. #1 ROTFLMAO! Too funny! Also, lets hope newbies won't need to attend a $2500 course in Fundamental TiVo Administration.

Posted at 10:10AM on Feb 1st 2006 by Matt E.

6. #4 (Keith) I don't know, Linksys products are consistently the most expensive of all the major consumer market networking companies (i.e. D-Link, SMC, Netgear).

As for the WRT54G, just how many great reviews do you think that would recieve if it weren't for the ability to load 3rd party firmware on it?

Posted at 11:08AM on Feb 1st 2006 by Robert Aitchison

7. Since were on the topic of Cisco/Linsys:
I have a couple of EFG-80 NAS. Anyone have experience with hacking them?

Posted at 1:45PM on Feb 1st 2006 by Matt E.