PVRblog

ReplayTV to launch PVR software in 2006

Pretty amazing news from the company that refuses to die: ReplayTV will be launching PVR software for the PC that will ship with Hauppauge TV cards next year.

It's interesting to see a full service, hardware/software company like ReplayTV move into a strictly software realm. I'm curious what it will do to their profitability -- you can only make so much money selling $50 software packages compared to selling $300 boxes, though of course it's a lot easier to focus solely on software. Partnering with Hauppauge is a great plan, as they are the leading seller of TV cards for the PC, so ReplayTV will have instant uptake among Home Theater PC builders. Time will tell if this is a good move for the future of ReplayTV.

DirecTV update breaks stand-alone PVRs

Wired is reporting that an update to the DirecTV D10 receiver is causing problems for TiVo and ReplayTV owners. Apparently it's not always accepting commands sent over the serial port, causing some missed shows. The solution listed is to use the IR blaster, which can have the same problem as the one reported.

The conspiratorially minded think that this update is just an effort on DirecTV's part to get them to buy receivers with PVRs built in. A DirecTV representative responds "I can absolutely say this is not a tactic to get people to switch over to another receiver," which is just the sort of thing you'd expect them to say if there were a conspiracy.

ReplayTV hack DVArchive updated to 3.0

I have a friend that got a ReplayTV back in 2000 when I got my first TiVo and he's always insisted he got the better machine. Older Replay units (specifically the 4xxx and 5xxx series) are almost infinitely hackable, and a software package like DVArchive has a mindblowing list of features:

# See what shows your ReplayTV(s) have recorded right from your computer
# Automatically finds your ReplayTVs
# Download shows from your ReplayTV to your computer to watch, archive, burn to DVD/VCD, etc
# Automatic support for Replay 4xxx and 5xxx Series units
# Turn your computer into a virtually unlimited capacity ReplayTV show archive
# Schedule automatic downloads of shows from your ReplayTV to your computer
# Schedule automatic purging/deleting of shows you don't like but which your ReplayTV keeps recording
# Watch previously downloaded shows OR watch shows directly from your ReplayTV without having to download them first
# Control your ReplayTV remotely (turn it on, off, delete shows, etc)
# Manage your ReplayTVs photos
# Control your ReplayTV from your computer
# View and Search TV Listings
# Schedule new recordings on your ReplayTV (ReplayTV 5xxx series only)
# View lists up the upcoming recordings (and conflicts) for your ReplayTVs
# Access these listings, schedule recordings, schedule downloads, etc via a web browser from anywhere in the world
# Has a clean interface that allows you to see and use all your ReplayTVs from one place

The only TiVos I know that are capable of this entire featureset are what I would dub "ultrahacked" and are owned by electrical engineers and veteran software developers. But with ReplayTV and DVArchive, this kind of uber-functionality is as easy as installing a simple to use Windows program.

They've just released the 3.0 version, if you've got a ReplayTV and a home network run, don't walk, to get this package.

ReplayTV Sharing Server

Poopli sounds like a long overdue service for owners of certain models of ReplayTV units. They used to allow the sharing of shows between friends, and Poopli helps turn strangers into friends by letting users request a program while the folks that have them can send their programs to others.

I always knew ReplayTV had the chance to become a great big TV version of Napster and Poopli looks to be the missing part.

ReplayTV fraud allegation

Slashdot links to a discussion on FatWallet, AVS Forum, and InfoWorld about a new discount on ReplayTV units that was rescinded by the company on December 17th. It seems as if many retailers and many customers were led to believe that the units were to be dropped to $150 and that 3 years of service was to be free. In fact, documentation concerning the 3 years of free service was even in the boxes with the hardware.

Whether this was an honest mistake or not, the corporate reaction by DNNA is a lesson in how NOT to treat your customers when one is a struggling manufacturer in a very competitive marketplace.

Roku, from founders of ReplayTV

Serial entrepreneur Anthony Wood (founder of ReplayTV, Dreamweaver, and other products) has started a new company to focus on the HDTV market. An HD PVR must not be too far behind, although I wonder about the HD space needed for HDTV.

[Roku is] the first digital media player to be designed for high-definition televisions, which are gaining in popularity as prices drop.

The HD1000 can play slideshows, video or music files from its four built-in memory card slots, or play files streamed from a computer via an Ethernet network connection.

AP - ReplayTV Inventors Aim at Living Rooms

ReplayTV Hacking

While TiVo hackers remember obscure linux directives, ReplayTV owners looking to add additional hard drive can enjoy a nice upgrade GUI for windows. The ReplayTV Hacking site is a great resource complete with FAQs and detailed instructions on using their upgrade applications. The ReplayTV hacking community looks pretty robust, with mpeg extraction programs, community forums, and community sites.