by T¹ » Mar 15, 2002 @ 6:16am
Tivo is basically a box with a hard disk inside, designed for use as a video recorder in conjunction with your tv. The system can be used exactly like a normal vcr, i.e timers, etc but also offers some innovative features through the software. One major feature is the ability to 'time-shift' i.e You could be watching a show, but need to go to the bathroom. You could 'pause' the show, and Tivo will start recording. When you return, you press 'play' and it'll continue where u left off, while still recording the rest of the program. Quite useful.
It can also record regular weekly/monthly shows, while differentiating between repeats. Also, it uses a system of 'Thumbs UP/DOWN" system which it uses to help suggest programs you may like, based on your ratings of shows. There are plenty more features like full listings for tv channels, etc. However many of the clever features are paid for by a subscription, in addition to the box. There are some limitations of Tivo like it having only 1 tuner, so you cannot watch a channel while recording another.
Although Tivo started the idea, MANY companies are now developing similar systems for release soon/now. They are being built into tv's, vcr's and i've even seen a dvd player with it in an issue of T3 magazine. As TechMage pointed out, you could just hook up a tv card to your pc and use that, although your pc would need to be constantly on and be connected to your living room telly, for the best effect. There is also software available for the time-shift, etc features. Tivo may be over-priced, but its ideas will probably be used in every house soon, even if we don't actually own the Tivo.
