Originally Posted by Cozzy (Post 35190506)

I know i have said i wont get Tivo (or at least i wont pay for it) but i am following this thread with interest being someone who likes techy advances.

So far the more i read the more i believe VM have made a mess by releasing a completely unfinished product ... there seems so many things that point to it being released at least 6 months/a year too early. Those that have it may defend it to the hilt but the average person and therefore the average VM customer wants a finished fully working product which the current state of Tivo is clearly not at.

Half or more of the menus are old SD format, and based on 10 year old code with a number of basic functions like the INFO button are not yet working. The statement from the tivo forums there is one code drop due soon and the bigger code drop in around September (unless delayed of course) just shows the product in not finished by any means. The basic functions in these code drops should have been there way before the product was allowed into the public domain and in particular the September code drop with its fixes as that will be months after official launch.

No excuses .. you would not expect Sony or Panasonic or other big brand leaders to release a product as half finished as the Tivo is yet VM have rushed this product out to try compete against Sky and VM's lack of influence getting new channels.

VM may well be on the right track and time will tell but they have not come out of this looking very good in my eyes for a leading edge company.... all IMHO of course of which you have the right to disagree

I also stand by my prediction that the £3 charge will start to increase year on year after Tivo is around in numbers so VM can get some of the cash back
but will gladly buy DF, Stephen and other adamant staff members a nights full of beer drinking if i am wrong in 2015 :D

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic (Post 35190503)

It's not a show stopper though as some are making out :)

Originally Posted by ShadowTD (Post 35190519)

I'd just take you up on the 'Panasonic not releasing an unfinished/half baked product'. You only have to look at the bile and vitriol directed towards their advert riddled EPG to see that even major manufacturers cock it up every now and then.

Originally Posted by ntl.wotcha (Post 35190518)

I don't think it's a show stopper, just a UI niggle.

Different people will have different views on how serious these things are to them.

In my organisation we have a whole team dedicated to UI improvement/tuning, maybe TiVo don't. In my org we listen to what the testers feed back and change accordingly. With VM there seems to be an air of "you get what your given and be thankful for it".

As Cozzy says, most "users" just want a functional, polished product.

Originally Posted by mersey70 (Post 35190521)

I have read that Tivo will be used for targetted advertising too though. I suppose it's the way of the world now similar to the web. Almost every time I use hotmail low and behold there is a VM ad, it's almost like it knows my browsing habits he he.

http://www.marketingweek.co.uk/disci...021162.article

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35190528)

So thats more money VM will make through TIVO , on top of the user paying TIVO for them.

Originally Posted by Big-Ted (Post 35190539)

no more than I would expect.

Every business looks for ways to do this. Some such as Google make most of their money this way.

If I have to put up with a few adverbs on the EPG and at the start of VOD in increase content and pay for more HD I would prefer that to paying extra.

Hopefully that's part of the reason VM are doing it.

If not and they just pay off debt then that could mean expanding the areas they cover freeing more from only one choice for paytv.....

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35190540)

But shouldn't all this ad revenue be helping towards paying TIVO and having free EPG data and recording functions like Sky.

Originally Posted by BenMcr (Post 35190546)

What all ad revenue? I don't see any figures being mentioned anywhere. All it says is:

“It incorporates targeted VOD advertising, so ads can be linked to relevant shows that are being watched,� he said, adding that the apps will provide a “showcase area� for major brands.

VOD advertising is being done on the existing platform, so not TiVo specific.

Originally Posted by pauldavies83 (Post 35190541)

Wait until they force "sponsored" recordings onto your box and stick them at the top of your Recorded Shows list.

They tried it once on the old TiVo - was a massive outcry.

Hopefully they aint stupid enough to try it again. Although would they sneak them into your "suggestions". Brainwashing via TiVo :)