Re: TiVo
 

Just noticed a change to the online TV guide. It now says "Virgin Media Tivo users, sign in to set recordings!"

Re: TiVo
 

Fantastic! :D

Re: TiVo
 

Well, I signed in, clicked a program and hit the record button. It's currently sending my request to my box!! All I need now is a TiVo!! :D

Re: TiVo
 

That would be Remote Record ;) Coming to a mobile handset to you very soon also.. another reason to get TiVo.

Re: TiVo
 

Let's hope they get the security certificates on the site sorted out soon too

Re: TiVo
 

Did sky not launch Remote recording years ago?

Re: TiVo
 

And that means what to VM customers ?

Re: TiVo
 

That you should be able to do the same on the tivo.

Re: TiVo
 

That's Remote Record pretty much confirmed then! It isn't a necessary feature, but it will be a brilliant luxury as now I can set to record things whilst someone else is watching the TV. Even better will be a text service, I can think of a few good examples when I've needed that, such as when we've forgotten to record it but are in the car somewhere. Will come in very useful.

Also, would Digital Fanatic mind in me asking him whether he would give a short review of the new TiVo service after he gets it? Just a request. :)

Re: TiVo
 

That Remote recording is flogged as a brand new service(to vm but not to sky i know) and is a big feature for a lot of customers but this has been around for a good few years.I wasnt wanting a debate was meerly asking a question.:angel:

Re: TiVo
 

Does anyone know if the remote record in the Tivo is guaranteed to record?

The one in Sky isn't guaranteed, and can take up to half an hour to hit the box. (When I had Sky this worked most of the time).

Re: TiVo
 

If you pick a program to record that starts within the next half hour it does point out that it can take up to half an hour to set and are you sure you want to continue.

Re: TiVo
 

Yes, virtually no-one took it until the price was dropped twice :p:

Bad example - people are uber stingy about paying for Internet, usually less stingy about TV though but I do expect a ton of people who've been on retention deals for the past decade to phone in whining and crying demanding the box for free or heavily discounted ;)

Re: TiVo
 

Considering the amount of calls we have taken since day one we had plenty of 50Mb customers as they wanted the bragging rights, so to say the was not much take up is not true.

Re: TiVo
 

I'm itching to get my TIVO any idea when calls to customers who pre registered will start ? Will it be New Year ?

Re: TiVo
 

Reading between the lines and based on other facts and statements that have been documented, probably not straight after the new year, more likely towards the latter part of Jan or early Feb I would imagine before there were any real numbers being installed..

Re: TiVo
 

Damn was hoping to have it installed next week LOL :D

Re: TiVo
 

You arent the only one, though to be honest i'd rather it launch and all the details be out in the wild before taking the plunge, so the wait isn't such a bad thing really.

Re: TiVo
 

Unfortunatley, the T&C's mean I'm unable to discuss the TiVo trial on public forums. Sorry everyone.

Re: TiVo
 

The one thing bothering me is how crash proof is tivo on the cisco boxes because apparently tivo takes a long time to boot up. Time will tell I suppose.

Re: TiVo
 

Trial? I thought the the soft roll out was to bigup the service. Haven't the trials been and gone?

Re: TiVo
 

Obviously in any business you will have varying levels of testing and also in many cases a pilot, and in the competitive world of business obviously NDAs are important during these times. I think some of the VM staff who have posted here have already been more than forthcoming so understandably they now have to adhere to the conditions imposed upon them.

Re: TiVo
 

If they can't provide feed back, then maybe they should stop boasting about getting the TIVOs installed? No one will be asking them to break their NDAs then.

Re: TiVo
 

I am a beta tester for virgin new software on v+ ect when the testing is complete virgin staff and ourselves are not permitted to discuss what we have tested or how we got on if we do we get a right thrashing.

Re: TiVo
 

Actually I could remote record with my TiVo long before Sky+ existed, and add/remove Season Passes, change priority, delete recordings and more via TiVoWeb which was a complete web interface. There was a plugin for DigiGuide also so you could right-click a show in DG and select 'Record with TiVo'.

Re: TiVo
 

Just as l thought we the customers won,t see tivo,s installed before march 2011, typical Virgin stringing it out as much as they can.

Re: TiVo
 

That's plenty of time to get the third tuner software fix done ;)

I will wait 'till March and get a reliable, fully functional box......

I hope :D

Re: TiVo
 

Where does march come from? vm have said some staff and some existing will get it first the first few staff from all accounts will get their boxes from the 14th of this month.

Re: TiVo
 

I'm just going by Virgin's own results, which with no offence meant are more reliable as a guide to the number of subscribers than the amount of calls you were taking. That just indicates that there were less people to take 50Mbps calls or it needed more support.

End of last year, before VIP50, there were 41,400 50Mbps subscribers out of a user base of 4.17 million. Less than 1% and this even 3 months after the price cut from 35 with phone and 50 without to 28 and 38 respectively.

End of June with VIP50 kicking in this had increased to 74,000 and 91,600 by September.

Before any of the price cuts, the Q3 2009 results, there were only 20,000 subscribers to 50Mbps out of 3.77m. 0.53% of Virgin's broadband customers took 50Mbps.

I think it's fair to say the take up was pretty minimal before consecutive price cuts and VIP50.

Re: TiVo
 

Also be aware that the majority of subscribers are on 10Mb so that fits in nicely with the amount of 20Mb customers and 50Mb customers.

Re: TiVo
 

You'd rather they push out an untested product?

Re: TiVo
 

I only found out about the t and c's yesterday, it wasn't my intention to boast

---------- Post added at 17:57 ---------- Previous post was at 16:40 ----------

I only found out about the t and c's yesterday, it wasn't my intention to boast

Re: TiVo
 

Same here.

Re: TiVo
 

I think we can wait a few more weeks before end customers get Tivo and then no T&Cs in the way. Enjoy your first use as part of the VM 500!

Re: TiVo
 

Trails are constantly ongoing to test new features before they go live. So testing will be on going.

Re: TiVo
 

Well yes you'd hope that the sum of the 10, 20 and 50Mb customers combined along with the odd 2Mb customer would fit nicely together to add up to the total number of cable broadband customers ;)

Re: TiVo
 

You are forgetting the 512kb and 1Mb customers still out there.;)

Re: TiVo
 

512kb and 1mb? They were upgraded a long time ago. I should know, I was!

From 512kb to 1mb, to 2mb to 4mb, to 10mb. (And I've now upgraded to 20mb!)

Re: TiVo
 

There are still some folk getting broadband through
A pace box, not sure what speed that is

Re: TiVo
 

No we still get calls from people using set top boxes for broadband with 512kb and 1Mb packages listed.;)

Re: TiVo
 

Still got one of those Telewest Keyboards from that, it was quite handy.

Re: TiVo
 

that may work with the tivo if they keep the same infrared frequency.
for the remote.

Re: TiVo
 

The keyboards do not work with the V+ boxes so probably not.

Re: TiVo
 

Isn't tivo going to use bluetooth (not infra red)?

Re: TiVo
 

maybe but not for the remote

---------- Post added at 18:12 ---------- Previous post was at 18:11 ----------

my pace remote works with my v+box

Re: TiVo
 

Is it a Samsung V+HD?

Re: TiVo
 

Try a keyboard as mine did not work with my SA.

Re: TiVo
 

It all depends on which box you had before. Both Telewest and ntl ran had boxes that respond to two different remote code types

Some some remotes and keyboards will work with the V+HD boxes and some don't

Re: TiVo
 

Spiderplant can usually tell you which ones.;)

Re: TiVo
 

How long will the rollout take?

Or, to put it another way, will we have to wait until our local headend is 'upgraded' before TiVO becomes available to users for that headend?

Re: TiVo
 

No. TiVo will become available to all areas at the same time

---------- Post added at 19:07 ---------- Previous post was at 19:06 ----------

Well it's Black ntl Remotes = Older Pace Boxes
Blue ntl remotes = Samsung Boxes and V+ HD boxes (if you really want to do so)
Same would apply for the keyboards.

Not sure what it would be on ex-TW

Re: TiVo
 

Well a Telewest keyboard did not work with my SA V+ in a Telewest area.

Not the would be much point in having one unless you still have an @activemail.co.uk email account or any of the games that would work so much better on a computer.

Re: TiVo
 

Lovely jubby. :)

I was just bracing myself for another NGTV-style rollout.

Re: TiVo
 

TW keyboards are the same as the C&W black ones, and won't work with a V+.

Re: TiVo
 

The headends don't need to be upgraded for TiVo,

Re: TiVo
 

I havent seen any post about this but was playing around with the online VM tv guide and I could see there's an online option to record a programme with TiVO I hadnt seen before!

Click on any program and it gives you a Record option. If you go Record than it says "Want to record this program? No problem, it will take up to 35 mins to set up. Remember, your TiVO box needs to be switched on to receive a recording request."

Sorry I cant load an image from my pc in work.

Re: Tivo
 

Why do box manufacturers do this? Surely it doesn't cost much to produce a box with a "prettier" facia.

Edit:

Just seen the new box, it looks "pretty." ;)

Re: TiVo
 

Yes, this is a new feature that will be available to those with the TiVo box.

Re: TiVo
 

You should have just posted the link, here you go it is on the top right and asks TiVo users to sign in.

http://tv.virginmedia.com/vtvapp/epg.do

Re: TiVo
 

please say it's bluetooth for the remote not IR. Please. My V+ lives in a cupboard at the moment and I have an IR Extender. I'm wired for HDMI Distribution throughout the house and bluetooth remote would mean I can change channel from anywhere.

IR is so 1980

Re: TiVo
 

Even on the US Tivo the standard remote is IR as far as I'm aware - so that it can be used with Universal Remotes and the like

If anything Bluetooth remotes are more of a hassle due to the fact that almost nothing supports it!

Re: TiVo
 

Unfortunately, IR may be 1980, but it does work with every universal remote control out there, and also a lot of other devices that people might want to use to control their STBs (such as Media Centre PCs).

If you have an iPhone or iPod touch, you could use http://www.gear4.com/product/_/29/unityremote/ .

That product is officially iPhone and iPod only, but it uses bluetooth, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that even if the manufacturers won't support other phones, someone might put together some software for another phone that will control it.

Re: TiVo
 

My media centre PC uses an RF remote, don't think it's bluetooth as it has a short dangle wire, bit like an indoor FM aerial.

Just an observation.

M

Re: TiVo
 

Completely agree. Hope it is IR and there will be codes put in in the Harmony database. Is it a possibility that the US TIVO codes will work with the Virgin TIVO, or are there going to be a lot of differences?

More that one remote to control all AV gear? Surely, not allowed in this day and age :D

Re: TiVo
 

I'd be staggered if it wasn't exactly the same as the remote used in the US.

I didn't say all Media Centre PCs used IR. Not all do. I dare say some use WiFi, some use RF and some use Bluetooth. However, the bulk of them are likely to use IR as it's the most widely available tech.

Re: TiVo
 

Its IR.

Re: TiVo
 

If my mobile's bluetooth is anything to by, it doesn't have much of a range and almost anything disrupts it.

---------- Post added at 17:25 ---------- Previous post was at 17:24 ----------

Is possible to get an adapter, to use these devices as bluetooth?

A possible solution for manufacturers, is to have a dual transmitter/emitter

Re: TiVo
 

As I am a bit late coming to this thread, I am sorry if this has been addressed already, but is there any news about how much it will cost subscribers?

Re: TiVo
 

They have only released little bits at the moment as it should be £199 for the box and a extra £3 on top of the XL subs.

Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo will begin to roll-out from mid-December. Standard price of £199**, plus £26.50 per month*** for the XL TiVo package which features over 160 channels, an unrivalled TV on demand library and access to all standard HD channels. For further information, or to register for interest in the Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo service, visit: www.virginmedia.com/TiVo.

http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/p...859&highlight=

Re: TiVo
 

Thank's for that.

It's a bit much though, for what is essentially a rent box.

---------- Post added at 14:39 ---------- Previous post was at 14:34 ----------

I can't see many people rushing to buy the beta boxes in that case.

Re: TiVo
 

I do not think that they are beta boxes as they have three tuners and the other one will be updated by a software update. From what i have read it is due to the US Tivo boxes only having 2 tuners and they are having to re-write the software for it.

Re: TiVo
 

I presumed the two-tuner boxes were beta boxes. If they will be launching a three tuner box (something that most V+ users have been used to) in early twenty eleven, most subscribers, including me, will wait until then.

Re: TiVo
 

Its not a new box that will be released. Its a software update that will enable the 3rd tuner and as said is due to the fact the US Tivo software doesn't support 3 tuners

Re: TiVo
 

So, does it have three tuners built into the boxes, but only have two of them working, or is it not a hardware thing at all? Forgive my apparent ignorance in this, I am not the worlds most eminent expert on things like this. :D

Re: TiVo
 

Yes it will have 3 tuners but only 2 will work form the start. From the press release:

Featuring cutting edge hardware design, the Virgin Media TV powered by TiVo box will have three tuners*, allowing viewers to record two channels whilst watching a third so recording conflicts become a thing of the past. The future-proofed service will automatically be updated with new features and functionality as they become available.

Re: TiVo
 

It is not very clearly written and is (well for me anyway;)) very confusing.

Re: TiVo
 

posted this before but it may help you

Re: TiVo
 

Thank you Vanman, that seems to have answered nearly all my questions. I particularly like the idea of: discounts for various groups of existing customers, I wonder if that means me. ;)

One more though, for those who are in the know; will TiVo be able to record from the buffer?

Re: TiVo
 

Yes it will. Say you have been watching a channel for 35 minutes and hit record for the rest of the show it will also record that buffered 35 mins :-)

Re: TiVo
 

Hmm! Not quite. The Pace boxes support a hand-held remote and a keyboard for e-mail, gaming etc. and these use the IrDA protocol rather than consumer electronics IR protocols such as RC-5, RC-6, SIRCS etc. In my experience, very few universal remotes support IrDA and few even list Pace in their supported manufacturers but maybe that's just the low-end remotes that I have tried. However, laptops, mobile phones and PDAs generally do have built-in IrDA and software is available to drive them as TV remotes using a variety of protocols including consumer electronics IR protocols and IrDA.

Re: TiVo
 

Well? Has anybody got it yet?

Re: TiVo
 

Yes, but the terms of the installs prevent people from talking about it, otherwise they have it removed

Re: TiVo
 

Yes they have but after this that DF posted a while ago we all will have to wait:

And for one i am gutted about this as i was wanting to know how good it was.

Re: TiVo
 

but surely they can say if is as good as they say or better than they thought it was going to be
without saying too much :blah:

Re: TiVo
 

jb66, you are one of the tivo 500 installers right? Got a few questions for you if you are, had mine installed today but wasnt able to be in for the install, so have a few questions for you if you can answer? I will answer a few questions (in pm) if you want to verify im on the 500. Cheers

Re: TiVo
 

You mean they cannot even confirm that they have had it installed?:confused:

Re: TiVo
 

That's it, I'm sold. I have waiting for that since I dumped Sky. It is one of the few advantages they have had over V+.

---------- Post added at 19:06 ---------- Previous post was at 19:02 ----------

How would they know who it was?

Re: TiVo
 

It is not worth the hassle as it can affect all the other triallists.

Re: TiVo
 

I get mine next Year :p:

Re: TiVo
 

Well if one of 'the chosen ones' was asked if TiVo was good or even better than expected but declined to answer then you could reasonably assume that it was bad or worse than expected. That could be anything from riddled with teething problems, to it caught fire and burned down the house, given how speculation runs riot in these threads. :rolleyes:

So the best option, if they wish to keep their TiVo and their jobs, is for the guinea pigs to say they can't answer any questions whatsoever. In summary, to avoid causing embarrassment, don't ask! :nono:

Re: TiVo
 

This does rather dampen the "soft launch" effect though as none of the 500 will be able to act as unpaid marketers. Oh well, we'll just drop back into "coming soon" mode...

Re: TiVo
 

However, in using IrDA, the early pace boxes were the exception rather than the rule...

Re: TiVo
 

Plus not al the Pace boxes used IrDA and you could buy a rather inexpensive device to covert the commands to IR.

Re: TiVo
 

No I wasn't on the course I'm afraid, getting mine Friday so doubt I'll be able to help you :/

Re: TiVo
 

Mmm, quite interested in TiVo from what I've seen so far. Not sure I can justify the price yet and the none working third tuner is a deal breaker for me, so I won't be an early adopter. Also agreed, the box is very cheap and nasty looking but I suppose at least it's fairly discrete.

Anyway, a couple of questions, sorry if they've been asked before.

Does anyone know if it will have the ability to stream recordings to a remote box elsewhere in the house - i.e. a dumb V HD box in the bedroom?

Also, will it have the "Home Media" option TiVo has had since Series 2 where I can play media from a PC (or other device) on my home LAN? As my NAS box also has a TiVo compliant ReadyDLNA service, will I be able to watch stuff I've got on there too?

Re: TiVo
 

The only thing stopping me from ordering when released is the lack of the third tuner at the moment. I appreciate they say 'early 2011' to rectify this but lets be honest, VM track record for accurate launch dates has been poor.

The only possible saving grace is the fact that the EPG lets you go back 7 days according to the promo video. The question I have is if you can record to hard drive these previously aired shows or whether it's just an easier way of using catch up tv. If you can record them then I can get by without the 3rd tuner but if not then I wont be parting with my hard earned money.

I will have to wait until the helpful members on here that have already got it installed can spill the beans and talk about it

Re: TiVo
 

It is catch up you will not be able to record from it.

Re: TiVo
 

Many Thanks for the quick reply. I thought that would be the case, ah well, looks like I'll have to wait a bit longer until I get my hands on one

Re: TiVo
 

But could one record to a DVD/HDD recorder.

Re: TiVo
 

does anyone have a clue when us Joe Public can order it ?