[Stuart]

Originally Posted by heeleybobs

I don't usually answer a question with a question, but who made the decision that TiVoToGo was an "advanced facility". As far as I'm concerned, the whole TiVo service is an advanced STB and offers the ability. I don't have a Sky+ box and call the recording option an advanced ability, so TiVo technology shouldn't be treated like this either. I think that the TiVoToGo option is deactivated due to distribution rights that have not been agreed yet to be honest, so some features I can understand being deactivated, but not in relation to TiVo's own technology such as music and photo sharing over LAN connection for instance. and who has said that the features I have mentioned are Optional Extras?

When I said Tivo To Go was an advanced facility, i meant that it was offered as an option on the base Tivo software. What I mean by this is that if it were not optional, VM would probably not have the option of disabling it.

I think the problem is rights, and I suspect part of that problem is Sky. Sky have proved very good at agreeing contracts with channels that then prevent those channels offering anything to other platforms that might put Sky at a disadvantage. Tivo To Go would certainly put Sky at a disadvantage as they can't (AFAIK) offer anything to compete.

I'll be honest that is speculation though.

I agree, I have a service contract with Virgin Media to be served content, but not hardware features that are associated with the TiVo brand in hardware, just turn them on.

The point was that Tivo (or any brand) are free to offer different facilities in different countries.

It's interesting that you bought up Apple (and the iPhone) as they were recently punished for selling the iPad 3 as a 4G capable device worldwide when it isn't.

Maybe you are aware of some technological developments that I'm not aware of, so maybe you could be specific and educate me to what this secret technology is because it sure hasn't made it's way to fee paying customers. Correct, hardware such as node termination devices and servers can limit the capabilities of a cable infrastructure, but I can't accept the term "extensively upgraded' as that sure hasn't been made public knowledge. Even software enhancements can do the same by running more efficiently, but the fact is that the network is capable of more than it's being used for even now. but back to my original point, the technology in TiVo exists in it's current form so turn it on and let us use it if we want.

Ben's done a far better job than I could, but let's just say from what I have been told, the hardware in VM's headends bears little resemblance to the hardware in place 4 or 5 years ago. The fact that most consumers are largely unaware of the upgrades beyond seeing more channels and faster broadband is a testament to how well the engineers performing the upgrade did their job. As a person who helps maintain rather a large network myself (several thousand users), I know that the one thing you don't want is users to be affected by upgrades. It's better if they aren't even aware, but you are able to offer better (or faster) service as a result.

I would like to see Tivo To Go introduced in this country. I suspect that VM want to as well. It would be a hell of a selling point for their marketing department to get their claws into to get one over on Sky.