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TiVo Introduces TiVo BOLT (1 Viewer)

Ronald Epstein

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Give Commercials the Finger: TiVo Introduces TiVo BOLT


All About Speed, the TiVo BOLT(TM) Offers One-Touch Commercial SkipMode(TM) and QuickMode(TM) for Fast Viewing 4K Unified Entertainment System Delivers Unprecedented Speed to and Through Your Content -- Personalized TV at Its Best Smallest Size of Any Comparable Device, the TiVo BOLT's Unique Form Factor Sets New Standard in Product Design TiVo BOLT Saves Consumers Money Compared to Existing Cable Equipment, Particularly in Homes With Multiple TVs


TiVo Announces TiVo BOLT




SAN JOSE, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 30, 2015) - TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), a leading innovator in the advanced television space, today introduced the TiVo BOLT, the most advanced television-viewing experience available.
The TiVo BOLT is all about speed, getting viewers to and through their content faster than ever. BOLT allows viewers to skip entire commercial breaks in a single bound at the press of a button. BOLT's ability to skip entire commercial breaks of certain recorded shows with TiVo's new SkipModefeature is a breakthrough that distinguishes BOLT from everything else.1
The TiVo BOLT is born to binge, unifying the source of any available program from cable, video on demand, OTA, and OTT, while providing a way to watch without commercials. BOLT delivers TiVo's renowned universal search and consumption across all your channels and streaming providers2 -- not just the app world of over-the-top content.
The combination of SkipMode with the new QuickMode, which allows for 30% faster viewing of recorded shows while maintaining perfect audio, enables the average viewer to potentially recapture a month of time in one's life each year. In addition to saving all that time, TiVo can save subscribers money -- particularly as a household with multiple TVs -- by getting out from under the rental charges of boxes from your cable operator.
The combination of BOLT's accompanying mobile apps, together with features planned to be added in the coming months, enables an ever-increasing number of the personalization features that will get viewers to the most highly relevant content faster than ever. These personalization features include recommendations from friends and family, selections of top critics, and the latest videos related to one's hobbies and interests -- including the latest music video release in viewers' favorite genres.
"The TiVo BOLT arrives at a time of piqued interest in both connected devices and commercial avoidance," said Tom Rogers, TiVo's President and CEO. "The clear demand of consumers is for a TV experience that quickly delivers them exactly what they want the instant they turn on the screen. BOLT is a game changer that will remind people of how they felt the first time they experienced digital recording."
"BOLT was designed to meet the requirements of a new generation of TV viewers," said Ira Bahr, TiVo's Chief Marketing and Retail Sales Officer. "Smaller form factor, 4K compatibility, single-screen integration of cable or over-the-air, plus streaming apps, the ability to take your content anywhere -- and for the first time, the ability to precisely jump commercial breaks at the touch of a button."
In addition to TiVo-pioneered DVR and streaming capabilities, the TiVo BOLT features:
  • Fast-forwarding is a thing of the past - SkipMode introduces the speed and convenience of skipping non-program content in certain recorded shows at the press of a single button.1 This new feature transports you past commercial interruptions and takes you back to your recorded show in an instant. With TiVo, you get to watch what you want and immediately skip over the stuff you don't.
  • Watch content faster than ever - QuickMode lets you watch recorded shows 30 percent faster -- without audio distortion. QuickMode's pitch-corrected audio lets you comfortably speed through slow-moving programs like news, sports, and overly long award shows.
  • 4K - The TiVo BOLT is the first product of its kind on the market to provide 4K compatibility.3 With 4K Ultra HD resolution, your eyes will feast on a viewing experience that's so vivid and lifelike, it'll blur the line between you and your content.
  • New look and feel - With its new design, color and feel, this product transcends the conventional streaming device or set-top box. The TiVo BOLT captures the essence of TiVo in its simplicity, high usability, and the bold experience the device delivers, which led to its natural flow design that embodies all the same characteristics. The idea of making a statement while reducing complexity was the fundamental motivation for the TiVo BOLT's form factor.
The TiVo BOLT is also equipped with TiVo feature favorites, including:
  • OnePass™ - TiVo's universal search finds what you want, regardless of the source of a program. The best of entertainment from cable, video on demand, over-the-air, and over-the-top streaming services is all organized and provided in a way to watch without commercials. The TiVo BOLT combines this search with the easy ability to view content across all your channels and streaming providers -- not just the app world of over-the-top content.
  • Collections - TiVo's Collections organize the best that television and the web have to offer -- all grouped into easy-to-scan categories. From 'Citizen Kane' to 'Mad Max: Fury Road,' all are a snap to find and watch with Collections where you can automatically record Academy Award® recipients from any year. Automatically record Emmy® Award recipients, Sundance Film Festival® awardees, and box sets, and take advantage of the many ways to capture award-winning movies and TV with the press of a single button.
Fall updates:
  • Getting Personal - A Fall update will deliver new features to TiVo's iOS app that will allow you to create a personalized 'What to Watch' screen by selecting categories based on your hobbies and interests. Content matching your interests will then populate your 'My Shows' folder.
  • Share with Friends - TiVo is taking social sharing to the next level. This update will allow you to share a link to your favorite show with all your friends via email, Facebook, Twitter and more. Upon clicking on that link, TiVo will take your friends to a page on an iOS or Android™ device or on the Web indicating where they can watch that show.
  • TiVo Online - Creating OnePass selections will be easier than ever on TiVo Online with OnePass Quick Select. Upon updating, OnePass will include default options highlighting your favorite programs with a single click.
Availability & Pricing
TiVo BOLT 500 GB is available for $299.994, including a first year of annual service*, and TiVo BOLT 1000 GB is available for $399.994, with a first-year of annual service.* TiVo BOLT will be available September 30, 2015 at TiVo.com BestBuy.com and Amazon.com and in stores starting October 4, 2015 at Best Buy, Magnolia Home Theater and Magnolia Design Centers.
*TiVo service is required and automatically charged separately, at the then-published price (currently $149.99, plus any applicable taxes), at the conclusion of the one year of TiVo service included at purchase. Cable and streaming services subscription required for cable and web-delivered programming, and are not included in TiVo service subscription.
 

DaveF

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I don't understand this product. Particularly, why it's not a software update to the Roamio. Or why it was released in low-end version first rather than the 6-tuner product. Or that odd design.


The auto-skip sounds great. I wish I could get it for my Roamio. The 4k is great for Netflix subscribers; I wonder what other 4k content Tivo can provide? YouTube? And the UI being further updated to be in HD is nice to hear.
 

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QuickMode, which allows for 30% faster viewing of recorded shows while maintaining perfect audio,


I used to have a bluray player that I could turn captions while fast forawrding through a movie.

Could watch a movie in half the time and still watch and hear the audio.
 

Ronald Epstein

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DaveF said:
This explains a lot!

“Community Quick Chat with TiVo's CMO Ira Bahr!!! - TiVo Community”
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=532368

Yeah, so a couple things I have learned....all good news...


Tivo is gearing towards the release of a more feature-packed unit within the next year or so.


Prices should drop on future units and subscriptions. Looks like sales have been down and the company realizes it has outpriced itself.
 

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Ronald Epstein said:
Yeah, so a couple things I have learned....all good news...

Tivo is gearing towards the release of a more feature-packed unit within the next year or so.

Prices should drop on future units and subscriptions. Looks like sales have been down and the company realizes it has outpriced itself.
The Roamio + Mini has been great for me. My only regret is not buying the 3TB model.

The Bolt isn't for me. But I'm curious what's out next year for the enthusiasts.

In hindsight, reading the Q&A thread and its discussion, on TCF, what was missing was any discussion of their mobile strategy and the future of iOS apps. The TiVo app practically pays for the TiVo for me.
 

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TonyD said:
QuickMode,[/size] which allows for 30% faster viewing of recorded shows while maintaining perfect audio,[/size]

I used to have a bluray player that I could turn captions while fast forawrding through a movie.[/size]
Could watch a movie in half the time and still watch and hear the audio.[/size]
That might be nice for News. I don't see it being of interest for shows and movies.
 

TonyD

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Was good when I was working full time and more.
 

Bill Buklis

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DaveF said:
The Roamio + Mini has been great for me. My only regret is not buying the 3TB model.

The Bolt isn't for me. But I'm curious what's out next year for the enthusiasts.

In hindsight, reading the Q&A thread and its discussion, on TCF, what was missing was any discussion of their mobile strategy and the future of iOS apps. The TiVo app practically pays for the TiVo for me.

It's extremely easy to upgrade the hard drive in a Roamio. It's even easier than previous TiVo boxes. The base OS is built into ROM, so it's as easy as sticking in a new blank hard drive.
 

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The difficulty of getting all my current shows and season passes transferred dissuaded me from a upgrading since then.

For a new buyer: get the big hard drive :)
 

Ronald Epstein

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I do have a question for you guys...


I am going to be receiving and reviewing the Tivo Bolt in the upcoming weeks...


What is it about this model that you don't like?
 

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Ronald Epstein said:
What is it about this model that you don't like?
It's not an upgrade / replacement for the Roamio. (And from the photos it's not attractive.)


The commercial skip sounds great. The speed watch might have some value, maybe?

4K I don't care about for yet, but might in year or two. So that's a neutral.

The negatives are: it's four tuners only and maxes out at 1TB (my next Tivo will be 2+TB). And it's a subscription-only plan; no lifetime service.


Tivo is struggling to survive as a device maker, and the end of their business as a patent licensor might be in sight. So I can appreciate their desire for a subscription-drive device aimed at a broader customer base.


For me, I want the next iteration of the Roamio, with 6 tuners, 3TB storage, and all the new software goodies. I don't want a wonky device shape; black and angular just like every other device in my living room is fine, thank you. And pricing similar to what I get by way of the lifetime option.
 

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Bill Buklis said:
It's extremely easy to upgrade the hard drive in a Roamio. It's even easier than previous TiVo boxes. The base OS is built into ROM, so it's as easy as sticking in a new blank hard drive.
When you upgraded your TiVo drive, did you do it before setting up your TiVo? Or did you copy over recorded shows, and OnePasses and settings? I'd like to upgrade from a 1TB to a 3TB drive. That looks easy. The hard part, that I'm stuck on, is how to preserve my 65% capacity of shows and all my OnePasses. I'm reading and asking questions at TCF, but I'm not yet finding a clear answer.
 

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With the Roamio I did it before anything else. Past models I did it afterwards.


You might be able to transfer the shows to a computer, upgrade, and then transfer back. That won't keep the OnePasses, but those shouldn't be too much trouble. The place to research is the update/mod forum on the Tivo Community forum (TiVo Upgrade Center forum). It's not something I looked into much as I saw how easy it was to do from the start.


Prior to the Roamio, there was special software to transfer the TiVo OS to another drive. It was also capable of transferring shows. It may exist as well for the Roamio.
 

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Thanks. I've been reading TCF. Upgrading up a drive and preserving recordings and OnePasses is, if not hard, not well explained across the numerous possible tools.
 

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Ronald Epstein said:
I had no problems transferring my shows and passes
Ron, what tool(s) did you use to configure the drive and/or transfer files off and back to the TiVo?
 

Ronald Epstein

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Dave,


Not certain what you are asking.


If you mean how did I transfer TV shows from an older unit to the new one, I simply did it from the Tivo website. When you register your new unit, you have the option of transferring all your One Pass information from one unit to the other. Be aware, as far as I know, you can't transfer the content itself in this manner.
 

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Ok. I want to upgrade my TiVo's drive. I bought the Plus with the 1TB drive, and I want to (belatedly) increase to a 3TB drive. I think I know how to do that and to transfer my shows over.

I'm uncertain about the one passes. But maybe I can just re-download / sync from TiVo.com.
 

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How many one passes do you have? You could just write them down and recreate them if need be. Even if you have a 100 of them it shouldn't take too long to redo it. Annoying perhaps, but doable. Of course if there is a better way...


How are you going to transfer the shows?
 

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