Front view of a TiVo Series2 5xx-generation unit

Back view of a TiVo Series2 5xx-generation unit

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TiVo

TiVo (pronounced tee-voh, IPA: /tiː.voʊ/) is a popular brand of digital video recorder (DVR) in the United States. more...

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It is a consumer video device which allows users to capture television programming to internal hard disk storage for later viewing (sometimes called "time shifting").

Operation

TiVo systems function similarly to VCRs, but use non-removable hard disk storage, and contain much more sophisticated software to record programs—not only those the user specifically requests, but also other material the user is likely to be interested in. Additionally, programs being watched "live" can be paused or "rewound" to repeat a sequence just watched. Unlike traditional tape-based recorders, a TiVo DVR can record a new program while playing any previously-recorded program, including the start of the recording in progress.

DVR function

A TiVo DVR allows a user to specify which programs to record by time, by program title, and by specifying combinations of genre, actors, directors, etc. Based on a database of programs available to the user—dependent upon his or her location and/or cable/satellite services he or she uses, and updated roughly once a day via phone or network connection to TiVo headquarters—it selects and records the desired programs. Programs may be stored until internal storage is filled, at which time the unit will dispose of older programs (unless flagged to be saved until manually deleted), to allow for new programs to be recorded. The program information is supplied by Tribune Media Services and the TiVo has data for approximately two weeks into the future.

Other than the recently discontinued Series 2 DirecTV DVR w/ TiVo model HR10-250, the only currently available HDTV capable TiVo units are the relatively expensive Series 3 models, which will record high definition TV. Other TiVo models will only record analog standard definition TV. The Series 3 is capable of recording HDTV both from antenna (over the air) and cable (unencrypted QAM tuner or encrypted with a CableCard) in addition to normal standard definition TV from the same sources. Unlike the HR10-250, the new Series 3 units can not record from the DirecTV service (conversely the HR10-250 can not record from digital cable). Other TiVo models may be connected to a high definition TV, but are not capable of recording HDTV signals (although they may be connected to a cable HDTV set-top box and record the down-converted outputs).

TiVo has a "Season Pass" feature that instructs the TiVo to record a show through the entire season (and beyond) on a particular channel, with the option of recording First Run Only, First Run & Repeats, or All Episodes. An episode is considered "First Run" if it is airing within two weeks of the original air date. TiVo also follows a "28 day rule" wherein it keeps track of each program it records and it will not record the same program again within 28 days. The "All Episodes" setting overrides this rule.