DirecTV sent down a message to TiVo users this week about the announcement of a new DirecTV HD TiVo coming in 2009. The screenshots are posted here if you want to see them, but the interesting nuggets of info are:

• DirecTV’s Broadband DIRECTV on DEMAND - which means the unit will have to support networking
• Universal Swivel Search - so it might work with Amazon’s Unbox (now Amazon Video on Demand)
• KidZone - Since this means it interacts with TiVo’s servers, it’ll likely work with some features from TiVo’s website, hopefully online scheduling.

At least this sets the stage for the possibility that TiVoToGo and all of those great networking features will be part of this new unit. Frankly, even if they aren’t, many people will want the unit just for the interface. But we’ve grown accustomed to the evolution of the cable TiVos, and we’re hoping this DirecTV unit will see those same enhancements.

Here’s a proposal for the folks at TiVo: build a lightweight website for us TiVo fans to use to schedule online programs.

The TiVo website has evolved into a truly great way to find and record programs, but a good portion of the time us TiVo users want to set something to record, we’re just not in front of a computer. We’re out and about. But we do have our smart phones.

OK, I know, TiVo and RIM partnered a few weeks ago to bring TiVo-something to Blackberry, and most likely, that will be online scheduling. And before that, TiVo inked a deal with Verizon to do the same for Verizon phones. But why be proprietary about this? Isn’t the key to make this work for TiVo users, no matter what other technology they have?

In a time when the iPhone is gaining a huge amount of market share, and Android phones will probably also steal a huge piece of the action from RIM and the rest of the crowd, doesn’t it make sense to just have a fast-loading, slimmed down website for online scheduling? I’m not advocating an iPhone app or an Android app (although those would be great, too), just a quick way to get logged in, choose that show you forgot to record, and be done.

TiVo recently redesigned their website, and it looks great and has excellent functionality - from a computer. But all of that functionality came by adding a lot of AJAX and, on a mobile device, that can be painful. Just logging in to the site is arduous. Typing an email address in TiVo’s login box is especially painful on an iPhone.

You don’t even need a special domain name for it, but it seems like your neighbor across the bay has already registered tivo.mobi, so maybe they’re working on this?

So how about it?

We really believe that CableCARDs are a great new technology in that they allow DVRs to work with a wide variety of cable providers. But, sometimes, getting them configured is a bit of a hassle.

Early on in their history, CableCARDs caused a whole host of problems, largely just due to the lack of knowledge of cable installers. But since then, the problems have really almost totally disappeared, and their installation and use has become routine and reliable.

But if you do have a problem, you should try calling TiVo’s CableCARD hotline. These folks have pretty deep knowledge of CableCARD issues.

Phone number: 866-986-8486

Hours of operation:
Monday - Sunday
6:00 AM - 9:00 PM Pacific

While our PS3 upgrade kits have definitely been a hot item, our kit offerings had one big obstacle. Customers have been wanting a way to do the upgrade at home, without sending us the unit, but with a way to transfer their data to the upgrade hard drive. We now have that option available!

See our PS3 data transfer area for D-I-Y upgrade options that allow you to keep your data intact. If you have a USB drive, you can use our regular kit. If you need a USB drive, we now have a kit with a loaner.

Please note that any games or other items that will not copy to a backup will not survive this procedure.

TiVo today is releasing a new product for their HD DVR line: the TiVo HD XL. WeaKnees expects to have this unit in stock today, September 4, for immediate shipment, for $599. See our TiVo HD XL ordering area.

This unit is an enhanced version of the TiVo HD that was released just over a year ago. The main improvements in this unit are:

• Larger hard drive (one Terabyte) to record up to 150 hours of HD.
• THX certification, like the original Series3 TiVo.
• Backlit, learning remote instead of the standard remote.
• HDMI cable is included.

The list price of the new unit is $599.99.

The less expensive TiVo HD will still be available at $299, and we will have both models available with expanded hard drive space.

We will have the TiVo HD XL unit available with two terabytes of capacity for $899 also!