14 DAY TRIAL // It appears that the market for multimedia solutions has reached a fairly advanced stage, with TiVo having decided to unleash its new set-top boxes that, alas, do not come as that great a surprise after having been revealed over the weekend.
TiVo made the formal announcement of the Premiere Q and Preview set-top boxes, even though it didn't breathe a word about exact availability.
On the flip side, whenever RCN and Suddenlink do get around to selling them, they might just attract more customers than usual due to featuring less than ordinary features.
The Preview, for instance, lacks DVR capabilities and also makes do without a hard disk drive (it will be best used as a multiroom stream client for two DVRs, for example), while the Premiere Q has four tuners and can stream video to a maximum of three other boxes.
"TiVo's solution for cable has stood apart in delivering the only offering that fully integrates the operator's linear and VOD content with broadband content and application choices," said David Sandford, TiVo's Vice President and General Manager of TiVo's service provider business.
"With the introduction of the TiVo Premiere Q and TiVo Preview, TiVo is extending its advanced user experience and leading multi-room capabilities to provide cable operators a cost effective and highly differentiated solution for every type of household and every television in the house."
In addition to the two newcomers, TiVo has also updated its iPad app so that it automatically adds the operator's Video on Demand into the search and browse features within the App, among other things.
"The enhancements we have made to our iPad App help cable operators bring TiVo's innovative user interface directly into the hands of their subscribers, thereby offering consumers the ultimate remote control and viewing on demand experience,” said David Sandford, TiVo's Vice President and General Manager of TiVo's service provider business.
“We have only just begun to refine our offering to the operator community and look forward to bringing additional elements to the TiVo iPad App."