Further to the email that was sent out by TiVo announcing the pre-order “winners” of their Facebook competition, we covered yesterday. TiVo has now announced that their TiVo Stream box will be arriving in stores on September 6th, 2012, priced at $130, the same as the pre-orders.
Features and Functionality
To re-cap, the TiVo Stream has been created to enable users to view live or pre-recorded footage directly on their mobile devices. The TiVo Stream box links to your existing TiVo service and works with your own Wi-Fi network to stream recorded media from your DVR to your iOS devices. This means you can watch your favorite shows and movies on your iPhone or iPad without being tethered to your television.
However, it is important to note that the TiVo Stream can only stream over a home network and does not support place-shift content, like the Slingbox. This means that while you can enjoy your content anywhere within your home, you won’t be able to access it remotely when you’re away from your home network. This limitation might be a deal-breaker for some users who are looking for a more versatile streaming solution.
Comparisons and Use Cases
When comparing the TiVo Stream to other streaming devices on the market, it’s clear that TiVo is targeting a specific niche of users who are already invested in the TiVo ecosystem. For instance, unlike the Roku or Apple TV, which offer a wide range of streaming services and apps, the TiVo Stream is designed specifically to work with TiVo DVRs. This makes it an excellent choice for existing TiVo users who want to extend their viewing experience to their mobile devices.
One of the key advantages of the TiVo Stream is its ability to stream multiple shows to different devices simultaneously. This is particularly useful for households with multiple users who have different viewing preferences. For example, one family member can watch a recorded drama on their iPad in the bedroom, while another watches a live sports event on their iPhone in the living room. This multi-stream capability sets the TiVo Stream apart from some other streaming solutions that may only support single-device streaming.
Another noteworthy feature is the ease of setup. The TiVo Stream is designed to be user-friendly, requiring minimal technical know-how to get up and running. Simply connect the Stream to your TiVo DVR and your home Wi-Fi network, and you’re ready to start streaming. This simplicity makes it accessible even for users who may not be particularly tech-savvy.
In terms of content quality, the TiVo Stream supports high-definition streaming, ensuring that you get the best possible viewing experience on your mobile devices. This is a significant advantage for users who are particular about video quality and want to enjoy their content in HD.
The TiVo Stream offers a compelling solution for TiVo users who want to extend their DVR experience to their mobile devices. While it does have some limitations, such as the inability to stream content outside of the home network, its ease of use, multi-stream capability, and high-definition support make it a valuable addition to the TiVo ecosystem. If you’re already a TiVo user looking to enhance your viewing flexibility, the TiVo Stream is definitely worth considering.
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