Is the end of the R15 near?

[monkcee]

ALVISO, Calif., April 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO - News), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVR), and DIRECTV, Inc. (NYSE: DTV - News), the nation's leading digital television service provider, today announced a three-year extension to the TiVo-DIRECTV commercial agreement.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060412/sfw019.html?.v=44

[ISWIZ]

In addition, TiVo and DIRECTV agree not to assert patent rights against the other.

This is the interesting part.

[Earl Bonovich]

Hardly...

The "software" and concepts that we see in the R15 are the basis for the HR20 and the HR20p The R15 isn't going anywhere... any time soon.

Just like the TiVo box isn't going anywhere, anytime soon (even before the extension.)

[ISWIZ]

Given the patent trial wrapping up it gives both companies some wiggle room no matter which way that verdict comes down. Tivo loses, DTV can buy them out, Tivo wins, DTV can license their software. Either way the users should come out good.

Either way, maybe Tivo can help DTV fix their R15 software. (That's a bit of a stretch);)

[TMullenJr]

This only means that they aren't going to shut off the Tivo units for 3 more years. All of their new DVRs will still be there in house version.

[Bobman]

I find this VERY interesting. Its happening at the very moment their DirecTV R-15 DVR is having so many problems and it looks like might not be fixed for a long time.

[Earl Bonovich]

You are all welcome to speculate as much as you want..

But Please, do it over in a joint thread... as this is not specific to the R15
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=56320

One last note.

You all wanted "choice", you have it.