[frankygamer]

DirecTV says they listen to their customers so I encourage anyone with or who considered a THR22-100 to please contact direcTV via the Office of the President. I spent an hour or so with a gentlemen on the lack of MRV. While I doubt one person's opinion matters to them, I was impressed with there quick response to my concern via a phone call. If we want MRV on the THR22 we need to let DirecTV know. If you wanted a THR22 and no MRV was a showstopper, please still tell them your preference.

The Office of the president can be reached via the DTV website

I tried to be respectful of the return of Tivo but also my extreme disappointment in lack of features. MRV clearly being #1.

 

[frankygamer]

Here is the link to the feedback form

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageIF.jsp?assetId=P4580012#h:561.591

 

[dsw2112]

Why wouldn't you contact Tivo first?

 

[spartanstew]

D* certainly listens to feedback on their DVR's.

The THR22-100 is NOT their DVR and your feedback is pointless.

 

[ndole]

D* didn't design the sw. It's not their 'brainchild'.

 

[frankygamer]

Oh god, not this again. OK.

- It's a DirecTV DVR with Tivo.
- DirecTV supports the THR22 not Tivo
- DirecTV tells TiVo what features are allowed on the box

If TiVo had full control we would have TivoToGo. We would have MRV. For whatever reason, DirecTV didn't have Tivo include these features.

I talked to TiVo, DirecTV Customer Support, and a DirecTV Customer Advocate and 2 of 3 said DTV has control over the features. Customer support abstained but the Supervisor said his group couldn't support the THR22 if Tivo did whatever they want with the SW.

This leads to a good point. Why DOESN'T DirecTV give THR22-100 support back to TiVo like the good old days.

So check your bills, check the support telephone number, it's DTV NOT TiVo.

 

[frankygamer]

TivoToGo killed by directv

http://www.phonenews.com/tivo-directv-tivotogo-19677/

When pressed by PhoneNews.com, representatives for TiVo blamed DirecTV squarely for not offering the technology on their units. TiVo even went as far as to say that they had offered DirecTV a solution that would ensure copy protection requirements for DirecTV, but that the service provider still mandated that TiVo remove TiVoToGo from the new generation of DirecTV-enabled TiVo HD units.

 

[dsw2112]

It seems that this thread is about MRV, not other features. While I personally don't know the answer, your post just speculates that D* is the one witholding this particular feature. I can think of plenty of reasons they would "hold-back" other features (and agree that they did,) but what is your rationalle for stating that D* is specifically at fault with MRV?

 

[sigma1914]

It seems that this thread is about MRV, not other features. While I personally don't know the answer, your post just speculates that D* is the one witholding this particular feature. I can think of plenty of reasons they would "hold-back" other features (and agree that they did,) but what is your rationalle for stating that D* is specifically at fault with MRV?

Because a CSR said so.

 

[spartanstew]

Oh god, not this again. OK.

Hey, if you (and others) want to waste your time, go right ahead.

 

[frankygamer]

I'm encouraging people to provide feedback on on feature but lack of MRV is clearly the #1 complaint on the THR22. Not including this feature severely handicaps the DirecTV DVR by TiVo.

I am not speculating. I have had conversations with Tivo, DirecTV, and referenced an article DirecTV MANDATING a feature not being included. If there is a technology issue doing MRV on the THR22, it's one thing but we know that is not the case. The HW Tivo SW could be changed to stream vs move video just as the DirecTV HW can be used to move programing ala the TiVo Premiere. Add 15 years as an Electrical Engineer, 12 year Tivo user, and 10 year DireTV customer, it doesn't take much to figure out who pulls the strings.

Feel free to share your reasons to "hold back" features. One reasonable one could be not wanting to provide tech support for it. That is fair but then what the heck is my $5 Tivo fee going too.

All I'm asking is if you feel the DIRECTV dvr WITH TiVo could use a feature or too let the company your money is going to know!

 

[frankygamer]

Hey, if you (and others) want to waste your time, go right ahead.

Thank you, I will. Now move along and cash you DTV paycheck.

 

[frankygamer]

Because a CSR said so.

Please see my other posts. I went as high in the chain as I could get which was the customer advocacy group that handles feedback to the Office of the president.

So no I didn't listen to a CSR.

 

[dsw2112]

Well, the article you linked to was not regarding MRV. I'm open to hear the real reason the Tivo doesn't have MRV myself. I'd like to actually see something factual on the issue for a change. I've heard a lot of "slippery slope" arguments (where because of A, it means B.) These types of arguments didn't pass muster in college, and hold up the same here. In addition, a conversation with D* or Tivo doesn't offer any real evidence one way or the other.

Politics aside, it did take Tivo a lengthy amount of time to bring what they have to market. It's certainly possible that they're working on MRV (as it took D* quite a while to "get it right.")

And I believe your $5 goes to Tivo :lol:

 

[frankygamer]

The point of the article is DirecTV mandates which features are on the THR22. If they denied TivoToGo, it's not a stretch they denied MRV.

I agree I wish both sides were more open about their arrangement but I assume lawyers on both sides like to keep the arrangement quiet to make neither side look bad but in the end it's hurts them both.

Yes, there are conspiracy theories on both sides but I disagree an argument can't be made. Yes DirecTV want's to sell their DVR with their SW, not their DVR's with TiVo. BUT if they are going to take the time to support TiVo for the DTV users who prefer the TiVo features, at least implement the standard TiVo features.

Logically, it makes no sense to me for Tivo to essentially sabotage itself by leaving out features. That doesn't make sense. Your own comment says my $5 goes to Tivo. If that is the case, don't you think TiVo would want DTV to sell more receivers with TiVo then not? How many threads have you read that people said lack of MRV was a deal breaker. Each one of those customers is $5 to Tivo.

The only reason I could see TiVo not care about the THR22 is if the agreement brings TiVo about the same amount of money regardless of sales. This brings up a whole other topic relating to patents which I don't even want to go to.

Anyway, I have my opinion and others have theirs. In the end THR22 customers are as much DTV customers as HR2x owners. So I don't know why people get so bent out of shape for encouraging a customer to give feedback the their service provider. If your happy with your service great. If your not, let them know.

 

[Shades228]

The point of the article is DirecTV mandates which features are on the THR22. If they denied TivoToGo, it's not a stretch they denied MRV.

I agree I wish both sides were more open about their arrangement but I assume lawyers on both sides like to keep the arrangement quiet to make neither side look bad but in the end it's hurts them both.

Yes, there are conspiracy theories on both sides but I disagree an argument can't be made. Yes DirecTV want's to sell their DVR with their SW, not their DVR's with TiVo. BUT if they are going to take the time to support TiVo for the DTV users who prefer the TiVo features, at least implement the standard TiVo features.

Logically, it makes no sense to me for Tivo to essentially sabotage itself by leaving out features. That doesn't make sense. Your own comment says my $5 goes to Tivo. If that is the case, don't you think TiVo would want DTV to sell more receivers with TiVo then not? How many threads have you read that people said lack of MRV was a deal breaker. Each one of those customers is $5 to Tivo.

The only reason I could see TiVo not care about the THR22 is if the agreement brings TiVo about the same amount of money regardless of sales. This brings up a whole other topic relating to patents which I don't even want to go to.

Anyway, I have my opinion and others have theirs. In the end THR22 customers are as much DTV customers as HR2x owners. So I don't know why people get so bent out of shape for encouraging a customer to give feedback the their service provider. If your happy with your service great. If your not, let them know.

Because TiVo owners are a very small subset of customers and the other ones wouldn't waste their time issuing feedback on something that doesn't impact them.

DIRECTV created their WHDVR and TiVo has it's own software to assume it's a simple port job is grossly understating the issue. If TiVo wants to have a function they can ask DIRECTV and DIRECTV can approve or not approve it. There are aspects of TiVo's software that DIRECTV will never approve because it would cause a strain with the content providers. There are other aspects I'm sure they would approve, like whole home, as long as TiVo was going to do their system. TiVo's goal is to sell as many units as possible so ultimately it's in TiVo's hands if they want to get this done. With that said one of the largest reasons for all of the delays were patent issues. I'm betting that either company is wanting more patent sharing if different options are allowed and at this point it's not worth it to them. If TiVo wanted to they could become an RVU client and then have access to MRV through a HR34. With that said TiVo has been over it's head for a long time when it comes to hardware that is not working properly and I'm betting that the majority of their resources are still tied into making the Premier unit work and the THR22 will be on the back burner for awhile unless there's a major issue that pops up.

 

[frankygamer]

Huh? Isn't this the DirecTV with TiVo forum? I didn't post this in the general forum. People who read this forum have an interest in the DirecTV DVR with TiVo. I don't know why people who aren't interested in the DirecTV with TiVo DVR are even here.

I'm not asking people who are happy with their DVR to write DirecTV. I'm just asking people who are interested in Tivo to write DirecTV.

Whether it's a waste of time is up to the customer not somebody who says your wasting your time on a web forum.

The one item I noted from the DirecTV customer service advocate rep was if DirecTV had no interest in their TiVo customers, why was the THR22 developed at all? It was base on customer feedback. The one common thought is everyone (including me) never thought Tivo would see DirecTV again. But here we are.

Let people decide for themselves and let DirecTV know. How soon people forget that TiVo put DirecTV in the DVR business at the start. The HRx's came later. It's not a waste of time to spend 5 minutes fill out a form. What is a waste of time is people who have no interest in TiVo DVR's hanging out in the TiVo forums just to bash TiVo and people who prefer TiVo service.

 

[spartanstew]

The one item I noted from the DirecTV customer service advocate rep was if DirecTV had no interest in their TiVo customers, why was the THR22 developed at all? It was base on customer feedback. The one common thought is everyone (including me) never thought Tivo would see DirecTV again. But here we are.

I seriously doubt it was based on customer feedback. D* probably allowed TiVo to create it so that they could continue to use some patents (or it was part of an agreement). TiVo probably agreed to make it so that they could sell a few and keep the TiVo brand relevent for at least another couple of years.

If you think that either company really cares about this unit (or the people that buy it), you're mistaken. TiVo doesn't care or it wouldn't have taken them almost 3 years to create it - it was just a side project to placate a small subset of users. D* doesn't care as they'd rather have people use their own DVR's. Neither company wants to devote any more resources to this unit which was deemed to be a failure from the start. It's just a Marketing piece, that some people bought anyway.

 

[Herdfan]

I seriously doubt it was based on customer feedback. D* probably allowed TiVo to create it so that they could continue to use some patents (or it was part of an agreement).

I agree with 90%. But as you noted it took 3 years for it to materialize. DirecTV DVR's got a whole lot better during this time. So there probably was some customer feedback that led them to agree to the unit in the first place, but now probably not so much.

And MRV has been out for a year and a half now, so if they could figure out how to do it in that time, it probably can't be or won't be done.

 

[frankygamer]

I seriously doubt it was based on customer feedback. D* probably allowed TiVo to create it so that they could continue to use some patents (or it was part of an agreement). TiVo probably agreed to make it so that they could sell a few and keep the TiVo brand relevent for at least another couple of years.

If you think that either company really cares about this unit (or the people that buy it), you're mistaken. TiVo doesn't care or it wouldn't have taken them almost 3 years to create it - it was just a side project to placate a small subset of users. D* doesn't care as they'd rather have people use their own DVR's. Neither company wants to devote any more resources to this unit which was deemed to be a failure from the start. It's just a Marketing piece, that some people bought anyway.

Can you tell me what you base this on? What insider information do you have that I can't get out of either company. Do you work for one of the companies?

You could be right that the agreement pays Tivo more for patents and collecting fees on the new boxes is just in the noise. That would be fine with me. Just somebody announce it who has some credibility. Not some anonymous person on a message board.

Why do you even care about this topic and read this forum?