I’m reverse-cord-cutting, saving $20.94/month

I’m reverse-cord-cutting, saving $20.94/month.

XFINITY with NETFLIX included.



I just signed up for a new Xfinity plan where Netflix is included.

No more monthly payments to NETFLIX for their Standard plan with HD quality, saving $12.99/month.

REMOVE Cable card

Just removed the monthly fee of $7.95 for my Xfinity cable card that was supporting my Tivo.

I've switched over to Xfinity X1 as my DVR.

Goodbye TiVo. It was nice.

You don't need a cable card to watch your recorded programs.



One thing that kept me from getting rid of TiVo was the accumulation of unwatched shows I have on there. Good shows.

So after watching our last, TiVi recorded, must see episode of that lawyer show Carol likes, and confirming that a good amount of the other shows are available ON DEMAND at Xfinity, I canceled the cable card.

I removed the cable card to drop it off at an Xfinity store. The TiVo then said, "Hey. You removed my cable card! How are you going to watch TV?"

The TiVo then asked me how I wanted to proceed, so I selected to get my program information from the INTERNET, and my TV SOURCE would be from an OVER THE AIR ANTENNA.

The TiVo then scanned for available stations, and downloaded program information for those that it found.

NOTE: I don't have an antenna, and I'm not going to get one.

After TiVo did all this, I clicked over to my recorded programs and they were still there, and I have access to them.

So the answer to the question is: YOU DON'T NEED A CABLE CARD TO WATCH YOUR RECORDED PROGRAMS.

The TiVo App for iPad is coming soon to the App Store™

The TiVo App for iPad is coming soon to the App Store™.

Watch your TiVo customer newsletter for details!

via [ How to use the TiVo App for iPad ]

More:
iPad Fans: TiVo® Premiere App for the iPad Coming To a Second Screen Near You

The Comcast Xfinity TV App doesn't work with a Comcast DVR with the TiVo Upgrade

Photo Courtesy Comcast: The Comcast Xfinity TV App

The Comcast Xfinity TV App doesn't work with a Comcast DVR with the TiVo Upgrade.


Comcast DVR with the TiVo Upgrade

You'd think that early adopters of an advanced user interface would get Xfinity iPad/iPhone App support.

You can schedule recordings online for the Comcast DVR with the TiVo Upgrade. What's the difference between using the Comcast Xfinity TV App?

Customer support told me that I'd have to downgrade my Comcast DVR, removing the TiVo Upgrade to allow the Comcast Xfinity TV App to work.

Seems like a programming issue to me.

Can I get some clarification? A timetable?

TWITTER UPDATE:

When will it work with TiVo? Thanks. RT @ComcastBill: @stevegarfield Correct it does not work with Tivoless than a minute ago via Tweetie for MacSteve Garfield
stevegarfield

@stevegarfield I can honestly say I'm not sure.less than a minute ago via TweetDeckComcastBill
ComcastBill

Comcast Chat:

Ashley > Is there anything else that I can help you with?
Steve_ > when will Xfinity TV App work with a Comcast DVR with the TiVo Upgrade
Ashley > Let me check on this.
Ashley > You may check this link www.xfinitytv.com for updates.
Ashley > I apologize but there's no update yet here.
Steve_ > Please find out and email me the status. Is thre a timeframe? Are people wrking on this?
Steve_ > Please do some research and get back to me rather than asking me to check the website.
Ashley > Please wait, I am checking this further.
Ashley > You may check is it is available now on your area by checking fancast.com/mydvr
Steve_ > No. It is available in my area. It just doesn't work with the Comcast DVR that's been upgraded with TiVo interface.
Ashley > Oh, I am sorry to know that.
Ashley > You may swap your cable box Steve.
Steve_ > Can you pass this along to someone who can answer me and email me back?
Steve_ > No. The BOX is not the problem.
Steve_ > Please, the box is fine. It's the TiVo upgrade that is the problem.
Ashley > Sure! You can send an email here http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/Customers/contactus/ContactUs.html
Steve_ > I want a timeframe whe Xfininity app will be supported on Comcast TiVo DVR.
Ashley > This is within 2 to 3 months.
Ashley > Is there anything else that I can help you with?
Ashley > It has been my pleasure to have assisted you today . I'm happy you contacted Comcast.

Caprica: Watch on Panasonic VieraCast or Tivo HD

I want to watch the preview of next season's Caprica TV show and am looking into streaming it to my TV.

Amazon Video on Demand allows you to view the show online, download to a PC or portable device, and also send it to either a TiVo box or connected device, which in my case is a Panasonic TV with VieraCast.

Once you sign up and register your device, you can watch either way. The differences are interesting.

Let's look at hte specs:

TiVo HD

File Size 3.8 GB
Bitrate 5000 kbps
Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
Audio Channels 5.1

With the TiVo you are downloading the video and watching like you would any other TiVo show. NOte the audio is 5.1.

Pansonica VieraCast

Variable Bitrate
300 Kbps
600 Kbps 480p
900 Kbps 480p
1.2 Mbps 480p
2.5 Mbps 720p HD
Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
Audio Channels 2

With VieraCast you are streaming the video in real time with no wait to start watching. Quality will vary depending on your bitrate.

I'm getting a download speed of 29,728 so I should see the highest quality.

Have you tried either of these methods. I'd love to hear you thoughts.

I purchased this episode on Amazon On Demand and when my purchase was complete, I clicked to Download it to my TiVo.

Got this acknowledgement back.



I like the idea of being able to pause the show with my TiVo.



Update II:

Just watched the Caprica downoad on the TiVo HD. Awesome. Perfect sound and picture qualtiy.

Great show too.

I'm looking forward to next year and the series.

Comcast DVR with TiVo: Video Tour

In this video [ 5:16 ] I give you a quick tour of the Comcast DVR with TiVo. We take a look at TiVo recordings, the Guide, and Find Programs.

Response time could be improved.

Can We Sort Comcast TiVo Out?

When you sort for upcoming movies on a Comcast TiVo it sorts by Time.



When you sort for upcoming HD programs on a Comcast TiVo it sorts by program name.

No way to change the sort. I'd prefer it to be sorted by time...

Comcast TiVo Yellow Screen of Death

Comcsst TiVo Yellow Screen of Death - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.

While trying to record a movie with my new Comcast HD TiVo, the TiVo rebooted and then I got this screen.

The "Comcast TiVo Yellow Screen of Death?"

Maybe it's actually the "Comcast TiVo Yellow Screen of Life" since I saw it during the reboot.

Comcast TiVo HD Guide

Checking out the new Comcast Tivo HD Program Guide.

Shows in HD are designated by 'HD'. There's also a button to filter out all shows so that only HD shows are displayed, you can also do it via an on screen menu. It took 53 seconds for the screen to refresh. Movies, Kids, Sports, and News come up right away, as does All, but HD takes a long time.

Here's a video of hte Comcast Tivo HD Program Guide if you want to see.

I logged onto Comcast chat and was told that Comcast is aware of the problem and has contacted the hardware manufacturer.

Why do I have to Beta Test these products for free after they are publicly released? Didn't they have a Beta Test period where these things should have been ironed out?

Comcast TiVo DVR - Groups

Comcast TiVo DVR - Groups - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.

Groups works on NEW recordings that you make after the TiVo software is downloaded. Existing programs do not get grouped.

Comcast TiVo and Original TiVo Remotes

Comcast TiVo and Original TiVo Remotes - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.

The Comcast TiVo remote adds buttons. I don't like more buttons.

New buttons include:
On Demand
A
B
C
D
STOP

"The A, B, C, D buttons let you access shortcuts and various features, depending on where you are."

That goes again the original Apple developer guidelines from 1984. It makes the functions modal, when the preferred way is non-modal.

In fact, it would have been better if no additional buttons were added at all, and these functions were put in on screen menus.

TiVo Central on Comcast DVR

TiVo Central on Comcast DVR - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.

Oh happy day!

The TiVo sofware has been downloaded to my Comcast DVR. I was lucky to be the first Comcast user in Boston to get the TiVo interface.

I'm told it's now available in Brookline and Jamaica Plain, Mass.

Previously:
This earlier post, Comcast DVR with TiVo is now available, details my installation experience. Because of my calls, the online system and telephone reps should now be able to handle Comcast TiVo orders in the newighborhoods where it gets rolled out.

Comcast DVR with TiVo is now available

Just got an email from Comcast telling me that my wait is over.

"Comcast DVR with TiVo is now available"

Comcast now has TiVo service!

I clicked to learn more, but once you log in, the online system has no way to order it.

I had to call on the phone....

I keyed in all my info.

Talked to a rep.

He put me on hold.

Then I ended up talking to someone else.

She asked again for my address and said:

I didn't know it was coming out so soon. Let me check if it's available.

After waiting on hold for at least 5 minutes the rep comes back on the phone and says:

"TiVo is available in your area but I have no pricing or codes to order it. Can I call you back within 15 minutes after I talk to a supervisor?"

Sure!

KThanksBye.

My suggestions for Comcast:

1. Click on links in emails prior to sending them out to make sure they lead to the correct information.

2. Make sure that customers can order new products online.

3. Make sure internal systems have the pricing and codes available for customer service reps to be able to process orders.

4. Make sure that people answering the phone and representing the company knew about new products being rolled out.

Seems logical to me.

Hopefully this won't become too long of a post.

Stay tuned.

Please comment on your experiences.

Update ( the next day ):

I'm now on an online chat with Comcast customer service...

This is what is happening:



Stay tuned.

The phone rings...

Deborah just called from Comcast:

- She does not see 'the codes' in my account.

- Needs to look into the status

- Coding needs to be put into my account to allow downloading to DVR

The way I left it with her is that I authorized Comcast to add the TiVo software to my DVR. Comcast will also drop off my new remote.

She agreed to email me when it's set up, and she gave me her direct phone #.

Stay tuned...

Time passes... The phone rings...

Deborah called to get my preferred email address.

Update 12/19/07:

The phone rings...

Bill from Comcast's Executive Office in Massachusetts just called to confirm my appointment for tomorrow.

I told him I wasn't sure what he was talking about, since this was the first I'd heard of an appointment.

Bill went on to explain that Comcast rolling out a truck to my house to replace my Comcast DVR with a new Comcast TiVo DVR.

That's great I said, but what about all the shows I currently have sitting on the Comcast DVR?

Bill says that I can keep the old one for a while until I watch all the shows. I hope he realizes that sometimes it takes a year for me to watch recorded shows. :-)

I asked Bill why I was getting a call from the executive office and he replied that they heard I was having trouble ordering TiVo.

I explained how you couldn't order it online and the phone reps didn't have the codes to activate it.

Bill told me that because of my call, the codes are now available and for neighborhoods where TiVo is rolling out, you can order it.

Stay tuned...

Update 12/20/07:

Two installers and a supervisor came over this afternoon to install the Comcast TiVo software on my existing Comcast DVR.

I was the first Comcast DVR installation in Boston.

They came by to make sure the signal was strong enough to download the TiVo software.



There WAS an issue with the signal strength, so they climbed up on the pole outside to look for a filter. They used to use filters to filter out over the air signals from the cable. Now that it's digital, the filter is not needed.



It ended up that the filter was attached to a splitter inside the house. Once removed, the installer called in to Comcast and the download started.

DOWNLOAD

After about 30 minutes the download was complete and the TiVo interface was successfully installed on my Comcast DVR. Yay!

TiVo Screen Display
The TiVo screen display was too big for the screen, so I went into the TiVo menu and reset the interface so that the TiVo menu fit on the screen.

It's not an HD TiVo display, so the TiVo interface does not fit the wide HD screen, but sits in the middle like regular TV broadcasts.

PREVIOUS SHOWS ARE THERE
All my previously recorded shows are still on the box.

GROUPS
The only thing that doesn't seem to work is 'groups.' I'm expecting a call to address that.



I'm looking forward to using the TiVo software and will post more about it as I start using it.

Update:
I got a call from a technician about groups not working. I am thinking that it might work on new shows that I record, but just not on shows I recorded with the old software. We'll see.

Comcast TiVo DVR Service Begins Shortly

Comcast to Charge $2.95 Extra for TiVo DVR Service:

"Comcast will charge subscribers $2.95 extra per month if they opt for TiVo-based digital video recorder service and the operator will “aggressively market” the service, TiVo president and CEO Tom Rogers said, in prepared remarks for the company’s quarterly earnings announcement Wednesday. Rogers noted that Comcast has made TiVo-enabled DVRs available in “some non-employee subscriber homes” in the operator’s New England territory, and said that “full marketing efforts will begin shortly in the greater Boston area.”"

Dear Comcast,
You really don't need to market to me. I've already put my email address into your online TiVo page.

I'd like to have a realtionship with you, but right now I feel like it's only one way.

I give and give. But don't get much back.

I know you provide me a service day in and day out, but you really don't listen to me when I talk.

I feel like you don't value our relationship.

You're always out on the town, looking to pick up someone new, while I sit at home.

Please think about how you are treating me.

Call me.

--Steve

via [ Shelly Palmer ]