Last night, I cancelled my TiVo service. Mostly because I’m moving and won’t have a place of my own for a while, so I’ll have no place to connect it up; but also because TiVo seems to have lost their way.
When I first signed up for the service, TiVo was cutting edge — and worked seamlessly with my Mac.
Today, a few years later, technology has progressed leaps and bounds… but TiVo hasn’t. And all us early adopters with Macs have been left far behind. While the TiVo Desktop software has been upgraded continuously for Windows, it’s stagnated on the Mac. The TiVo-To-Go system (which allows transfers of video from TiVo to computer) doesn’t work with the Mac, and doesn’t look like it will do so any time soon.
On top of that, despite the move to high definition, TiVo still has no HD unit available (except a model with lackluster functionality for DirecTV). I’ve had HDTV in my home since 1997; why is TiVo so late to this party?
When I move to California, I’ll have a Comcast HD DVR. It may not have all the functions of a TiVo; but since TiVo began to lock down their system and add advertising throughout the interface, it’s become no better than a DVR from a monopolistic cable company. Why pay $13.00 a month for it anymore?
Sorry, TiVo. You had me at the start, but you’ve done nothing to keep me. Others have stepped in to the market you created, and you’ve failed to stay ahead of them. Innovate or die.
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