TiVos for HD OTA in Canada

[andrela]

New tivo Premiere spring update is out. Updated Netflix, Youtube an hd parental is now available. Also fixes many bugs. You can get it in priority by entering your TSN at:

Www.tivo.com/priority

Don't know if this version allow Canadian to use netflix/youtube.

[FunkyTown]

Hi Andrela,

Good news! Finally I can watch Netflix on my TiVo without requiring VPN service. The new update allows it and it has instant queue too. This makes the TiVo a much more versatile machine in Canada.

YouTube also works now.

[andrela]

Very glad to hear that they have finally unblock the applications. I have used netflix yesterday and I have seen at least one bug if not two;

1. In multiple episodes show, scrolling up and down make text disappear.

2. Maybe, some stuttering during play back. That i am not sure as it may have been the source. Have to check.

The interface is very similar to rhe PS3.

I am still trying to figure out the remote buttons. I thought the INFO button would provide some info such as title and stream quality.

Overall, not many other changes.

[FunkyTown]

Yes it's very much like the PS3 App. I'm glad it's working though.

One thing I find is when you first start playing a show it's very bad resolution, but within 30 to 40 seconds it gets better.

[andrela]

True. PS3 does the same but doesn't seem to be that bad. Maybe they shouldn't start that low.

On another subject, I cannot get used to the new youtube interface. I much prefer the atv implementation or the old tivo way. The only needed to improve and provide the new functionality.

[FunkyTown]

I never had the old one. I'm thrilled I can get into them now. One thing I haven't figured out is how to return to menu both on YouTube and Netflix. The back button shows a timeline of screenshots. Most other buttons return to the TiVo menu. Then it is slow going back to Netflix.

[andrela]

If you are playing a Netflix video and want to get back to the Netflix menus, press UP. When you want to leave the Netflix app and go back to the TiVo menus, press CLEAR

In youtube:
When you want to leave the YouTube app and go back to the TiVo menus, press CLEAR. I think up arrow will bring you back to the previous screen.

These buttons are not consistent with the "Tivo experience" for sure.

[FunkyTown]

Haha no they are not consistent. On the email they sent, they mentioned Netflix and Google wrote the applications. So they probably adhered to their own set of standards.

Computers are really still in their infancy when you realize we still don't have global standards for doing things.

I just gave this a test. I went in to Netflix and started playing a movie. Then pressed "up" arrow and yes it did take me back to the Netflix menu. It good to know - thanks. You can press the TiVo button to exit and go back to the TiVo main menu too.

I think having these working in Canada without having to have VPN service and a router that supports VPN will help TiVo sales in this country. With digital OTA TiVo is one (if not THE best) machines out there now that it supports Netflix and YouTube. I don't regret for a second getting rid of satellite tv and going back to antenna. I get 21 stations OTA and my TiVo hard drive sometimes gets pretty full as there's so much to watch. Plus it's 1080i and it's free!

I watched a show this morning on my living room TiVo that was recorded on the bedroom TiVo. I find the streaming functionality better. I have a lot of shows on the bedroom TiVo and to scroll down to the bottom of the list it was slow. You'd need to wait for the screen to be fully drawn before paging down to the next screen of shows. With this new update, you can rapidly press page down and it accepts the commands and scrolls much faster.

So far I have had no lockups, no reboots, nothing. It is working well at the moment. I'm very pleased so far with this firmware upgrade.

There used to be a bug in the ToDo list. When scrolling down and up you would lose the scheduled recordings info. To get them back you would need to exit and return to the ToDo list. That appears to be fixed now.

When recording from the guide, there is an option to view upcoming shows. If you selected to record the 5th showing of the show and selected "Options" to state keep until I delete, it would then select the very next upcoming episode of the show instead of the one you really wanted. That bug has been fixed!

I also notice when using the settings, it will say "Press A to record with these options". It's the first time I've ever noticed the ABCD function keys being of any good use (other than for sorting options). Excellent!

I really have not found any bugs at all, so it's a very pleasing firmware release to have all bugs fixed and applications that work in Canada. I'm going to knock on wood now because usually after making claims like this I find a bug. :-)

[jft436]

On reading the previous posts as I undertsand it I can now get netflix USA on the Tivo. I am a netflix susbcriber and get it on all my other devices except TIVO. I tried unblock us and their fix just resulted in more problems so I went back to square 1.

I was given other vpns by some of the ,members on this site and I did not want to go there as I had other activated devices. Some VPN services result in slower speeds.

So as I understand it once I get the latest update I should have access.

Pandora will also be a nice plus

I did the expediated update through the link that was posted here so it will be intersting to see what occurs.

When I did ask for the update on the link it told me there were'nt any

[FunkyTown]

Yes you will have Netflix access without going through a VPN once you get the access.

I used to get updates first on my older TiVo. A month later I'd finally get it on my newer one. I contacted TiVo to complain about that because one of the updates caused streaming to break. It was broken for a month until the other machine was updated. They may have decided to update by household because both of my machines received the update at the same time this time. It's a first for that. They seem to be really on the ball these days.

[andrela]

Yes it is a big plus that these 2 apps are now supported in Canada and it may encourage more new users to adopt the Premiere. I don't think that Tivo will ever sell they Premiere in Canada although they support it.

Your location is one of the best in Canada for the number of OTA channels you receive. I envy you.

As for the bugs, agree, pretty much bug free. The only thing that I have seen is that some analog audio channels seems to have more cracks and pops. This pretty much disappeared last summer but seems to be back.

the Premiere development has gotten very active in the last year. Not sure if there was a change in leadership or more money available for developments. They seems way more open and are trying to please the community. They say that the HDUI should be completed by the next Fall update.

At least, Netflix and Google will be able to update their software directly without going through Tivo.

I do not expect any other US apps such as Pandora or Hulu plus to be available to Canadian. VPN still required.

[FunkyTown]

I think Netflix and YouTube are great to have. I've never had desire for those others. I've been watching Netflix mostly on my Apple TV. Sometimes through the PS3. Now I have Netflix in my bedroom too. This update could even encourage more Netflix subscribers so it's good for Netflix too.

You're right and I keep forgetting - not everyone gets as many channels OTA as we do here. We can even pick up CBS, FOX, and ABC if you've got an appropriate antenna high enough above your roof. A friend of mine in Halifax says she's only getting 4 OTA channels - one of which is French. I still think with all of the available OTA in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and other areas that TiVo would do well in Canada if it was marketed as an OTA PVR with Netflix and YouTube capabilities. People are tired of paying crazy costs to watch tv. Going OTA is not an option as people are so hooked on having a PVR. TiVo is really the best PVR on the market I think. Especially now with these changes.

I hope with the updates in the fall that they don't break what's finally working really well. I'm a firm believer in customer service. I think businesses who have thrived over and over are the businesses with the best customer service policies. Having a working machine and sending out surveys like they do shows they want to make things better and are concerned about customer service.

I have been thinking about getting a 3rd machine for my basement (eventually). I really was not set on getting another tivo because I have not been pleased with the bugs and the fact that in Canada it was missing features that we had to pay for anyway. Now that this firmware has resolved all of that, I would definitely buy a 3rd tivo for my basement entertainment room. So the care/concern that they put forth will definitely translate into more sales and current customers staying with them.

[The Black Cat]

Just got the TiVo update but I still don't have access to Netflix or YouTube. Still gives me the V301 error. Anything special to do after the update?

[awebber]

as I undertsand it I can now get netflix USA on the Tivo.

Yes you will have Netflix access without going through a VPN once you get the access.

To clarify though, it's Netflix Canada that we can now get on a TiVo without a VPN, right? Not TiVo US?

I'm using a WD HD Live box for Netflix Canada now, and it's doing what I want though its ability to control the stream (e.g. back up a bit after missing something) is pretty weak.

I get 21 stations OTA

I assume you have a very high antenna? I only have potential for 14 or something (green band on TVF) and only 2 more in the pink band (PBS and PBS), so are you getting more US stations (grey band "exreme measures")? I have to update the other thread with results of moving my indoor antenna upstairs but even with an outdoor antenna in the attic I don't think I'm expecting more than those 14 (based on TVFool).

Thanks
=aw

[The Black Cat]

Just got the TiVo update but I still don't have access to Netflix or YouTube. Still gives me the V301 error. Anything special to do after the update?

Never mind... I never took the apps off the providers. Tried to take them off and then put them back in and it fixed it. Now have access to Netflix and YouTube.

Its odd though... on my Apple TV 2 I have my instant queue, but the TiVo only gives me a search option and categories to browse. The other downside is the awful sluggishness but oh well...