DirecTV HD TiVo DVR Announced For 2009

Engadget is reporting that DirecTV and TiVo have announced they’re working together to bring a DirecTV HD TiVo DVR to DirecTV subscribers.

About a year ago, in August 2007, DirecTV and TiVo announced they’d be doing upgrades to the old DirecTV Tivos that were still in service, but not being sold anymore. That update was set for January 2008. I took this as a good sign, and that possibly DirecTV was going to start marketing TiVos again. Fast forward to 2008. DirectTV does the upgrade, and in January buys ReplayTV. No sign of new TiVos. Fast forward to now, and the announcement today.

This is a BIG, big thing. I’ve owned a ReplayTV, TiVo, and a Dish Network DVR, used the current DirecTV DVR, and TiVo wins hands down.

I’m disappointed that this won’t happen until the second half of 2009, but very, very happy that it’s going to happen.

If I were Dish Network, I’d be worried.

DirecTV buys ReplayTV

I’m very disappointed that DirecTV bought ReplayTV. Earlier this year DirecTV announced that in January 2008 they were going to upgrade the ancient TiVo software in the DVRs they used to sell. I took that as a sign they were going to start a new alliance with TiVo and possibly bring TiVo back to DirecTV. I appears that was done just to fulfill a contractual obligation.

Now, you might be asking what the heck ReplayTV is. It was the first company to bring a DVR to market. I even participated in the beta test for this product, and bought one as soon as they came out. I used it until they filed for bankruptcy. I bought a TiVo that very day. ReplayTV eventually came out of bankruptcy, and continued, but after getting the TiVo I ever looked back.

What does this mean for Dish Network? No telling. TiVO won a jury verdict against EchoStar (Dish’s parent company) and is forcing Dish to stop selling it’s DVR boxes.

I love my TiVo, but currently use the Dish Network DVR on the “main TV” because it has two tuners (one of them can be used with a remote in another room). The TiVo still chugs along in the rec room.

I really like the user interface for TiVo. It’s well laid out, and is easy to use. I can’t wait to replace that Dish Network DVR… the interface on it really stinks.

Do you use a TiVo, ReplayTV, MythTV, or other DVR? Do you like it?