Well I figured those of us who have series one tivo’s probably fancy mucking about with games as well

Check out the new site of mine, and get free games !!
www.fps.net.nz

My series one is up for sale on trademe ( link )

Series 1 Philips TiVo.
All operational
* 320GB Hard disk  (Western Digital, worth $120)
* Cache/Network  card, with 512mb memory (worth $94USD from 9thtee.com)
* nzTiVo software installed and running

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the final countdown has begun. TiVo launches Friday 6th November and you can be one of the first to get it.

Sign up to Telecom Broadband now

Only with Telecom Broadband can you get the full, interactive TiVo experience. It gives you access to the CASPA On-Demand service that opens up an amazing world of broadband movies, television, music videos, concerts and artist interviews.

What’s more, you’ll be able to download content to your TiVo media device without it impacting your monthly data allowance. And if you buy the TiVo media device before 24 January 2010 you’ll get TiVo’s home networking package (worth $129) for FREE.

TiVo Easy to use, even easier to pay for

Get Telecom Broadband and you can get a TiVo media device for as little as $200 up front, and $30 per month for 24 months on your Telecom account*. There are no monthly subscriptions or other ongoing costs. Some On-Demand content will be free, some will be pay-per-view to TiVo (Hybrid Television Services) with your credit card†.

So head in store or call us on
0800 My TiVo on Friday 6th Nov

A roving flashmob is entertaining crowds around the Auckland CBD today, performing choreographed dances to a medley of songs as part of the TiVo campaign launch.

So far the group has performed at the Civic Centre, Britomart and Freyberg Square.

Around 100-150 people took part, making it one of the biggest flashmobs in New Zealand to date.

The flashmob will move on to Vulcan Lane and the Viaduct from 5pm.

Flashmobs are large groups who gather in a public place and perform for a short time before dispersing.

They are usually organised through viral or social media.

via Flashmob hits Auckland CBD – National – NZ Herald News.

noted on stuff.co.nz today:

The line between television and the internet is set to blur further on Sunday, when TiVo will go on sale in New Zealand.

But Sky Television and Maori Television are set to take some gloss off the launch of the hi-tech personal video recorder, refusing to allow their programme listings to be displayed on TiVo’s electronic programming guide (EPG).

Television New Zealand paid A$8 million in March for a one-third stake in TiVo’s Australian and New Zealand licence holder, Hybrid Television Services.

The surprise decision by Maori TV to withhold EPG data follows tensions between Maori TV, TVNZ and the Government over broadcasting rights to the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Maori TV spokeswoman Sonya Haggie says the broadcaster had not been presented with a compelling business case.

Hybrid chief executive Robbee Minicola says TiVo viewers will still be able to watch all channels broadcast by FreeviewHD, while Telecom customers will also be able to receive programmes and services downloaded to their televisions via an unmetered broadband connection.

Sky spokesman Tony O’Brien says it decided not to provide Prime’s listings until at least 2012 because Hybrid cannot track viewer numbers. He says it is also “slightly uncomfortable” with the exclusive nature of the partnership between Hybrid and Telecom, which will sell TiVo for $899. “We like to partner with all internet providers.”

Mr O’Brien denies Sky has been motivated by any concern TiVo might negatively impact on Sky’s pay-television service.

“Any free-to-air broadcaster finds ratings are quite important. TiVo is not expected to measure ratings data until late 2012 and we would be happy to look at the situation again at that stage.”

Sky provides EPG data to other Freeview-compatible decoders that also cannot record ratings, but Mr O’Brien says gains in viewership outweigh other considerations.

Ms Minicola says the decision is very unfortunate and would hurt Prime and inconvenience viewers.

She says Maori TV boss Jim Mather “just decided that he didn’t want to do it”.

Maori TV has less than 1 per cent of television viewership and Hybrid would encourage concerned viewers to take up the EPG issue direct with the broadcaster, she says. “I am not going to sit here and fight with people who have changed their minds.”

Hybrid is expected to release more details of TiVo’s online service late this week, promising at least one surprise. Viewers will be able to use TiVo’s broadband connection to download new and recent-release, pay-per-view movies and archived television programmes.

But there is speculation that Hybrid will look to quickly introduce a wider range of more futuristic services to avoid the lacklustre initial take-up experienced in other markets, including Australia, where about 35,000 were sold in its maiden year.

TiVo-equipped television sets could provide access to online shopping services, news services and games. They could also be used to make video calls in conjunction with a home phone.

MediaWorks marketing manager Roger Beaumont says it has formalised an agreement with Hybrid that will see TV3 and C4 listings included in TiVo’s EPG, after indicating in March that it was in no rush to allow this.

Selling content through TiVo is not a priority for MediaWorks, however. “We will explore those opportunities as it seems viable.”

WHAT TIVO CAN DO

• Show all FreeviewHD channels (but no Prime or Maori TV programming guide data).
• Record two programmes at a time straight to a built-in hard drive.
• Be programmed to record programmes remotely over the internet.
• Pause and rewind (by up to 30 minutes) “live” television.
• Show programmes and movies downloaded over the internet (Telecom broadband customers only).
• At least one “surprise” in the wings.

More news from the Telecom front

The deal will provide Telecom broadband customers with the ability to download movies and shows to their TV with no impact to their monthly broadband data allowance as well as access to all of the Freeview|HD channels (no need to buy a set top box).

Movies will be pay-per-view, while TV content will either be free (advertising funded) or pay-per-view. Content can also be transferred to a PC or mobile device.

The TiVo media device allows viewers to pause and rewind live TV, record every episode in a series with the Season Pass feature, auto record favourite actors using the WishList search and provide a safe viewing environment for their children with TiVo KidZone.

Telecom broadband will also unmeter games and information services as well as the 14-day on-screen guide and software updates within the TiVo.

“In addition to getting the best of free-to-air digital TV, Telecom customers will have access to broadband entertainment which they will only pay for what they view instead of paying monthly subscription fees,” said Robbee Minicola, CEO of Hybrid TV.

At launch the TiVo Media Device plus the Wireless Adaptor will be sold as a bundle for $920.00 (incl. GST) from Telecom retail stores, customer service channels at 123 and online at www.telecom.co.nz/mytivo

Telecom will also offer a deferred payment option of 24 monthly payments of $30 plus an upfront initial payment of $200 (incl GST) which is placed on your Telecom phone bill. This payment option will only be available to Telecom Broadband customers.

The interesting bit: deferred payments are only available to Telecom broad band customers bummer

The latest newsletter from Hybrid Television Services (TiVo):

New Zealand is converting to Digital Television. That means the current analogue broadcasts will be switched off. But don’t worry the TiVo media device has dual high definition (HD) digital tuners and is Freeview|HD compatible.
Freeview|HD is the free-to-air digital terrestrial service that is available to 75% of New Zealanders. The coverage areas are our nine major centres – Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Napier, Hastings, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.
So if you live in one of these areas you can connect your TiVo media device to a UHF aerial and then simply plug it into your old analogue TV, or your new high definition flat screen, and see all the great free-to-air digital programmes.
TiVo and Freeview|HD has our favourite channels including TV One, TV2, TV3, C4, Maori Television, TVNZ6, TVNZ7, TV3Plus1, Prime, Parliament TV, Chinese TV8, tvCentral (Waikato and Bay of Plenty only), Radio New Zealand National, Radio New Zealand Concert, and BASE FM.

Don’t worry about re-tuning your TV to pick up new channels ever again, your TiVo media device checks every night for any new channels. So should Freeview|HD add new channels they will be there for you the next day automatically!

If you want to check now that you are in a Freeview|HD coverage area click here and enter your address.
Remember, you still have the chance to WIN one of FIVE TiVo media devices that we are giving away. Keep telling your friends to register at www.mytivo.co.nz and to enter in YOUR name and email address so you have more chances to win. For terms and conditions go to www.mytivo.co.nz/wantone.
As you may already know, we have partnered with Telecom as our exclusive retailer. As a Telecom broadband customer you can access a world of broadband movies and TV shows, through your TiVo media device. Telecom broadband customers get unmetered broadband access to TiVo content and services which means there’s no impact to monthly data allowances.

This in my email today:

How would you choose between Angelina Jolie, Peter Jackson or cooking? Tough choice. But don’t worry with the TiVo® media device you can have them all!
The WishList search is another amazing feature of TiVo that will have you sitting back, watching TV and relaxing on your couch before you know it!
It is as simple as entering in your favourite actor, director, category or keyword and TiVo will automatically record the programmes that match your search requests! Amazing. These programmes can then be found in your Now Playing folder ready for you to watch when you want to. You can set up as many WishList™ searches as you like.
Remember, you still have the chance to WIN one of FIVE TiVo media devices that we are giving away. Keep telling your friends to register at www.mytivo.co.nz and to enter in YOUR name and email address so you have more chances to win. For terms and conditions go to www.mytivo.co.nz/wantone.
As you may already know, we have partnered with Telecom as our exclusive retailer. As a Telecom broadband customer you can access a world of broadband movies and TV shows, through your TiVo media device. Telecom broadband customers get unmetered broadband access to TiVo content and services which means there’s no impact to monthly data allowances. To find out more go to http://telecom.co.nz/mytivo

Tristan Clark – Technical Writer: writes ….

We knew TiVo was coming at some point – it’s part owned by TVNZ. But now details have emerged that Telecom holds exclusive reselling rights for the November launch, and only its broadband customers can have access to TiVo’s internet features.

A TiVo box acts like a digital tuner, giving you access to Freeview HD channels and the ability to record them. It will also provide internet access to pay-per-view movies and TV shows. While few details have been released on this content, it’s one of the bigger selling points of TiVo worldwide.

This is where Telecom’s exclusive deal pays off: it has said that any content watched through TiVo won’t count towards your monthly broadband data limit. Without this, most users would chew through their monthly limit in a matter of days.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that a TiVo set-top box will set you back $899 if you buy it outright, although you can also pay it off in instalments. And while roughly 60 percent of the broadband market is with Telecom, that other 40 percent is left out. These users won’t be able to access TiVo’s paid content or internet services.

We say:

The additional content offered through TiVo will have to be compelling to justify the high price and Telecom exclusivity. If you’re already a Telecom customer and watch a lot of TV, then it may be worth checking announcements about TiVo’s content in the coming months.

via Consumer Blogs – Tech Talk – Home entertainment – TiVo for Telecom.