The redesigned TiVo Search does away with the Swivel Search and now makes show searching more efficient and HD friendly.

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Today, TiVo has begun implementation of a new feature allowing advertisers to insert text ads into paused programming. That's right, skipping those commercials is finally becoming impossible.

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Dooooooods! Not only can you order pizza and carry on a technosexual relationship with your Tivo, but as of today, you can watch Netflix on it. I'm never leaving the house again...ever.

AU:US only, if any of you were confused why Netflix wasn't showing up on your Aussie TiVo...

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Those guys at IceTV seem to love Christmas time - on top of selling a whole heap of PVRs cheap the other week, they're now letting current customers (either paid, free trial or returning) to renew their IceTv subscription for just $49, which is about half price (and works out at less than $1 a week). You'll need to be one of the first 500 customers to enter the code: "santascoming" when you select the "top up my existing account" option. So if you're an IceTV user, either for your PVR or your computer, make sure you get in fast to save some dollars this Xmas...

[IceTV]

I'm not sure what to make of this report in the Oz today that Telstra is planning on taking their transition from phone network to media company to the next level early next year by launching a set-top box to take on TiVo. Part of me loves the idea - getting legal content from the interwebs to your TV is still way too difficult for most people today, and if done right, a BigPond STB could be everything the Apple TV should have been. But then again, it is Telstra, and until we hear some firm pricing - especially for people not on BigPond's broadband network - we have to expect the worst.

The box itself, according to the Oz's source, will not just stream content from the net (like the Roku Netflix box from the US), it will also feature two TV tuners (no mention of whether they'll be HD or SD) and an EPG, and will stream both TV shows and movies from BigPond. And although this is entirely speculation on my part, considering BigPond has their music store as well, I expect it would offer music downloads as well, essentially making it an Apple TV with a TV tuner inside...

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Following hot on the heels of their "Movie Of The Week" service, TiVo announced yesterday they'll be launching broadband radio in conjunction with radio network DMG (aka Nova and Vega). The service looks set for a March launch, with customers to receive the service upgrade free of charge.

Radio and TiVo doesn't seem the most natural of partnerships, since one relies on a screen and the other, well... doesn't. But according to DMG's Cathy O'Connor the fit is a good one, with plans to use the screen first as a menu and ultimately for branding related images.

When asked if there were plans to incorporate more radio stations into their growing empire, TiVo were typically tight lipped. However, they did indicate they were considering generic radio options overseas, with views to possibly launch kids' radio within the service.

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According to CNN, you are not the only one who may have "TiVo guilt." Plenty of people keep shows on there forever. So, how far back do your unwatched TiVo / DVR shows go?

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With only 24 more sleeps until Christmas, I guess it makes a lot of sense for companies to start offering discounts. IceTV today joined the discount party, offering some pretty decent savings through their online store, including up to $200 off the top of the line Beyonwiz PVR with a bonus 12 month subscription to the IceTV EPG. You can also pick up a Media Center PC from $399, or save $50 on a HDTV tuner for your PC or Mac. Check out the IceTV store for all the available discounts and remember that if you order by December 15, you'll get everything delivered in time for Christmas.

[IceTV]

Foxtel created a bit of a stir earlier this year when they launched their iQ2 PVR alongside their new range of HD channels. Even though the free-to-air networks all had HD channels broadcasting, there wasn't a lot of content available in HD that really took advantage of the growing trend for homes to have Full HD TVs in the home. With their HD+ service, Foxtel hoped to bring HD content to the mainstream. And after more than three months of watching their HD channels, I can happily say the future looks bright for HD+, but at the moment it's held back by a lack of variety in its content.

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And the battle for PVR of choice in your living room rages on, growing more and more violent with each passing week. This time, Foxtel has sent a mortar in the shape of an enhanced online EPG into TiVo's camp. Foxtel have expanded their online EPG to 14 days, meaning you can check out upcoming TV shows and movies up to two weeks in advance. Plus, they've added a whole raft of new advanced search functions to help iQ subscribers find more of the shows that they want to watch, and then send the order to record directly to their iQ remotely.

Unfortunately, the TV EPG is still restricted to 7 days in advance, but watching the way this war is really building up, surely it can't be too long before we see 14 days become the norm for all EPGs...

[Foxtel]