Philips HDR312 TiVo 30-Hour Digital Video Recorder
Still Waiting for the International version
A really great idea, unfortunately taken only part way. The machine can only work in the USA. This is really frustrating for potential customers elsewhere in the world. Worse yet, an international version for a world market would only take some simple software changes. A simple user programmable function, much like that in existing video recorders, would allow anyone to set up a schedule of favorite TV/cable channels that could be recorded automatically. The stored shows could then digitally managed so that only the last say 10 shows of a program would be kept and new recordings would constantly overwrite older shows. This simple ability alone would make the TIVO unit usable anywhere in the world.  Of course to take advantage of the present max 60-hour capacity the unit would need to be able to handle at least 60 to 120 program events. A lot to set up to be sure but this would be a one-time effort and based on the user interests. Just imagine when 100 - 1000GB hard drives become available. It may be posible to keep every episode of a favorite TV series online and immediately accessible.<br />If the TIVO schedule was desired as well, a few simple changes could take of that too.<br />1. Allow the unit to be able to dial up the data via the Internet or allow for international long distance dialing with support for 24-30 digit dialing.<br />2. Allow for a simple channel re-mapping function so that CNN on channel 25 on the TIVO schedule could be re-assigned to channel 33 for the users local TV/cable source.<br />I am very keen to have a unit.. once they become global-ready products. Maybe one day someone will build the Super DVR that would be just like a VCR but without the hassle of tape and with the plus of easy digital control of watching time-shifted shows... and work anywhere in the world.