http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp..._time_shifting

First saw the article on slashdot:
http://slashdot.org/articles/04/12/0....shtml?tid=129

What TIVO needs to do is start recording shows as soon as possible, even if another show overlaps the first minute of it. It should be a simple software upgrade. Either that or allow us to add/delete minutes from the first and last part of a show. Right now you can just add minutes at the end for instance.

TIVOs can't start recordings early? Replays can.

Also, how do you suggest TIVOs record overlapping programming? Assuming you are talking standalone models, they only have 1 tuner.

TiVo's start early just fine. As you say, it's an overlapping problem, not a timing issue.

das

My DVR, a Scientific Atlanta 8000HD, allows you to set the recording anywhere from on time to 10 minutes early [and/or late] for a specific item or for a 'subscription.' Looks like I'm going to start using that feature a lot more. I have run into the overlapping programs thing before; mine is dual-tuner, but even with that, it's happened. I first noticed this when I missed the first and last three minutes of the Simpsons last Treehouse of Horror.
I tell you what, I'll still be fastforwarding thru the commercials.
At least when TBS started doing this, *everything* was 5 minutes off, and they told you that.

You can start a recording early, but you can't start a recording late. So you can't opt to start taping a show at 9:01 after Lost ends example.

I heard the only way to get around this is set a manual record to start at 9:05 and then pad it to start recording 4 minutes early.

Good thing I don't watch much network tv anymore. The only thing I watch now in prime time is Simpsons, King of the hill, South park, Joey, & Enterprise. And next year Family Guy and I will try American Dad.

I really enjoy this new "let's make our shows as hard for people to watch as possible" way of doing business.

It's not just a factor for people trying to record the shows, it's an issue for everyone who is attempting to watch the shows.

yeah, a nice upgrade for tivo would be:

if something you already are planning to record (a la LOST) ends late, and you want to record something that starts at 8 on another channel, it should ask you if you mind starting that recording 1 minute late, at 8:01. Right now you don't have that option. It's either you cancel the first recording, or don't record the show at 8 (unless you manually do it).

Yup, that's exactly what I do for "The West Wing".

This will just drive more people to find "alternative" methods of program delivery other than broadcast/cable/satellite.

Exactly what I was thinking.

it sounds like I'm going to have to get DTIVO #3 a little sooner than I wanted.

What I was trying to say is TIVO should be smarter hehe. If a previous shows runs into another show for a minute or whatever, it should pick up the next show once the previous show stops, not cancel it completely.