This post was originally pulled 9/29/2008, but since the TiVo Premiere has been announced now I figured I could put it back up.
I got an invitation to take a survey on consumer electronics yesterday. I went to take it this morning and found that the survey was sponsored by TiVo which definitely got me interested. As it went on the survey showed videos and screenshots of a fairly different interface from where TiVo is today with their 9.X software line. I will sprinkle the screenshots through my post and you can watch the three videos here Video 1, Video 2 and Video 3.
The biggest change is something that seems to be in every other DVR now which is being able to watch Picture in Guide while navigating the Menu. This is a feature that every Motorola based Cable / FIOS DVR and DirecTV DVR has had for quite a while. The excuse from TiVo has always been performance of the menus which is already bad getting worse when the processor has to deal with video at the same time.
The next interesting feature is a line of pictures across the top as you can see in the next few screenshots: 
The top line of pictures is a combination of recent, suggestions, favorites and ads. The first screenshot is just an example layout. Then in the second shot you can see they added an ad for a BMW. The third shot is navigating the top bar and showing the fly-out that gives you more detail and then would allow you to watch, record or download. The last screenshot is the ability to control what shows up on the top bar which I think is a really powerful idea.
Another new idea seen on the main menu is the ability to categorize shows by viewer. That is such a simple idea that makes so much sense. Just simply having a larger folder that shows can be placed in so that my shows don’t clutter up other peoples lists and vice versa. It appears to be some idea of community as well with a “Connect with family & friends” button which seems to be taking the idea of thumbs up and genius lists to the next level.
In Video 2 it shows searching for movies and being able to download them. The current TiVo software can do this with Amazon, however the screenshot below shows not only Amazon but also Netflix and Blockbuster Total Access. Also it is showing all three as being in HD. Having all these sources available seems like a great variety potential. 
The last big interface change that I saw was also in video 2. It is a cross between Microsoft’s Media Center interface and Apple’s Coverflow. Either way it is a much nicer more visual interface than the current TiVo one. You can see a screenshot below but it is much better in motion in Video 2. 
Who knows if any of this will ever be released. It shows some good ideas I think and hopefully it is the way TiVo is looking. They need to leap back ahead with features instead of just being a little more refined version of the cable / satellite DVR’s.
Its a little to much!
The links to the videos appear to be broken, are they still available? Have you considered posting them to YouTube? Or if you make them available again would it be OK if I reposted them - with credit to you of course?
I'm going to pick this story up for GizmoLovers.com and it would be great to have the videos available but I don't want to swamp your server.
Thanks.
Ah, for some reason the video links didn't work in Firefox for me, but I tried IE and they did. Probably an issue on my end, sorry. Would love to talk to you able reposting the images and video before posting the story.
Thanks.
Wow, cool stuff. I wonder how they let you snag screens shots and Video.
Is there any indication that this is the "new" TiVo interface? It looks very familiar-- they might be testing customer reaction to other UIs and this may not be there own. I dunno, could this be a skin they mocked up for Media Center?
I suspect that this may not be new software for Tivos (though it could be used in the future with the hardware) so much as new Tivo software for PCs called LiquidTV that will be sold by Nero for $199 plus $99 for a year of program updates.
Greg,
No, this is definitely NOT LiquidTV, I've seen that UI.
I don't care so much for all the eye-candy. I would prefer that the current menu system became lightning fast. Also, I would like the ability to create folders to clean up the Now Playing List. That way, I can organize the list of recordings the way I want to. For example, my wife hates having to scroll through my shows to find hers. If we could organize them into our own folders, she wouldnt have to do that. There's more stuff I'd like but that's beyond the scope of my comments. Keep at it TiVo.
The reason Tivo may have requested that info removed was due to a breach in trust. When you take a survey, sometimes there is a non-disclosure agreement that binds you from talking or sharing information. If serious enough, there could be a hefty fee for breaking that agreement.
Although it was interesting to see the possible interfact of a future tivo, which i doubt severely then i would suggest being careful. Otherwise if you wish to partake in the future of tivo, I would suggest to becoming a beta user, just be prepared for a very strict NDA from you and tivo. Just thought you should know.