Amazon Unbox on TiVo

This week Amazon Unbox on TiVo made its debut. I of course owning a TiVo had to give it a try almost immediately. That and the fact that Amazon is offering a $15 credit to just try it out. I have purchased TV episodes as of now. They have movies too, but they are standard definition and not in widescreen. Not interested in movies like that. TV is fine though. $1.99 per episode, just like iTunes, but I can download it directly to my TiVo. Amazon Unbox also allows you to store your video files on their servers and download to my TiVo whenever I want. That way I don't have to store items on the TiVo if I don't want to. I like that. The episodes I downloaded, Bones and Veronica Mars, were of very good quality, commercial free and branding free (no logos, watermarks, bugs, etc.) which I like a lot too. Overall, I'm very happy with the service. The website and order process could be a little less complicated. The order process is fine, if you can locate the Unbox page. Luckily, I bookmarked it. It's hard to tell, what's available for TiVo and what's available for your computer. Although, the process must be evolving on a daily process because I sent an angry email when my Veronica Mars episode wouldn't download to TiVo. Amazon quickly rectified the situation by sending me an email and the download was ready the next day. I will say that my TiVo is part of my home network, which I think has a pretty good connection. It does take a bit of time (20-25 minutes once the download starts) to download the TV shows. As long as you're not in a hurry though it's fine. Plus, it seemed that the downloads aren't always instantaneously available for download. All in all, it's not a bad service. iTunes is still by far a better user experience, but my iTunes TV shows and movies that I bought live on my Mac and not on my TV. That is why Apple TV is interesting to me. But all in good time. For now, I have yet another alternative to getting my TV when I want it where I want it. And that is good in my book.

I also want to applaud TiVo for staying in the game. I love my TiVo, but they definitley suffer from an inability to stay current and accept trends. Since they haven't been purchased by a behemoth, they are trying to stay afloat. I say to anyone, buy a TiVo. They are great. But they definitely have drawbacks. Like mine, is standard definition only and single tuner only. I had to buy a service and a box. Most people get that in their cable box and they don't have extra equipment laying around and extra service fees. So I say keep up to date and forming alliances TiVo. It's in your best interest. We don't want you going anywhere.