TV++, making it work for you

Okay, so now since we decided on a HDTV (Don't agree? read my previous blog and perhaps you will), let us see what are the options to make TV viewing exclusive.

Once you have a DTH service hooked up, next best hardware you should look for is TiVo. TiVo is basically a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) that you can program to record your favorite programs while you are away. However, this is not the only reason why i vote for TiVo. Most DTH providers have DVRs built into their receiver units these days. What makes TiVo a better unit out of all that is its next level of features.

TiVo can be programmed online to schedule a recording. This means, you can go online from anywhere on to their web site or use their mobile app, login to your account and schedule recording for your home setup.

If you are someone who likes to watch online videos and movies, TiVo brings good news for you. It can directly connect to many of those online video stores - YouTube, hulu, netflix, amazon unbox, etc. - and you get to watch your favorite online show on the big TV screen. Hulu is my favorite online TV channel.

Now, you want to play DVDs or downloaded movies from your PC/Mac? Don't look for that HDMI, S-video or RGB cable, use TiVo's network services (you need the wireless network adapter for this) to connect to your PC and play tracks on TV.

If you haven't realized what all this means, you are actually making TV work for you. You don't need to rush for a program or cancel another appointment for a TV program again. Get them on your DVR and watch it at your convenience.

This, BTW is not a new invention from TiVo. This is what Microsoft wanted to do when they introduced the media center edition. The only thing they forgot was to move it out of a PC and have a specific hardware to do that. So, if you have an old PC that you think you can spare for media setup, you may try that as well. Looking for open source options, try media center options (MythTV) from Linux/Ubuntu. They work just as great as Windows media center.

Coming next, the sling box.