Registered: Apr 2004
Location: PA
Posts: 11

I know it hasnt started yet but as of May 10 there is supposed to be a free 30 day HMO trail so if you can hold out until then you get to try it before you buy it. And you dont have to worry about giving out your credit card number

POST #1 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Marlborough, MA, USA
Posts: 197

You can always try it for 30 days and get a full refund if you don't like it anyways.

*Shrug*

KC

POST #2 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 47

I own two TiVos, one Series 1 and one Series 2, both have lifetime subs. I bought the S2 when TiVo had a similar offer last year. Much to my chagrin, I discovered HMO doesn't work with HPNA. I wasn't about to buy replacement network hardware just to try HMO.

Although I will soon change my network to wireless, I still won't go for HMO. Having had time to think about it, the only HMO feature that would be of value to me is R2R, and that's not going to happen unless I get a second S2.

If I could transfer the subscription from the S1 to a new S2, I'd buy a new S2 and pass the S1 on to one of my friends. Since I can't transfer the subscription, I'll be sitting on the sidelines until the S1 dies.

Bottom line: There's no compelling reason for me to even try HMO at the present time.

POST #3 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 437

I think it is a great idea.

I was considering buying it, but this way I can try before I buy.

Though.. I did not know about the 30 day money back guarantee..

__________________
Gregd33.

Are you not entertained? Are you NOT ENTERTAINED!? Is this not why you are here?

Last edited by Gregd33 on 05-09-2004 at 09:51 PM

POST #4 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Santa Rosa, CA, USA
Posts: 147

I'm glad I got a chance to try it.

I have only 1 tivo so show sharing isn't an option.
The only feature I would use is the Music and Photos and that's not worth the $99 price tag.

There are better dedicated devices to play music, pictures AND VIDEOS over the network and they are around $99 or less.

__________________
"long you live and high you fly
And smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry
And all you touch and all you see
Is all your life will ever be" - Waters

POST #5 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2002
Location:
Posts: 86

The remote scheduling is great though. I used it a lot the last trial period. I will probably get HMO now that I have JavaHMO running.

/Mike

POST #6 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 437

I reeived an EMail(not a TiVo message, but a real EMail) from TiVo about the trial and that I should see Music and Photos on TiVo Central.

Since this is not officially starting untill the 10th, can I just ASSume this EMail was sent out a few days early for those lucky enough to receive it already?

I really wanna try these options out.

__________________
Gregd33.

Are you not entertained? Are you NOT ENTERTAINED!? Is this not why you are here?

POST #7 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Alviso, CA
Posts: 888

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gregd33
I reeived an EMail(not a TiVo message, but a real EMail) from TiVo about the trial and that I should see Music and Photos on TiVo Central.

Since this is not officially starting until the 10th, can I just ASSume this EMail was sent out a few days early for those lucky enough to receive it already?

I really wanna try these options out.

---

__________________
Bill Dailey
Project Manager
TiVo Customer Support

POST #8 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2004
Location:
Posts: 18

Just tried HMO. I'm using a wireless network adapter with my TiVo, so certainly that contributes to this my negative impressions, but here they are anyway:

1- First, I had read about HMO before, and since I only have a single series 2 tivo, I didn't think I wanted it.

2- However, when I tried it, I started to think about my 200 CDs of audio I've got on my PC, and since my Tivo is hooked to my home stereo, I thought that could really be worth something. Much to my chagrin, though, the audio thing wouldn't deal with WMP files (from Windows Media Player). Since there's zero chance I'm going to convert all my files to mp3 or rerip them all, I dismissed this HMO audio/music option as worthless.

3- Thought the pictures could be cool -- so I hooked it up to My Pictures. It seemed to recognize those, but it was VERY slow. Certainly part of that is related to the wireless. But it was too slow to be useful, particularly reading directories/folders.

I fooled with the pictures for a few more minutes and tried to do a slide show. The TiVo then told me it lost connection with my PC.

I've now uninstalled TiVo Desktop and am quite done with HMO. I'd reconsider it if they could work out a seemless integration with all my WMP files though. That would be worth something.

TiVo should focus on something that matters though, like a multi-tuner cable box DVR. I'm sure their standalone unit sales are on the decline by now, and DirecTV alone won't be enough to keep the company afloat.

My criticisms aside, I love my TiVo and really wish for them to succeed. However, my history (Apple and Sun, for example) is to pick people with great products and lousy marketing schemes.

POST #9 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 437

quote:

---

Originally posted by TiVoBill
We send each e-mail as we turn on the trial for a particular DVR, so if you got the e-mail, you can activate the trial on your DVR by making a connection to the TiVo service.

---

__________________
Gregd33.

Are you not entertained? Are you NOT ENTERTAINED!? Is this not why you are here?

POST #10 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Alviso, CA
Posts: 888

quote:

---

Originally posted by drewbenson

Much to my chagrin, though, the audio thing wouldn't deal with WMP files (from Windows Media Player). Since there's zero chance I'm going to convert all my files to mp3 or rerip them all, I dismissed this HMO audio/music option as worthless.

---

__________________
Bill Dailey
Project Manager
TiVo Customer Support

POST #11 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2003
Location: New York City
Posts: 2241

I took a chance on HMO about a month ago before the trial option -- and never looked back. I use a wired network, and it's very fast, even for 2MB photos.

Having -all- my MP3s ( about 30G) instantly available streaming into Tivo and my stereo system and on my screen is worth the price of admission alone. I've been listening to my music collection much more since I got HMO. Also, putting up MP3 streaming radio stations is easy, I now have about 100 stations on my TV screen along with other music. I use only high-bit rate stations, and they sound great.

The photo option looks much better than I thought it would -- it's totally replaced gathering around the computer monitor for family slide shows.

The remote scheduling is extremely useful, and I've caught many shows that I wouldn't have scheduling from my work computer. I think that option is available without HMO, however.

I tried javaHMO, which seemed like a great idea, but could not get many features to work, and photo viewing was slowed down too much. When my whole system started acting flaky I uninstalled it and went back to the Tivo server.

I do hope Tivo will update features in HMO as it is still pretty basic, but well worth the $99 IMHO.

__________________
_________________________
"Man is the only animal that can get bored."

unknown

POST #12 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 437

Still no HMO today.. Hmm.. Any ideas why?

__________________
Gregd33.

Are you not entertained? Are you NOT ENTERTAINED!? Is this not why you are here?

POST #13 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Memphis, Tn
Posts: 9

As an experiment I tried remote scheduling and earlier today from work I selected a show this afternoon to record. After saving the request, the website said that it'd be added to my "to do" list the next time my machine connected to the network. I was skeptical that a request for this afternoon would be processed in time but to my surprise the program was on my Tivo when I got home this afternoon.

Not having so good luck with the music and photos though. I've installed desktop, published music and photos and yet my Tivo can't see the server. I've triple checked the IP address and I'm not running any firewall software or anything mentioned in the troubleshooting guide and yet my Tivo still can't see the machine running the Tivo desktop software. Tivo desktop appears to be able to see the tivo as it shows up in the access control tab.

Anybody else having this problem?

POST #14 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 437

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gregd33
Still no HMO today.. Hmm.. Any ideas why?

---

__________________
Gregd33.

Are you not entertained? Are you NOT ENTERTAINED!? Is this not why you are here?

POST #15 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Alviso, CA
Posts: 888

The HMO trial is going out to all Series2 DVRs with active service (no broadband required). The rollout is still in progress -- the 10th isn't over yet

Bill

quote:

---

Originally posted by Gregd33
Ahhh HA!

As I suspected.

I have 2 TiVos in my account. One is mine, at my house. The other is my Moms, at her house. Even though I am the one that has the broadband connection, my Moms TiVo is the one that has the Music and Photos menu item.

How silly of TiVo. They sent the HMO trial to a TiVo that is not even connected to Broadband.

TiVoBill,

Can this be corrected? I sent you a PM with MY TiVos serial number.

Thanks.

---

__________________
Bill Dailey
Project Manager
TiVo Customer Support

POST #16 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2004
Location:
Posts: 19

quote:

---

Not having so good luck with the music and photos though. I've installed desktop, published music and photos and yet my Tivo can't see the server. I've triple checked the IP address and I'm not running any firewall software or anything mentioned in the troubleshooting guide and yet my Tivo still can't see the machine running the Tivo desktop software. Tivo desktop appears to be able to see the tivo as it shows up in the access control tab.

---

POST #17 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Memphis, Tn
Posts: 9

quote:

---

Originally posted by pparadis2
I was having this exact problem. Try this... go into the tivo desktop software, and check under "Tivo Server Properties". Under "network identification" check to see if you have multiple network choices. Mine was defaulted to the wrong setup, once I made that change, it worked perfectly.

---

POST #18 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Detroit
Posts: 437

quote:

---

Originally posted by TiVoBill
The HMO trial is going out to all Series2 DVRs with active service (no broadband required). The rollout is still in progress -- the 10th isn't over yet

Bill

---

OIC. I thought it required broadband... Ooops!

Thanks Bill.

__________________
Gregd33.

Are you not entertained? Are you NOT ENTERTAINED!? Is this not why you are here?

POST #19 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2003
Location: Shrewsbury MA
Posts: 2

My HMO free trial activated on the 10th as promised. I tried JavaHMO
first but could not get it started on my XP home system( java command line options the JVM did not like). The TiVo desktop
is working though. I'm using a wired 10/100 network so photo viewing is
fast. The MP3 files play OK too. Like others, I wish I could have the music playing in the background while looking at photos. The result of the slide show is that I now have a to-do list from my wife of digital photos that
I need to print out. I would be nice if TiVo could partner with an internet photo printing service so my wife could order prints using the TiVo remote.
You could even plug a photo printer into the USB port an print the photos directly. The request could also go back to the TiVo desktop but that would require me to load photo paper in the printer.

I tried remote scheduling as well and got both emails for each program with about a 30 minute lag between the request and the confirmation emails.

With only one DVR in the house, I can't try the multi-room viewing. I wish I had the option of sharing with the TiVo owner across the street. I'd share my broadband via WiFi to his house to get that.

So far, I don't think I can justify the $99 cost. I might go for the next $59 special though.

POST #20 | Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged