Spotted this in PVRBlog – JavaHMO. It works with HMO on your Series2 TiVo to do some very keen things.

A few hints that TiVo is definitely interested in the digital cable ready market. This is from a post I just made in alt.video.ptv.tivo:

Since the FCC has approved the new digital cable standard cable
companies are required to support the new standard and several
manufacturers have announced they will be releasing products using the
standard by the end of 2004. (Actually I read a couple of months ago
that some Panasonic sets may be out by the end of 2003 – but cable
system deployment is just getting started.) According to the FCC’s
order cable providers must make access cards available by July 1st,
2004 for subscribers to use in their Digital Cable Ready gear.

Check out:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-225A1.pdf

Note that TiVo made comments which were included in the document – a
rather interesting one appears on page 11. “TiVo suggests that dual
tuner functionality competition should be encouraged by permitting two
POD-Host interfaces in consumer electonics devices…” Also “TiVo
also asks that the Commission require that PODs emit a standardized
MPEG output…”

Obviously TiVo is watching this process closely and their comments,
and comments from DirecTV, Dish, etc, indicate a strong interest in
using the new standard in the DVR realm.

Other documents:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-238850A1.pdf

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-238865A1.pdf

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-238850A2.pdf

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-238850A3.pdf

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-238850A4.pdf

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-238850A5.pdf

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-238850A6.pdf

I think folks should chill. The market is changing in ways to make it
easier to produce an HDTV DVR without having to be a cable company STB
provider. I personally think we’ll see something in the TiVo world
over the course of the next year.

I have one of these coming from here. This should be fun.

From time to time I look at the jobs available at TiVo – just to tease myself and get my hopes up. Since my C++ skills are several years out of date I don’t think I stand a chance looking at the openings they have. Though it looks like I’ll be brushing up my OO skills and learning UML for my current job, since we’re going to be doing work in C# and Java in the new year. So maybe it isn’t completely hopeless.

They never seem to be looking for a Linux admin, Perl/PHP/web hacker, network security specialist… (My background is way too fragmented – I like playing with too much different stuff for my own good…)

Anyway, it can be interesting looking at what they’re searching for – and maybe thinking about what it might mean. Like this one… http://www.tivo.com/5.8.2.asp?listing=210

As a member of the PC Engineering team, you will work to develop our next generation of Windows desktop applications, including TiVo Desktop and authoring tools for TiVo’s exclusive interactive television features. Your applications will enable TiVo subscribers to have greater control over their TiVo DVRs on the network, and the media that they enjoy. You’ll also work closely with broadcasters and producers to reinvent television advertisement for the DVR future.

Next generation of Windows desktop applications? Greater control over their TiVo DVRs on the network? Hmm, that sounds intriguing.

It also sounds like the tools for advertisers to produce TiVoMatic content are Windows tools, if I’m reading between the right lines.

Or this one: http://www.tivo.com/5.8.2.asp?listing=212
DVD-V and DVD-VR? DVD-Audio? VideoCD? Japanese language skills? Things the current Pioneer doesn’t do – next generation unit? Another product not yet announced? Just preparation for pursuing a licensee? Hmm…

You know, I just read an article on the Sony PSX, they finally announced a Dec 13th street date in Japan. Sony is a TiVo licensee, this thing is a PS2 + DVR + more. Hmm, maybe connected?

Well, I can dream.