The factory renewed 80-hour TiVo Series2DT is back as a web special for just $49.99. You can get the 80-hour S2DT with a one-year monthly commitment at $12.95/month, or pre-pay one-year at $129, for a total of $178.99.

TiVo also has web specials on factory renewed TiVo HDs, at $249.99, and factory renewed Series3s, at $449.99.

Of course, you don’t want that TiVo HD offer - since you can get a factory renewed TiVo HD for $199.99, if you know where to look.

TiVo’s promotion wherein you purchase a TiVo HD and receive three months of service free expires on February 17, 2008. You buy the TiVo HD for $299.99, commit to one year of TiVo service @ $12.95/month, and the first three months of that year are free.

And this reminds me, the ability for any existing TiVo owner to pick up product lifetime on any new TiVo activation for $399 expires on February 13, 2008. So if you’re thinking of getting the soon to be gone TiVo Series3 with lifetime, this is probably your last chance.

Though you’ll still be able to get the TiVo HD with product lifetime bundle for $698.99 through April 1, 2008, along with the TiVo HD, WiFi Adapter, and $100 Service Gift Card bundle for $399.99.

Switched Digital Video (SDV) has been the bane of CableCARD users, notably owners of the TiVo Series3 and TiVo HD. SDV channels cannot be tuned by UDCP (unidirectional digital cable products) CableCARD devices, such as TiVo, as SDV requires bidirectional communication with the head end.

Enter the Tuning Resolver. As previously reported, the Tuning Resolver is a bidirectional communications terminal which is designed to connect to a UDCP via USB, to enable SDV support. Of course, the UDCP most people refer to when discussing the Tuning Resolver is TiVo. Release is expected in 2Q08, and it is eagerly anticipated by many users.

Now Multichannel News is reporting that CableLabs has received the first version of a PC-based testing tool which will allow them to test the Tuning Resolver’s functionality. The tool was developed by Solekai Systems in Boulder, CO and is known as the Tuning Resolver Interface Simulator (TRIS).

“We at CableLabs are encouraged by the flexibility this tool offers to allow us to validate the interfaces between UDCP [unidirectional digital cable products] and tuning resolver devices, and ultimately provide UDCP devices with the ability to access switched digital video services in the field,” CableLabs vice president of advanced media platforms So Vang said, in a prepared statement.

This brings the Tuning Resolver one step closer to release. Development was only agreed upon last August, so getting the box to market in 2Q08 is really a fast-track development cycle for the cable industry. Charter isn’t using SDV in my area (yet?), but I know there are a lot of TiVo users out there for whom the Tuning Resolver can’t arrive fast enough.

This past weekend my friend Jer pointed me to an ‘Ask The Readers’ post on Lifehacker in which Gina Trapani put out the call to TiVo users for their favorite TiVo tips and tricks. It seems Gina, sorry, ‘a friend’ of hers, recently picked up a TiVo Series3. A slew of reader responses flowed in, and I put in my two cents as well. I’ve been meaning to post about it here since Sunday, but this week has been a little crazy and I’m just finally getting to it. If you have any tips and tricks that haven’t been posted, I encourage you to drop a comment at Lifehacker.

One of the suggestions was on using the free Videora TiVo Converter to convert video downloaded from the Internet for transfer to the TiVo (via TiVoToGo/TiVoToComeBack). Gina turned this into a Lifehacker feature article, providing step-by-step instructions for Windows users on how to use the Videora TiVo Converter in this way.

After yesterday’s announcement that the TiVo Series3 is being EOL’d, I had a few questions about the future of the S3, and the heir-apparent, the TiVo HD.

- Will work continue on the Series3 to enable M-Card CableCARDs, or will it remain S-Card-only now?

- One of the lesser known features of the S3 is support for Crestron home control systems. In the past I’ve been told this is an S3-only feature, not available on the TiVo HD. Now that the S3 is being EOL’d, will this software support be brought over to the TiVo HD?

- Will the S3 ‘Glo’ remote continue to be produced and offered for users who prefer it?

- Are there any plans for additional TiVo HD models, say with 250GB drives?

I sent these off to my contact at TiVo and I’ll see what TiVo has to say about these issues. Are there any questions on your mind in light of the EOL announcement?

If you want to get an original TiVo Series3 TCD648250B, you’d better act soon, because they’re going away. TiVo is end-of-lifing the TCD648250B, the original Series3 with the OLED display, etc, and will focus on the TiVo HD, TCD652160. Lou Jacob of DVRupgrade just forwarded me this news from TiVo:

I wanted to give an update on our plans with the TiVo Series3 HD DVR. A successful implementation of the $200 rebate through the holidays has drained supply at a faster rate than anticipated. This has caused a continued component shortage that cannot be rectified for several months (4-6). Due to this parts supply situation, we have made the difficult decision to accelerate the EOL of this SKU and focus all efforts on the recently launched, lower cost TiVo HD DVR (TCD652160). Our sincere apologies for the short notice on this decision. Please let me know if you have any questions.

I’m not surprised. I’ve said a few times now that I expected TiVo to discontinue the original Series3 and likely the Series2DT, to focus solely on the TiVo HD platform going forward. Hopefully, with the demise of the S3, we may see some additional models in the TiVo HD line - large drives perhaps? So if, for some reason, you’re set on getting the original S3 with the OLED display, bundled Glo remote, and THX certification, you’d better find one before they’re gone. DVRupgrade still has some expanded units in stock.

EDIT: I emailed TiVo earlier today with a few questions about this news, and they sent me the following statement:

We are nearing the end of production on this particular model of the Series3 hardware. However, we are not ‘End Of Lifing’ the product (EOL). Development continues on new features and capabilities for all Series3 platforms, including this specific model. There is no impact to current or future customers of this model, they can continue to expect and enjoy the TiVo Service on their DVR. Availability of the 250G model will vary from retailer to retailer throughout the year, and as a result we are currently recommending the TiVo HD model as an alternative solution for their customers.

EDIT: See questions raised by the Series3 EOL.

A new TiVo 2008 Spring Rebate kicked in yesterday, 1/27/08, and runs through 4/5/08. The new rebate offers $150 back on Series2 and Series2DT units (TSNs starting with 264, 275, 540, 565, 590, 595, and 649) and $200 back on Series3 units (TSNs starting with 648). You need to purchase the unit by April 5th, 2008 and activate it by May 5th, 2008. See the rebate for full terms and conditions, also in PDF.

WeaKnees announced via their blog that they’re now offering 2TB upgrade kits for the TiVo Series3 and TiVo HD. The kits include one internal drive, to replace the factory drive, and one external eSATA drive. This capacity doesn’t come cheap, the kits are priced at $799.

Gear Live’s The Bleeding Edge has done a video of an installation of the Western Digital My DVR Expander on a TiVo Series3. (The same drive also works on the TiVo HD.) I can’t say it is riveting video - installation involves plugging in the eSATA and power cables into the drive, connecting the eSATA to the TiVo, rebooting, and following the prompts - but if you’re curious, check it out.