TiVo

Woohoo!!! Celebrate good times, come on! Let's celebrate! TiVo's Lifetime Service is back! For fans of the TiVo service, this can be great news. Plus, unlike what others are reporting, a quick phone call to TiVo customer service revealed that the cost will be $299, for the lifetime of the unit.

Like millions of Americans, I have totally ditched my VCR and now solely rely on my DVR to record my favorite shows while I’m away from home. And the vast majority of time, my Scientific Atlanta box has my back. From Lost, to Prison Break, to The Simpsons, I can leave my house confident in the fact that my shows will be waiting for me when I return home.

Those spoiled TiVo-owners always seem to get what they want. Unlike the poor slobs who get by with poorly-designed and slow-as-molasses DVRs from the cable company, TiVo customers will soon get an upgrade that improves response times and processing wait times on their HD and Series 2 boxes. Everyone else will simply get back to twiddling their thumbs or practicing Zen philosophy.

All the concern advertisers have expressed about reduced views due to time-shifted DVR recording may be overblown. No question that's true when it comes to the Super Bowl, where a good portion of viewers are as psyched to see the high-profile commercials as they are to watch the game.

It's all about the relationship. That was the message at the official rollout of TiVo and Real Networks' new partnership at  the Arena club in Manhattan this week.