Tivo V6 : Virgin Media V6 - Powered by TiVo(new STB)

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Jong1

- From a pure tech spec point of view - 12 tuners, not 6 like the 2013 TiVo Roamio. Allowing simultaneous recording of 4 shows, plus live TV on 5 devices (3 TVs and 2 tablets), plus extra tuners to "next gen" the interface (live channel previews for example). I don't think the ability to use more tuners for recording, but then not available for viewing, will benefit many, if any users.
.

Personally, I prefer the ability to record 6 shows on the main box. I'm not interested in watching on devices. The distinction in this area between SkyQ and V6, allows choice, which is a good thing, surely?

---------- Post added at 16:11 ---------- Previous post was at 16:08 ----------

Originally Posted by mot12

I think many people are not thinking much about "4K tv", until there is a 4K tv channel. Not just the occasional red button stuff that sky offers. When 4K tv channels come along, that will be when 4k starts to register more in most peoples minds.

Personally I prefer the ability to record more channels at once. In my view, why would anyone want to watch a top rated tv show or a decent film on a tiny little screen on a tablet. I only watch this stuff on a big screen with decent sound, i'm sure many people are the same.

Mini boxes, the V6 is pretty mini in it's self. Also I doubt a little bit of extra size bothers most people. And usually the people who can afford top packages, and who have all the best equipment sky or virgin have available. Those folks wont be living in a small pokey places, they will have decent space available.

Personally if a interface is fast, I know Tivo have had problems with slowness on and off ( my Tivo is now fast since the last software update ). But if it's fast and looks decent enough, and it's straight forward enough to navigate and use. I don't really care beyond that. After all, it's only a means to get you to what you want to watch. The content is the main course not some super flashy interface.

Underneath the marketing, overall there really isn't much between sky and virgin these days.

Spot on. and the slight difference with Sky Q allows choice.

[rscott101]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Personally, I prefer the ability to record 6 shows on the main box. I'm not interested in watching on devices. The distinction in this area between SkyQ and V6, allows choice, which is a good thing, surely?

Spot on. and the slight difference with Sky Q allows choice.

And that difference will be going away within a few months with the next Q update.

Presumably the v6, with it's 6 tuners, can record 5 & watch another live, not record 6 and watch another live?

[fenman35]

Does the v6 support split screen at all? Q can show multiple views on Sky Sports.

Split screen very cutting edge- for the 1980's

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by bolgerp

I assume one will need to sign up for another 12 month contract to avail of the new V6 at the £50 price? My contract (Full House XL) expires at the end of March.... I would happily pay the £50 to get a new box as my current TiVo one is so frustratingly slow. I'm not too bothered by 4K etc. yet as I don't have a 4K telly, although it is on my wishlist for the New Year. However, I don't know if I want to lock myself into another 12 months just to get a faster box...

Well, I had to agree to be tied into another contract, but this was part of an overall retention deal. Not sure if those paying for their V6 will be though.

Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj

This is probably what VM want customers to do. By telling us we can connect multiple V6s together to increase storage and watch recordings on any box, they could be hoping we pay £99.95/£49.95 for more than 1 box.

I don't think that VM will be making much (if anything) from charging these prices for the boxes, could be wrong though.

I imagine that the pricing has been pitched so as to attract and retain customers so that they can make money from the services taken.

Edit: With hindsight, if extra boxes attract another monthly TiVo fee, maybe you're right as this will benefit VM over the years (unless, as has been speculated in the past) this fee goes to TiVo themselves?

[rscott101]

Originally Posted by fenman35

Does the v6 support split screen at all? Q can show multiple views on Sky Sports.

Split screen very cutting edge- for the 1980's

Admittedly the v6 would look modern for the 1980's (just).

Q split screen here - https://recombu.com/digital/article/...-how-to-use-it

[denphone]

Originally Posted by fenman35

Does the v6 support split screen at all? Q can show multiple views on Sky Sports.

Split screen very cutting edge- for the 1980's

Split split is all fine and dandy but l would imagine for the vast majority of Sky's own customers who don't subscribe to its sports channels its rather unimportant in their TV viewing.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Jong1

Well guys, you are of course entitled to your opinion, but you will see quite a few here and a few of the early reviews, that are not just rewrites of the press release, disagree.

I get that a lot of people are not "4K ready", technologically or emotionally, but there is little doubt it is "next-gen". And "occasional red button stuff" does not really adequately describe the ability to watch and record in your absence 4K sport, or the ability to watch some Sky Atlantic shows in 4K/UHD at the time of first broadcast.

Mini boxes with no HDD are cheaper, more suited to quiet environment, like a bedroom and need no cabling. it is these things, not the size, that gives them the edge over a whole 2nd box.

Using the same size HDD as 6 years ago is odd.

Interfaces are a personal thing, I accept.

If you have no interest in these or the other things I listed that's fine, there may indeed be little noticeable difference to you. V6 will I am sure be good enough and, as you say Nialli, it sure is a step up from the 6 year-old TiVo!. But for those who are looking for a next-gen TV box the V6, with it's largely dated specification (4K "capability" aside) is not it and there is a lot more difference to those that do care for Sky Q's capabilities than "marketing".

ps. Do you really ever find yourself needing to record more than 4 things simultaneously? I know it's possible but....!

pps. I too read and have sometimes commented on your blog Nialli. It's been really useful over the years. Thanks for your service to the community

I just don't get it Jong. As I understand it Jong; you are with Sky for TV, and happy with it. Is that correct?
If so, why are you spending so much time on here moaning about the V6?


It reminds me of many years ago, when the Mac boys were constantly trying to prove that Macs were better than PCs. The PC people generally just got on with it just using there PCs and ignoring the Mac people. The truth of it was, both were as good and it was a case of each person's preference regarding their individual needs.


Mac people trying to prove, 'mine is better than your' smacks a little of insecurity to me. They needed to get over it and realise that it was just down to personal choice.

Originally Posted by passingbat

I just don't get it Jong. As I understand it Jong; you are with Sky for TV, and happy with it. Is that correct?
If so, why are you spending so much time on here moaning about the V6?


It reminds me of many years ago, when the Mac boys were constantly trying to prove that Macs were better than PCs. The PC people generally just got on with it just using there PCs and ignoring the Mac people. The truth of it was, both were as good and it was a case of each person's preference regarding their individual needs.


Mac people trying to prove, 'mine is better than your' smacks a little of insecurity to me. They needed to get over it and realise that it was just down to personal choice.

There seems to be a few new members joined the forum who are pointing out that Q has x y and Z that the V6 hasn't. Strange that?

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Mr Banana

There seems to be a few new members joined the forum who are pointing out that Q has x y and Z that the V6 hasn't. Strange that?

It's fair enough to point out those differences and it helps to make a judgement on whether to stay or go.

However, it seems to me that those differences would not make any difference to the way I watch TV and so are not of any consequence to me. The only thing I covet is the 2TB capacity of the box, but the whole idea of downloading on demand stuff onto the hard drive would drive me up the wall.

As they say, horses for courses...

[mot12]

Originally Posted by Jong1

Well guys, you are of course entitled to your opinion, but you will see quite a few here and a few of the early reviews, that are not just rewrites of the press release, disagree.

I get that a lot of people are not "4K ready", technologically or emotionally, but there is little doubt it is "next-gen". And "occasional red button stuff" does not really adequately describe the ability to watch and record in your absence 4K sport, or the ability to watch some Sky Atlantic shows in 4K/UHD at the time of first broadcast.

Mini boxes with no HDD are cheaper, more suited to quiet environment, like a bedroom and need no cabling. it is these things, not the size, that gives them the edge over a whole 2nd box.

Using the same size HDD as 6 years ago is odd.

Interfaces are a personal thing, I accept.

If you have no interest in these or the other things I listed that's fine, there may indeed be little noticeable difference to you. V6 will I am sure be good enough and, as you say Nialli, it sure is a step up from the 6 year-old TiVo!. But for those who are looking for a next-gen TV box the V6, with it's largely dated specification (4K "capability" aside) is not it and there is a lot more difference to those that do care for Sky Q's capabilities than "marketing".

ps. Do you really ever find yourself needing to record more than 4 things simultaneously? I know it's possible but....!

pps. I too read and have sometimes commented on your blog Nialli. It's been really useful over the years. Thanks for your service to the community

Record more than 4 at once no, but I do sometimes need to record 3 and watch another channel. The current Tivo obviously can't do that.

[cupcakes aka dd]

Here we go ......... I'll be getting one. End

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by mot12

Record more than 4 at once no, but I do sometimes need to record 3 and watch another channel. The current Tivo obviously can't do that.

The most I have had on the go at once is 4 recordings at the same time (one via my DVD recorder) but even then I had to use a timeshift channel and a repeated episode on another day to avoid clashes.

Six tuners for me is perfect (but only because I have now bought a DVD player/HDD recorder with two tuners!).

[Ultimate.Conj]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

The most I have had on the go at once is 4 recordings at the same time (one via my DVD recorder) but even then I had to use a timeshift channel and a repeated episode on another day to avoid clashes.

Six tuners for me is perfect (but only because I have now bought a DVD player/HDD recorder with two tuners!).

Jeez, OB...how do you have time to watch all the things you have recorded? lol

6 Tuners is easily plenty for my household, but for the sake of being able to watch recordings across boxes, I may get 2 V6s.
Sometimes I watch tele upstairs and moan about not being able to watch what is recorded downstairs.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Ultimate.Conj

Jeez, OB...how do you have time to watch all the things you have recorded? lol

It's because the best programmes tend to be aired on different channels between 9 and 11 pm, UC.

This happens a lot during the winter/spring season. Not much on at the moment, I have to say. Autumn used to be a good time of year for popular, decent shows, but no longer. Christmas will be another disappointment, TV wise, I fear.

[Ultimate.Conj]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

It's because the best programmes tend to be aired on different channels between 9 and 11 pm, UC.

This happens a lot during the winter/spring season. Not much on at the moment, I have to say. Autumn used to be a good time of year for popular, decent shows, but no longer. Christmas will be another disappointment, TV wise, I fear.

Depends what you call the best programmes lol

I tend to watch/record popular US shows like Walking Dead, The Blacklist etc
Luckily these shows have their usual annual air dates, so I can plan recordings around them