TiVo video recorder can dob in burglars

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IT'S ALL IN HERE: TiVo set-top box and packaging.

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The convergence of television and the internet could spell bad news for crims. Hybrid Television spokeswoman Georgie Hills said one its hi-tech TiVo personal video recorders was stolen from the home of a tester in Christchurch this month but was automatically disabled.

Each Tivo set-top box has a unique code that is uploaded to Hybrid Television whenever anyone attempts to activate its broadband connection.

Ms Hills said that meant TiVos could be tracked by police with the help of internet providers, who could identify the owner of the internet account that a stolen TiVo was connected to from the customer's IP (internet protocol) address. So far, however, Hybrid had not tried to locate its stolen TiVo. Ms Hills would not say why.

Meanwhile, the lid has been lifted on the TiVo, a personal video recorder that goes on sale tomorrow that can show programmes broadcast on television and downloaded over the internet.

TiVo will be able to show channels broadcast on FreeviewHD and provide Telecom broadband customers with access to 135 movies and 600 television programme episodes over its built-in internet connection, to watch on television.

On-demand movies will cost $4.95 or $6.95 and downloaded television programmes $1.95 or $2.95. There will also be free programmes for download.

Hybrid Television chief executive Robbee Minicola said the amount of programming available for download would grow. By mid-next year customers might use TiVos to order food, book restaurants or learn languages. "This year it is about access to a world of on-demand entertainment."

The company, which is one-third owned by Television New Zealand, has the licence to TiVo in Australia and New Zealand. Ms Minicola expected TiVo would appeal to customers who simply wanted a FreeviewHD receiver, without the online extras, given it could record free-to-air programmes straight to a hard drive and rewind and pause "live" TV.

Telecom will sell TiVo for $920.

That price includes a wireless adapter and software that will let customers wirelessly transfer pictures and videos between computers in their home and the set-top box, so they could watch programmes on their computers or browse family photo albums on their television.

TiVos could be instructed to remotely record programmes via the internet or mobile phones, and suggest programmes that might appeal based on customers' past viewing preferences.

A Stuff poll suggested a third of viewers who were considering buying TiVos may have been put off by Sky Television and Maori Television's decision not to allow Prime and Maori TV's programme listings to be shown on TiVo's on-screen electronic programme guide (EPG). The EPG lets viewers see what's on and select and record programmes at the push of a button.

Ms Minicola said they might be confused and think they could not watch the channels using TiVo. – Fairfax

- © Fairfax NZ News

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