Carl Tyler's Blog

1 - Interesting question. I have and love Tivo, but I think you'd have to watch a lot more TV than I do to have the Tivo behavior creep into the rest of your life.

2 - whilst I don't have a Tivo, we've got a similar concept with digital television - I have a "Toppy" - a TopField PVR. I think the concept is essentially the same - it records digital television and has program guides etc but I don't think it has the "smarts" that I've heard mentioned with respect to the Tivo.

I love the Toppy and have to admit that I too find myself wanting to rewind/pause live radio - when I'm listening to the radio in the car or at work. I've gotten quite used to just stopping the broadcast to answer the phone or leave the room, knowing that I can always catch up to "live tv" by skipping through the ads. (the Toppy keeps a recording of the last hour of the channel you're watching)

In the UK they have DAB - essentially the same as digital television but it's radio - which allows you to pause, rewind, record and get more information about songs etc - I've just found out recently that we have the same thing in Aus, but it's not popular as yet... (it's a little pricey still)

3 - I don't think it's making us less attentive - just giving you an option to 're-hear' - although I did find myself wanting my Tivo remote to rewind a couple of times in Harry Potter and the GoF at the cinema earlier this week ....

I'm still disappointed that Tivo didn't do a better job with their marketing in the UK - I have to admit that Sky were much more successful at explaining the concept with Sky+

But Tivo still has a devoted fanbase here in the UK (a box with a lifetime sub can easily sell for over £300 on ebay) and you'll be prising mine out of my cold dead hands....