TiVo launches new Roamio DVR devices with out-of-home iOS streaming

TiVo Roamio Pro (front)

Tuesday, set-top box maker TiVo announced a lineup of digital video recorder (DVR) devices with support for out-of-home streaming to Apple’s iPhone and iPad. The Roamio-branded gear comes packed to the gills with a range of popular streaming options, including Netflix.

TiVo praises Roamio’s brand new web-based app experience and the integrated DIAL protocol for easy control of apps and streaming content from mobile devices. The built-in TiVo Stream lets you connect to your Roamio over Wi-Fi and stream recordings and cable channels to a limited number of devices. The out-of-home streaming for the iPhone and iPad is “coming very soon,” TiVo said…

Hardware-wise, there are three Roamio models available: the $199.99 Roamio, $399.99 Roamio Plus and $599.99 Roamio Pro, with built-in storage ranging from 75 hours to 450 hours of HD content.

Wireless and TiVo Stream functionality is included on certain models. All Roamio boxes include four or six tuners as well.

TiVo Roamio (interface)

Out-of-home streaming supports regular cable channels like HBO, NBC or ESPN as well as streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and Amazon.

“No other cable DVR brings Netflix to your big screen,” a media release proudly proclaims.

The revamped UI sports updated HD screens and fonts with a personalized dashboard serving “the best programming available”. TiVo also boasts a twofold performance jump when browsing and searching across your content.

Here’s the launch video.

Other features include guide filters (Movies, Sports, Comedies, etc.) in channel guides, an improved remote with an RF connection allowing Roamio to be placed in another room altogether and an updated TiVo Mini software with Netflix and dynamic tuning.

As for dynamic tuning:

This feature allows all of Roamio’s tuners to be used for recording when they aren’t actually streaming content to another screen. It’s the ultimate whole-home DVR experience.

The new HTML5-based app platform lets the Roamio run such apps as YouTube and Netflix, with “faster, more frequent additions to the TiVo platform” being promised.

TiVo and iPad (teaser 001)

As for the updated TiVo iOS/Android app, it now supports remote Season Pass management and comes with an enhanced WishList management and a recording scheduler which allows you to add or remove recordings.

The TiVo Roamio can be purchased today online at TiVo.com, Amazon.com or BestBuy.com and in Best Buy stores in the coming weeks. TiVo Roamio is available for $199.99, TiVo Roamio Plus for $399.99 and TiVo Roamio Pro for $599.99.