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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Monday, May 08, 2006 - 6:26 am
Just hearing on the radio that Phillips (I think it was Phillips) has patented a DVR remote that won't allow fast forwarding through commercials, etc. That means could be in the future user / viewer will have to pay extra for that capability. Anyone else heard something like this?
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Bob2112
Member
06-12-2002
| Monday, May 08, 2006 - 7:50 am
Here's a link to the patent application for this feature. It doesn't look like the patent has been granted yet and it's hard to imagine how it would be marketed to consumers. I'd like to see someone from Philips show this idea on American Inventor and see what response they get. I'm going to patent a device that during commercials will lock the refrigerator, lock down the toilet lid and restrain you in your couch or chair. Can't have you wandering away during this time either.
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Jimmer
Moderator
08-30-2000
| Monday, May 08, 2006 - 11:47 am
Same old story - the market will decide. I doubt people are going to go for it. Remember when they tried to produce those devices that would only play a movie once or for certain period of time (24 hours or something). It was totally rejected.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Monday, May 08, 2006 - 5:25 pm
But what if DVR manufacturers included this "feature" on all remotes (due to pressure from commercial TV / advertisers?). Then DVR purchasers / viewers would have to pay extra for fast forwarding capability.
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Bob2112
Member
06-12-2002
| Monday, May 08, 2006 - 6:52 pm
The only way all manufacturers would implement this feature would be if the FCC overturned the fair use doctrine (aka the "Betamax decision") and required this feature on all DVRs. Otherwise, it would be suicide for one manufacturer to add this "unwanted" feature while all its competitors do not impose that restriction. If DirecTV went this route, I would switch back to Dish Network. If the cable companies are first, then the satellite providers will have great sales. So, the real concern is the FCC. I think companies like Philip patent many ideas just in case they can take advantage at a later date. If the FCC required this feature, it is likely that the other companies would have to license the technology from Philip.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Tuesday, May 09, 2006 - 2:36 pm
Thanks, Bob. So Philips did it "just in case" -- not likely to give us that "feature".
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 12:28 pm
Has anyone here ever done a wall mount for a 40" LCD TV themselves? Wondering if it can be done without hiring someone to do it, and how easily...
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Friday, May 26, 2006 - 7:17 pm
Never mind. It's done. We hired someone. YIPPEEE. We got HDTV, Digital and a LCD all in the same day.... I'm getting away from the computer for a while. LOL
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 5:32 am
My DVD player, which I won, is six years old. It was a low-end Sony at the time. Been great through the years. Lately though I get the "dirty disk" message a little more often than I think I should. Occasionally even on a new DVD. I can usually get it going again by taking DVD out and cleaning it with a cloth. Seem to have a worse time with reverse side of flippers. Have one DVD set consisting of two flipper disks. The reverse side of both those disks WILL NOT play. Tried getting a second (and maybe even third) set of those DVDs. Same thing with each one? Strange? Do DVD players need to be cleaned and checked professionally? Or is it time for a new player? I just signed up for Netflix. Hoping I won't have much, if any, problems with those "used" disks.
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Shashakaye
Member
05-19-2003
| Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 8:09 am
Colordeagua , I was having the same problem with my dvd player. I went to walmart and bought a dvd lenz cleaner. It looks like a dvd but it has little brushes on it. I had to run it twice and haven't had a problem since. They're under $10.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 8:46 am
Thanks, Shashakaye. Will do.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 10:02 am
I bought a DVD via Amazon Market Place from a dealer in the U.S. It's "Where Angels Fear To Tread". Region wasn't noted on info. I asked and dealer told me Region 1. It came today. I'm gathering DVD of the movie was never available legally in the U.S. Back of the box says, "Authorized for sale in Canada only." Doesn't actually give any region. Would there be something about a DVD for sale in Canada only that would not play in the U.S.? Disk looks like it's new, but I continually get "dirty disk" message on my DVD player. It won't play.
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 11:00 am
well I am a Canadian, Color ( or as we would spell it here "Colour" ), but I am afraid it is all greek to me  but I will tell you that any appliance for sale in Canada was probably made in the USA to USA specifications. I don't think there are many differences but maybe DVD's are different?? I am sorry but I don't use them so I don't know. (as you probably know, Region 1 is Canada and the USA so they are lumped together in the list- see LIST) PS I have been googling trying to find some info for you to no avail But i am seeing lots of references to various CD's distributed by Alliance Atlantis which are for sale in Canada (it's a canadian company). Maybe they are coded not to work elsewhere but I haven't seen that mentioned. ETA. Just found this note at Amazon regarding "where Angels Fear to Tread Dvd': Product Details * Directors: Charles Sturridge * Format: Import * Region: Unknown. and that links to this note: f you purchase a DVD that's listed on Amazon.com with an Unknown region and it does not work on your DVD player, you can return it to us for a full refund--we'll even pay for the cost of return shipping.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 11:50 am
Thanks, Jan. Didn't purchase it from Amazon, but through Amazon from Movie Guys in Tennessee. Thought I ask about technical stuff before I contacted them.
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Jan
Moderator
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 12:02 pm
maybe they will take it back, too??
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Scorpiomoon
Member
06-06-2002
| Wednesday, July 05, 2006 - 8:23 pm
Color: Here's the issue: Here in Canada, there is a film company called Alliance Atlantis. They distribute many films (US and international) here in Canada. Alliance Atlantis has begun creating their own version of the movies they distribute. In their version, they eliminate the DTS track. (DTS is an audio format like Dolby Digital is. Some say DTS is better than Dolby Digital.) Some people have reported the audio sounding like crap on the DVDs without DTS.
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Colordeagua
Member
10-25-2003
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 6:45 am
Thanks, Scorpio. This DVD doesn't play at all in my player. Other DVDs do, so I'm guessing the problem isn't my player.
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Scorpiomoon
Member
06-06-2002
| Thursday, July 06, 2006 - 7:40 am
Color: Do you have a DVD burner in your computer? There is a software program called Alcohol 120% that allows you to rip your DVDs, make a file and then burn the file on to a DVD-R. If you have a burner and a blank DVD, it might be worth a try before trying to return it.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 9:24 pm
HELP!!!!! Our TIVo got zapped in a storm this week; DS and I were downstairs and heard it! It took out some odd-numbered transponders, so now it will only receive some channels, not all (Missing local channesl and other random ones like FoodTV and TNT). We were trying to figure out if the problem was in the cable or in the box, so we brought it upstairs where we have another tivo (newer one) which was working perfectly. Sooo -- we unplugged the cables from the new one into the old one. Same messages, still missing the transponders, so we conclude that it is in the box and we'll need to call tomorrow to see about getting it fixed (We bought the lifetime fee, so it would have to be REALLY expensive to fix it before we'd ditch it to buy a new one.) DH plugs the cable back into the newer TIVO so I can watch TV and he can go to bed. It gives the powering up message as normal, and then BAM! A blue screen appears that says, "Clearing program information and TO DO List...This may take up to an hour"!! WTF????? We call directv, go through three people before I get "advanced technical service." She doesn't know crap. Yes, I've pushed every button on the remote AND the box, yes we've restarted it TWICE and are still getting the message, NO, I didn't go through any other buttons to purposely clear it. Sorry, only thing she knows is that she can send a service tech. out. I said no (for now at least). I'm in the process of staying up for the "hour" it says it will take to see if it will eventually go back to "normal" -- just without all the programs and season passes we had set up. I don't mind losing the programming we had on there except for two movies I hadn't had a chance to watch, but I'm very afraid it won't "go back" and we'll be stuck on this screen and now out TWO Tivos! Anyone have any experience w/this message????
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Jmm
Moderator
08-16-2002
| Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 9:33 pm
Dra says that it should reset itself within an hour and then you need to start as if you just got it. Start with the zip code in the guidance set up.
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Draheid
Board Administrator
09-09-2001
| Thursday, July 20, 2006 - 10:00 pm
Oops, that advice was based on a stand-alone TIVO, not a DirecTV box. The setup may be different for those. When my TIVO hard drive crashed, I saw a green screen that said to leave it on and plugged into a phoneline for up to 3 hours. This was to let it download any fixes or patches then restart the system to resolve the hardware problem. I finally had to just replace the drive in mine. Hopefully you won't have this same problem.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Friday, July 21, 2006 - 1:25 am
A great third party Tivo site: http://weaknees.com/ Troubleshooting section: http://www.weaknees.com/repair.php And, Tivo Community website that can provide help too: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/index.php? Wish I could provide specific help, but I'm afraid Tivo troubleshooting is beyond my skill set. But, perhaps one of these websites can help.
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Bob2112
Member
06-12-2002
| Friday, July 21, 2006 - 2:18 pm
Teachmichigan: Can you post the model numbers of both the Tivo units? Are they both DirecTivo units or is the first a standalone Tivo? Did the second Tivo finally start working? The lifetime fee is a bit confusing, unless the first Tivo is a standalone Tivo. DirecTv does not offer a lifetime fee option. They charge $6.00 a month regardless of how many DirecTivo units you have. Update us with more information and someone will probably be able to help.
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Friday, July 21, 2006 - 8:32 pm
Ok -- the newer one started working again after an hour; of course, all our season passes and channel programming (favorites, etc.) were gone. Fortunately, it did NOT clear out the movies we had already recorded. After 6 transfers, 6 times on hold AND 6 different customer service people, this is where we stand. We have a directv/tivo receiver (DSR6000 R01) and we paid a lifetime membership for tivo service. They had lifetime fees then because it was when the TIVOs first came out, so it's honored now. Customer service will come out to repair it -- not until Aug. 4 but mainly because we're in a very rural area; I'm sure the one or two satellite service centers are busier than busy w/all the storm problems and insurance quotes they have to do. Three people (whose names I have written down) all assured me that if they replace the receiver, the lifetime fees will transfer to that receiver. I plan on calling AGAIN next week to confirm this with OTHER tivo people before I let them change anything, though! LOL I told the one lady, I'd much rather pay to have this one fixed than lose the lifetime fee I paid! I called Philips Tivo directly, first, and they basically said if directv wouldn't ensure the lifetime fee remained, to call them back and they'd figure out a way to fix the receiver or work something out. We're using the broken receiver until the service call since only some of the channels don't work. THANKS for the response -- I don't think anyone at directv had a clue why it cleared the programming, but since it didn't do permanent damage, I'm not going to worry about it. DH figures it's because he didn't unplug the receiver before unplugging the satellite cable...but that's just his guess.
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Wendo
Member
08-07-2000
| Saturday, July 22, 2006 - 8:43 am
Teach, did you have the DTivo on a surge protector? If not, I highly suggest you all get one now. And, don't get one off the shelf at the drug store. Get a good one at the computer store. I like the APC brand.
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