Anyone who’s tried to type on a TiVo-on the lookout for YouTube, or viewing Netflix, or hunting for that show it is advisable record-knows it’s both tedious and rage-inducing. TiVo Slide fixes this problem, plus, it’s an easier remote entirely.
The Price
$90
The Verdict
They should really bundle these with every TiVo. Not only is the keyboard a fabulous, wonderful addition to an otherwise text-unfriendly setup, the remote itself is good inside the hand in addition. It’s compatible with TiVo Premiere, Premiere XL, Series 3, HD and HD XL.
The Slide is ready 2/3 provided that a regular TiVo remote, and intensely very slightly thicker. Flipping the remote open with the *clack* is satisfying, but not too difficult, and shutting it once you’re done entering text is natural too. The travel on the keys is excellent: Not mushy or too hard.
You could have a D-pad and the select button on the left side, and the number pad on the proper, but that’s these are the one buttons replicated from the principle remote to the keyboard. The remaining, unfortunately, either need you to shift the remote 90 degrees and leave it open, or close the keyboard and then turn the remote. This process usually isn’t too horrible, seeing as you don’t ought to enter in lots of text, then navigate and play videos, then enter plenty of text again-it’s more of one, and then the alternative.
As an individual who’s never been an immense fan of TiVo’s peanut remote design, I really really like the Slide’s smaller form factor. I don’t know what it really is about shrinking the remote down that makes it a lot more pleasant to take advantage of, however it’s quite nice not having to stretch my thumb to hit various parts of the body.
Some thing to look at out for: Interference. Plugging the Bluetooth dongle directly into the TiVo might end in lost keypresses, adore it did for me. If this is the case, you can use the USB extension cable they provided to tug the receiver out on top or in front of the TiVo unit to get a clear line-of-sight to the remote. In spite of the fact that it’s Bluetooth, having to pass in the course of the body of your TiVo, or manage wireless interference, might mean that you simply get spotty reception otherwise.
As TiVo becomes more of an online-centric device, flattening streaming content in addition as acting as a DVR on your standard cable channels, typing is only going to increase in importance. We want to peer this remote as the conventional TiVo remote, but if not, we’d want the value to be lower. Paying $90 for a unit that’s not universal*, despite a keyboard, is slightly extravagant-especially with Logitech pricing their Harmony 300 at under $50 .
*You can still program the flexibility, input, volume and mute functions of the remote to manipulate your TV/sound system.
Great remote
Great keyboard
slightly pricey at $90
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