Beyonwiz challenges TiVo with WizTV
Beyonwiz owners will soon have access to movie downloads and other online services as the jack-of-all-trades PVR takes on the might of TiVo.
This week's Beyonwiz firmware update offers access to news and weather upgrades, with plans to launch "further services and features including a video download service in the first half of 2009," according to Jai Kemp - general manager of Beyonwiz distributor Digital Products Group.
Like TiVo, Beyonwiz's range of PVRs are trying to be all things to all men in the digital lounge room. Beyonwiz PVRs are blessed with twin HD tuners and can perform impressive tricks such as recording two shows at once and pausing live TV. Unlike TiVo, Beyonwiz's PVRs also feature large hard drives, offer external USB expansion and are also network media players. Beyonwiz's DP-S1 even features an upscaling DVD player.
TiVo initially received a cold reception in Australia because it lacked the advanced features of the American TiVo, and this won't be rectified until next year with the release of an external USB hard drive and a paid firmware upgrade offering the ability to play files from a computer on your home network.
Meanwhile Beyonwiz's PVRs seriously outgun TiVo on paper, although it took more than 12 months worth of firmware upgrades to get there. With functionality comes complexity and the Beyonwiz DP-S1 isn't nearly as user-friendly as the TiVo.
The third horse in this PVR race is the Topfield TF7100HDPVRt, which sits someone inbetween TiVo and Beyonwiz in terms of functionality and usability, although it's been plagued with software bugs and flaky firmware releases.
When it comes to core PVR features the TiVo is the best of the lot, although you really need to spend time with all three to appreciate the subtle differences between them. In terms of the marketing war, the new PVR battle ground is online content.
TiVo is trying to differentiate itself from the competition by offering extra services such as news and weather downloads. It's also introducing movie downloads and online shopping features such as ordering a pizza.
Beyonwiz struck back this week by unveiling its long-awaited WizTV online content features. Sadly the initial offerings are underwhelming compared to TiVo, to say the least. So far WizTV only offers text-based downloads, primarily stories from ABC News and Sport along with a six-day weather forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology for more than 200 locations around Australia. The only other content is a smattering of news and reviews from six tech magazines.
If you want to take a glass-half-empty view, WizTV is very empty indeed - but it should be viewed for its potential rather than what it offers on day one. TiVo also started with only downloadable weather forecasts but has quickly expanded its online features. Let's hope for Beyonwiz users that WizTV developments move faster than the PVR's other features.
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