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TiVo strikes back against Motorola in patent suit

The week is just getting started, and we already have a new patent infringement lawsuit on our hands.

The twist this time is that it is a counter suit from TiVo against both Motorola and Time Warner Cable.

A little over a year ago, Motorola filed a lawsuit against TiVo over patent infringement related to digital video recorders -- some of which focused on patents stemming from as far back as the 1990s.

Now, TiVo has filed counterclaims with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that Motorola and Time Warner Cable (one of Motorola's customers) infringed upon the … Read more

TiVo lowers monthly fee, increases Premiere storage

Most agree that TiVo's DVRs are among the best available, but the main sticking point for most buyers is always the monthly fee.

TiVo's making it a little easier to get over that hurdle, announcing today that the monthly fee has dropped to $15 a month with a one-year commitment. On the other hand, TiVo has changed the cost of the DVRs themselves as follows: Premiere ($150), Premiere XL ($250), and Premiere Elite ($400). That's a $50 increase for the entry-level Premiere, while the Premiere XL's price has dropped $50 and the Premiere Elite has dropped $… Read more

All that for nothing: Microsoft, TiVo dismiss patent lawsuits

Although it once seemed like Microsoft and TiVo could never come to terms, the companies have decided to walk away from all their lawsuits and pretend like they never happened.

TiVo today filed a regulatory statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, saying that it has reached an agreement with Microsoft to dismiss all pending patent litigation against its operation. In addition, TiVo has agreed to drop its counterclaim against Microsoft.

In early 2010, Microsoft sued TiVo, claiming the DVR company was violating patents it holds related to video purchasing and delivery. The move was designed to defend AT&… Read more

TiVo co-founder and CTO Jim Barton steps down

TiVo co-founder and CTO Jim Barton has resigned and will collect a $25,000 monthly paycheck as a consultant for the company while pursuing "his next big idea."

According to paperwork TiVo filed yesterday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Barton resigned March 14, effective yesterday. The filing says TiVo plans to enter into a three-year deal with Barton for "certain consulting services related to patent matters, litigation, and certain technical matters" and that Barton will be paid $25,000 per month.

There doesn't appear to be any news of the change on TiVo's … Read more

TI profit warning sparks concern about Kindle Fire demand

Texas Instruments has cut its revenue and earnings outlook for the first quarter, citing weakness in its wireless business and setting off a series of supply chain sleuths.

By the numbers, TI yesterday projected earnings of 15 cents a share to 19 cents a share for the first quarter. TI's previous range was 16 cents a share to 24 cents a share. The company added that its first quarter revenue will be $2.99 billion to $3.11 billion, down from its previous range of $3.02 billion to $3.28 billion.

TI blamed the cuts on "lower … Read more

My DIY Cable Card install was simple--how was yours? (poll)

Remember Cable Card? It's still around, quietly allowing owners of TiVos and Home Theater PCs, via devices like the HDHomeRun Prime, to get the full complement of cable TV programming without having to use the company-issued DVR or cable box.

At CNET we've tested a few Cable Card products, including TiVos and the now-defunct Moxi DVR. The latter product was still hanging around the CNET offices so I decided to test it out for myself at home.

I called up Verizon (I'm a Fios TV subscriber) last week, told the rep I had a third-party DVR and … Read more

DirecTV takes its TiVo HD box nationwide, but will its users care?

TiVo and DirecTV's on-again, off-again, really off-again, kinda on-again relationship is now completely back on again.

After a 10-city rollout in December of a new TiVo HD box to DirecTV customers, the satellite TV provider is making the box available nationwide.

The TiVo HD box mainly gives users access to TiVo's excellent interface and features such as WishList Searches so you can automatically record programming based on things like an actor's name, sports team, or personal interests, and TiVo's Swivel Search will find shows across TV and DirecTV Cinema.

The box itself is capable of recording … Read more

Android Atlas Weekly 80: It's a camera, it's a phone, it's a tablet! (Podcast)

Motorola has Droid RAZR deja vu (twice!) and Samsung's Ryan Bidan stops by to show off the Galaxy Note and explain why we should be excited about an Android-powered refrigerator.

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AT&T to pay TiVo $215M to settle patent lawsuit

AT&T has agreed to pay TiVo at least $215 million to settle a patent infringement lawsuit involving the digital video recorder pioneer.

Under the settlement, AT&T will pay TiVo more than that minimum amount, should AT&T's DVR subscriber base exceed certain levels, the companies said in a statement announcing the mutual licensing pact. The announcement sent TiVo shares up $1.38, or 15.5 percent, to $10.30 in after-hours trading.

TiVo sued AT&T in 2009 for damages, alleging infringements of TiVo patents Nos. 6,233,389 B1 (a "multimedia … Read more

DirecTV TiVo DVRs coming to select markets this week?

After a multiyear drought that has left many DirecTV customers peeved, TiVo-based devices might be coming back to the satellite provider's service later this week.

According to DirecTV forum poster, "Val_Installs," DirecTV will be launching a TiVo HD DVR on Thursday. For now, the person says, TiVo's set-top box will be available in just 10 major markets, including New York, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. There is no word on when the national rollout might occur, but the user said that it's currently "being evaluated" by the company.

Although a simple forum posting isn'… Read more