TiVo Bolt is a smaller, faster DVR with 4K-streaming for cable lovers or cutters

TiVo would like you to know that it doesn't make DVRs anymore. It makes unified entertainment systems -- and its first one is called "Bolt."

Gone is the usual big black box, and in its place is a smaller, thinner inclined device with no buttons or external lights. The bend helps with airflow, but it's also intended to make it stand out in your living room. This TiVo is vying to be the only box under your TV, after all.

The Bolt replaces the standard TiVo Roamio in its current lineup, which works with a CableCard available from your service provider or can be used with an HD antenna to record over-the-air (OTA) programming. It has four tuners -- allowing you record up to four shows at once -- or you can buy TiVo's Mini extenders to use the extra tuners for viewing live programming on other TVs in your home.

Along with TV shows, Bolt gives you direct access to over-the-top streaming content (OTT) through individual apps for Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Hulu Plus (coming soon), Vudu, Plex and more. Plus, Bolt is the first TiVo to support 4K-resolution video (2160p) from YouTube and Netflix, with Amazon Prime 4K support in the works. In some regions, Comcast and Cox subscribers can view on-demand content from those respective cable providers as well.

The 4K support is just the tip of the new and updated features for the Bolt, though. For instance, to go along with the new design, TiVo has added station graphics, freshening the look of the program guide. The guide can also be filtered by very specific topics, allowing you to view a listing that, for example, only shows football games or action movies or kid's channels. And for the current TiVo users out there, the interface is now completely in HD. Well, almost. There are still some deep setting menus that are in standard definition, but it's getting there.

However, regardless of how good the features are, the rub for many will be pricing. The Bolt alone is reasonable enough at $300 for 500GB of storage (about 75 hours of HD content) and $400 for a 1TB version (about 150 hours of HD content). That's not unreasonable for what you're getting, but the deal-breaker for most people is the service fee. The purchase price includes a year of service, but after that you'll be paying $15 a month, $150 a year, or $600 for the life of the product, which TiVo is now calling "All In pricing."

It's a lot to swallow upfront and ongoing, especially if you're getting a DVR from your cable provider at no additional charge or you don't mind leasing a box since it's rolled into your bill. But, again, the TiVo Bolt is more than a DVR. We'll have a full review soon, but what follows are hands-on impressions of the features that are new or improved for Bolt.

Faster everything

Roamio was a noticeable jump in performance compared to prior TiVo models, and cable-provider DVRs, too, for that matter. Still, there was room for improvement that TiVo tackles with Bolt. More system memory and a faster processor makes the speed difference here, whether that means quicker navigation or starting up a recording or, perhaps most importantly, launching apps.

Netflix, in particular, is much faster. The first time you start it up takes about 3 to 5 seconds, but after that, opening is near instantaneous. Amazon Prime and YouTube also get a speed boost, but they don't currently pop open like Netflix. Even boot time, which has felt interminable on past models, speeds up to an average of 2 minutes and 30 seconds. (That said, you shouldn't be rebooting the Bolt very often after its initial setup.)

The Bolt also gets faster networking speeds with support for 802.11ac wireless, Gigabit Ethernet and MoCA 2.0 (Multimedia over Coax Alliance), which uses the coaxial cable in your home for networking. Speaking of wireless, Bolt supports streaming and downloads of recorded programs to mobile devices without the need for TiVo's add-on box, Stream. Initially this only works with devices on the same network as Bolt, but will eventually be updated to support out-of-home streaming.

The iOS app can also be used to mirror your TiVo to an Apple TV via AirPlay. Android users can do the same with an Amazon Fire TV. It works with stuff that's already recorded or you can start streaming a live show to mirror with only a slight delay.

TiVo's speeding up actually watching TV as well with two new options: QuickMode and SkipMode. The former lets you accelerate playback 1.3 times, but audio is pitch corrected so it sounds normal... well, close to normal.

All it takes are two button presses to turn it on and off. Tired of watching a batter foul off pitch after pitch, but don't want to fast forward? Turn on QuickMode. Want to breeze through the nightly news? Turn on QuickMode. It works as promised, though I'm not sure it's something I would use because I found it distracting after awhile. I also ended up jumping back several times anyway to hear things I missed. But if you watch shows where not every word matters, say for reality programs, this could be a binge-watcher's best friend.

SkipMode, on the other hand, is awesome. While watching recorded content you'll be able to jump over whole commercial breaks with a single button press. As the show you're watching reaches a break, a notification appears on screen letting you know you can tap the remote's D button and it will instantly transport you past the break and back into the show. The feature is available about 30 minutes after a recording has ended; it won't work for live TV (obviously) and it's also not available for all programs.

At launch, SkipMode will be applied to approximately 20 channels to programming between 4 p.m. and midnight, plus repeat airings and late-night talk shows, but not sports or local TV. The planned networks include: FX, HGTV, History Channel, Lifetime, NBC, ABC, ABC Family, AMC, Bravo, CBS, Syfy, TBS, TLC, TNT, USA, Comedy Central, The CW, Discovery Channel, Food Network and FOX. (Note that CNET is a division of CBS, which also partially owns The CW.)

SkipMode works as promised, too, eliminating the need to shuttle back and forth to get to the end of a commercial break. It doesn't strip them out entirely like Dish's AutoHop feature, so if you don't hit the button every time you'll still see commercials. However, with AutoHop you have to wait one to seven days after a show's airing to watch without commercials, and it's only available for shows on ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC recorded with Dish's PrimeTime Anytime feature.

Ready for the 4K future

There might not be a lot of content at the moment, but 4K programming is coming and Bolt is ready. It currently works with the YouTube and Netflix apps, though you'll have to get the $12 Netflix subscription to access it. TiVo is in talks with Amazon for its 4K app.

Note, of course, that only a fraction of the programming on any of those services is available in 4K, and that seeing the difference between 4K and "regular" HD programming is still overkill for all but eagle-eyed viewers with giant-screen 4K TVs. But for those who care -- this is for you.

OneSearch and OnePass

Though they remain pretty much the same as they are on Roamio, TiVo's search and season-long recording options are worth mentioning because they are integral to the package. OneSearch, as the name implies, finds content across all of the streaming services TiVo supports as well as TV and on-demand where available. If it's something only available to rent or own, TiVo lets you know with a chart breaking down pricing for each service it's available from. It works so well TiVo made it available to anyone via its TiVo Online site.

OnePass is the evolution of TiVo's Season Pass option that lets you quickly set the DVR to record every episode of a show throughout the season or catch both new and repeat airings of a show. OnePass builds on that by collecting all episodes of a show into a single folder, whether it's recorded or available for streaming or purchase. Each episode is marked letting you know if it's a recording on the DVR or a streaming-only title.

Roamio Plus and Pro stay in the lineup

The TiVo Bolt is positioned as the entry-level model with the six-tuner Roamio Plus and Pro models sticking around for power users. Ironically, it's probably those buyers who care the most about the faster performance and 4K support. As for software features being carried over, QuickMode will come to Roamio later this year, but there is no current timing for SkipMode on Roamio.

Again, we'll be back with a full review shortly, but if you're looking for a DVR unified entertainment system, Bolt has a lot to offer. You just need to weigh the many advantages versus the price -- and, more importantly, that pesky service fee.