On my way to work today, I imagined coming home to my DVR/life partner this evening, clicking on my recorded shows list, and being greeted by a large smiley face on the top right of the screen. Why? Because I firmly believe that my DVR/life partner — who I named Peter and decided was just to the left of gay — would know that he was about to make me a very happy girl because he’d taped Dancing With the Stars, Castle, and a special Monday episode of Bones. I then thought about how sad I’d been Sunday night when I returned from a long weekend away, scrolled through my recorded shows list, and found no new episodes of Ghost Whisperer and Dollhouse to watch before the premiere of ABC Family’s My Fake Fiancé. Had Peter been able to flash me a frowny face emoticon, I would’ve been prepared for the heartbreak that followed. Therefore, I’d like to suggest to manufacturers of DVRs everywhere that they look into this emoticon feature. Perhaps there’s some kind of equation that can be built in. Like, if more than 65 percent of the shows you were hoping to tape that day aired new episodes: the you’re-gonna-be-psyched smiley face. If not: the break-it-to-me-gently frowny face.
Are there DVR enhancements you’d like to see? And have you anthropomorphized your DVR (or TV) to this degree?
be smart enough to know that a show is going over its allotted time slot and Mr. DVR Pants needs to keep recording. and don’t cut off the last 10 seconds of the Lost previews every frickin time.
I’d like to be able to only delete parts of a recording, not the whole program.
Smiley face emoticons for an (almost) gay DVR? Must be a slow day at EW. Time to read a book Mindi
Sorry. Mandi (not Mindi
)
I love it. I would so want my DVR to have emoticons!! Mainly cause I am a geek.
I totally agree with Kerry! If my DVR would just keep recording when a show ran long, I wouldn’t have to add the producers of American Idol to my s*** list.
I love that you call your DVR your life partner. I completely relate! I’m breaking up with cable this summer to save money and the thought of it makes me shudder. And cry a little bit.
OMG I NEVER THOUGHT OF NAMING MY DVR…and lol i love naming objects.
I have to think of a good one oh and i agree mine is gay too (hello U. Betty, G. Anatomy, Bro&Sis, Desp HW’s, Manana es para Siempre, Gossip Girl, 90210, chelsea lately) just to name a few lol and i relate it seems like its my partner too…
MY SUGGESTIONS
*I wish they would make it to where it stops recording when the show is actually over cus i hate when i miss the last few mins especially on live crap like AI or Award Shows…
*rec more than 2 shows at a time.
*have a skip commercials button (instead of haveing to stop and rewind a bit cus you missed it by a few secs).
*send episode to ipod to be able to watch it at work or at the gym (& not have to buy it)
Having developed a completely codependent relationship with my DVR, I can’t believe I haven’t named him/her. While I think about that, here are my wishes (in addition to the other good ones already mentioned):
* allow me to forward a recorded show to a friend with a similar DVR
* allow me to manage my list of upcoming recorded and already recorded show from my computer or cell. Nothing worse than traveling and realizing that you forgot to set up a recording.
I just want my DVR to actually record a show when it is supposed to. Last week I recorded Fringe while watching it live. When the show ended I went to the list of programs recorded and it wasn’t there. This is not the first time it has happened either!
I’m glad I’m not the only one, Mandi, who loves her tivo a little too much.
I am also shocked that I never thought of naming my DVR. So I hereby christen him Walter. Here are my thoughts on how Walter could be even more wonderful:
1. Additional memory optional
2. I would like to be able to call him and tell him what to record
3. Store deleted programs for 24 hours . . . just in case
4. I wish he’d greet me when I get home, but that’s probably crossing the line into creepiness (or is it?)
5. Emoticons (love that idea too!)
My list is rather long.
* Streaming web content (like Hulu and Netflix)
* Live time updating. If something runs long, keep recording.
* The ability to record like 5 things at once. I REALLY NEED THAT ON MONDAYS!
* Being able to put content on your computer and delete it from the DVR memory to save space.
* To save a certain clip of a show instead of the whole thing. Or cut out commercials…
I think that may be it. There could be more I’m not thinking of though.
Also, my DVR’s name is Chuck Bartowski Jr. It may not hold all the government’s secrets, but it holds all my television-y goodness!
My two biggest complaints:
1) Somehow keep it from getting “brain freeze” and waiting 3 minutes to do all the commands at once.
2) When watching something on demand, it is impossible to stop immediately, it always takes 3-4 seconds. (I had look up the typed ending to Zodiac online because it waits so long to pause. Also, can we get an update and implemet slo-mo?!? At least I’m not bitter, right?
I am definitely codependent on my Tivo. I never thought of naming it though. But, I do call it Tivo, as a proper name kind of thing. Maybe I should find a name.
*I would love to be able to record more than 2 shows at once.
*I would love live updating, so if a program runs long the DVR will automatically adjust and keep recording.
But my Tivo already transfers shows to my computer so I can delete them from DVR memory. That is FABULOUS. Now, if only I could move the recordings from my computer to my iPod…
I would freaking love to have my dvr (who I call steve) record more than two shows at a time (especially on Mondays). I would also love for it to be tied into the ratings so my favorite shows that I can’t watch live don’t get canceled. I love the emoticon idea that is awesome!