When TiVo launched the Series3 video recorder, the first model capable of recording HDTV, the unit received a lot of rave reviews -- and a lot of complaints about the high $800 price tag. A while later, TiVo released the TiVo HD which is basically a stripped down model that sells for just $300. But if even that seems like too much money for you, TiVo's got a heck of a deal going on right now. You can pick up a refurbished TiVo HD for just $180.

The TiVo HD can record up to 20 hours of HD video or 180 hours of standard definition television. Of course, you need to factor the price of a monthly, annual, or product lifetime service plan. Those subscription fees quickly add up and wind up costing more than the unit itself. But it's always nice to save a few bucks up front.

[via TiVo Blog]

Looking for a good deal on a Slingbox? Woot has the Slingbox AV for $70 today only. Shipping will set you back another $5, but that's still about $35 cheaper than the $110 you'd usually pay for a Slingbox AV.

Like its siblings in the Slingbox family, the Slingbox AV lets you stream media over the internet. That means you can plug the Slingbox AV into your home cable box, TiVo, or other audio/video equipment and then watch live or pre-recorded video on an internet-connected computer or mobile device.

The Slingbox AV is one of the cheapest models available. You can only plug in one audio/video device at a time using the S-Video or composite inputs. This box also does not support HD video. If you're looking for HD, you either need an adaptor or the Slingbox Solo. If you want multiple inputs and/or HD video, you should check out the Slingbox Pro. But if you're just looking to save money and stream content from your TiVo to your mobile phone, today's a good day to buy.

If you happen to be shopping for an HDTV and a TiVo HD, Amazon has a deal that could let you kill two birds with stone. Or you know, two digital media products with one credit card payment. Here's how it works. You order both a TiVo HD and a qualifying Samsung HDTV and when you get to checkout, the cost of the TiVo HD should disappear.

The offer's only good through June 9, and the deal is limited to three TiVo HDs per customer. So if you were planning on buying 4 flat screen televisions for $1000+ a pop, it looks like you'll have to pay for the TiVo box to go with that fourth unit.

[via Gizmodo]

If you're in the market for a cheap HDTV tuner, you might want to check out Woot today. The web retailer is offering the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick for $40, which is less than half its regular price.

This USB tuner plugs into your PC via a USB 2.0 port and lets you watch or record NTSC or ATSC broadcasts. That means you can plug in an analog or digital antenna, or connect an analog cable, vcr, dvd player, or other device. The tuner comes with a remote control, a portable antenna, and a USB extender cable.

It also comes with the Pinnacle MediaCenter software for PC. But by all reports this software stinks and you should probably find your own PVR software like Windows Media Center, BeyondTV, SageTV, Media Portal, or GB-PVR.

If you're in the market for a TiVo HD, today might be a good time to pick one up. Woot is selling refurbished TiVo HD units for $180, which is $120 off the list price for a new unit.

If you're not familiar with Woot, it's an online retailer that sells just one item per day, and as soon as they sell out of that item, it's gone. So this deal ain't going to last.

If you sign up for a 1 year monthly plan, you can also use the code 3FREEHD to get 3 months of free service.

If you've taken the plunge and plugged your computer into your television, you've probably noticed something: Most web sites and applications are really not designed for a remote control. Whether you're using an Apple remote or one designed for Windows Media Center, anytime you venture outside of the software designed to work with that remote control, you're kind of lost.

Gyration makes a line of wireless remote controls and mice that attempt to solve this problem by letting you move a cursor across the screen by waving your hand. Yeah, I know, it sounds like a Wiimote, but Gyration's been in this business longer than Nintendo.

The Gyration GyroTransport mouse is actually one of the company's older models. It's since been replaced with an improved version with a few extra features. But the retailers that carry the GyroTransport mouse still sell it for $80 or more. So when I saw that Woot had it for $35 today, I thought I'd pass along the news. If you're not familiar with Woot, the company sells just one item per day, at a deep discount. When it sells out, it's gone. So if you're in the market for a motion-sensing wireless mouse, you might want to pick yours up quickly.

TiVo is offering up a few pre-holiday specials. First up, if you buy a new TiVo between now and Feb 2, you get a discount on monthly or annual subscriptions:

• The $16.95 monthly fee drops to $12.95
• Get a year of service for $129 instead of $179
• Pay $249 for two years instead of $279
• A 3 year service contract will cost you $299, which is the same price the company's charging now

If you're already a TiVo customer, you don't qualify for any of those discounts. But the company is bringing back product lifetime service option. $399 will get you all the electronic program guide updates you could want. You know, until you decide to upgrade to the TiVo Series4.

[via Crave]

In the market for a spare or replacement TiVo remote control? Normally a standard Series2 remote would set you back $30. But today Woot/Yahoo! are selling TiVo remotes for just under a buck.

If you're not familiar with Woot, it's a site that sells one item per day, usually at a deep discount. The company recently partnered with Yahoo! to offer a separate daily item, at sellout.woot.com.

Don't expect a fancy $50 Series3 style remote for your money. In fact, you're not even getting a standard Series2 remote. Instead Woot is selling a DirecTiVO remote. For all practical purposes, that just means you have a DirecTV logo where you'd normally see a TiVo logo. The remote will work just fine with any Series2 or Series3 TiVo. And tomorrow it will be gone.

[via TiVo Lovers]

In the market for a new TiVo and don't need the latest and greatest features like HDTV support or the ability to record two shows at once? While we're not sure we'd recommend a standard TiVo Series2 recorder to anyone these days (what with the analog TV shutoff just around the corner), if you just want a second recorder for your house, this deal is hard to beat: You can essentially make $31 (after rebate) by picking up a Series2 TiVo.

Here's how it works. Just visit an online retail site with a good price on the Series2. Buy.com is selling it for $139 right now. Then fill out this form for a $170 rebate. TiVo will send you a check for $170 after you sign up for service. You might rightfully point out that this isn't quite "free," since you will need to commit to a service plan. But that $31 should cover most of your first 2 monthly bills, and it will go even further if this is the second or third unit in your household.

[via TiVo Blog]

When TiVo released its high definition Series3 recorder, the company sweetened the pot a bit for die-hard fans by offering existing customers who'd already shelled out the money on a product lifetime plan to transfer that service plan to their new $800 for a few hundred extra bones.

But in general, TiVo ain't in the business of offering lifetime service plans anymore. You just can't raise the same kind of money that way as you can with monthly or yearly service plans.

So that's why it's both surprising and pleasant to find that TiVo is letting customers transfer lifetime service plans again. This time, if you pick up a new 80-hour dual tuner Series2 box, you can transfer your service plan from your Series1 or Series2 box for $300. That includes the price of the new unit.

In order to qualify, you have to have activated your lifetime service plan before June of 2003. The offer ends July 23rd.

[via Zatz Not Funny]

If you're the type to take pity on your dad for his efforts to record HD World War II specials on The History Channel using his old school VCR, you might be thinking of picking him up a Series3 TiVo for father's day. TiVo wants to help, and is offering up a $200 rebate good from May 27th through June 16th.

The offer's not available at TiVo.com yet, but you can find all the info, as well as the rebate form (pdf) at DVRupgrade.

Since this is a rebate, not a discount, you should be able to apply it to any Series3 TiVo you pick up from a TiVo reseller. For example, if you pick up a $600 unit from Amazon, you would be able to get a Series3 for about $400. That's assuming Amazon doesn't raise its price this week.

[via TiVo Lovers]

PCAlchemy is running a special on a new hardware bundle through Sunday. You can pick up a HDHomeRun and a Gyration remote control for just $199. The two items sell for a total of $249 if purchased separately.

The HDHomeRun is a dual ATSC/QAM digital tuner that can be connected to your home network via ethernet. That means any PC on your network can access its tuners.

The Gyration remote control is both a standard media center remote control and a mouse-away-from your mouse. You can use the remote to control an on-screen cursor by moving the remote through the air. It's great for accessing web content and other material that isn't designed with a 10-foot interface from the comfort of your sofa.

[via Project HTPC]

The biggest (and pretty much only) complaint with the high definition Series3 TiVo is it's $800 price tag. Well, apparently TiVo's been paying attention -- and selling enough units to make it cost efficient to drop the price of the box. Because TiVo's offering one heck of a discount in its latest promotion.

For $499.99 you can pick up a Series3 TiVo plus a wireless TiVo adapter. No need to fill out any silly rebates, and there's free shipping included. That's $360 worth of savings.

The offer is only good through April 30th. But now that TiVo's starting to offer discounts on Series3 units, I think it's fair to say there'll be another promotion along soon. The company almost always has one rebate offer or another available for Series2 boxes.

Speaking of which, the latest Series2 deals include a free wireless adapter with an 80-hour single-tuner box or a 180 hour dual-tuner box for $70 or $120 respectively.

[via TiVoBlog]

Best Buy is offering customers a $50 gift card when they pick up an 80-hour Series2 TiVo. When you combine that with the $170 rebate currently offered by TiVo, that's a free box.

But the gift card can only be applied toward future purchases. So it's only free if you plan on buying $50 worth of items from Best Buy in the future.

The promotion is listed in Best Buy's weekly ad, so it could be gone soon.

[via Troy on TiVo]

Amazon is advertising the TiVo Series3 for $490 after rebate. There's just one problem.

While Amazon has dropped the base price of the high definition TiVo from $800 to $660, you need a $170 rebate to take you the rest of the way. And when you click on the rebate, you get a notice saying that it is not valid for Serie3 units.

I'm going to chalk this one up to someone at Amazon misreading the rebate for now, rather than maliciously trying to lure customers into buying a TiVo with unrealistic promises of a low price. But I could be wrong.

Update: It looks like Amazon has discovered the mistake and removed the rebate. Still, $660 isn't a bad price for the Series3.

[via Gizmodo]