TiVo seeks a remote chance in TV search market

TiVo (Nasdaq: TIVO) has introduced a $90 universal remote control with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for its TiVo-based products. The unit comes with a Bluetooth USB dongle to plug into an available port on compatible TiVo boxes to deliver a range of 30 feet. Of course, like any good remote, it's also backlit.

Initial reviews among the geeks of the Internet seem relatively positive-although, typically, few are happy about the price. CNET praised the remote for its ergonomic design and Bluetooth capability but complained about the price and the fact that it "can't completely replace a full-featured universal remote control. Australian site Gizmodo called the keyboard a "wonderful, wonderful addition to an otherwise text-unfriendly set-up" and suggested that the units should be bundled with every TiVo before chiming in that "paying $US90 for a unit that's not universal, even with a keyboard, is slightly extravagant."

In other remote news, Time Warner Cable (NYSE: TWC-WI) has selected Universal Remote Control to supply 80 percent of its remote controls through 2011, more than doubling the remote maker's business with the company. Alpha Technologies was tabbed to provide batteries and power supplies.

For more:
- CNET has this story
- see this Gizmodo story
- and this story

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