Two of the newest and most popular innovations in the television viewing world are Tivo and Apple TV. Tivo is the oldest of these two innovations, and is incredibly popular. Many people these days either have a Tivo, or a digital video recorder box of a different brand name. The features of Tivo are convenient and easy to use. You can pause live TV so you won't miss a thing. You can schedule recordings and even record more than one program at once. Your recorded programs are digitally stored without the need for any tapes or disks. You can access and manage your recorded items with the touch of a button.
Then there's Apple TV. Apple TV hooks up to your television and computer, and allows you to access your iTunes library right on your TV screen. You can listen to music, view digital photos, watch television shows, podcasts, Internet videos and movies. The difference between Apple TV and Tivo is that with Apple TV, you must download your materials from iTunes. With Tivo, you get your material from your cable television provider. Some people love Apple TV, while others feel it will never take the place of cable. This is why some people have the best of both worlds and enjoy both an Apple TV and Tivo on their television.
One of the benefits to Tivo, besides its features, is its price. You can get a Tivo box for a very reasonable monthly rate, depending on what size storage you choose. There are 80-hour, 180-hour and 300-hour boxes available. Your local cable television provider can fill you in on the pricing plans they offer. Apple TV, on the other hand, is a bit more pricey. You can own an Apple TV box for around $299. It comes with a 40 GB hard drive, wifi and the Apple remote.
Whether or not you should choose the Tivo or the Apple TV is a matter of personal preference. It all depends which features you deem more useful and how much you're willing to spend. Some users like the Tivo for its compatibility with cable television, while others enjoy Apple TV because they can view their iTunes collection on a big screen television instead of a small computer monitor. Both choices certainly have plenty of features and benefits to offer today's viewers.
