Already present on older Series 2 TiVo hardware, Series 3 and HD TiVo owners now get to join in the fun of pause menu ads.  Dave Zatz of Zatz Not Funny reports that the newest update to these units introduces the pause menu ads.  This way, you can watch more ads while you skip others!

Fortunately, TiVoCommunity member bfdtv reports that there is a way to hide the progress bar and avoid the additional ads.  Sweet... click through to learn more!

[Via Engadget]

Great news for iPhone owners with DirecTV - the long-rumored and awaited iPhone client has surfaced, according to the folks over at Engadget HD. 

There's no estimated release date for the client, but users over at DBS Talk got a chance to mess around with it, and even put together some instructions on how to use it.  Sounds like you'll be able to use it to control your DVR, schedule shows, and more.  If you're anything like us, you're eagerly awaiting this awesome program!

[Via Engadget HD]

ALVISO, Calif. and ACTON, Mass., --- March 2, 2009 — TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and a leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), and SeaChange International (NASDAQ: SEAC), the leading provider of video-on-demand (VOD) and IPTV software, systems and services, today announced that they have joined forces to integrate cable VOD services into the TiVo HD DVR experience. 

“By teaming with SeaChange we are enabling cable operators without OCAP/tru2way deployment plans to increase the breadth and depth of their offering by quickly deploying TiVo set-top boxes that seamlessly integrate VOD in a single, intuitive TiVo interface,” said Tom Rogers, TiVo’s president and chief executive officer. “This solution also enables participating MSOs to take their on-demand offering to a whole new level by highlighting VOD titles within TiVo universal search results.   And the beauty of this is that it can be achieved faster and at a lower cost than most solutions that have been available to cable operators to date.”

As the leader in on-demand television solutions, SeaChange delivers billions of on-demand streams to millions of cable and IPTV subscribers globally.  As the only universal cable box that can operate on any cable headend, TiVo HD DVR set tops combined with SeaChange VOD capabilities provide a cost effective way for operators to further differentiate their service with the award winning TiVo Service.

“TiVo is synonymous with the optimal viewer experience and our collaboration is directly in line with SeaChange’s focus on innovating to help television operators leverage the infrastructure they have in place today to provide new services and opportunities,” said Bill Styslinger, president and CEO, SeaChange.  “VOD has matured into a vital, core service and by offering another solution with TiVo, we’re once again sure to put operators of any size in a better position to deliver rich on-demand services fast and cost effectively.”

The integrated experience will be available to participating cable operators on select TiVo branded high-definition cable set-top boxes later this year.

[via TiVo.com]