I'm confused about Directv DVR and Tivo ~ are they the same?

Maria Devenney: Check out this website for Directv TiVo news!

Alden Sabio: The DirecTV-branded DVR and a TiVo unit are essentially the same thing: [D]igital [V]ideo [R]ecorders.TiVo is just a brand name that is often mistaken for the type of product, the same Kleenex is for tissue. If a DVR is manufactured by the TiVo company, it's called a TiVo. If it's not made by them, it's a DVR. They do the exact same thing either way.On top of that, you have two options for TiVo, in regards to DirecTV. You can a TiVo unit that is standalone. That means it's a separate piece of equipment that requires the receiver to be routed to it, and then you route it to the TV. The other option for a TiVo unit is to get a DirecTV receiver that has TiVo integrated. You just connect the DirecTV receiver to the TV.DirecTV supports some older model DVRs that were manufactured by TiVo, therefore they sport the TiVo brand name. There are also current model DVRs that are manufactured by DirecTV i! tself that are just called DVRs. Later this year, too, there are supposed to be next-gen models of DirecTV TiVo units.So, essentially, depending on how you get the DVR it may or may not be TiVo, but that doesn't matter because they do the same thing. And you can get a DVR without it being TiVo, but you cannot get a TiVo without DVR capabilities (all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares, in essence)....Show more

Shandi Wedge: DVR is the generic name for the item, like facial tissue paper.Tivo is a specific brand name, like Kleenex. Other companies make DVRs as well but only the Tivo company makes Tivo brand DVRs.DirecTV used to offer a receiver with a Tivo inside it, which many referred to as a "DirecTivo" but DirecTV and Tivo have split ways since then and DirecTivo is no longer offered. Instead, DirecTV offers their own internally developed DVR....Show more