In 2025, several notable tech products and services were discontinued, including TiVo DVRs, Skype, Humane AI Pin, Pocket, Zelle's standalone app, Meta's fact-checking program, Mr. Deepfakes, Google Assistant, and Twitter's domain, reflecting the fast-paced and ever-evolving nature of the tech industry.
TiVo, once a pioneer in DVR technology and a household name, spent its prime years defending its patents in court against major players, but ultimately lost relevance as streaming services and smart TVs overtook traditional DVRs. After a series of legal battles and stagnating hardware, TiVo was acquired by Rovi and later Xperi, shifting focus from hardware to patent licensing, and eventually exiting the hardware business altogether, highlighting missed opportunities in the evolving digital entertainment landscape.
TiVo, a pioneering DVR service launched in 1999, has ceased sales of its hardware after 26 years, marking the end of its legacy amid declining market share due to the rise of streaming services. Existing users will still receive support, but questions remain about the future of lifetime subscriptions.
TiVo has disabled the software needed to activate its TiVo Stream 4K Android TV stick, leaving new users unable to set up the device. The issue arose after TiVo took its customer service portal offline for a few days. While the service is expected to be back up and running on July 5, this has caused inconvenience for customers who recently purchased the device or reset it. In the meantime, affected users may consider the Chromecast with Google TV as an alternative option.