TV Time Shifters

Moxi: Set-Top DVR Cable Box on Steroids

Digeo Moxi gives TiVo a run for its money as a DVR. The interface looks a lot like Comcast's, with a live broadcast in the menu screen's upper-right corner. But the search capabilities just might beat TiVo's. You can search by any word in the title, not just the first one--useful if you're looking for Thatotherguy and Roeper. And yes, there's a WishList-like keyword search.

If you like the news ticker on the bottom of CNN or Fox News, you may like Moxi's customizable version, which lets you stream news, weather, and sports along the screen's bottom. The unit also has a DVD player (but not a recorder--that's planned for future versions) and a "jukebox" feature that rips CDs to MP3 files on the hard drive.

A cheaper version of the Moxi, the Moximate, connects to the main device over a coaxial cable to feed a second TV.

The unit wasn't available for testing in my area, so I attended a demonstration conducted by the company. Right now you can get it from Adelphia in Los Angeles, from Charter in St. Louis, and in a few other cities.

So far Moxi works only with cable. Individual companies will set pricing, but expect it to cost about $10 a month.