What does the DIRECTV Genie do?

The DIRECTV Genie is the prime high-definition digital video recorder from DIRECTV that lets you view and record television programmes simultaneously. It works as a command center for all your TV watching and recording on DIRECTV.

The Genie is the newest model of DIRECTV and offers you total high-definition and digital video recorder functionality. This is one of the strengths of Genie in that it can simultaneously monitor and record up to five shows. This is made possible by the Genie that can support up to five tuners, and live view and record up to four other channels at the same time as you are watching one channel. The Genie can also record hundreds of hours of HD or standard definition programming through its massive one terabyte hard disk.

Besides the five tuners, another advantage of the Genie is the possibility of other set-top boxes and mobile devices to be installed around your house to stream shows from the Genie. Every other set-top box or streaming client device connected to the Genie has the capability of being another TV for viewing what is recorded on the Genie hard disk. While the Genie itself is limited to playing content on one particular connected TV, it is possible to have up to 7 total playback devices playing Genie content simultaneously.

How Whole-Home DIRECTV Genie Operates

The DIRECTV Genie whole-home HD DVR system operates based on the main server Genie DVR that can be installed in your main TV. This Genie DVR physically interfaces with only one TV but it is the primary master component that controls all the recording of programs, and communication with other devices in your home. You can then connect more wired or wireless Genie Minis, Genie Lite clients, or older DIRECTV receivers in other rooms to the main Genie server. The Genie Minis, and older DIRECTV receivers, become client set-top boxes that can play live or recorded content stored on the main Genie DVR hard drive. This enables you to view contents that are streamed from a Genie DVR to other devices and other rooms without physically connecting that Genie to a TV.

Genie system adopted an innovative feature called Genie Recommends from DIRECTV for recording of programs you would be interested in while at the same time freeing up disk space of your DVR. By utilizing past preferences that the system has detected on your viewing and the Genie Recommends advanced filters the system is in a position to record contents that it finds that you will like to watch. This helps reduce the instances where recordings are being made on the storage space without being watched while at the same time avoiding the situation where some shows that one would want recorded are not recorded.

DVR and Recording Capabilities

Some key Genie DVR and recording features include:Some key Genie DVR and recording features include:

• ALC-2020 features up to 5 tuners for recording up to 5 shows at once

• Record up to 400 hours of High Definition programming

• Watch live TV in slow motion

• Record programs in the schedule from the phone, tablet, computer, or through the Genie directly.

• Tune into one show while taping a number of other shows simultaneously

• It’s recommended you set your Season Pass Manager to record all episodes of programs that interest you.

• Recordings can be watched from any location with the help of GenieGO mobile DVR access when taken with you

  I am sure no one has wanted their DVR to fill up before having the chance to record something they want to watch. Genie is also significantly larger than earlier DIRECTV HD DVR models, providing five times more storage. They even allow you to download and stream your recordings to your portable internet connected gadgets such as tablets, smartphones and laptops for the convenience of viewing your recordings when you are away from your home television set. It makes Genie and GenieGO ideal for families who wish to have a lot of capacity to store all their recordings and for anybody who wishes to have the added option of watching shows on the go while on the go.

  Genie and Client Setup

  A Genie whole-home setup will involve the main Genie HD DVR connected to your main television together with other wired Genie Mini set-top boxes or Genie Lite clients placed in other television sets in your home. DIRECTV offers three client model options:DIRECTV offers three client model options:

1. Genie Mini - Physical device that is plugged into the TV through HDMI or other cables to access content from the Genie server. Wired connection for the finest streaming performance.

2. Genie Lite – A user interface device without tuners or HDMI output. Can be streamed wirelessly in HD through Genie DVR. Small and ideal for bedrooms or kitchens.

3. Other DIRECTV Receiver Box – Non-HD and older models for instance the DIRECTV D12 can also connect with the Genie as a client in other rooms for standard definition.

   It is possible to connect up to three Genie Minis to your Genie server for those additional TVs in other rooms of the house. For total wireless clients, you can have at most two Genie Lite boxes and two older receiver boxes that are connected to the Genie at one time. With up to seven possible total viewing clients combined between wired Minis and wireless Genie Lites and older receiver boxes, you’ll have capability to access and watch all your Genie recordings from anywhere in your house.

   TV Apps and On Demand Features

   Apart from getting a multi-room server with tons or recording space, acquiring a Genie will also open up your options of apps and on demand programs. DirecTV on Demand offers more than 300 select channels that Genie can deliver including TV programs, movies, music, Spanish programming, new hit shows and more children’s programming than ever. This is because Genie’s built in apps help further to widen your choice of entertainment.

   Some great Genie apps and features you gain access to include:Some great Genie apps and features you gain access to include:

• YouTube – Watch internet videos in full motion with your Genie guide

• Pandora – Listen to personalized music through your television and home audio device

• Facebook and Twitter Applications – Social networking services are integrated into this built-in application.

• Weather Channel App – To get the real-time update of the current conditions and the forecast one does not need to switch inputs.

• ScoreGuide App is a sports app that is integrated with the games and scores.

• Photos and Music App – You can directly stream from your personal media on shared drives right through the Genie

  Having YouTube, Pandora, and a full Web browser built into the Genie TV interface means you can watch a wide selection of streaming content in addition to your regular satellite programs. But the Genie turns that content into something that is simpler to search and more readily obtainable than on any prior DIRECTV receiver.

  Advanced Genie user interface also have an ‘I’d like’ feature that suggests programs you’d probably enjoy watching based on your previous choices. Specific recommendations featured through the Genie Recommends is even more convenient to start watching shows you are likely to prefer from the vast on demand selection.

  Voice Control Features

  Saying goodbye to traditional receivers that come with limited capabilities to only allow clicking inputs from a distance for all controls, Genie will also introduce new levels of convenience, ease of use that are enhanced by voice control features. The DIRECTV Genie voice control feature enables users to search for programs, switch between channels, request suggestions for programs or other TV features, and control your TV without having to look at or touch the screen. Simply say your command and Genie will comprehend and respond to some programming, adjust settings, describe casts or shows that are currently airing, and perform other functions.

  While voice control is not as versatile in some aspects, it provides an entirely new feature for calling up information or for instructing your Genie receiver and connected system on what you wish to watch. It can accept voice commands from across the room without the need to be close or point the remote directly at the device. It can be very useful when one is doing something like cooking, cleaning or any other task that may involve the use of hands in that one is able to use voice to search for something on television without having to stop what they are doing.

  Some examples of Genie voice control features include:Some examples of Genie voice control features include:

• Call to action phrases (“Tune into ESPN”)

• Requests (“Where is Seinfeld ‘)?

• Actor/show info (“Who is the actor behind Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory”)

• Sports news ("How are the Cowboys doing”)

• Recording specific programs (“Schedule to record the Patriots game on Sunday”).

• Volume, mute, tuning, and power on/off of TV

  Therefore, no matter if your requirement is to get more recording space, to have media available on all the TVs in your home in a unified manner or to control everything with fewer manual inputs, using DIRECTV Genie will probably allow for delivering a better home television experience than what outdated models of DIRECTV DVRs might have been capable of. With Genie, features such as whole-home connectivity, five times the recording space, on-demand content as you desire, new features like voice command to enhance your use of your DIRECTV programming service.