TiVo announces $300 Premiere and $500 Premiere XL Series4 DVRs

The rumors can finally stop: TiVo has officially launched its new Series4 hardware in the form of two DVRs that will be available next month. The $299.99 Premiere comes with a 320GB hard drive, while the $499.99 Premiere XL comes with a full terabyte of storage and also THX certification. Both feature 1080p HD and CableCard support, Ethernet and eSATA ports, and an updated HD interface—one that's based on Adobe's Flash (which has taken a beating from recent security vulnerabilities and Apple-based bashing).

TiVo is adding a new online partner in the form of Pandora, which joins Netflix, Blockbuster, Amazon Video on Demand, and Rhapsody streaming services. New search functionality ropes in media results from these streaming partners to display with TV programming. The interface finally provides a representation of remaining disk space and allows you to watch a program while you're scanning the guide.

There's also a new optional remote that communicates with the Series4 hardware via Bluetooth and comes with a sliding QWERTY keyboard. Pricing hasn't been announced for the remote, and availability has been given as "later this year." In May, TiVo will release a new 802.11n wireless adapter for $90 (according to Engadget).

Is the new hardware and the new functionality enough to compete against cable, satellite, and phone companies' own DVR/set-top boxes? If not, what else is missing from the new TiVos? Let us know in the TalkBack section.