TiVo’s Cool New Video Search

— -- TiVo users now have a new way to find video content right from their couch. The DVR service on Wednesday rolled out the beta of TiVo Search, a new system that helps you find content you’re interested in from many different sources and to search in interesting new ways.

Owners of TiVo HD, HD XL and Series 3 settop boxes will find TiVo Search under the “Music, Photos & Showcases� menu item. With the new system, you search for a TV show, for instance, by typing in its name. Once you’ve found the series you’re looking for, it’s easy to find all sorts of related information. TiVo Search, for instance, gives season and episode numbers for each upcoming show, so you can find that one elusive Seinfeld episode you missed.

It will also let you know not only about upcoming showings from your cable or satellite provider, but also alert you to opportunities to buy or rent the video from services like Amazon On Demand. It also finds related videos from sources like YouTube.

TiVo Search also suggests similar shows – it’s top suggestion for a series similar to “Arrested Development� was “30 Rock,� not a bad recommendation. And you can click to see the cast of the show you’re interested in, then find other movies and tv shows they’re in.

My one gripe about the demo I tried: The system was extremely slow. TiVo officials say it’s a beta and they’re working on figuring out how to scale the system so it won’t crawl.