Explanation: Anthony Wood founded ReplayTV in September 1997. Subsequently, he founded Roku, Inc. in October 2002, demonstrating his continued entrepreneurial activity in the consumer electronics space.

Explanation: The ReplayTV 2001 model, part of the initial product line, provided 6 hours of storage capacity and was bundled with lifetime program guide service.

Explanation: Introduced in 1999, the ReplayTV 2020 model was priced at $699 and offered 20 hours of recording storage, representing an earlier iteration of the company's DVR offerings.

Explanation: The inaugural ReplayTV model made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January 1999, marking the company's entry into the consumer market.

Explanation: ReplayTV was founded in September 1997 by Anthony Wood, who later established Roku, Inc.

Explanation: The ReplayTV 2020 model, introduced in 1999, was priced at $699 and offered 20 hours of recording storage.

Explanation: The initial ReplayTV 2000 series models included lifetime program guide service as part of their purchase price, distinguishing them from later models that offered unbundled service options.

Explanation: The primary product offered by ReplayTV was its line of digital video recorders (DVRs), also known as personal video recorders (PVRs).

Explanation: The Commercial Advance feature was a key innovation of ReplayTV, designed to automatically detect and skip commercial breaks during playback, enhancing the viewing experience.

Explanation: The Send Show feature allowed users to share recorded television programs with other ReplayTV owners, both over a local network and via the internet, a capability that contributed to its controversy.

Explanation: In response to legal challenges, the ReplayTV 5500 series omitted both the automatic Autoskip feature and the Send Show feature, although these remained functional on earlier models.

Explanation: The Commercial Advance feature on ReplayTV models was highly effective, achieving an approximate accuracy rate of 90 to 95 percent in detecting and skipping commercials.

Explanation: The 4000 and 5000 Series ReplayTV units were equipped with Ethernet connections, which facilitated local network streaming and the transfer of recorded content between units or to a PC, as well as over the internet.

Explanation: While users could manually set recording start and end times, ReplayTV units also offered recording capabilities through the electronic program guide and thematic descriptions, providing more convenient options than manual input alone.

Explanation: Contrary to an improvement, the 5500 Series ReplayTV units represented a reduction in functionality compared to the 5000 Series, as they lost the ability to transfer shows over the internet, although they retained local network streaming.

Explanation: ReplayTV units stored recorded content using the MPEG-2 video compression format and MP2 audio compression, not the later H.264 standard.

Explanation: The Vxworks real-time operating system was utilized across multiple generations of ReplayTV hardware, including the 4000, 5000, and 5500 Series units.

Explanation: The undocumented random access skip feature provided users with the capability to navigate directly to any specific minute within a recorded program by entering the desired minute number.

Explanation: When the QuickSkip button was pressed without a preceding number input, it would advance playback by 30 seconds, not 60 seconds.

Explanation: The introduction of the Ethernet port in the 4000-series ReplayTV models marked a significant advancement, enabling features such as local network sharing and internet transfers of recorded shows for the first time.

Explanation: As part of its product evolution, ReplayTV released models in 2005, including one with an extensive 320-hour storage capacity, priced at $799.99.

Explanation: The ReplayTV 5000 series incorporated a JP1 remote control, which offered users the flexibility of reprogramming or upgrading its functionality through available software.

Explanation: ReplayTV units utilized the Vxworks operating system. However, they stored recorded content using MPEG-2 video compression, not H.264.

Explanation: The Send Show feature generated controversy due to its capability to facilitate the sharing of recorded programs among users, which raised concerns about the potential distribution of premium or copyrighted content.

Explanation: In the 5500 Series, the automatic Autoskip feature was removed and replaced by a manual navigation function referred to as Show|Nav, reflecting design changes made in response to legal pressures.

Explanation: The primary function of a ReplayTV device was to serve as a digital video recorder (DVR), enabling users to record television programming onto internal hard disk storage for later viewing and time-shifting.

Explanation: The Commercial Advance feature typically detected commercials by scanning for the black frames that local television stations inserted during commercial breaks, allowing for automatic skipping during playback.

Explanation: The 'Send Show' feature was a unique capability of ReplayTV that allowed users to share recorded television programs with other ReplayTV owners, either locally or over the internet.

Explanation: As a direct consequence of legal challenges, the ReplayTV 5500 series omitted the automatic Autoskip and the Send Show features, although these functionalities remained available on earlier models.

Explanation: The Vxworks real-time operating system was the underlying software platform for the 4000, 5000, and 5500 Series ReplayTV units.

Explanation: When the QuickSkip button was activated without a numerical input, it defaulted to advancing playback by 30 seconds.

Explanation: The introduction of an Ethernet port in the 4000-series models in the fall of 2001 enabled local network sharing and internet transfers of recorded content.

Explanation: ReplayTV's Commercial Advance feature demonstrated a high degree of accuracy, estimated to be between 90 and 95 percent in correctly identifying and skipping commercials.

Explanation: The 4000 Series ReplayTV units featured an Ethernet port, the Commercial Advance feature, and the Send Show feature. The replacement of the Autoskip feature with a manual alternative (Show|Nav) occurred in the later 5500 Series, not the 4000 Series.

Explanation: While the ReplayTV 5500 series retained the capability for local network streaming, it lost the functionality to transfer shows over the internet, a feature present in earlier models.

Explanation: ReplayTV units utilized MPEG-2 for video compression, a standard widely adopted for digital television broadcasting and recording during that era.

Explanation: The undocumented random access skip feature allowed users to precisely navigate within a recording by enabling them to jump forward or backward by a specified number of minutes.

Explanation: The source material consistently identifies ReplayTV as a manufacturer of digital video recorders (DVRs), not smart home devices. Its primary product was a line of DVRs.

Explanation: While TiVo was ReplayTV's primary competitor at launch, it was not the sole competitor. The market for digital video recorders was emerging, with other players and technologies developing concurrently.

Explanation: The lawsuit against ReplayTV was initiated by the television industry, including major networks, primarily due to concerns over features that allowed users to skip commercials and share recorded content, rather than patent infringement by technology companies.

Explanation: When SONICblue filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2003, the lawsuit against the company was stayed (temporarily halted), not permanently dismissed.

Explanation: ReplayTV service was exclusively available within the United States and was not offered internationally in Europe or Asia.

Explanation: Initial ReplayTV models were generally priced higher than comparable TiVo units, with the price difference often reflecting the cost of a lifetime subscription, suggesting a bundled pricing strategy.

Explanation: The concept of commercial skipping is indeed listed as a related technology in the 'See also' section for ReplayTV, highlighting its significance and connection to other innovations in media consumption.

Explanation: TiVo was ReplayTV's principal competitor upon the launch of its product, having introduced a comparable DVR model concurrently.

Explanation: The television industry initiated legal action against ReplayTV primarily due to its features enabling users to skip commercials (Commercial Advance) and share recorded programs (Send Show), which threatened advertising revenue and content distribution models.

Explanation: The pricing strategy for original ReplayTV units was often comparable to TiVo units plus the cost of a lifetime subscription, suggesting that the initial purchase price implicitly included the long-term service fee.

Explanation: ReplayTV's hardware business ceased operations around December 2005. While the electronic program guide service continued until July 2015, the manufacturing and sale of hardware had ended much earlier.

Explanation: ReplayTV was headquartered in Santa Clara, California, not New York City.

Explanation: Following the sale of assets to DirecTV, ReplayTV's hardware manufacturing operations had already ceased, and its remaining activity was focused on maintaining the electronic program guide service.

Explanation: SONICblue, the parent company that acquired ReplayTV, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2003, not Chapter 7.

Explanation: Following SONICblue's bankruptcy filing, D&M Holdings acquired ReplayTV's assets in April 2003.

Explanation: In December 2005, Digital Networks North America (DNNA) announced ReplayTV's strategic exit from the hardware business. The company planned to focus on PC software sales of its DVR technology through a partnership with Hauppauge Computer Works, not exclusively on software sales.

Explanation: In December 2007, DirecTV acquired the majority of ReplayTV's assets from D&M Holdings, continuing the complex ownership trajectory of the company.

Explanation: Digital Networks North America, Inc. filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief in July 2015, not Chapter 11.

Explanation: The 4500-series ReplayTV units offered greater flexibility by allowing customers to purchase the hardware without the mandatory lifetime program guide service, thereby reducing the initial cost.

Explanation: DirecTV acquired most of ReplayTV's assets in December 2007. However, ReplayTV's parent company for a significant period prior to that was Digital Networks North America (DNNA), not DirecTV.

Explanation: The cessation of ReplayTV's hardware business occurred around December 2005. However, its electronic program guide service persisted for nearly another decade, continuing until July 2015.

Explanation: Around December 2005, ReplayTV's hardware business ceased operations, marking a significant shift in the company's strategic direction.

Explanation: ReplayTV maintained its corporate headquarters in Santa Clara, California.

Explanation: In December 2007, DirecTV acquired the majority of ReplayTV's assets from D&M Holdings.

Explanation: The Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing by Digital Networks North America (DNNA) in July 2015 resulted in the cessation of all ReplayTV business operations.

Explanation: The 4500-series ReplayTV units offered a key difference from the 4000-series by allowing purchasers the option to buy the hardware without the mandatory lifetime program guide service, thus unbundling the costs.

Explanation: The ReplayTV electronic program guide service was permanently discontinued on July 20, 2015. This cessation was a direct consequence of its parent company, Digital Networks North America (DNNA), filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Explanation: Older ReplayTV units primarily downloaded program guide data via a dial-up modem connection. Later models also supported broadband internet connections for this purpose.

Explanation: ReplayTV provided its service through two primary subscription models: a recurring monthly fee or a one-time lifetime activation fee.

Explanation: To access the ReplayTV service, each individual ReplayTV unit necessitated its own distinct subscription, whether monthly or lifetime.

Explanation: The standard monthly subscription cost for ReplayTV service was $12.95, not $9.95.

Explanation: The one-time lifetime activation fee for ReplayTV service was $299, not $199.

Explanation: The monthly subscription cost for each additional ReplayTV unit was $6.95, distinct from the primary subscription rate.

Explanation: ReplayTV cited the industry's complete conversion to HDTV (High-Definition Television) as the reason for discontinuing its Electronic Programming Guide Service, not the transition to 4K resolution.

Explanation: The WiRNS application was discussed as a potential third-party solution that users might employ to maintain some level of service functionality for their ReplayTV units after official support ended.

Explanation: New guide data ceased transmission to ReplayTV units around July 4, 2015, with the final data disappearing by July 15, 2015, marking the end of the official service.

Explanation: LaHO, WiRNS, and Perc Data were identified as third-party solutions that users could utilize to continue receiving Electronic Program Guide data for their ReplayTV units after official support was withdrawn.

Explanation: The ultimate termination of ReplayTV's services in July 2015 was precipitated by the Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing of its parent company, Digital Networks North America (DNNA).

Explanation: Older ReplayTV units primarily relied on a dial-up modem connection to download program guide data from the service.

Explanation: ReplayTV service was available through two primary subscription models: a recurring monthly charge or a one-time lifetime activation fee.

Explanation: The monthly subscription fee for each additional ReplayTV unit was $6.95.

Explanation: ReplayTV cited the industry's complete conversion to HDTV (High-Definition Television) as the reason for discontinuing its Electronic Programming Guide Service in June 2011.

Explanation: LaHO, WiRNS, and Perc Data were mentioned as third-party solutions that could potentially provide Electronic Program Guide data to ReplayTV units after official support ceased.

Explanation: The ReplayTV electronic program guide service was discontinued on July 20, 2015, directly resulting from the bankruptcy proceedings of its parent company, Digital Networks North America (DNNA).