A prototype showcased back at CES 2012, TiVo's Stream box is real. It allows iPad owners to stream content stored on a DVR, if the tablet and the DVR are on the same network, and the company has unveiled features to stream content on multiple TVs.

The company unveiled Stream at the 2012 Cable Show in Boston, where it was confirmed the device won't interrupt recordings or use up a tuner in the TiVo: viewed content is only on the hard drive. There's also offline viewing, allowing programs to be downloaded to the iPad from the DVR with one touch. The Verge saw the feature, and said the "interface responded smoothly to our commands" while scrubbing video performed better than on Netflix or Hulu and downloads to the iPad were "reasonably fast."

A TiVo representative told the Web site that content could be downloaded to the iPad four or five times faster than in real time. That's when combined with a transcode, so a 20 minute show would take five minutes.

The service doesn't support all programs, with content from HBO and Showtime protected and only viewable on the original TiVo. Watching live TV isn't possible, but representatives added it's coming. "There's a workaround, though - just start a recording of a live show you want to watch, and then you can begin watching on your iPad as soon as the recording starts," The Verge added. TiVo will expand the feature by including a button called "record and play," which expedites the process.

No release date or price has been announced, though TiVo Stream is set to launch in 2012 on cable providers and in retails stores. iOS-only support is available, with Android coming later.

TiVo also unveiled the not-final "IP set-top box" at the event, which allows the TiVo to be used across multiple televisions. Similar to Sky Multiroom, the service mirrors content on the source box to the other TVs including live TV and recordings. The IP set-top-box releases in 2012 on cable providers and in retail stores.