Dave Zatz 
I was tipped off a couple months ago, but it has just now registered that an unsubscribed TiVo Premiere can no longer be activated. As in: you should neither buy nor sell an unsubscribed TiVo Premiere on ebay. And had you been hoping to rekindle the joy with a decommissioned unit in your closet, well … Read more
Today is the day; Roku Originals have arrived. At launch, Roku Originals aren’t exactly “original” as they consist of 30 repurposed Quibi shows. You know, the bizarre mobile-first, short-form video service that sputtered out after just a few months, with many assets ultimately acquired by Roku. However, on the bigger screen (although Roku also does … Read more
Embedded within Wyze’s recent mobile application updates are references to an upcoming floodlight ensemble and a possibly related socket accessory. The Wyze floodlight includes requisite motion sensing capabilities, along with a siren to deter unwanted visitors. However, it’s unclear if these are meant to complement and accessorize the existing Wyze Cam v3, with its stellar … Read more
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has filed comments with the FCC that indicate it’s just too hard to for its members to deliver Emergency Alert System (EAS) notices via streaming apps: the web-based architecture and infrastructure of streaming services make it impractical for such providers to monitor for EAS alerts or distribute alerts to … Read more
While Xperi disclosed retail TiVo roadmap adjustments at their quarterly call, my research indicates there has also been a significant TiVo employee realignment and exodus… that apparently didn’t warrant a mention from leadership beyond, “lower personnel expense.” It seems notable product management departures this spring include VP Chris Thun, along with much of his team, … Read more
As the headline suggests, the Wyze honeymoon may be over for the upstart startup. Prices are going up. Again. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing, given the unsustainability of their current, er former, business model. Due to world events, we are seeing huge cost increases on almost every material used to make smart products. … Read more
While TiVo had hitched its streaming wagon to Google, Xperi is somewhat course correcting as they evolve their cord cutting experience. You see, the TiVo Stream 4k is essentially an Android TV streaming dongle… enhanced with TiVo’s special sauce of content discovery (and augmented by free programming). Which was all well and good. Until Google … Read more
Announced without imagery at CES, the Arlo Touchless Doorbell nears release. At least that’s what the tea leaves seem to suggest…. as the battery-powered Arlo doorbell renders I dug up seems to align with the press pitch: Leveraging precise Proximity Sensing Technology to gauge a visitor’s distance, the Arlo Touchless Video Doorbell zeros in on … Read more