Dave Zatz Valleywag reports photo-sharing site SmugMug has received a cease and desist letter from TiVo in regards to their usage of thumbs up/down functionality and/or graphics. CEO Don MacAskill claims SmugMug is not in violation of TiVo’s trademarks as they aren’t using the symbols in an interactive television application. MacAskill suggests TiVo’s legal department will be … Read more
A few retailers have begun offering TiVo’s 180HR dual-tuning Series 2 model for online purchase. So if you’ve been pining away for KidZone, now may be a good time to get in. The 80HR DT units can be purchased directly from TiVo with bundled pricing, or bought outright through Costco ($319) or Best Buy ($349) … Read more
Google has developed a system that uses a PC microphone to eavesdrop on a co-located television. “Big Brother” determines what you’re watching to present relevant web information, social applications, and more targeted advertising… that you can’t quite see from the couch, anyway. Monitoring TV viewing habits actually seems less invasive than archiving search data (in … Read more
Those of you with Series2 units… go sign up for system software 7.3! Expect up to three days before TiVo peeps manually load your priority request. The major enhancement is the release of KidZone, a feature adding a managed and insulated partition for children. Kudos to TiVo for delivering on time — several months ago … Read more
For a sneak peak at TiVo’s Guru Guide recommendation and scheduling service, check out the pre-release web pages here. The initial batch of (working!) guides include suggestions from Sports Illustrated, CNET, Entertainment Weekly, and Billboard. For the moment, you can only access Guru Guides via the TiVo webpage, though I suspect once KidZone functionality arrives … Read more
Still no surprises here… Shortly after Cablevision announced their intentions to roll out a network DVR, studios and networks filed suit to block the service from ever seeing the light of day. While Cablevision begged for mercy and filed a countersuit, additional plaintiffs joined the fray. So where do things stand now? Cablevision has agreed … Read more
As with most patent applications, Scientific Atlanta’s usage of the English language here is barely comprehensible. Their topic appears pretty broad — covering VOD and multi-room PVR interfaces as both separate and integrated entities, though references to communication protocols are specific to cable company transmission technologies (QAM, for example). Video-on-demand (VOD) services, which are well … Read more
Never enough time… Hands-on with Bose Quiet Comfort 3 noise-cancelling headphones. (Gizmodo) Ericsson enters IPTV battle. (CNET) Google video player released for Mac. (TUAW) Major League Baseball bullies Sling Media. (Gear Log) ABC backs off on DVR ratings fight. (Broadcasting & Cable)