We have a love-hate relationship with the CableCARD. -Tom Rogers, TiVo CEO
TiVo Ramps Up Network PVR (With Entone)
Life beyond the lawsuit… we’re beginning to get a clearer picture of TiVo’s long term intentions and they appear quite focused on delivering advanced television software and services on whatever platform potential operator partners have in mind. And, with an emphasis on the European market, TiVo is promoting a new Network PVR solution and IPTV integration from IBC. Europe, via Virgin Media, already represents about 50% of installed TiVo units and may grow at a faster rate given new initiatives underway and this Continental lingo, including “PVR” and “catchup” TV. Beyond a greater willingness from overseas Tier 1 providers to play ball, TiVo also recognizes some cost savings with foreign deployments. From CEO Tom Rogers at their quarterly call:
With our international deployments, all of that infrastructure is hosted by the operator and, therefore, our direct cost of service tends to be significantly lower than it does here in the U.S.
We previously caught an ActiveVideo demo of a cloud-based TiVo experience running via Roku (!), yet it’s looks like this IBC iteration of the TiVo nPVR runs on a Harmonic back-end infrastructure, piped through through Entone Kamai 500 and Cubiware/Evolution Digital set-top boxes.
The most interesting tidbit from TiVo’s recent announcements are the potential social features (which may or may not make it to US retail Roamio customers):
Toyota Drops Entune App Platform Subscription Fees
Toyota’s Entune is another mediocre product I never found the motivation to review. Available in a variety of vehicles the last few years, Entune rounds out Toyota’s Navigation and Bluetooth capabilities with a few apps… that receive their data via your cellphone’s connection. It’s not that it’s horrible, but the experience is quite limited compared … Read more
Could Samsung’s Smart Media Player Come with Boxee DVR?
Samsung is speeding along toward the launch of a new retail CableCard device thanks to a waiver granted last week by the FCC. As Dave reported back in May, Samsung is planning to bring its Smart Media Player to market in time for the holiday shopping season. However, the company needed a waiver to avoid having … Read more
Roku Android App Updated To Stream Video
The Roku Android app has just been updated to stream video from phone to television, as recently introduced on the iPhone. As you might expect, we’re talking unencrypted content and there’s probably some limitations in terms of codec and container. Although I’d assume anything shot natively on your ‘droid would work. Initial support is limited … Read more
Arris & Sling Media Launch Cable Slingbox
The previously unannounced Arris Slingbox that I had stumbled upon at the Cable Show is now ready for its closeup: Arris Group and Sling Media are introducing a new media streaming device that empowers service providers to offer live and recorded content for a comprehensive multiscreen experience for their subscribers…welcome to TV anywhere. The ARRIS MS4000 (Media Streamer … Read more
Jinni Lands on Microsoft XBox and Comcast X2
We first heard that Microsoft was licensing Jinni’s video search and discovery technology back in 2011. Now, however, the two companies have made their intentions official. Jinni says it has signed a multi-year agreement to power the recommendation engine on “Xbox video game and entertainment systems.” The news comes less than three months before the scheduled … Read more