Digital Media Bytes

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our other blogs: Why FiOS TV Doesn’t Need HD Yet: Connected Home 2 Go Fiber Fiber Everywhere: Connected Home 2 Go The Return of M&K Sound: TechLore TiVo’s PayPerPost Hook Up Is One Night Stand: Davis Freeberg Intel Gets Cable Religion: Connected Home 2 Go

Jaman Almost Out of Beta, Launches Version .99

On the heels of Joost’s announced intent to offer live TV, I spoke with the CEO of online video distributor Jaman – a company taking a very different approach to delivering content. Jaman has gotten attention from some of the big wigs both for its focus on indie and international films and for its ability … Read more

Joost Pursues Live TV

Joost intends to expand their content beyond pre-recorded content into live television broadcasts early next year. According to paidContent UK: She said the live programming will include a “combinationâ€? catch-up option to watch on-demand shows following live transmission, then said Joost will offer widgets allowing viewers to bookmark favourite sporting moments and keep scores – … Read more

Network DVR Arrives… But Not in the US

Telefonica, the largest phone company in Spain, is planning to debut a network DVR service in November. Called “Past TV”, the service will offer programs from the previous week on-demand. The shows will include commercials, but unlike similar services in the US, viewers will be able to fast forward through them. Cablevision of course has … Read more

Schmoozing with TiVo and Real


Dave, TiVo CEO, TiVo Mascot

In honor of the new Rhapsody on TiVo service, TiVo hosted a gathering in NYC last night with RealNetworks. It featured the sort of presentations you’d expect from the CEOs, followed by a Jim Denney (VP, TiVo) product walk-thru. Then the band hit the stage.

A few interesting nuggets I dug up while quizzing Jim Denney and Robert Williams (VP, Real):

  • Reconfirmed TiVoToGo and Multi-Room Viewing for Series3/TiVo HD are still on tap for November. (JD)
  • Offical eSATA support coming very soon. No one would spill the beans on the possibility of TiVo-branded drives. (JD)
  • No bundled Rhapsody/TiVo service discount at this time due to “economics of music.” (RW)
  • Periodic updates of Rhapsody on TiVo application/service planned. (RW)

Hope Chris Harrison enjoyed his potentially short-lived gig as TiVo spokesperson. He delivered the funniest line of the evening… On stage… Twice: “TiVo is a whore.”

Some pics after the jump.

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TiVo on Comcast… When?

For those of you wondering when the Comcast-Motorola-TiVo will hit, Reuters is reporting: Digital video recorder company TiVo Inc said on Tuesday the roll-out of its services is a “little behind” schedule. “We’re waiting for word any time now that the first non-Comcast employee will begin to get the service,” TiVo Chief Executive Tom Rogers … Read more

DirecTV Sat-Go Reduced to $999

Not sure when the price cut hit, but DirecTV has reduced pricing for their portable Sat-Go solution by about a third ($1499 -> $999). If they didn’t limit purchases to in-home DirecTV customers, I’d be real tempted to pick one up… It’s an innately cool device. I’m not really sure why I’d need one or … Read more

Verizon FiOS TV 2.0 Updates

I’m heading up to Verizon’s NJ headquarters tomorrow to check out the new FiOS TV features and fixes that are getting ready to roll, plus preview future functionality such as games and mobile handset DVR interaction. I’m pre-posting my visit to solicit feedback for Verizon’s IMG Product Developer Manager… There’s been some concern (which Verizon … Read more