TiVo and RIM team up for BlackBerry integration, prepping Slingbox killer?

TiVo and RIM are getting all friendly on us, teaming up to build software for the BlackBerry that could strike fear in the hearts of Slingbox and Orb. Right now it's pretty innocuous, utilizing the phone to check listings and schedule recordings, but in the future the two are looking to "further simplify mobile access to video content" -- which means streaming video straight off the TiVo to a BlackBerry's ever-expanding screen, if we had to guess. Everything's pretty preliminary at the moment, the two are just announcing the partnership, and say to expect the first software from the duo later this year.

[JayMonster @ Sep 11th 2008 8:57AM]

You can bet your bottom dollar that this service will be engineered out of any version that appears on Verizon Wireless and just about any other carrier (unless they can find a way to charge you for it separately).

[Matt O @ Sep 11th 2008 12:50PM]

Considering on ATT you can put any application on your blackberry curve, it shouldnt be a problem to install this.

Now when is the BB sling mobile program coming out?

[Allan @ Sep 11th 2008 8:57AM]

This sounds promising.

[tom @ Sep 11th 2008 10:20AM]

If this thing can be used to access video OTA, it is so gonna blow Sony psp out of the water.

[rock99rock @ Sep 11th 2008 10:29AM]

Half ninja = half promising

[From My Cube @ Sep 11th 2008 9:02AM]

you can bet this guy gets fired verysoon....unfortunet as he is a great source of leakeage...but why even tempt to show your face?

[From My Cube @ Sep 11th 2008 9:04AM]

yes I know that tivo pick is photoshopped

[From My Cube @ Sep 11th 2008 9:04AM]

yes I know that tivo pick is photoshopped

[bob sakamano @ Sep 11th 2008 9:13AM]

looks like they just pasted a little tivo image on top of the phone from the oldest thunder post?

[bob sakamano @ Sep 11th 2008 9:14AM]

older*

and sorry... the comments didn't show your own response when i had looked at the post!

[Boarderwoot @ Sep 11th 2008 9:14AM]

nice photoshop. I think you guys just have a secret ninja fettish.

[MacBandit @ Sep 11th 2008 9:19AM]

There is already a Tivo scheduler on the Verizon network that nearly any phone can use currently. It actually look nearly identical to the one in the picture. The problem is it costs $2.99/month. It would be cool though if you could stream video.

[Maestro @ Sep 11th 2008 9:49AM]

Get Orb...it's free and does any streaming you need to just about any kind of mobile phone.

[Murray Williams @ Sep 11th 2008 11:29AM]

“A) This photo looks like a photshop... How can the phone be out of focus while the tivo app on the phone is in crystal clarity.
B) How did Al Qaeda get a hold of it first?”

[Nate @ Sep 11th 2008 11:54AM]

Way to pick that one apart, Sherlock.

[Eric @ Sep 11th 2008 9:44AM]

That "ninja" guy looks like such a douchebag.

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 11th 2008 10:12AM]

It does tend to kill any potential credibility when you lean on a poorly implemented gimmick.

Just give us the info, feared, uh...warrior.

[Max @ Sep 11th 2008 2:04PM]

Ninja? I thought it was that kid from the Bazooka Joe comics.

[Viaono @ Sep 11th 2008 9:59AM]

This makes me feel like all the blackberry shot has been sucked into the black hole except this one.

[andy @ Sep 11th 2008 10:19AM]

He is the tech-news-leaking Ninja

[Frankenstein Black @ Sep 11th 2008 10:28AM]

MEH! It’s a Sling Thing Tivo, sorry. http://www.slingmedia.com/go/spm
Just about any box and many phones except the one controlled by the JobO the Hut syndicate (Although its most likely ready, Apple is probably cock blocking!).
http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/08/sling-announces-proof-of-concept-slingplayer-mobile-for-iphone/
You should have bought Sling instead of letting Dish get it on the cheap...

[pfastfoot @ Sep 11th 2008 10:46AM]

Umm, DirecTV already lets you schedule from any cell phone?

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPage.jsp?assetId=P4400046&_DARGS=/DTVAPP/layout/component/topNavSections.jsp.56_A&_DAV=-1&_dynSessConf=-7326872053221901862

[Eddy Alvarez @ Sep 11th 2008 10:31AM]

i find it difficult to believe that it will be as good as slingbox. i have the slingbox HD and its obvious that its engineers have love for the product. the new beta 2.0 software is fantastic too.

[Nate @ Sep 11th 2008 10:38AM]

As long as it works, I don't care if it's as good as Slingbox.

I have a Tivo. I have a Blackberry. Slingbox is cool, but I already have enough boxes sitting in my entertainment center.

[Tom @ Sep 11th 2008 11:06AM]

It wouldn't be a Slingbox killer if Slingbox would get off of their ass and develop their Blackberry client first. We've been waiting since the pre-announce 9 months ago.

[Elliott @ Sep 11th 2008 11:34AM]

That makes the curve that is constantly strapped to me a little more appealing.

So no more TTG to PSP for me? (doubtful)

[Luke @ Sep 11th 2008 9:53PM]

Psh...Verizon has been doing this for years. No big news except that it's RIM.

[HektikLyfe @ Sep 11th 2008 12:35PM]

NinjaFes doesn't make a good model.

[JerkyChew @ Sep 11th 2008 1:43PM]

Is that Storm Shadow?

[Frankfurter @ Sep 11th 2008 3:50PM]

TiVo - newsflash - we're sick of your poorly implemented and low-demand features like Rhapsody and You Tube and that swivel search crap. How about revamping your interface and speeding things up? You guys are playing with fire, sooner or later a decent replacement will come out. I mean, seriously, does anyone have a screen shot comparison of the gui from 1999 with the one today? -Is- there any difference?

[Frankfurter @ Sep 11th 2008 4:35PM]

You know what I like about Engadget? It's the comment system. I think it's the best. THE BEST!

As slick and smart as the 'employees' of this site think they are, you'd imagine that between the lot they'd figure out how to implement a commenting system. So it wasn't enough that it constantly double-posted replies. Or that on one visit you'd see your witty remarks but the next they were gone. And then back. And then gone.

Now, we've got this COOL!!!!! faded comment crap. I have a better idea - why don't you put white fonts on a white background?

While I usually enjoy the site and the constant bickering of commenters, it's just too painful to use anymore. Not to mention it seems like 3 out of 5 articles these days are "Nokia unloads the N99 on Indonesia" or "Sony whips out the X913a". What the hell is any of that?

I don't know who I trust to carry the Mac fanboy torch in my absence, but I do trust it will be carried. Pinheads of the world, UNITE!

I'll check in from time to time and see if someone can recommend any other similar sites I might enjoy. Perhaps one with a normal commenting system and relevant articles? Gizmodo kinda sucks these days, and it needs to be SFW. Anyone?

[Frankfurter @ Sep 11th 2008 4:36PM]

PS - Here's a double post in case their comment system works right for once:




You know what I like about Engadget? It's the comment system. I think it's the best. THE BEST!

As slick and smart as the 'employees' of this site think they are, you'd imagine that between the lot they'd figure out how to implement a commenting system. So it wasn't enough that it constantly double-posted replies. Or that on one visit you'd see your witty remarks but the next they were gone. And then back. And then gone.

Now, we've got this COOL!!!!! faded comment crap. I have a better idea - why don't you put white fonts on a white background?

While I usually enjoy the site and the constant bickering of commenters, it's just too painful to use anymore. Not to mention it seems like 3 out of 5 articles these days are "Nokia unloads the N99 on Indonesia" or "Sony whips out the X913a". What the hell is any of that?

I don't know who I trust to carry the Mac fanboy torch in my absence, but I do trust it will be carried. Pinheads of the world, UNITE!

I'll check in from time to time and see if someone can recommend any other similar sites I might enjoy. Perhaps one with a normal commenting system and relevant articles? Gizmodo kinda sucks these days, and it needs to be SFW. Anyone?

[MegaZone @ Sep 11th 2008 4:49PM]

To the best of my knowledge the current TiVo hardware is incapable of doing the encoding required for mobile streaming, so Sling (my employer, for the record), Orb, HAVA, etc, have nothing to sweat. The MPEG-2 files TiVo uses to store content natively are FAR too large to stream to a mobile device - especially HD content. They'd need to transcode to H.264 or WMV/VC-1 to do the streaming, and the TiVo's just don't have the hardware. None of the current models have any H.264 or VC-1 encoders - just decoders.

So unless they're going to release an add-on, which would basically amount to a Slingbox, or it is only going to work on some yet-to-be-released new TiVo model, it isn't remote streaming.

[Jeff @ Sep 11th 2008 6:26PM]

This business week article seems to indicate that RIM is working /with/ Sling

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2008/tc20080910_705831.htm?campaign_id=yhoo

Though the RIM press release that all of these articles are based off of seems to not mention it, I can't find the source of it on the RIM website due to some sort of website glitch on that specific release.

"The Canadian smartphone manufacturer also plans to announce tools that let subscribers control their TiVo (TIVO) video recorders and view programming that's been saved via Sling Media's (DISH) Slingbox. "
So, who knows.

[Dam Smith @ Oct 31st 2008 3:48AM]

RIM always thinks ahead in matter of development. That is why Blackberry handsets and accessories remain in demand. You can visit http://www.fommy.co.uk/blackberry-accessories.htm for more BB accessories. Teaming up of TiVo and RIM is good news for Blackberry developers.