While devices dedicated to DTV or bulked up for DTV have rarely struck our fancy, there's something pretty compelling about
this new Tivit unit, for whatever reason. A bit like a single-minded MiFi, the device pulls in Mobile DTV video and then pumps it out over WiFi to a single device at a time. Based on how you're accessing it, the Tivit might appear just as a web page of channel listings to choose from, or in a fancier custom-built app on the iPhone, but to all of those devices it streams h.264 video at a pretty good quality. We tested it with the iPod touch, and while the 20 second channel change times were a little frustrating (they claim they'll be able to get it down to 8, and that it's Apple's fault), everything else worked flawlessly. We had a bit less luck with the Droid, due to what appeared to be a missing codec on our end; we'll have to investigate further. Perhaps the best part is that there's no additional power drain on our primary device, though remembering another USB charger at the end of the day might get annoying. All in all we wholeheartedly support an effort such as this to bring new content to our existing phone, laptop and desktop screens, and if they can sell this for the $90 to $120 suggested price range unsubsidized, we might just be looking at Mobile DTV's best shot at life yet. There's video after the break of the thing in action.
posted January 6th 2010 12:32PM
cool
Am I supposed to be excited?
@dedparrot
That was the first thing on my mind. I prefer the 'bulked up' approach as there are just too many dedicated gadgets to tote around. DTV should be converged and it beats me as to why this is being looked at favorably. iBias maybe??
I wonder if there are dtv signals in canada. If so, it might be interesting.
This kind of product underscores the old adage that content is king. It seems like cool technology. And they deserves kudos for making it work well as opposed to say FLO TV. But if there isn't any worthwhile programming... what's the point? It's really too bad: the hardware is way ahead of the content providers getting their act together for the digital era. There's a lot of good stuff out there - but a lot of proliferation and fragmentation too - that just isn't worth the money or trouble due to the lack of easily available content (not freely). So much for "at your fingertips."
This could be a good product, what would make it even better if there was an axillary input also. Then you can stream a DVD player to your phone via Wi-Fi or any other device. For me that would be a major selling point. :)
@LimeiBook86 Whoops, I meant auxiliary. They can even have it in a headphone jack style port like the video iPods used for output.
@LimeiBook86
That brings you into Slingbox territory then, kind of. In fact, that's sort of the root of the problem. If you are already paying for the princely cable bill + maybe buying some digital content via iTunes + wherever else you source your video content and IF there are devices like Slingbox out there that can place/time shift, WTF can't the industry build out the infrastructure to allow consumers to get at content that way? I would be okay with paying 1 company for a menu of in home and out of home media/internet delivery services that are automagically delivered wherever I am. Use that money to build out the pipes. The fragmentation is a big obstacle to success for many of these companies.
There are so many duplicative subscription models meant to serve vaguely different usage models. Consumers bear the brunt of the cumulative expense or more likely just don't get to take advantage of what's possible due to the prohibitive expense. XM radio is already a luxury for most people. But who, aside from .05% of the population that doesn't worry about money, can afford to pay for (for example) cable + internet + mobile data plan + XM + rhapsody + a streaming video service + etc. etc.? I understand the wireless pipes aren't quite there yet to handle "any media anywhere, in volume" but the underlying business models most of these "one off" companies are trying are just broken. No one really wants or can afford more than a couple of subscriptions plans per month, especially when the content is paltry.
[/end of rant]
Is that McLovin at the end?!
They need to go back to the drawing board. Did you see how long it takes to change channels !
Content is no good either. It is only the free over-the-air channels.
I sticking with my FLO TV Personal Television. Instant channel changing ( no buffering, no wait ) and great pay tv content.
@hdtravel I don't know about that. I tried out the Flo TV and it's pretty lackluster. The content is dubious, the image quality is even more dubious, and the cost for all that is unwelcome.
Similar dedeicated devices already exist, like the flotv.com device. The question is: What is the monthly subscription fee? And, given that hulu and netflix are available without such a device, what does this thing really offer? Unless it is going to have the SyFy channel, History Channel, and Travel Channel (Anthony Bourdain is cool!) then what's the point? To watch game shows while in the waiting room for the state subsidized lobotomy?
Want.
why not have a device/antenna that could attach to the iPhone that will receive DTV signals?
@ebowen
Exactly! Any mobile DTV receiver should be built-in or attachable w/ minimal footprint. Whats the use in carrying around and having to account for yet another gadget? I'd rather pack an extra battery.
Does it have closed captioning?!?
I do this now with my Elgato EyeTV set up, which stays at home, and gives me access to live TV over 3G or WiFi to my iPhone. No extra devices to carry around.
This device is great. It takes a DTV signal and converts it to a Wifi signal to transmit it to the ipod touch. Just think of the other possibilities of this technology. 1 TB laptop drive in your bag with all of your vids and music that you can access wirlessly on your iphone or ipod touch. The use case for this technology is limitless. Thanks tivit for thinking outside the box on this one and shame on you commenters for slapping it down :).
K