FiOS Mobile app comes to Android
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted January 17th 2010 12:05PM
posted January 17th 2010 12:05PM
Every decent DVR today supports remote scheduling via the web -- well except Windows 7 Media Center -- and Verizon's FiOS TV DVR is no different. But of course web apps don't compare to real apps like this new one for Android users. The new FiOS Mobile app features a guide for remote scheduling as well as VOD browsing so you can mark what you want to watch later, as well as parental controls and a free space indicator -- something TiVo doesn't even offer on the DVR itself. Of course there's no way to actually watch content from your DVR, and we're not surprised. Now before you get too jealous of Android users with Verizon's FiOS TV DVR, we'd like to remind you that the FiOS DVR has a measly 160GB hard drive and no external disk support, and as you can see from the screen shot, FiOS users don't have any free space left for new recordings anyway.
@Down8 You won't be able to use MC to connect to the DVR STB even though MediaRoom and at least MC on Vista supports it. The U-Verse STBs will be upgraded to MediaRoom 2.0 later this year and it's claimed that AT&T will enable the feature for XBox 360s to connect and function as a standalone STB:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/06/xbox-360-will-support-atandts-u-verse-tv-later-this-year/
IIRC, MC on Win 7 supports MediaRoom 2.0, but AT&T probably wont enable it. There isn't any word on if AT&T will charge extra for the privileged to use an XBox 360 as a STB or not. No, you probably will not be able to use it as a DVR either.
What's a DVR?
Ok, no seriously, why does anyone (especially anyone tech savvy enough to post here on Engadget) still spend tons of money a year on such stuff, when you can just watch what you want on the 'net?
So much for the "impoverished masses" of the U.S. who can still somehow afford cable / satellite tv even though they're "poor". Feh!
Personally, I can't even remember the last time I sat in front of a TV set to watch a show.
@mclark2145
Not sure what you watch on, but I highly doubt it is as enjoyable as a 60-inch plasma. And there is no better/cheaper way to watch great looking HD on a big screen then via cable or satellite. Sure you can pay crazy money on iTunes or Zune marketplace or illegally download shows via the internet, but neither are as easy and as cheap (internet connections alone are $50 a month) as using a DVR.
He already has internet, in fact we all do, so yeah it becomes free if you download 'pirated; stuff.
There is a slight convenience to have it directly as a raw feed though, but if you have to struggle with DVR's anyway that ends up being the same hassle.
@BenD
While I understand what you're trying to say, I'm not somebody who derives comfort or pleasure out of sitting in front of a 40/50/60/etc inch tv. I've got other things I'd far rather do. Besides, as I'm already in front of my computer, why would I want to get up and traipse across the house just to watch something I can already see, and, moreover, then have to deal with finding the right channel, and having to put up with commercials, and all that crap.
Again, it's totally personal preference and I am in no way criticizing your own personal choices.
@mclark2145
I'm sitting watching my 60-inch tv and typing this on my laptop. I probably work on my couch about the same amount of time as in my office.
And no I don't put up with channel numbers or commercials, Windows 7 Media Center takes care of both of them automatically.
@mclark2145
You obviously don't have a SO; if you do, you're lucky enough that they don't care about what can't be had via the net and don't need background noise. I would be doing everything off of Netflix, flash streaming, bittorrents, etc. from a computer to the TV in an easy to navigate interface if I could, but there are just some shows that nobody has bothered to put on the internet or there isn't a page scrapping tool built for the network's site.
My wife watches a bunch of crap on TLC, Food Network, and HGTV that nobody bothers to record and put on bittorrent. The wife also likes to quasi watch shows or have something on for background noise. Trust me, I've tried to sway her to alternatives and supplements for those two, but the compromise was getting U-Verse. Those that are married will understand the compromise.
This is great news! Now if only Fios was available in my area, that would make it even better.
Downloaded this app today. It runs very smoothly and I was quite satisfied with it. Unfortunately, it seems that only one phone can be tied to each DVR box, which is upsetting because a bunch of us have Droids and would all like access to remote DVR.
Still a good app, though.
The "something TiVo doesn't even offer on the DVR itself." comment cracked me up. Gotta love that BJDraw sarcasm!
I realize 160GB is not a lot of space, but really? How is it the case that "FiOS users don't have any free space left for new recordings anyway." I have 15+ recordings currently on my DVR, and I have never had a problem with storage. Why? It's freaking simple. DELETE THE SHOW WHEN YOU ARE DONE WATCHING IT.
Seriously, if you need more than 160GB of shows on your DVR at a given time you need to go on that show Hoarders...
@Merton
You sound like you live by yourself and for that I'm really sorry. It is truly sad. But many of us do have families, and little free time, so we rely on a DVR to watch TV. And for us a 1TB is hardly big enough never the less a 160GB. I mean that wouldn't even hold a weeks worth of TV shows I record for my daughter (you do take a week vacation don't you?).
So are you guys talking about high quality 1080p HD of 12GB an hour?
@Merton
Bill Gates famously once said "You'll never need more than 64K"
We did.
@Merton
Record 2 NFL playoff games in HD and you have just used 8 of the 10 available to you.
It's too bad us Canadians are stuck with SciAtl's 8300HD, the DVR that's stuck in 1999 :(
- D
@Daphoid
lol Canadia.
(Sorry, I had to)
:P
@Daphoid It's not just Canada - I'm in NYC of all places and am "rocking" a Scientific Atlanta 8300HDC from Time Warner. If I want remote scheduling I have to use SlingPlayer. I really miss Tivo's UI and remote but can't justify the expense of upgrading from my old non-HD Series 2 Single Tuner. :-(
That is sooooo sad that your DVR is 94% full with only 18 hours of recorded TV. You need to get yourself an HTPC. I've got 200 hours of HD recording space available.
hurry up att - uverse
well done, verizon! i'm glad i just switched from comcast to verizon.
Can't wait until Ceton or HDhomerun releasing its CableCARD tuners. So I don't have to deal with DVR's 160 or 250GB limitations. Hopefully, there will be software to use for remote recording like webguide. Crossing my fingers.
Hey Verizon, how about you fix the FIOS TVCentral connectivity with 3rd party routers first. An app like this is worthless to me because I want to use my WRT54GL on my home network, and not your CRAPTIONTEC.
Who cares? Verizon is the epitome of the evil blood-sucking American corporation anyway Has anybody paid any attention to the recent expose of their billing shenanigans? Has anybody read their response (bald-faced denial) to the FCC inquiry on their shady wireless business practices? Here's just a few that come to mind (because I need more memory):
1. Pre-programming of easily mistaken key combination on their phones that hook the user up to the internet, then charing a minutes worth of data usage for the mistake even if the user immeidately disconnects. I recall that a disgruntled former Verizon employee claims that Verizon makes $800 million a year with this practice.
2. Refusing to publish the method to turn off the 11-second pre-voice mail prompt when ALL of the other providers willingly did so in response to David Pogue's NYT expose. Oh, silly me!. Verizonydid respond--the buggers shrugged it off by saying that if you don't like it "turn off your voice mail."
There's more in regards to surprise hikes in the charge for breaking contracts (changing plans or buying a new phone), etc.
All in all, Verizon s***s big-time.