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TiVo's new network DVR just passed through the FCC
TiVo is dropping the ax on its oldest DVRs at the end of this month, but Zatz Not Funny points to an FCC filing that might show what's next for the company. Thanks to the documents themselves, there's not a lot of confusion about what the device is. Dubbed the Mantis (for now) this box breaks from previous TiVo hardware by lacking any kind of video out. Instead, the owner plugs in an antenna, while the Mantis takes care of recording and transcoding video that then streams to other devices over the network.
TiVo reportedly lays off industrial design team, sees its future in DVR software (update)
According to a rumor from Wired, the network DVR prototype TiVo showed off at CES is much more than a dream, and could be a big part of its future. The unnamed internal sources claim TiVo laid off 5 employees that make up most of its hardware team (which just celebrated its four Emmy awards), leaving just two engineers to handle support for its current devices, and those yet to come from third parties. We contacted TiVo and received the same response as Wired (available in full after the break), saying it's going to "allocate resources where strategic growth opportunities exist...we expect growth in the cloud-based delivery aspects of TiVo's business." TiVo has talked up the possibility of delivering a cloud-based DVR experience since last fall. After releasing the highly-regarded Roamio line, it's possible the company feels there's little growth left in set-top box DVRs, especially considering the current state of FCC regulations and CableCARD. Microsoft's Media Center project appears to be over, and very few new third-party devices have shipped recently. We pinged investor Sam Biller for ideas on what other plans TiVo might have, and he pointed to a lack of detailed forecasts for the company's nearly $1 billion in cash, seeing the possibility it could acquire another company to build hardware. Whatever TiVo does from here, it's finally delivered on the promise of a capable do-it-all box with the Roamio -- hopefully that essence remains in future products. Update: In a phone conversation, VP of PR Steve Wymer told us the company remains "fully committed" to Roamio, and called it the crown jewel of TiVo. In his view, it's not accurate to say that TiVo is exiting the hardware business as it continues to expand current products and plan future ones, but that it is reallocating resources with an eye towards the future -- a future that hopefully includes both the sweet nDVR prototype, and even better set-top boxes for those that want or already have them.
TiVo prototype DVR recordings stay in the cloud, watch them anywhere on any screen
All of our favorite TV shows, accessible anywhere, anytime? That's what we can expect if the prototype DVR TiVo is showing off at CES ever actually launches. Intended as a service that your local cable operator could offer, the TiVo Network DVR project brings the Roamio experience we already enjoyed on its latest DVRs to the cloud, letting them push recordings out over the internet. Dubbed NDVR for short, the preview images show how viewers could get their TiVo on an iPad or via Roku, manage program recordings, see what's on and, if necessary, buy more storage space in the cloud. That last bit is key, because this isn't just for consumers -- TiVo needs to convince cable operators (the smaller ones; we figure Comcast and the rest will probably stick with their custom solutions) they can make more money and have a simpler setup with its product. One other cable company-friendly feature is the ability to target advertising within the recordings, as we've seen TV companies start doing with video on-demand. We'll stop by TiVo's booth once the show floor opens in a few hours to get some hands-on time with its prototype and see what else is new, and hopefully see what the next generation of TV is like.
Cablevision promises TV, VOD streaming to iPads, other networked devices -- but only at home
We suppose the good news is that Cablevision COO Tom Rutledge mentioned the intent is to bring all of its services -- broadcast TV, video on-demand -- to networked devices capable of displaying video, specifically mentioning the iPad, and that it is also working on program guide software for Android and PCs. Unfortunately, unlike the TV Everywhere websites from others like Comcast, or Dish's Sling-powered placeshifting Cablevision only plans to allow access within the residence. According to Light Reading, the comments came during the company's second quarter earnings call, when he also noted that the PC to TV Media Relay for bringing web video to the cable box was still undergoing testing ahead of a fourth quarter launch, while the long awaited network DVR is in its second phase of testing will also begin rolling out later this year. We're not sure if Cablevision's reluctance to extend video beyond our four walls is a technical issue, greed, or if it's simply tired of fighting Hollywood over content rights after the network DVR legal battle, but we're still hoping for a change of plans down the line.
Cablevision starts "limited deployment" of network DVR
The future has finally arrived, as New York-area Cablevision subscribers are getting their first taste of cloud based DVRs. Light Reading reports an email from spokesman Jim Maiella confirmed limited deployments which may be too late to securely record Lou Diamond Philips for our later viewing pleasure, but should quickly become more common as the cable company has already expressed plans to stop buying physical DVRs later this year. Even after legal entanglements have held things up for years we're not quite ready to switch away from local storage options yet, but any of you guinea pigs out there are more than welcome to share your opinions of it.
Supreme Court declines to hear remote storage DVR appeal, cloud recording is on the way
It seems like Cablevision and others have been trying to roll out "remote storage" network DVRs forever, and now that the Supreme Court has decided against hearing the appeal of the Hollywood studios looking to block it, they should finally be able to deliver as soon as this summer. Of course, there's benefits to having a locally stored copy of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, but just in case we forgot to queue up a recording, the power went out or suffered some other manner of catastrophe, we'd still have access to all the Lou Diamond Phillips anyone could ask for, and there's really no way the highest court in the land could get in the way of that.
Cablevision on track to deliver Network DVR this Summer
We all want the same thing right? The ability to watch any show we want, whenever we want, and wherever we want. Sounds easy, but even in this day and age to achieve this easily isn't possible. Currently there are a few ways this might happen down the road, and one that looks to be coming our way sooner rather than later is Cablevision's Network DVR. While a traditional DVR has a hard drive in it to store your shows, the Network DVR wouldn't. Instead it would stream the content from a centralized data store, like VOD. You'd still have to pre-schedule your recordings and presumably you'd still have a set limit, but ordering DVR service wouldn't require a new box and best of all, you should have access to all the same content in any room of the house. This has been in the making for a long time now -- three years actually -- but Hollywood has been tying it up in court. Luckily the courts have been on Cablevision's side, but it does appear that the consumer may still get the shaft. That's because it seems there's a chance that the Network DVR won't let you fast forward through commercials, which would obviously make it a show stopper for most.
Supreme Court queues network DVR decision for later
Just like you haven't worked through all four hours of this season of 24 yet, the U.S. Supreme Court is pushing back a decision on Cablevision's network DVR a.k.a. Remote Storage Digital Video Recorder to ask the Justice Department for their thoughts. The cable companies (and others) looking to roll out this service scored a win in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals a few months ago, but this push back is being considered by at least one analyst as a slight victory for their opponents. Whether you side with the cable companies (and all those who found that their cable was grainy on Tuesday night during CES, resulting in unwatchable saved eps of Scrubs & The Mentalist and many, many tears) or the Hollywood studios claiming this would violate their copyright, grab a Snickers. It could take up to several months for the Justice Department to file a brief, at which time the Supreme Court will decide whether or not to hear the case at all.
Microsoft unveils all new time shifting, interactive features for Mediaroom IPTV
Throwing some more features towards your local IPTV provider (U-verse this means you), Microsoft's upgraded the Mediaroom platform with Restart Anytime, Live Anytime and Download Anytime network DVR features, making sure silly things like "when something comes on TV" or "whether or not you remembered to schedule the DVR recording" get in between you and your content. Restart shamelessly copies StartOver, restarting a show at any point in its progress, even if you just turned the box on, while Live lets you scroll backwards through the program guide and pull down previously aired TV from the provider's VOD server. Finally Download Anytime pulls in shows or movies ahead of time satellite VOD-style so they can be watched later, despite potentially limited bandwidth. Beyond that, various interactive TV apps will be on demo in the booth this week including Visual Voicemail and TopGear.com but really, we've seen what we need to see.
Cablevision, common sense win network DVR appeal
The process took over a year, but it looks like common sense prevailed in Cablevision's appeal of its network-DVR copyright infringement case. You might remember that Cablevision had planned to roll out "remote-storage" DVRs a couple years ago that would play programs off Cablevision servers instead of storing shows locally, but shelved the plan when the networks sued over the concept, claiming that separating content storage from playback would essentially constitute rebroadcast and infringe on their copyrights. The networks won the first round, but it seems like the technical distinction between local and remote storage wasn't enough to convince the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that Cablevision was "broadcasting" anything -- the court just lifted the injunction barring Cablevision from supplying remote DVRs to its customers. We're still big fans of managing our own content locally, but this is definitely a win for the consumer, as it'll mean cheaper equipment costs and hopefully a larger selection of media available on demand -- too bad we're also betting that the networks will try and appeal this one to the Supreme Court.
