Filed under: Multimedia, Rumors, Video
Rumor: Apple's iTV product to have TiVo Inside®
The latest in pre-Macworld rumors is another case of wishful thinking with no shred of credible evidence to back it up. An anonymous tipster told PVRWire yesterday that "Apple will be licensing TiVo patented technology for iTV. Also, the name iTV has changed to Mac Media Capsule."
Wow! Really? Um... no.
Haven't we been here before? Oh wait, it was debunked then, too.
If Apple and TiVo ever do hook up, I'll be ecstatic since they are two of my favorite brands, but there's nothing to indicate that's happening anytime soon. It was a better bet two years ago when I hinted at it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason said 1:04PM on 12-07-2006
In my opinion, it's impossible. Things can change, but when we saw the iTV prototype, there was no indication of TV recording hardware. And since recording a TV signal is Tivo's biggest strength, there's really no reason for Tivo's help. Apple's planning to *bypass* the Tivo business plan.
Also, hooking up with Tivo implies Tivo guide monthly fees. Even though Apple likes their .Mac fees (should be free!), they will have to offer at least what the nearest competitor does: free, as in the free guide listings that come with Microsoft's Windows Media Center. Hate it or love it, it's still free. And that's one reason it's gained some traction in the last two years against Tivo (the other is being able to install software on your own machine).
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Leonard Nimrod said 12:50PM on 12-07-2006
I like the name.
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G said 12:54PM on 12-07-2006
Mac Media Capsule? No thanks. That's tool long a name for Apple. 2 words or less, please.
It is a rumor after all...
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cameron hunt said 1:18PM on 12-07-2006
So Apple's going to ditch their iTunes TV model and let people record TV? Riiiight.
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Jon said 1:13PM on 12-07-2006
This is almost certainly true, but it doesn't mean what you think it means. Almost every DVR maker, except Dish Networks's (hence the lawsuit) license TIVO's technology, but that does not mean that they use the TiVO interface. Two different things. If Appel was going to have DVR functionality of any kind, it would certainly license TIVO's technology.
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Chewbaca said 1:30PM on 12-07-2006
Tivo has been dragging their feet on the Tivo2go for mac. What if?
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Cliff Bowdish said 1:28PM on 12-07-2006
Here's what I don't understand. Why do people go to the most extreme Tivo/Apple teamup scenario? Maybe Apple has just been talking to Tivo to get them to FINALLY get TivoToGo working on Macs. Auto download/convert from your Tivo, import into iTunes, boom, it'll be playable on your iTV. It wouldn't be that handy for the television with the Tivo attached to it (except for archiving), but for every other television in the house it'd save the cost of another Tivo box and monthly fee.
Basically, Apple (for the small cost of bribing Tivo into doing their freaking job) gets another selling point on the iTV.
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Nathan Ziarek said 1:31PM on 12-07-2006
Maybe I started this rumor!
The new series 3 TiVo can't do MRV (Multiroom viewing) because of CableCard restrictions. Vista media centers, however, will be able to stream their programs to extenders (like the Xbox 360) but not to other PCs. The content owners are being very careful with their product.
Most that follow it believe that TiVo can not get the same deal because their MRV solution actually copies the program from one machine to another, instead of streaming it.
When talking about this a few weeks ago on the tivo community website, i mentioned that maybe TiVo has a low-cost extender up its sleeve, or, perhaps there was some way to get it to work with Apple's iTV.
It would be cool, and would get Apple into the "Media Center" space without having to support the entire media center. That said, no way it'll happen. It makes sense, but ultimately confuses the product. Apple wants clean and simple. ...And they like to own the entire widget.
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Ben Babics said 1:53PM on 12-07-2006
Apple will not do PVR DVR or whatever you want to call it. Why would they? They already have a decent working business model where they sell tv shows ala carte. Why would they want you record shows at your convenience... for free? It doesn't make sense.
I'm looking forward to the iTV or whatever it's called. As a matter of fact, I recently canceled my Comcast subscription this week (they picked up the cable boxes yesterday) and I couldn't be happier! I'm saving approximately $86 a month. My wife and I only watch 5 tv shows religiously and we can get those cheaper by using the "Season Pass" feature on iTMS (not to mention FOR FREE (legally) on the major networks websites) than continuing to pay that outrageously high Comcast bill for the same content. Now I just need a nice little box to set below the lcd hanging up in our room so we can watch them there instead of the computer. But I can be patient. :)
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This is Me said 1:56PM on 12-07-2006
iPortal, iCapsule, iCenter, iGate, iBox...
Look for a name that is catchy. No one though "iPod" made a lick of sense. It made its own name, though and became a brand unto itself. (Corn Flakes, Kleenex, Walkman...)
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Leonard Nimrod said 2:19PM on 12-07-2006
At least there are a couple rational posters here today.
iTunes TV Shows:
- $1.99/ episode (season passes not withstanding)
- 640x480 resolution
- DRMed content
- Available the day after a show aires.
PVR/DVR TV Shows:
- FREE
- Whatever resolution your antenna/cable/satellite provider offers
- Non-DRMEd content (DivX format easy as pie)
- Available as it's airing
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Jacob Varghese said 2:59PM on 12-07-2006
Why would Apple do it?
1. They're a hardware company. iTunes is there to sell hardware. All the numbers show that the vast majority of iPod owners still buy their music the old fashioned way. At $300, the iTV doesn't really offer much for the money if all that it can do is accept audio/video streams from your computer. Offering DVR technology, content streaming, and the ability to purchase content from your couch would give people a reason to purchase the product.
2. With Tivos deals with the cable and satellite TV providers this would help push the Apple brand into middle America homes.
3. With a market cap of around 500m, Tivo is a relatively purchase for Apple.
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gareth Burleigh said 5:44AM on 12-10-2006
I personally would be amazed to see TIVO as a feature. There is actually a world outside of America, and that world does not have TIVO. Are Apple to make it play nice with SKY+ and the countless Sat DVR packages across the world? I dont see it myself.
Im sure if we want that funtionality its an iTV and a Slingbox, I guess time will tell
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CupertinoSlim said 9:20PM on 12-07-2006
Why would it be shocking if Apple arranged to bundle TiVo2Go/Mac for free? Their iTV has to play nice with the tuners and DVRs that people already have, like the iPod plays MP3 and WAV files.
They could also cut a deal (not necessarily a check, though) to enable iTV to convert TiVo recordings for viewing on an iPod.
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