TiVo’s still watching you, but by region now
It’s no secret TiVo has been watching its subscribers. But now the DVR company has announced it’s giving advertisers up-to-the-minute info on what users are watching (and fast-forwarding through) based on specific geographic regions.
As a web-enabled DVR/TV guide service, TiVo already collects a wealth of data on its users’ viewing habits on a national level. Today’s announcement is an expansion of those efforts by repackaging this data for advertisers and content providers on a local… Continue Reading
Moxi uses online video to sweeten its high-def DVR
Digeo, a manufacturer of cable ready set-top boxes, has announced a slew of updates for its flagship device, the Moxi HD DVR. The free software update bolsters the device’s core functionality with access to a number of top-tier online video hubs and Rhapsody’s streaming music service.
The Moxi HD DVR made its debut earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Positioning itself as a subscription-free alternative to devices like cable DVR units… Continue Reading
After its own set-top box bombs, Blockbuster partners with TiVo
I feel like I keep writing the same sentence over and over again: Blockbuster has a new plan to reinvigorate its business. Sadly, I feel like I’m going to keep writing that sentence until Blockbuster goes under.
Unfortunately, what the company has been trying is not working when it comes to transitioning into the digital distribution age of movies. So now it’s on to plan H, or perhaps plan I — who can keep track anymore?… Continue Reading
Roundup: BlackBerry gets love, Lehman selling stakes to raise capital and more
Here’s the latest action:
BlackBerry gets some love — In the past few days the device, which is still the most popular smartphone in the U.S., has gotten improved Google Mobile applications, a special MySpace Mobile version and TiVo controls. All good steps, but the device is still going to need its own version of Apple’s App Store if it wants to hold off the iPhone in the smartphone market.
Lehman selling a big stake — Lehman Brothers Holdings,… Continue Reading
Roundup: Veoh wins copyright case, Microsoft launches IE8 beta 2, how the iPhone 2.0.2 update fixes connection issues and more
Here’s the latest action:
Veoh wins in court, YouTube claps — A federal judge ruled that Veoh was not infringing on copyrights by letting its users upload videos to the site. This is an important ruling because it sets a precedent for the similar, but much larger YouTube/Viacom case. You can probably expect an appeal. The LA Times and TechCrunch have more.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 released — “While Beta 1 was for developers, we think that… Continue Reading
Infomercials 2.0: TiVo and Amazon to launch in-TV product ads
Television advertising isn’t interactive, typically — unless you like dialing up 1-800 infomercial numbers to purchase things like bona fide omelette toasters, commemorative Indian nickel plaques, and large, dull-proof knife sets. TiVo, the company that made a name for itself by letting users record TV for later viewing (and skip commercials), is working on a next-generation form of TV advertising, that promises to be far more interactive. It is partnering with Amazon to offer product… Continue Reading
Mickey Mouse punches Steve Jobs in the kidney with TiVo deal
As we’ve discussed recently, there are a growing number of players in the online movie distribution field. Eventually, one way the winners are going to set themselves apart is by promoting content that others don’t have. Apple had that for a while with Disney movies. Not anymore.
Today, the digitial video recorder TiVo announced a deal with Disney to place its films on the device for rental. This service will be provided via a deal with… Continue Reading
Audio post: Thoughts on awful cable box UI
MG Siegler shares his thoughts on how awful most big media cable box UIs (user interfaces) are — even when compared to something like a grocery store cash register screen. With companies like TiVo, Apple and others pushing for better user experiences through their nice UIs, the cable companies had best get their act together or risk losing customers for their boxes in the future.
TiVo plans to bring YouTube and RSS into the living room
TiVo, the personal video recorder, will soon offer YouTube videos streaming from the Internet on their boxes. This partnership stems from YouTube’s decision to open up its platform to developers, which Google publicly announced yesterday (our coverage).
TiVo is not the first to partner up with YouTube to bring web videos into the living room, Apple launched the functionality last year in its Apple TV box. However, TiVo is used by many more users than the… Continue Reading
Roundup: The arrived recession, Jaman’s deal with TiVo, Chinese growth, and more
Here’s a pre-weekend roundup of the latest action:
1) Is the recession coming, or already here?
2) Jaman signs distribution deal with TiVo
3) Amazon buys indie film distributor Without a Box
4) Google probably intends to lose in 700mhz auctions
5) The “UltraBattery” has promise for electric cars
6) China on the verge of becoming largest internet market
7) But they’re worried their citizens game too much
Digg’s editing Illuminati
Is the recession on its way, or already here? — While we’ve been… Continue Reading
Roundup: Facebook IPO talk, the video firehose, Ning’s ridiculous valuation & more
Here’s the latest action (updated):
Airborne mash-up: lawn chair travels 193 miles –Oregon resident Kent Couch tried to fly to Idaho last weekend — in an apparatus made out of his lawn chair carried by 105 large helium balloons. He carried instruments to measure altitude and speed, and also a parachute. He didn’t make it, though. (Image courtesy of AP)
More adult supervision at Facebook — Chamath Palihapitiya, a former AOL executive turned venture capital investor at the… Continue Reading
Roundup: Amazon-TiVo video punch, Metacafe’s woes, Google’s tracking & more
(Updated) roundup of latest tech stuff:
Amazon.com answers Wal-Mart on video downloads — There are so many video download services, it’s easy to get jaded. Wal-Mart just announced its own download service, but the test site looks awful (it still badly garbled as of this writing). A more promising video service is the offering by Amazon Unbox to download movies directly to your TiVo. This is significant: It’s the first service letting people watch regular TV programming… Continue Reading