TiVo to release Apple TV app later this year for streaming live and DVR content
In a surprise move that answers a longstanding request from many end users, TiVo at CES 2019 announced plans to release a tvOS app that will allow Apple TV users to watch live and recorded content without investing in multiple TiVo set-top boxes.
TiVo app for Roku seen at CES 2019. | Source: Zats Not Funny
TiVo demonstrated the app, which will also debut for Roku and Amazon's Fire TV, at its booth ahead of an anticipated launch in the second or third quarter of 2019, reports Zats Not Funny.
The app enables access to TiVo accounts from third-party hardware, meaning users can watch live programming and content stored through TiVo's DVR system. This added flexibility will allow users to run the service on multiple televisions without purchasing a first-party device like the TiVo Mini VOX. A software client solution also makes portability possible through third-party streaming sticks.
Currently, the only option to transport TiVo services to a second or third TV is through TiVo's own devices. The aforementioned TiVo Mini is the cheapest offering, but at $180 the solution is hardly ideal for houses with TVs in every room.
According to the report, the forthcoming TiVo apps will be free, with no monthly fees or charges added to TiVo's usual rates.
Users who elect to go the app route will have to cede a few features like 5.1 surround sound audio output and "SkipMode," which fast forwards through commercials. For many, however, the potential savings outweighs those creature comforts.
TiVo did not provide a firm launch date and instead provided an estimate between the second and third quarters of this year. A Fire TV app will arrive first, followed by a version for Roku and finally Apple TV, the company said.
TiVo app for Roku seen at CES 2019. | Source: Zats Not Funny
TiVo demonstrated the app, which will also debut for Roku and Amazon's Fire TV, at its booth ahead of an anticipated launch in the second or third quarter of 2019, reports Zats Not Funny.
The app enables access to TiVo accounts from third-party hardware, meaning users can watch live programming and content stored through TiVo's DVR system. This added flexibility will allow users to run the service on multiple televisions without purchasing a first-party device like the TiVo Mini VOX. A software client solution also makes portability possible through third-party streaming sticks.
Currently, the only option to transport TiVo services to a second or third TV is through TiVo's own devices. The aforementioned TiVo Mini is the cheapest offering, but at $180 the solution is hardly ideal for houses with TVs in every room.
According to the report, the forthcoming TiVo apps will be free, with no monthly fees or charges added to TiVo's usual rates.
Users who elect to go the app route will have to cede a few features like 5.1 surround sound audio output and "SkipMode," which fast forwards through commercials. For many, however, the potential savings outweighs those creature comforts.
TiVo did not provide a firm launch date and instead provided an estimate between the second and third quarters of this year. A Fire TV app will arrive first, followed by a version for Roku and finally Apple TV, the company said.
Comments
Between DirecTV Now, Spectrum, TiVo, Google TV, Hulu TV, Sling, PlayStation Vue, cord cutters rejoice with lots of options.
This will put pressure on all major cable companies to provide Streaming Apps.
Time will tell.
As for the out-of-home streaming, that is also a function of the iOS app. The tvOS app is meant to be a replacement for purchasing a TiVo mini, which also does not do out-of-home streaming as it's not intended to be a portable device.
I will be curious to see exactly how they are implementing this. Is lack of support for 5.1 audio an indication that they are transcoding the video on your main TiVo box before sending it to the app (vs sending the native data stream recorded on the main box)? Or are the simply not including that feature to differentiate it from (and encouraging continues sales of) the TiVo mini? Also, will you be able to stream all content? For example, you can stream content to your Mac/PC on your home network, but not content from some pay channels.
(not so good using a TiVo though)
You realize all that does is turn off the front lights, right? Tivo couldn't serve it's primary purpose - recording shows - if it is sleeping now, could it?
Their new interface did introduce some more steps to get to some features, but reduced the number to get to many others so it's mainly a wash. At least with Tivo I can jump forwards and backwards quickly and smoothly, unlike streaming from any other provider where buffering turns anything other than moving forward in time in a linear fashion an extreme PITA.