TiVo app for Apple TV 'in limbo' due to technical issues, strategy shift
TiVo owners looking to stream live and recorded video to Apple TV through an official app could be in for a long wait, as the company on Wednesday said a tvOS version of the promised release is "in limbo."
TiVo app for Roku seen at CES 2019. | Source: Zats Not Funny
Speaking with TechHive at CES, TiVo VP of consumer products and services Ted Malone said the company's plans to launch streaming apps on Apple TV and Roku have changed.
Announced during CES 2019, the project was originally designed to answer longstanding customer requests for a native app capable of feeding TiVo content to third-party streaming devices. For example, a tvOS iteration would enable Apple TV owners to access live and recorded content from a TiVo set-top box without investing in multiple devices.
Beyond a brief mention of potential specifications last January, TiVo has remained mum on the initiative over the past 12 months.
According to Malone, the delays for Apple TV and Roku boil down to limited resources, technical challenges and strategy changes, the report said. The company has yet to work out quality and performance issues stemming from the video transcoding process, which is required to stream TiVo content to non-TiVo hardware.
"My bet is we'll get Android, and because of that we'll get the Fire TV, because it's the same app, just different qualifications," he said. "I think Roku and Apple are in limbo."
An Android variant of the app is likely in the offing because TiVo's new TiVo Stream 4K device runs on the operating system. For now, however, the company is concentrating on more lucrative undertakings like the buildout of its streaming platform.
"If we really believe the streaming market is where it's at, we need to double down on that and not get distracted by a bunch of things that other people want, but aren't really going to move the needle," Malone said.
TiVo initially planned to make its app lineup free to use as an add-on to typical monthly rates, with an estimated launch in the second and third quarters of 2019.
TiVo app for Roku seen at CES 2019. | Source: Zats Not Funny
Speaking with TechHive at CES, TiVo VP of consumer products and services Ted Malone said the company's plans to launch streaming apps on Apple TV and Roku have changed.
Announced during CES 2019, the project was originally designed to answer longstanding customer requests for a native app capable of feeding TiVo content to third-party streaming devices. For example, a tvOS iteration would enable Apple TV owners to access live and recorded content from a TiVo set-top box without investing in multiple devices.
Beyond a brief mention of potential specifications last January, TiVo has remained mum on the initiative over the past 12 months.
According to Malone, the delays for Apple TV and Roku boil down to limited resources, technical challenges and strategy changes, the report said. The company has yet to work out quality and performance issues stemming from the video transcoding process, which is required to stream TiVo content to non-TiVo hardware.
"My bet is we'll get Android, and because of that we'll get the Fire TV, because it's the same app, just different qualifications," he said. "I think Roku and Apple are in limbo."
An Android variant of the app is likely in the offing because TiVo's new TiVo Stream 4K device runs on the operating system. For now, however, the company is concentrating on more lucrative undertakings like the buildout of its streaming platform.
"If we really believe the streaming market is where it's at, we need to double down on that and not get distracted by a bunch of things that other people want, but aren't really going to move the needle," Malone said.
TiVo initially planned to make its app lineup free to use as an add-on to typical monthly rates, with an estimated launch in the second and third quarters of 2019.
Comments
I get that integrating TiVo content into tvOS would be convenient, but it seems like a lot of work for little gain. There is an iOS app already -- I don't use it so I can't say how well it really works, but it exists.
I still have a few units sitting in storage I would give to anyone wanting them... Roamio and older.
Back before Comcast scrambled everything the EyeTV DVR was awesome and I had the files saved to storage that was available all over the house- including the Apple TV’s of the day. Later, I switched to the xFinity box and used the analog hole to get HD recordings with an EyeTV HD unit.
Exporting from a TiVo never was elegant and the streaming units have no real appeal. They used to excel at UI, but not sure that is much of an advantage excepting the awful Hulu apps.
With on demand , cloud DVRs and broadband, I am not sure there is much of a place for TiVo.
/s
I went to Plex and that was cool, but we did just a trial, Plex was OK, a little buggy, but on both setups you have to wait till the show is over (2 minutes for TiVo, and about 10 minutes per hour for Plex). The TWO main problems with Plex were, You can't open the stream and just watch without ruining the show sometimes, but mostly my (8/16 core) 2009 Mac Pro with 3TB SSD for storage was burning UP and just getting shredded! 🥵 The Mac Pro was at FULL engines ripping and encoding in Plex.
So really there's only two options: keep your sweet little TiVo with it's encoders or maybe get a separate NAS system with Plex on it...
LOCAL ANTENNA ROCKS HARD! Cord Cutters Unite! haha