Big Threats To TiVo: Freevo Is Not Its Name-o
from the do-it-yourself dept
Everyone seems to want to take a shot at TiVo these days. Despite the loyalty of TiVo subscribers, there's no shortage of articles wondering if TiVo can survive. However, among the threats TiVo has to deal with, this review of the various "free" (or cheap) versions of PVR software is probably not what TiVo should be worrying about. Do-it-yourself "TiVo-like" software has been around about as long as TiVo itself. And there are all sorts of devices that could be built for fun or to just avoid licensing fees, but that 0.001% of the population who would, probably doesn't keep TiVo executives up at night.
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No Subject Given
My guess in that within a year or so, there will be software similar to Napster which will make downloading torrents VERY easy for the masses. Right now it's not cake, and I doubt non-technical people could figure it all out.
When that happens, it could very well easily kill Tivo and will probably destroy free network television as well. Tivo execs aren't the only ones who should be losing sleep.
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Socialization of media?
If the free market favors survival of the fittest, will socialist media turn out to be the fittest after all?
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No Subject Given
While i don't personally, i have now THREE (ooooo!) friends who do, and truth be told, i don't see any of them giving up Tivo anytime soon.
The interface is too easy, and the box simply WORKS. No amount of 'Freevo' or any other Tivo-Toasters will change the fact that MOST people prefer a box that they don't have to tweak.
The problem with BT d/l's is you're dependent on the creator of the Torrent file for QA. Not every BT file is what it claims to be (unlike broadcast TV) and not every BT file is of substantial quality.
The folks at Tivo have been disussing MSN's, or Media Storage Networks. The rough idea is to "napster-ize" Tivo; searching and downloading content stored on other Tivo's.
The biggest issue (next to copyright, of course) is infrastructure. Currently, cable and satellite systems do not allow subscribers to "broadcast" or otherwise make available other services on the company wire. Only if this changes will Tivos be able to share with each other.
I had something else to add, but i forget now.
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Re: Happy TiVo owner
One of the ways we use it is Not suited to BT trash. When the phone rings or someone comes to the door I just pause TiVo, no muss and no fuss. Also for skipping the commercials.
Also, have you ever actually tried to use BT (or kazaa, morpheous, grokster, etc...) to get a full season of anything? The few times I've managed to snag even two or three of anything they are by different authors, so you get different quality, strange sound, blah blah. I've read that people TiVo an entire season of 24 and watch it over the holiday or when sick.
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TiVo not going away
My wife won't touch any of it, but she'll use a TiVo. SHe doesn't care about extra functionality, and I'll bet 90% of consumers don't either. THey want to plug in a box and have it work. Until the homebrew boxes are cheaper and easier to use than TiVo, there is no real threat.
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