i.TV (iTunes link) has gone ahead and announced a new version of their media centric iPhone/iPod touch application (v2.0 is currently under review by Apple and will be available soon). Normally I don’t mention iPhone related news on this site however, i.TV 2.0 now allows you to turn your iPhone into a TiVo remote. Unlike other mobile applications that offer this feature, i.TV is to the best of my knowledge the first mobile TiVo remote that has been acknowledge by TiVo Inc. As mentioned before, i.TV also allows you to schedule recordings on your TiVo via their built-in guide data. This feature is similar to what you get via TiVo’s mobile website however, it really is nice to have this capability built into an application that includes so many other features.
Along with the TiVo remote capability, version 2.0 provides a number of new features that you might be interested in. Here’s a summary of all the new features that 2.0 includes:
Remote Control: i.TV now combines the TV guide and the remote control on an iPhone or iPod touch. Remote controls are powered by the i.TV Remote Control Framework, which allows third parties to develop remote controls for use on the i.TV platform.
TiVo remote: TiVo is the first to introduce a soft remote on i.TV. You can now change the channel, fast forward, record and most importantly play your favorite shows and movies, with just a tap on your iPhone or iPod touch.
New look: i.TV now has a simplified and streamlined user interface.
iTunes: From within i.TV, discover related TV and movie content and then tap to download from iTunes.
Push notifications: Set alerts for when your favorite TV shows air. Never miss a show again.
Taken from i.TV’s press release:
PALO ALTO, California–August 17, 2009–i.TV today announced the i.TV Remote Control Framework that gives third parties the ability to develop solutions to con-trol external devices such as a television, an AV receiver or DVR via i.TV on the iPhone and iPod touch. The TiVo® remote is the first integrated remote control on i.TV for TiVo subscribers with a broadband-connected TiVo DVR.
………..
“TiVo is about giving the user control of the television experience,” said Jim Denney vice president of product marketing at TiVo Inc. “Having the TiVo remote available through i.TV is another way TiVo customers can access the content they want, the way they want.”
The problem with the iPhone as Tivo remote is simple. Here’s the scenario: You’re watching a show, and suddenly you say, “Wait, what’d he say?”
You then:
1. Grab your iPhone, and slide the button to unlock.
2. Tap the app (and that’s assuming it’s on your home screen!)
3. Wait for the app to launch and depending on the app, hit another button, or wait for the connection to be made.
4. Hit Rewind.
…or, you just grab your Tivo remote, and hit Rewind.
[...] i.TV recently updated their (free) multipurpose iPhone entertainment app. In addition to featuring the best horizontal grid guide, Netflix queue management, and TiVo [...]
I agree with Jeff, the app almost seems to be made redundant by the Tivo remote.
One standing point could be the other features that allow you to use the iPhone as a remote control for the Tivo, which means that we can do without the remote – could be really useful for those times that the remote can’t be found and you spend 20 minutes looking for it!
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