TivoCast downloads almost immediately

[peteypete]

Hey all,

I've noticed something that I think is significantly different in the way TivoCast works.

When I signed up for the new Union TivoCast from my computer. My two tivos started to download them within a half hour.

From what i remember this is significantly more instantaneous than when i previously signed up for a TivoCast.

I wonder if this is a small inkling that Full Movie downloads, (and a corresponding way of ordering them) is in the works. I think this because timely initiation of downloads is probably crucial to the user experience of ordering movies.

I hope it's more than wishful thinking on my part, but with all the hinting from Tivo employees that more is in the works for TivoCast, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Whad ya'll think?

[TiVoStephen]

We have completely rewritten how we handle TiVoCast requests and queues; thanks for noticing the improved speed. (When we announced TiVoCast being featured on TiVo Central Online a few weeks ago, that was the launch date of TiVoCast 2.0.)

[morac]

Yeah the new TiVoCast starts pretty quick.
Just don't do what I did and schedule 5 season passes for the same exact TiVoCast. Apparently that causes the TiVoCast to download 5 times. BTW I don't think I ever thanked you TiVoStephen for fixing that, so thanks.


So we have guru guides manageable on TCO and the TiVo and TiVoCast on TCO and pending on the TiVo . How soon until we can manage our season passes on TiVo Central? :)

[HDTiVo]

How soon until we can manage our season passes on TiVo Central? :)
And how soon before TiVoCast is manageable on the TiVo?

I know I've asked this before, but its been a few weeks and I'm sure you're just dying to tell us all about it. ;)

[rainwater]

And how soon before TiVoCast is manageable on the TiVo?

I know I've asked this before, but its been a few weeks and I'm sure you're just dying to tell us all about it. ;)

You will also have to manage them in your Now Playing list as well because for some crazy reason they are forcing you to delete older episodes in order to receive new ones. Without deleting old episodes, you will not receive new ones thus defeating the whole purpose of this project.

[peteypete]

Cool,
I knew something was up!

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=326367

Still... waiting for the movies.
Netflix is hiring a finance guy to cover royalty payments for Electronic Downloads if that's any indication. Is Tivo still buddies?

[davezatz]

Yeah, where are my movie downloads? I will give TiVo all my money for them. Well not *all* my money, but my monthly movie rental allotment - I'd cancel Netflix, stop using MovieBeam, stop using Movielink & iTunes, not use the Xbox 360, not use the iTV.

[peteypete]

Yeah, another bad disk from netflix. I'm ready to dump them. Blockbuster wasn't much better.

[ashu]

I've had a PERFECT Netflix experience over the last couple of years, and I'd still dump them in a heartbeat if I could watch equvalent/VERY close quality movies downloaded to my TiVo!

[ZeoTiVo]

If I could order a movie on TiVo and start watching it before my laundry is done and then also have it there to watch until I delete it for the next one in the queue I would pay 25$ a month for that :up:

[TiVoStephen]

We're working to release the ability to manage TiVoCast Season Passes directly on your DVR's menus as quickly as we can. (Working on squishing one last bug.) As soon as I have a definite date, I'll let you know.

[davezatz]

I assume it's an HME app, which allows it to be developed and deployed out of sync and different frequencies than system software updates. Having onboard TiVoCast management should increase usage and make it friendlier in general. :up:

For anyone keeping track of market info, I will gladly pay $3-$5 per SD movie download or $4-6.50 per HD flick. ;)

[gonzotek]

We're working to release the ability to manage TiVoCast Season Passes directly on your DVR's menus as quickly as we can. (Working on squishing one last bug.) As soon as I have a definite date, I'll let you know.Please feel free to invite me to test when the time comes! :)

And let me once again add my voice to the chorus asking for a big movie download queue system. I'd be happy to pay for an easy to use, Netflix-esque browsable catalog on TiVo, that offers as large a variety of content as BB or Netflix.

[HDTiVo]

We're working to release the ability to manage TiVoCast Season Passes directly on your DVR's menus as quickly as we can. (Working on squishing one last bug.) As soon as I have a definite date, I'll let you know.
Thanks, that whole Unified Search launching next year thing today got me a little extra depressed about the time table for this. Now I can just be depressed about the Unified Search timetable. I feel much better now.
:)

[thehepcat]

Is there a way to unsubscribe yet? I get Heavy currently, but it is the suck.

[TiVoStephen]

There's no way to unsubscribe currently. That's in the part that I said would be released soon.

If you really desperately want to unsubscribe NOW and you can't possibly wait, send me an e-mail (estephen@tivo.com) with your 15-digit TiVo Service Number and the name of the Season Pass you want to cancel.

[HDTiVo]

There's no way to unsubscribe currently. That's in the part that I said would be released soon.

How would you characterize/classify what you are soon releasing vs. what was announced today? Is it a minor unannounced software update, part of the "November Update", etc.?

What is Home Movie from TiVo's side? An update to TiVoCast? Update on the TiVo box, included with TiVoCast SP control or seperate additional update?

Is Autotranscode purely a TD update, or is there more interactivity through the TiVo box with the TD software to pull stuff off the net?

What will Search be classied as? Will it change Find Programs? Where else will it appear in the interface?

Where will ICM Guru content functions fit in...?


Can I ask more questions?
:)

[thehepcat]

There's no way to unsubscribe currently. That's in the part that I said would be released soon.

If you really desperately want to unsubscribe NOW and you can't possibly wait, send me an e-mail (estephen@tivo.com) with your 15-digit TiVo Service Number and the name of the Season Pass you want to cancel.


Thanks for the quick reply Stephen. I can wait, but thanks for the offer.

[HDTiVo]

How would you characterize/classify what you are soon releasing vs. what was announced today? Is it a minor unannounced software update, part of the "November Update", etc.?

What is Home Movie from TiVo's side? An update to TiVoCast? Update on the TiVo box, included with TiVoCast SP control or seperate additional update?

Is Autotranscode purely a TD update, or is there more interactivity through the TiVo box with the TD software to pull stuff off the net?

What will Search be classied as? Will it change Find Programs? Where else will it appear in the interface?

Where will ICM Guru content functions fit in...?


Can I ask more questions?
:)

Stephen:

In reference to comments by Evan Young at Streaming Media West 2006 (http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2006-11/tivo-and-the-future-of-microcontent/#more-976) where he stated that TiVoCast bandwidth is paid for by the content provider, does that mean that the content provider is responible for sending the content to the TiVo boxes? If so, what control over reliability of delivery service does TiVo have in the process? Does TiVo know if episodes are missed at the box, and can TiVo re-initiate the sending of a missed episode? Can TiVo control the timeliness of delivery of new episodes?

Thanks. (And pass thanks along to Young for his level of candidness.)

[SC0TLANDF0REVER]

Stephen:

In reference to comments by Evan Young at Streaming Media West 2006 (http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2006-11/tivo-and-the-future-of-microcontent/#more-976) where he stated that TiVoCast bandwidth is paid for by the content provider, does that mean that the content provider is responible for sending the content to the TiVo boxes? If so, what control over reliability of delivery service does TiVo have in the process? Does TiVo know if episodes are missed at the box, and can TiVo re-initiate the sending of a missed episode? Can TiVo control the timeliness of delivery of new episodes?

Thanks. (And pass thanks along to Young for his level of candidness.)

For those interesting in watching the Keynote by Evan @ the SMW06:

http://soapbox.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=b1df5d13-9db4-407f-a30b-23454e2a1065

You will be asked for your 'Passport/Hotmail' credentials to view it.

Edit:
- 18:30 is when he starts talking about TiVoCast (broadband programming)
- 20:20 Rocketboom info (how it works, etc)
- 28:22 Talk about future partners for TiVoCast, more interactivity, possible transactions (the ability to collect payment from subscribers are then pass that $ back to the content provider - like movie rentals or bigger versions of Rocketboom)
- 29:50 Opening up the programming API to more options (video)
- 31:00 Q & A's

[HDTiVo]

In the Nov. 15th demo (http://hdtivo.wordpress.com/2006/11/21/for-the-notebook-tivocast/), I noticed there is a selection to request old episodes, but that screen is not shown in the demo.

Also noticed the ToDo List selection looks gone.

[peteypete]

I wonder if we'll see any more content deals before Xmas.

Looks like TivoCast is ready to get the things to the TV

[TiVoStephen]

...does that mean that the content provider is responsible for sending the content to the TiVo boxes?Yes and no! (Don't you love a straight answer? :) ) The real answer is that it depends on our deal with the content provider. In some cases we provide hosting and delivery; in other cases, they provide it. We have certain interfaces that allow content providers to publish their content to those who have subscribed to the content through TiVoCast, and we notify the boxes that content is available when they next connect to the service.

If so, what control over reliability of delivery service does TiVo have in the process? Does TiVo know if episodes are missed at the box, and can TiVo re-initiate the sending of a missed episode?The second question answer the first -- yes, and so we have ultimate control over the reliability. Note that we're not fully operational with retries for all cases over an indefinite window, however, so it's still possible to miss an episode if (for example) your broadband service provider is not working for an extended period of time.

Can TiVo control the timeliness of delivery of new episodes?Well, we can't guarantee the partner has made the content available on time, but as long as it's available on time from the partner, it's my job to make sure you get in a timely fashion (regardless of whether or not we host the content).

Best regards,
Stephen