Tivo Jumps the Shark

Chimpware · 07-22-2008, 10:32 AM

Well its now official, Tivo has jumped the shark. With their latest useless feature:

Tivo Adds Amazon Purchases

Please, please Tivo keep adding more and more useless features while still putting out buggy core operations. Who needs a Tivo that does not pixelate, and does not freeze, when you can buy sh*t on Amazon?

Awwwwwwweeeeesssssome I say!

zalusky · 07-22-2008, 10:34 AM

Yea but maybe those things will pay for more programmers that will fix your problem.

cwoody222 · 07-22-2008, 10:34 AM

No pixelation or freezing here.

Chimpware · 07-22-2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwoody222

No pixelation or freezing here.

Yeah you are right, never mind as long as it is OK for you. Threads on pixelation here that won't die, and a thread where Tivo reps have asked for people to provide troubleshooting data for the freezing issue are not indicative of anything, they just need to send you their new products and if it works for you, then it is good to go.

As a matter of fact that sounds just like the pre-release Beta program. Is this true CW? Are you to personally blame for all of this? Are you the Tivo Beta Tester? That lone individual that Tivo uses to Beta new software and features before GP release?

MickeS · 07-22-2008, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpware

As a matter of fact that sounds just like the pre-release Beta program. Is this true CW? Are you to personally blame for all of this? Are you the Tivo Beta Tester? That lone individual that Tivo uses to Beta new software and features before GP release?

OK, this cracked me up.

I have to admit that I too wonder how these beta programs work, when there are obvious, core function bugs that make it to the full release (see for example the problem with channels that come back after being deleted from the channel list). But that's derailing the thread...

by the way, there is already a longer thread started about this topic here: TiVo introducing “product purchase” feature with Amazon

MichaelK · 07-22-2008, 04:02 PM

the sky is falling
the sky is falling..

Wheens · 07-22-2008, 07:02 PM

Its Bush's fault!

BankZ · 07-22-2008, 07:12 PM

I think "Jumping the Shark" just jumped the shark!

netringer · 07-22-2008, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zalusky

Yea but maybe those things will pay for more programmers that will fix your problem.

...or more tech support to tell you your hard drive is failing.

J4yDubs · 07-22-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wheens

Its Bush's fault!

It's Clinton's fault!

John

Bierboy · 07-22-2008, 09:34 PM

aaronwt · 07-22-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwoody222

No pixelation or freezing here.

+7

kosherbacon · 07-23-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpware

Well its now official, Tivo has jumped the shark. With their latest useless feature:

Tivo Adds Amazon Purchases

They are just trying to come up with more viable revenue streams so that they can survive as a business. I seriously doubt that adding Amazon will generate much revenue, but that's just me.

yunlin12 · 07-23-2008, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpware

Tivo has jumped the shark.

Me thinks too many critics have jumped the gun on this. This may be useful for some users (I for 1). This may provide the needed revenue for Tivo to continue growing as a business, and put out better products. It seems that some people are treating Tivo like an evil CE giants like M$FT or Sony, or the big bad cable co like Comcast, I'm just not sure Tivo deserves that kind of vilification.

MichaelK · 07-23-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kosherbacon

They are just trying to come up with more viable revenue streams so that they can survive as a business. I seriously doubt that adding Amazon will generate much revenue, but that's just me.

I agree amazon alone isn't going to make them rich.
But I dont think it's about the few bucks of adding amazon. I think it's more big picture- they hope that they could get many vendors online and create a new paradigm. Watching some english accented guy at 3am selling super shammy's- want to put for 3 easy payments of 9.99- just hit thumbs up 3 times. Would be great for anything that doesn't really have varying msrp's anyplace. See a commercial for iphone or bose wave radios- hit thumbs up 3 times to order. Doing it with amazon makes it look very legit right away. you can order a pizza from dominos or pizza hut on line- wouldn't it be more convenient to just do it on your tv and not even need to go to a computer? There's many choices of stuff that could sell easily on tv with a bit of thinking...

oh yeah though- i forgot "the sky is falling..."

RoyK · 07-23-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelK

... a pizza from dominos or pizza hut on line- wouldn't it be more convenient to just do it on your tv and not even need to go to a computer? There's many choices of stuff that could sell easily on tv with a bit of thinking...

oh yeah though- i forgot "the sky is falling..."

Roger E. Hooptie
1489 Ellingsworth Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32306
(555) 555-9419

Punch that out with your remote control....

MickeS · 07-23-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyK

Roger E. Hooptie
1489 Ellingsworth Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32306
(555) 555-9419

Punch that out with your remote control....

They could do it the same way it's done with Amazon, link it to your CC account.

Langree · 07-23-2008, 01:23 PM

They are doing what's been talked about for years.

You can now watch TV, rent movies, and make purchases from the comfort of your couch through a single unit.

There is no "shark jumping" (and I think CW doesn't understand it's meaning or useage).

Quote:

Yeah you are right, never mind as long as it is OK for you. Threads on pixelation here that won't die, and a thread where Tivo reps have asked for people to provide troubleshooting data for the freezing issue are not indicative of anything, they just need to send you their new products and if it works for you, then it is good to go.

I can bet if you weren't seeing the problems you wouldn't say a peep about these sort of things.

MichaelK · 07-23-2008, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoyK

Roger E. Hooptie
1489 Ellingsworth Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32306
(555) 555-9419

Punch that out with your remote control....

i beleive both just use your phone number.

so I'll type 555 555 9419

done

thanks

specifics aside

Theres no reason to be so negative.

Just because you or i might not ever use any of these new services doesn't mean others might not find them enjoyable.

it's like arguing the merits of a particular cable channel. For any given channel the majority of people think it's a waste- yet cable/dbs need to carry hundreds to be competitive.

Some people dont mind the ouji board test entry. If you read the engadget article about remotes they say they are trying to figure out better text entry methods for the future....

Scyber · 07-23-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BankZ

I think "Jumping the Shark" just jumped the shark!

How about Tivo has "moved the island" then?

ZeoTiVo · 07-23-2008, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scyber

How about Tivo has "moved the island" then?

they may well have.
Aside from QVC which involves a phone - name me anyone else who has brought a mega web merchant into the living room. Sure TiVo could focus solely on DVR and crush every single last bug out. How many more DVRs would that sell to people who are just fine with a cable company DVR anyhow.
I will grant that pixelation and freezes are certainly more than cosmetic or annoyance bugs, but guess what - by CWs admission - TiVo employees are actively hunting down the causes for those.

So TiVo needs to maintain a reliable, working DVR and for the majority of TiVo DVRs reliability is the case.

TiVo also need to keep its eyes forward and advertising and selling will be a big part of that. I recall when Amazon, ebay and other site were just getting going. Buying on the internet? Who would want to buy stuff on a PC versus being able to actually see it at the local store???

Such commerce made the Internet explode and soon every house with a modest income has a PC in it - and largely used for internet access. Soon advertising dollars were flowing from TV and print and onto the Internet. everything has its ups and downs but that flow of advertising dollars onto the internet is still happening.
TiVo has now presented a way to combine that internet sales volume and internet advertising approach back onto the TV and marry it to shows that if smart enough, can start getting a bigger piece of the pie again and maybe they can afford more than making yet another reality show.
Sure this first step will not make all the money rain down but it is a first step and you can not get to the end state without taking it.

So sorry again your DVRs are not working well CW, but frankly TiVo should not drop their business model simply to pour everything into 100% all DVRs work all the time. It would paradoxically put them out of business.

JohnBrowning · 07-23-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpware

Well its now official, Tivo has jumped the shark. With their latest useless feature:

Tivo Adds Amazon Purchases

Please, please Tivo keep adding more and more useless features while still putting out buggy core operations. Who needs a Tivo that does not pixelate, and does not freeze, when you can buy sh*t on Amazon?

Awwwwwwweeeeesssssome I say!

How can it be useless? Even if you choose not to use it, I'd say it is useful to you because it helps TiVo make a buck and stay in business. That way you can continue to enjoy your TiVo!

Chimpware · 07-23-2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeoTiVo

So sorry again your DVRs are not working well CW, but frankly TiVo should not drop their business model simply to pour everything into 100% all DVRs work all the time. It would paradoxically put them out of business.

So to provide what everyone is already paying for would paradoxically put them out of business? Their business model was to provide DVR equipment and service. They have decided to expand their business model to include something I doubt anyone has much use for, but I also think there is little use for QVC and the like, so I make room for the fact that others may have a different opinion on this.

My main assertion is that if Tivo can't get the DVR piece right anymore, as is evidenced by the many posts relating to issues with the DVR functionality, piling more cr*p on top of an already admittedly buggy core system is a huge mistake and is part of a move that will end poorly for Tivo. The main reason many of us use Tivos is because the cable DVRs are cr*p. If they improve the core functionality of those cable DVRs, while Tivo adds Amazon, Youtube and more useless garbage let's see how that works out for them. It would be an entirely different story if they were adding functionality to an essentially stable product, but that is not the case.

I paid, and continue to pay monthly fees for a DVR that works properly, not so that I can never leave the couch again...

Chimpware · 07-23-2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnBrowning

How can it be useless? Even if you choose not to use it, I'd say it is useful to you because it helps TiVo make a buck and stay in business. That way you can continue to enjoy your TiVo!

So by your definition, anything Tivo adds that allows them to increase revenues is good for you? LMAO

Langree · 07-23-2008, 05:52 PM

Mine is stable and so are thousands upon thousands of others.

Chimpware · 07-23-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Langree

Mine is stable and so are thousands upon thousands of others.

And your basis for commenting that there are "thousands upon thousands of others"? Wait let me guess Tivo Fanyboy Market Report - June 2008.

BankZ · 07-23-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpware

And your basis for commenting that there are "thousands upon thousands of others"? Wait let me guess Tivo Fanyboy Market Report - June 2008.

And you basis "Well its now official, Tivo has jumped the shark." on the Tivo Haters Club - May 2008.

MickeS · 07-23-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpware

And your basis for commenting that there are "thousands upon thousands of others"? Wait let me guess Tivo Fanyboy Market Report - June 2008.

Probably the fact that there isn't that much complaining about it.

Langree · 07-23-2008, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpware

And your basis for commenting that there are "thousands upon thousands of others"? Wait let me guess Tivo Fanyboy Market Report - June 2008.

Not a fanboy, but you like to make the problem seem all encompassing, and it's not. In the grand scheme of things it's a minority of users that are drastically affected by the issues you are having. But if it makes you feel like you're making a difference by starting threads periodically to complain, knock yerself out.

ZeoTiVo · 07-23-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimpware

So to provide what everyone is already paying for would paradoxically put them out of business?

to spend the kind of money needed to get 100% Total Quality would put them out of business, along with most any other manufacturer that tried for a true 100%.

Quote:

My main assertion is that if Tivo can't get the DVR piece right anymore, as is evidenced by the many posts relating to issues with the DVR functionality,

and if all you have for proof is that a heavily trafficked web site has a lot of issue threads versus a lot of "hey just wanted to join the vast majority and post that everything is alright"
Then you have squat for proof of your main assertion.

answer me this --
Why out of 6 running TiVo DVRs bought from various places over many years time do I not have a buggy one yet?