have to think you are both right. Google has everything tivo could offer already- why buy them?MegaZone posted a good speculation article on his blog:
At this point I tend to agree with him. Google has purchased a good DVR software company and is in the process of purchasing the largest cable STB provider so I see no real reason for them to look at TiVo.
Thanks,
Tivo has patents Google would want....have to think you are both right. Google has everything tivo could offer already- why buy them?
For them to be able to stream the content the providers have to be willing to offer it. HBO has publicly said they won't do that. Only allowing streaming of their content from people who have paid subscriptions. And as long as their subscribers numbers are high, there would be no reason for them to change their policy.What if google bought tivo and eventually decided to stream TV (like cnn, msnbc, fox, hbo, showtime, etc...) for extremely low prices (and obviously add ads)?
would that be cool? What if you could have a lot of the major channels on tivo without having to worry about any provider cablecard junk, or moving to an area where you have to switch between cable and satellite?
It would be a naturalstep for google tv type thinking...and a great boon for us.
just a thought.
Sadly so far tivo's patents haven't been worth all that much. The Dish case really didn't make the Tivo patents into a money machine as they hoped.Tivo has patents Google would want....
Who's to say Google will not be able to offer paid subscriptions to HBO? At some point, a set top box with IP TV functionality is pretty much the same as a streaming video box. I believe Google sees that day approaching. The video delivery industry will undergo a shift much like the telephone industry did in moving to digital data. As that happens, some of the players will change and Google wants to be one of them.For them to be able to stream the content the providers have to be willing to offer it. HBO has publicly said they won't do that. Only allowing streaming of their content from people who have paid subscriptions. And as long as their subscribers numbers are high, there would be no reason for them to change their policy.
They wouldn't need to buy TiVo to stream major content providers. TiVo's software and infrastructure would be useless in that case. Buying Hulu would make more sense. I doubt you will ever see the traditional DVR software on a Google product (like Google TV). My guess is they bought Sage TV for the developers to improve the Google TV interface.What if google bought tivo and eventually decided to stream TV (like cnn, msnbc, fox, hbo, showtime, etc...) for extremely low prices (and obviously add ads)?
I doubt TiVo's trickplay patents would be very useful to Google I don't think any of them apply to streaming content (plus most streaming content either doesn't have ads or you can't FF through them). Any "DVR" Google builds would most likely be mostly cloud based and much different from TiVo's software.Tivo has patents Google would want....
I have no idea how much they paid or who they got for buying Sage- but wouldn't it just have been easier to poach a few kew people from sage or appltv or whomever if all you need is UI people?They wouldn't need to buy TiVo to stream major content providers. TiVo's software and infrastructure would be useless in that case. Buying Hulu would make more sense. I doubt you will ever see the traditional DVR software on a Google product (like Google TV). My guess is they bought Sage TV for the developers to improve the Google TV interface.
First, hard drives are dirt cheap and huge.Any "DVR" Google builds would most likely be mostly cloud based and much different from TiVo's software.
It's already happened (Netflix, Hulu). No way Google would build a traditional DVR. They already have built a platform on Android (Google TV). I highly doubt TiVo is getting into the traditional TV business. Google has already built up a video rental platform for Android that uses streaming so you can expect it to be coming to Google TV soon. Google most likely is working to improve their UI in Google TV and they are already getting ready to open up the Android Market on Google TV. They don't need to build a cablecard DVR to accomplish what they are looking for.First, hard drives are dirt cheap and huge.
Second with bandwidth caps no third party DVR company in their right mind would want you using the cloud to stream TB's of date each month.
Its not going to happen.
So you think they'll just stop making DVRs once the Motorola deal goes through?No way Google would build a traditional DVR.
It's a lot more complicated than that. The content providers would have to agree to this and as it stands now it looks like a cold day in hell before that happens. Combine that with the bandwidth caps ISP's are putting on subscribers I think this is highly unlikely.What if google bought tivo and eventually decided to stream TV (like cnn, msnbc, fox, hbo, showtime, etc...) for extremely low prices (and obviously add ads)?
would that be cool? What if you could have a lot of the major channels on tivo without having to worry about any provider cablecard junk, or moving to an area where you have to switch between cable and satellite?
It would be a naturalstep for google tv type thinking...and a great boon for us.
just a thought.
Once Google purchased the Motorola Mobility division any chance they would entertain buying Tivo went away, they have what they need now, Tivo adds nothing to the equation, not even in the patent arena since I'm sure they have plenty of Motorola DVR patents in hand.MegaZone posted a good speculation article on his blog:
At this point I tend to agree with him. Google has purchased a good DVR software company and is in the process of purchasing the largest cable STB provider so I see no real reason for them to look at TiVo.
Thanks,
Think about this for one second.It's already happened (Netflix, Hulu). No way Google would build a traditional DVR. They already have built a platform on Android (Google TV). I highly doubt TiVo is getting into the traditional TV business. Google has already built up a video rental platform for Android that uses streaming so you can expect it to be coming to Google TV soon. Google most likely is working to improve their UI in Google TV and they are already getting ready to open up the Android Market on Google TV. They don't need to build a cablecard DVR to accomplish what they are looking for.
What? Google already has a streaming service btw. And it's coming to Google TV (it's already on Honeycomb Tablets and Android phones. That much is already known. There's no incentive for them to build a traditional DVR.Think about this for one second.
How much does netflix pay to stream some old episodes and movies to you? Tons and tons of money.
Compare that to what Google would pay if they throw a port on the back for a HD and allow you to DVR.
Its a rental service, like PPV. Far different from netflix like streaming.What? Google already has a streaming service btw. And it's coming to Google TV (it's already on Honeycomb Tablets and Android phones. That much is already known. There's no incentive for them to build a traditional DVR.
