TiVo is planning to launch apps for Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV later this year, reports Zatz Not Funny via The Verge. The apps will let people watch live or recorded video on multiple TVs without the need to purchase a TiVo Mini.
The TiVo Mini boxes are priced at $179.99 and are typically needed to extend TiVo DVR content to additional televisions in the home.
TiVo is a DVR service for recording live programming to watch at a later time, and it is equipped with a number of features like online recording options, playback while a show is still being recorded, scheduled recordings, and more. It also integrates with several services, including Amazon Video on Demand and Netflix.
The company recently introduced its latest product, the TiVo BOLT OTA which includes an antenna for cord cutters. The BOLT OTA costs $250 for 1TB of storage, which can hold 150 hours of HD content. TiVo charges a $6.99 monthly fee for the BOLT OTA, but the additional apps will be free with no other costs associated.
The apps are said to be coming in the second and third quarter of 2019, with TiVo to launch an app for Fire TV first, followed by Roku, and then Apple TV.
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That said, I wonder if Tivo is coming in a little bit too little too late. I've been a Tivo user for many many years, but dropped cable tv service a few months ago. Since the OTA content here even in the ATL suburbs is subpar relative to something like DirecTVNow, it's been a long while since I've switched to the tivo input on my TV.
Plus with DTVN I can leverage one subscription both at home and at a vacation place. Not really able to do that with Tivo to date, and likely not even with their ATV/Roku app.
So yeah, this is probably great news for folks with tivos and who still have cable tv -- or folks with cable considering a Tivo since they won't have to buy a bunch of minis if they have roku / atv devices already on those tvs.
Still, I wouldn't be betting on cabletv as the future.
And those who don't, need to be a TiVo customer in what manner to be able to use the app?
I'm hoping ATV Siri works with this, such as "Watch Big Bang theory on Tivo". That would skip the issue of remote control lag.
[doublepost=1547217114][/doublepost] Not sure I see your reasoning here. It's a pretty robust device now, and it seems like they are still investing in it and working with other companies (such as Tivo) to make it more adaptable. And with Apple's pending streaming TV business still being formulated, I would think it's still a crucial part of the business.
For us it's really starting to become a central hub for the house. Connectivity to the stereo for all things Airplay, streaming stuff from devices, Apple Home, and soon Tivo Central...I still see plenty of growth with it.