Tivo Content Download Service ready to release?

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Tivo Content Download Service ready to release?

Chris Davis writes:

Got a service message from Tivo last night with the title 'An Important Message on Privacy from Tivo' which sounded boring, but I read it anyway. The interesting part is the third sentence of the second paragraph:

'For this notification, the updates [to the privacy policy] pertain primarily to the addition of new functionality that will enable TiVo subscribers to download content to their Series2 DVR.'

I dont really care about the privacy policy updates - I already assume somebody can see every little thing I do with my tivo. But 'download content to their Series2 DVR' ?!? Yowza! I just hope the download TO the tivo isn't as stupid slow as download FROM the tivo is...

Hmm, that sounds pretty cool if it's true that users will be able to move video to their TiVo for playback. I would guess it'd require an application to transcode your own video to TiVo MPEG2 format and send off to your TiVo, and perhaps a new version of the TiVo desktop is coming to make that happen.

update: Dave Zatz passes along the offical TiVo site explanation for the policy change.

by Matt Haughey August 3, 2005 in TiVo

Comments

You're talking about "uploading" video. I'm pretty sure Tivo is talking about downloading content from them or their partners like Netflix.

Posted by: John McKay at Aug 3, 2005 10:56:32 AM

Even that would be better than what I was thinking: what if this just means that you can now download content from their advertisers?

Posted by: Ronald Bruintjes at Aug 3, 2005 11:28:56 AM

This is related to the upcoming wide-spread release of HME. They're branding apps Home Network Applications and Tivo has added this new paragraph to their privacy policy:

7. Home Network Applications.
TiVo DVRs connected to a home network may be able to discover Third Party applications on your personal computer or other network servers that can be accessed on your DVR. These applications are identified on the TiVo menu with a computer icon and may not conform to TiVo's privacy policy. You understand and acknowledge that TiVo is not responsible for any such Third Party applications you choose to access. We caution you not to enter any personal or sensitive information (such as social security or credit card numbers) while using an application unless you have verified it is from a source that you trust.

Posted by: Dave Zatz at Aug 3, 2005 11:45:18 AM

3.3.2 Access to PC-Based Media. Access to media that is stored on your home computer ("PC-based media") via your TiVo DVR is provided through the TiVo Desktop application, which is available at www.tivo.com/desktop. The TiVo Desktop application permits you to access PC-based media from your TiVo DVR by streaming such media from your home computer to your TiVo DVR via your home network.

Posted by: eufreka at Aug 3, 2005 2:04:28 PM

I got one of these too. But ummm...seriously, why are you guys stretching so hard for this not to be the Netflix thing? We know that the Netflix things is coming soonish. It's also reasonable to assume from the clarification of the privacy policy that they certainly aren't talking about your own media (unless you think that Tivo is going to log how often you watch home videos of the kids). And all the updates you guys are quoting were made to pertain to HME and Tivo To Go which already exists, while the message is clearly referring to something new coming.

It's Netflix (or something close). Duh.

Posted by: Grover at Aug 3, 2005 2:21:55 PM

HME isn't oficially released, so it will be new when 7.5 software begins rolling out in a few weeks. Which is why they needed to update the privacy policy to acocunt for third-party applications and content.

Posted by: basket at Aug 3, 2005 4:12:29 PM

Tivo explains the privacy policy updates at this page:
http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2198.htm?

It seems clear to me that this is specific to HME applications, not a Netflix service.

Posted by: Dave Zatz at Aug 3, 2005 4:14:32 PM

The more I read that the more I think it might be saying that your tivo dvr-2 is going to be able to discover upnp servers on the home network. This could in preparation for allowing access to services such as rapsody.

Posted by: wg cannon at Aug 4, 2005 4:24:18 AM

I can't believe it, my co-worker just bought a car for $16877. Isn't that crazy!

Posted by: Betsy Markum at Nov 14, 2005 5:00:33 PM

Tivo Content Download Service ready to release?

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