For TiVo, integration with Web services offers a way to better compete with cable and satellite companies offering rival DVRs…
“The race to dominate the living room is not a new one, but it has been an uphill battle for many companies, and Apple’s recent TV effort fell flat despite the success of its iPod and iTunes duet. But TiVo is in a unique position in that it already has its DVRs in homes — now it just needs to expand their capabilities.”
“Apparently, fast-forwarding through commercials just is not enough…”
San Francisco — In its latest bid to offer interactive services not related to TV browsing, Tivo on Monday announced that it has joined forces with Photobucket and Google’s Picasa photo-sharing sites to allow users to browse online photos from their Tivo box.
“All TiVos are now broadband-enabled, meaning the company is able to pull content on demand from the Internet.” What started with looking up weather forecasts and movie show times have expanded into podcast downloads and even full movie rentals thanks to a deal with Amazon’s Unbox service.
Now, TiVo is bolstering its photo capabilities through deals with Photobucket and Google’s Picasa Web Albums. Subscribers will be able to view images on their television in high-resolution and creating slideshows of images. A user can also browse for shared photos uploaded by others by typing in keywords via the TiVo interface.
The enhancement reflects TiVo’s ongoing plan to make its DVR an Internet hub for the home, as well as a device for playing and recording cable TV and satellite television programming. People with TiVo’s high-end “Series 3” box will be able to see their photos in high definition.
TiVo subscribers can access the photo-sharing applications through the “Music, Photos, Products & More” screen on their Internet-connected DVRs. Using the DVR’s remote control, people can search community photos on the site by keyword and create custom slide shows of photos.
“According to media reports, select users of both Photobucket and Picasa were sent an e-mail today saying their online image collections could now be viewed from their Tivo box.”
Tivo, which requires users to have a connected Internet source to receive TV schedules, will also allow users to browse through the entire collection of online Photobucket images that people around the world have posted.
Tivo has faced a steady decline in the past several months, as leased DVRs from cable and satellite providers have grown in popularity. To combat this, Tivo has ramped up its attention to other features not offered by standard DVRs, such as the ability to download movies and wirelessly stream music collections from a nearby PC.
It is not yet clear whether such add-on services can help TiVo fend off growing competition. Most set-top boxes from cable and IPTV providers like Verizon’s FiOS have built-in DVR features, and many users balk at TiVo’s monthly $12.95 charge. In addition, both Microsoft and Sony are bulking up their video game consoles — which reach over 20 million homes combined — with multimedia capabilities.
Still, TiVo customers are not likely to complain about new features showing up on their boxes, and the additions could help lure in more subscribers during the holiday season. As pointed out by TiVo vice president of marketing Jim Denney, “the television remains the best picture frame in the house — especially with the growing number of high-definition sets.”
The latest enhancements, which are available to subscribers at no additional charge, represent an evolution in TiVo’s DVR, as the company continues to try to differentiate its device from rivals through better integration with online services. Not the largest photo-sharing sites on the Web, Picasa and Photobucket are outranked by sites like Yahoo’s Flickr.
For TiVo, integration with Web services offers a way to better compete with cable and satellite companies offering DVRs from rivals such as Cisco Systems, Motorola, and Scientific-Atlanta. TiVo has been losing market share to rivals who have gained the advantage of wider distribution through TV service providers.
TiVo has also launched a research service in which advertisers can subscribe to TiVo-collected data that is based on its subscribers’ viewing habits. The information is offered as a way for TV advertisers to track commercials to determine which are most effective on particular demographics, such as age or ethnicity of TiVo subscribers.
It is yet another step in TiVo’s quest to make its equipment more versatile than the standard DVR–and to make it an appealing choice in a market that remains tepid.
“At TiVo, we are focused on the entire entertainment experience, from movies to music, and in this case–memories,” TiVo’s Denney, said in a statement. “By working with these well-respected and popular photo-sharing partners, TiVo enables families to share their pictures in new, fun ways.”
This fall, TiVo also announced a deal with RealNetworks’ Rhapsody to bring the subscription-based music service to its devices.