amazon unbox and tivo -- nice

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amazon unbox and tivo -- nice

posted @ Wednesday, July 11, 2007 5:01 PM | 4 Comments

man i wish microsoft would buy tivo. when tivo came out, i was skeptical. it took some friends to really convince me that i was missing out, that i'd actually watch less tv, yada, yada. after years of being a tivo user, i still love it. i have two of them, they share recordings, i use the tivo desktop app...it is just a great experience (other than their customer service).

they've nailed the simplicity in the user interface, the 'season pass' concept rocks, online scheduling...it all is just bliss for tv viewing. high def? well, okay, every company screws up -- i wish they hadn't. and when they finally woke up they entered late and overpriced...no, i do not have a series 3...argh.

and they came out with the amazon link to unbox...what a great story. i could browse movies online and select them for rent/purchase and then they'd be sent to my tivo unit of my choice. very nice. what was lacking was the ability to do this on the unit...until now.

tivo and amazon announced that on your series2/3 unit now you can browse amazon unbox directly and order from there...awesome. this really is how it should be. netflix should jump on this tivo opp, blockbuster too...i want options.

i've not done the media center thing yet because i don't want a computer in my home theater...i want components that look like they are meant to be there. and i don't want to spend $8K for one either. when i look at the xbox 360, i wish it *was* a media center and not just an extender...then i'd be all over it. i look at the video marketplace on xbox and think that is great too (and i've rented a few). what i don't like about it? the purchase experience...based on points. this is where i LOVE amazon's idea. when i find something, they bill me...i don't have to go to some area, load some points, then go back and purchase...amazon has figured out that impulse buying needs to be captured. love it.

this is a good thing for tivo customers. it really is what apple needs in appleTV (why isn't it iTV?). apple tv is locked to a computer and you can only buy via itunes...why not via the unit? wake up apple on this one, even you should have figured that out.

anyhow, i love the amazon/tivo partnership and hope tivo grows their media delivery partners (hint blockbuster).

tags: tivo, amazon, unbox, amazon unbox, appletv

Comments

John C. Bland II

7/11/2007 9:05 PM | # re: amazon unbox and tivo -- nice

I have to say I'm in the same boat there boss! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE UNBOX ON TIVO! :-)

My only complaint is in how slow it is on my TiVo. The online site is fine but on my TiVo there is always that second or two delay. Other than that, it is an AMAZING service. Oh, the Unbox selection simply isn't there yet either. They are somewhat limited but growing.

I'd also love to see Blockbuster and others done but I think Amazon's One-click is yummy. :-)

Great stuff though!
Thomas Willingham

7/12/2007 12:38 AM | # re: amazon unbox and tivo -- nice

My wife, daughter and I are big TiVo fans. Watching live tv is painful and it really makes you realize how many commercials they actually play.

With a 13 year old daughter in the house there are times when there is quite a bit of background chatter, so it is nice to be able to pause and rewind the show.

I like TiVo but the entry price can be steep on the new high end units, and TiVo doesn't offer a lifetime subscription any more. For us to upgrade we would get dinged for a new TiVo and then start having to pay a montly service - we will just stick with our series 2 thanks.

I have seen this Amazon service advertised, after your writeup I will have to check it out. I wonder how long you get to keep the movie on your TiVo box for?

Have you heard that TiVo software is being certified for us on Comcast DVRs. Hopefully this will remove the initial fee, and just have the month to month serice fee.

TiVo has a great interface, and superior features, I just wish the newer boxes weren't so pricey.
Cameron

7/12/2007 12:25 PM | # re: amazon unbox and tivo -- nice

When I got the coupon earlier this year I was excited to check out Unbox. But I quickly discovered the licensing is too restrictive for me. Once I start watching the video I have to finish it within a day. Exsqueeze me? No thanks!
timheuer

7/12/2007 12:30 PM | # re: amazon unbox and tivo -- nice

that's the rental -- but i don't think it is one day -- it expires 24 hours after your first play. this is the same for xbox live content -- 14 day expiration or 24 hours from first play...for purchased content, you can watch as many times as you want.