I hesitated before posting this (and I’m probably going to regret it) but PVRblog has posted a rumor they just received (thanks to Tom for sending it to us)…and are claiming the validity of is, at best, 25%…that Apple will be licensing Tivo for iTV.
I could believe that. It might explain why we haven’t seen Tivo2Go on the Mac…perhaps they’ve been developing a different application for OSx? Tivo also started hiring Mac programmers last summer, and, again…no Tivo2Go…so what are they working on?
Here’s the part that really raises my DOUBTS about this rumor…
the name iTV has changed to Mac Media Capsule
Ain’t no way.
“Mac Media Capsule” is just about the worst name I’ve ever heard for a device…period. Much less an Apple device. It’s only slightly worse than the name Wii…but still terrible.
There is NO WAY that Apple is renaming iTV to Mac Media Capsule.
So…there you have it…another wild Apple rumor.
With Macworld just around the corner, I doubt this will be the last one that we see…
5 thoughts on “WILD RUMOR ALERT – Apple & Tivo to partner for iTV?”
I doubt that they will be partnering, but if Apple decides to go the DVR/PVR route, then I guess they will have to go by TiVo to license all of their patents.
And why would Apple name the iTV a capsule? Its a flat Mac Mini-like shape, not a cylinder. I wouldn’t even claim that this rumor has a 5% chance of being valid.
capsule is a container like a box
Look at the names of the new products Apple has been releasing as of late: mac book, mac mini, mac pro. It is clear that they are attempting to rebrand themselves as the “Mac” provider with regards to their computers. Which leads me to the conclusion that the Mac Media Capsule would only be likely as a name if they were going to make it a full fledged Mac. That seems unlikely to me, possible, but unlikely. I think a far more likely product is a joint venture with TiVO where TiVO becomes enable to read video streams from any Mac in the house.
Re: Branding.
Mac…xyz = computer products (mini, book, book pro, imac)
i…xyz = lifestyle products (iLife, iPod, iPhone, iTv, iTunes, iDVD)
Apple doesn’t need to go through TiVo for any licenses for hard drives to record TV.
If they decided to act indepently, there is a device that allows you to access/watch your TV shows from any computer called Slingbox, which they’ve most likely modeled the concept on. If you could buy shows via iTMS AND record local TV and be able to watch those shows from a remote location… that would be the ultimate device. Regardless of dreaming, this device will allow you to access your computer and use it in a way that’s more like conventional TiVo/DVR. I think, if anything, you’ll be able to choose whether or not you want to download the shows to your local computer, iTV or both.
Ironically, the Mac Media Capusle makes me think it is true, as that is exactly the kind of internal name Tivo would give a project like this.