AOL's Mystro TV vs Tivo?

admiral2001 writes "Here is is a NYTimes story about AOL-Time-Warner's plans for a TiVo-killing 'Mystro TV' (nytimes annoying free registration required). They plan to begin rolling this out sometime in the next two years. Their major features are the simple pause, rewind, and fast forward that all PVRs have. However, they've taken the obvious stance to "let[s] networks set the parameters, dictating which shows users can reschedule, and it also creates ways for networks to insert commercials." The article even mentions how they could get an advantage in pushing their product because "viewers could try out Mystro TV by pushing a button on their remote"."

Comments

I Love Google

[redink1]

nytimes annoying free registration not required here.

Re:I Love Google

[Sawbones]

My favorite bit from the article is where the "unbiased" reporter calls a Tivo "Cumbersome to install". Unless Mystro talks back up the cable line it's going to be just as "cumbersome" as a Tivo:

1) Connect Cable In.

2) Connect Cable out to TV.

3) Plug in phone line.

Other links

[DeadSea]

Thanks to Google news search:

NY Times Technology (no reg req): AOL Is Planning a Fast-Forward Answer to TiVo

CNN Money: AOL eyes TiVo-like offering

This doesn't have to be the "TiVo killer"

[jht]

If this technology makes it's way into the standard cable network, then it's a sales feature for cable vs. satellite. TiVo becomes, in effect, the "premium option" for consumers, much as it is now.

If the cable companies want to charge more for it, though, then it may steal some sales from TiVo, but it's more likely that folks will avoid it entirely. I actually think that if some form of digital VCR/on demand technology makes it into the cable network by default, it'll be a bonus for TiVo.

Think about it. Right now, one of the toughest things for TiVo is just explaining it to people. If some TiVo-like capabilities become available by default to everyone, then TiVo actually has something to relate their product to. They can say, in essense, "Mystro isn't bad. But when you want the real thing, try TiVo". That has some potential.

By the way, I explain TiVo to folks by saying "I don't watch any particular network anymore. I watch the TiVo channel, and it knows what I want and shows it to me when I want it, automatically". It seems to work as an explanation.