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

Pressing a button?

[i_need_no_nick]

As in, the TV networks have interactive re-runs of shows? If it were that easy, why would anyone buy a Mystro TV thingy?

Is it just me, or is the grammar in Slashdot postings getting worse over time?

I know it aint no Tivo

[Apparition-X]

But I think that Tivo has two big appeals: no commercials, and "watch what you want, when you want". And it seems to me that the AOL device could deliver on that in spades. I am not really sure I care as much about commercials as I do about when I get to watch. I might even be willing to have the commercials in if it means I don't have to pay extra for a subscription network (like the HBO channel mentioned in the article).

What I am getting at is this: if there is a choice between paying $25/month for cable, plus $25 for the AOL service (commercial content in), or $25 for cable, plus $50 for a service that lets me skip commercials, I think a lot of households (perhaps even mine if my wife saw the bill!) would choose the former.

Not a TiVO killer

[frdmfghtr]

The essence of AOL Time Warner's Mystro TV is a technology that uses a cable system itself to provide viewers capabilities similar to computerized personal video recorders like TiVo: watching programs on their own schedules, with fast-forward and rewind. But it also lets networks set the parameters, dictating which shows users can reschedule, and it also creates ways for networks to insert commercials.

Sounds more like "Mystro TV Suicide" or "crippled TiVO" to me. This won't be anything near a TiVO Killer: It goes against what TiVO stands for: use of the product (TV content) on YOUR terms. I don't want the networks dictating to me what I can and cannot record; after all, they don't control my work schedule, so they can't possibly know when I can watch what.

I don't see it going anywhere.