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TiVo-Like Service Coming To Australia

Posted by timothy on from the escape-the-primetime-shackle dept.

rosy writes with good news for Australian television watchers: "CNET.com.au is reporting that a TiVo-like service will be available in November this year. Dubbed ICE ("Intelligent Content Engine") and developed by Peter Vogel, the technology will be built into set top boxes and personal video recorders to skip ads or lower the volume, view electronic program guides, etc. The article states that the service will cost $2-3 per week with the service launching initially in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong."

10 of 121 comments (clear)

  1. Oz Tivo by mongrol · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps, Australia being upside down, Tivo make work the opposite and actually put decent programming onto the TV rather than take it off.

  2. Hmm... by incog8723 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dubbed ICE ("Intelligent Content Engine") and developed by Peter Vogel, the technology will be built into set top boxes and personal video recorders to skip ads or lower the volume, view electronic program guides, etc.

    When did pr0n start having ads in the middle of the show, and why would you want to lower the volume?

    1. Re:Hmm... by Artega+VH · · Score: 3, Funny

      When did pr0n start having ads in the middle of the show, and why would you want to lower the volume?

      Let me translate for you..
      It means you can skip the dialogue and plot, and allows you to instantly switch "channels" much like the good ole "boss key".

      --
      groklaw, wired and slashdot. The holy trinity of work based time wasting.
    2. Re:Hmm... by weighn · · Score: 2, Funny

      i'd hate to see one of those "ICE Nannies"

      --
      Mongrel News all the news that fits and froths
  3. TV by khazan · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's almost enough to make me wish that I watched TV.

    almost.

  4. Cyberpunk by MikeHunt69 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Will the boxes be black?

  5. Re:Lowering the volume on ads by pipingguy · · Score: 4, Funny


    Actually the ads aren't louder but they do have more impact. This is mostly due to sound compression, where the softer parts of the ads are raised a few decibels in order to reduce the dynamic range of the sound.

    This is true; the commercials effectively turn the volume of your television up to 11.

  6. Re:Ads and Spams by SurgeonGeneral · · Score: 2, Funny

    If spams are anything like ads, maybe it's time someone looks into doing something similar (live monitoring) for spams.

    Yeah, we really need live monitering stations were people sit and watch/read every email.

    Oh wait we already have that. They just call it Echelon.

    --
    -- "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." Jean Jacques Rousseau
  7. (nothing to see here.. move along) by slittle · · Score: 3, Funny
    launching initially in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
    Woohoo! Suck it, Melbourne!

    regards,
    Sydney.
    --
    Opportunity knocks. Karma hunts you down.
    1. Re:(nothing to see here.. move along) by anty · · Score: 2, Funny

      don't think many ppl round here r gonna get that joke.

      least we don't have the mardi gras :P