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Microsoft Takes on TiVo

Posted by michael on from the wake-up-call dept.

CatsCradle writes "The Seattle Times has an article about Microsoft's Foundation and their new partnership with Comcast to provide a TiVo-like service."

11 of 295 comments (clear)

  1. This will be fun. by wooby · · Score: 5, Funny

    I've never seen a BSOD on a TV before. Hopefully through the deal Comcast will supply the NTLDR.

  2. Ultimate TV??? by RudyG13 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Didnt' they already try this?

    Yup thought so

  3. Foundation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Oh, so this is Bill Gates' "Foundation" I keep hearing about!

    </joke>

  4. Blue screen by AtariAmarok · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is nothing like seeing a Blue Screen of Death on a 50 inch plasma screen. And there's nothing like having the "URKEL32" teleworm wipe out your Simpsons recording collection.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  5. Will it include Binky, the Helpful Paperclip by CharonX · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hmmm....
    I wonder if it will include Binky, the Helpful Paperclip...
    "Hi Buddy, looks like you are watching Porn - do you want me to inform all people you know?
    Press [YES] to confirm or [YES] to continue

    --
    +++ MELON MELON MELON +++ Out of Cheese Error +++ redo from start +++
  6. Re:Goodbye Tivo by calibanDNS · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Hardly. Tivo has name recognition in the DVR market (so much so that many people don't know what a DVR is, but certainly know what a Tivo is). Tivo's been in the market for years and has a large installed userbase. Microsoft will have to fight hard to catch up to this. In my opinion, this is similar to Microsoft entering the console market with the XBox. The XBox sells decently in the US, but it can't compare to PS2 sales in any market. Why? Sony has name recognition and beat MS to market in the current generation of consoles. I think that MS is going to have a very difficult time unseating Tivo as the King of DVRs.

  7. Channel choices by AtariAmarok · · Score: 5, Funny
    Don't forget all the channel choices on Microsoft TV:

    MSNBC

    MSCBS

    MSABC

    MSFOX

    The History Channel (sample show: Microsoft invents the GUI with Windows 1.0)

    EA-SPN. (the sports network where you get to watch guys play sports videogames)

    Animal Planet. (featuring the microsoft mouse)

    Lifetime (featuring details of how long the Microsoft EULA binds you)

    MTV (featuring Ballmer Beach Dance Blast!)

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  8. Awesome! by I'm+Spartacus! · · Score: 5, Funny

    CatsCradle writes "The Seattle Times has an article about Microsoft's Foundation and their new partnership with Comcast to provide a TIVO like service."

    Thanks for that link to the Microsoft homepage! I've been looking for that.

    Slashdot comes through again!!!

    --
    "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." -- Ambrose Bierce
  9. DVR supports HDTV by piser · · Score: 5, Interesting

    People are missing the point here. Now with comcast you can get an affordable HDTV DVR (as opposed to the $1000 diretivo model).

    Check it out:
    http://broadband.motorola.com/dvr/dct6412.as p

    That's pretty good for $10/month.

  10. Re:Goodbye Tivo by a_nonamiss · · Score: 5, Insightful

    OK, TiVo has a huge share in the DVR (or PVR, as my Cable company calls it) market, but didn't Netscape used to have like 92% of the browser market? Name recognition means crap when competing against Microsoft. Sorry, but unless TiVo partners up with cable box makers YESTERDAY, then they're done.

    Hey TiVo, you need to call someone over at Motorola. I have a Motorola cable/PVR/HDTV box and it SUCKS. Bad. I've had TiVo for three years, and I love it. The Motorola box crashes all the time, the controls suck, the program guide sucks. Looks like it was programmed in the 80's.

    --
    -Arthur
    Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules
  11. I've lost my thunder by OverflowingBitBucket · · Score: 5, Funny

    Here I was thinking I could make some quip about this new service recording and inserting additional ads into your recorded content, and tag a fast "5:Funny". Something like this:

    "I hear Microsoft plan to go for an untapped market niche neglected by the TiVo. This new recorder records just the ads around the program, as well as inserting a few of its own."

    Surefire positive moderation and reassurance for my meaningless existence centered around Slashdot karma right? Well, it seems the comedians at Microsoft have already stolen my thunder. From the Microsoft Foundation page...

    Sell and secure HDTV homes.
    Promote offerings with targeted ads and recommendations.
    Insert ads and promotions...
    Control and customize your viewers' experience.

    It seems that they have they thought of all my best gags and implemented them as actual features. Dammit. What a sad day when a monolithic company can spent thousands on marketing a product whose primary purpose is to deny a Slashdotter the simple pleasure of a two-line quip. *runs and cries*