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Time Warner Cable Launches iPad App With Live TV
ShadowFoxx writes "Time Warner Cable Inc. is launching an iPad application that plays live TV, becoming the first cable company to do so. The app will be free to download on Tuesday morning, but it will only work for people who subscribe to both video and Internet service from the New York-based cable company. Even then, it only works in the home, when the iPad is connected to the company's cable modem via a Wi-Fi router."
Uh, then who cares? I mean unless you really need to watch TV on the crapper.
Watching your TV content outside the home has always been crippled by legal agreements between the content owners and distributors. See, if TV was available on the web without restriction, they wouldn't be able to charge the bar and restaurant owners the high per-TV rates they do now. So we're stuck with a fancy iPad app that turns your iPad into a small TV but only when you're on your home WiFi. Sure it could work over 3G, but that's not a deal Time Warner Cable wants to write... and by doing so may be protecting the space from somebody who does want to do such a deal.
You mean that dumb thing that requires you to be around when they air the program? This is 2011, that crap has to go. I would rather not watch a program that deal with that garbage.
I've been watching extensive coverage of the Japan Earthquake/Tsunami on NHK's app. CNN lets you watch live TV as well....
For what it's worth, TWC modems are 'free'. Probably built into the cost of the service? Yes, but that's transparent to the user. I pay ~$40/month for 7 meg service (it's in a bundle, so I don't know what the actual price is). They (are trying to) do the same thing with ESPN360. They make you login to verify that you have TV service with them also, which causes a problem for Xbox 360 users. They're trying to protect their ancient revenue stream. If I can watch live TV on my ipad, including sports, TW isn't getting my $60/month anymore for cable. They don't like that. I don't blame them.
This will go great with bandwidth caps!
Oh wait, that'd be a PR nightmare. I'm sure this will be exempt. Want to compete? Tough luck!
<xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
I've been using a Slingbox for years. It streams your TV feed over the Net. You can even use it to control your TiVo, and change channels remotely.
Great technology for those who must have access to their boob tube when away from home.
Slashdot "libertarians": Small government for me, big government for those I disagree with. -1, I disagree with you
In which case, I can use my iPad to watch live TV while I am watching live TV on my TV. It's like picture in picture that I can actually hold and it doesn't stop me from using picture in picture AGAIN while I am watching.
The drawback is that this means no more beating off to Telemundo with the sound off, my hands are going to be too busy flipping around the iPad while I work the remote to capture the money scenes on the DVR and watch them in slomo.
Next we NEED a DVR app for the iPad.
What a bunch of dinosaurs.
No no, it's so you can be charged for running up your internet connection bill at home by streaming video to the ipad to watch at 1024x576. At least the xoom, with a 1280x800 screen, can do 1280x720.
WTF, you're going to spend $500 or more on an iPad so you can ... watch tv?!? Really?
All this craze for the device is so that people can ... watch tv.
Talk about consumerism going nuts!
Oh please, like you've never posted on Slashdot from a laptop.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
hmm, seems like you, like many /.ers misunderstand how this works.
They would have to put an option to subscribe in the app and if you did Apple would take 30%. If you continued subscribing in the usual manner Apple would get nothing (beyond 30% of the cost of the app if there is one)
Maybe TimeWarner made a deal with apple and will be exempt.
Maybe they are trying to get this app out there so their customers will complain to Apple after the app is taken down in June.
I know I would love to have Apple strong arming Time Warner when it comes to billing ux.
Like anyone can even know that
And its illegal to use OTA for public display of sporting events. I realize sports aren't big to slashdot users, but if you've ever watched any major sporting event like a NFL or MLB game, or a big race ... the first thing you hear and see is a 'no rebroadcasting without permission'.
No, it's not. First, showing it isn't rebroadcasting.
Second, the ban on public display is only for screen sizes of 55" and greater. Don't you remember the fuss about churches being told that 55" screens were too big for watching the superbowl ?
Places are prohibited from charging admission to watch the Super Bowl, and the law prevents them from showing the game on a TV bigger than 55 inches.
Where in the article or the summary is Comcast mentioned?
I know I would love to have Apple strong arming Time Warner when it comes to billing us.
Really sure about that? Are you really, really sure you want a scenario where the ultimate and most likely conclusion goes to the tune of "Apple-Time Warner"?
You don't get it. Ask any [iDevice fan] and right now he is twittering/fbing frantically on just how UBER SUPER COOL his tablet is, that he can now watch TV AT HOME!!!!!!!!11!!!
I'm not saying this is or isn't a true statement, but...
Heck, have them all: http://twitter.com/search/ipad%20tv%20time%20warner%20sweet#search?q=ipad%20tv%20time%20warner%20cool (though "uber" turned up nothing ;)
The summary mentions that both your Internet and TV have to be through the local cable company. In one market, the one examined by the article, this is TWC. In another, it is Comcast. I don't see why other markets' cable companies wouldn't follow TWC's lead in this policy.
Is this really something new?
(If at first you don't succeed, do it different next time!)
Oh please, like you've never posted on Slashdot from a laptop.
Sure, but I've never watched TV on a laptop. Never seen a need to. See the distinction?
Breakfast served all day!
solution anyone?
the ultimate and most likely conclusion goes to the tune of "Apple-Time Warner"?
I doubt Apple would willingly hyphenate with anyone.
Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
Oh please, like you've never posted on Slashdot from a laptop.
Sure, but I've never watched TV on a laptop. Never seen a need to. See the distinction?
No. You still entertain yourself with your portable device but cannot understand why others do.
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
No. You still entertain yourself with your portable device but cannot understand why others do.
No. I use a portable device with a keyboard to post to /. because posting to /. requires a keyboard, at the very least a touchscreen. That is why I bought a laptop. But for watching TV in my home -- a completely passive act that requires neither a keyboard or a pointing device -- I already have a perfectly functional TV, and therefore don't need an interactive touchscreen device that's about one-tenth the size of my TV but costs almost as much. It's not "a portable device" if you're sitting on your living room couch, staring at it while holding it a few inches from your face. And, if you read TFA, you will see how this service requires you to be at home, sitting on your couch -- so I'd venture it makes a lot of sense to ask why you'd be staring at your iPad when your TV is right across the room.
Breakfast served all day!
No. I use a portable device with a keyboard to post to /. because posting to /. requires a keyboard, at the very least a touchscreen. That is why I bought a laptop.
You could just use your computer, which was cheaper, and you're already required to sit down in front of it anyway. Sitting there at your desk with your laptop in your lap* just to post on Slashdot is just silly!
"I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
WTF, you're going to spend $500 or more on an iPad so you can ... watch tv?!?
And play games and use it as a highly portable latop when travellign and draw and make music...
But all that is besides the point, because I think I would pay $500 not to have to bother with a cable box.
And of course you can send the display to a real TV if you wish.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I wonder how they're planning on getting around Apple's requirement that subscription services available through an app have the option to use In App Purchase.
I mean - that's about what they're limiting it to, anyway, aren't they? Oh, I guess you already have to have video form them, so why bother...
So.. why bother?
How about Time Warner spends its time and money on improving its crappy upload speed and rolling out IPv6 instead?
Go green: turn off your refrigerator.
Sure, but I've never watched TV on a laptop. Never seen a need to. See the distinction?
That you are a prick that assumes no one else on the planet would ever want anything different than you? Yes, I think I see that distinction.
Learn to love Alaska
No no, it's so you can be charged for running up your internet connection bill at home by streaming video to the ipad to watch at 1024x576. At least the xoom, with a 1280x800 screen, can do 1280x720.
So wait... On one hand you semi-jokingly complain about the over charges they would no doubt apply for the amount of data it would take to stream at 1024x576, and then proceed to bash the iPad implying it's screen is too small by stating an even Larger video stream to a not-ipad as a good feature?!?
Man, Apple haters will go to any lengths
Try again. When people look at video streaming packages, they forget that their internet billing can also rise since they can exceed their cap. So that was my first point. My second was that if you're going to watch a movie, the ipad isn't the best option available in the current generation of tablets - far from it.
As for your point, do you have any proof that the video stream is smaller for the ipad? It doesn't look like it, since it will only work over wifi. It's more likely that the iPad wil downres the video for display on the device's screen. After all, 1024x576 is a real oddball video format.
Sorry to spoil your American Pride: but I as a customer can use the application YELO to watch live Video on my iPad. ONLY with my Telenet account and ONLY at places that have Telenet as their provider. (My Home , Some customers , the Central Train station in Antwerp).
(Telenet is one of the Flemish cable companies.)
Don't be silly. It's the same for any dedicated fan of any product - one someone associates themselves with the brand, rational thought goes out the window. There's nothing special about iOS folks doing it.
1) Only on an iPad- no other tablet, brand, or type of machine.
2) Which means you probably also have to have a computer and one that can run iTunes (since that is used for install and updates).
3) And you have to have Time Warner cable TV service.
4) And only Time Warner Internet service.
5) And be on the IP address registered to you.
6) And only 30 channels.
How incredibly thoughtful, open, and flexible that is! What next? Require they watch all the commercials too... ooops....
Well, at least it is a step in the right direction and it sounds like they might add additional features and such.
Can they write an App that will run on my Win 7 or Linux based HTPC that will play live TV across their IP network? That would be something I could use.
Even then, it only works in the home, when the iPad is connected to the company's cable modem via a Wi-Fi router
It also must be line of sight to your TV. It uses the iPad's new camera to "beam" a signal from your TV to your iPad.
But I wish they had the same app in a generic browser or at least a pc/linux/android aswell. Possible uses could include not having to miss a ball game because the wife wants to watch dancing with the stars (not everyone has 2 hdtv's). Or many times I want to watch tv in bed so I do the hulu thing. But it would be nice to see live local news in bed. It seems that al jazeera is the only streaming news source these days. PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong, I would love to find a free streaming local station service.
God's honest truth? I use Windows Media Center attached to my TV via component out, and for some reason it insists on capturing keyboard and mouse input on the secondary screen (the TV). I can no longer move the mouse to get back to my regular monitor. When I break out by pressing the Windows key, it messes up the aspect ratio on my TV; the TV normally has an anamorphic aspect mode, and Media Center understands it, but the regular Explorer mode doesn't. Windows Miracle #2782.
Breakfast served all day!
While it's not precisely the same thing, DISH Network's Sling Adapter allows users to watch anything recorded on the DVR, or to tune the DVR and watch live TV, on their PC (including OS X), iPad, or iPhone, regardless of their location (provided there's adequate bandwidth). It's $100 and has no service fee.
Using it within my house is great, I can carry my iPad around the house or the yard while watching TV. So far, attempts to use hotel wifi when I'm away have been a bust, the connections I've gotten just aren't fast enough, but more stable connections work just fine.
I know TW's product is a little different, but frankly, I like DISH's approach better. I rarely watch anything live, so having full access to my DVR's contents adds a lot of value.
because I can flip over to the news on the iPad while outdoors reading or the like. I can have it running in the kitchen when cooking, even turn it on in the morning in the bathroom while shaving or the like. In short, anywhere where it would be nice to have a TV but I am not willing to buy one. I looked into putting a TV behind the bathroom mirror but decided against it from a cost stand point. I do not have a computer or TV in the bedroom but an infrequent use item like the iPad might get a pass.
Call me odd, but I don't have televisions all throughout my house. I have two. One in the den and one in the exercise room. A portable television that has real functionality other than, well tv, would be awesome.
* Winners compare their achievements to their goals, losers compare theirs to that of others.
I think it's you who doesn't understand this. You're required to offer an in app subscription if you offer one out of app. Apple only gets 30% off the in app sales, but the option does have to be there.
So I'm guessing you didn't read my post past the first line. Maybe read it again and then come back and talk to me
I know I would love to have Apple strong arming Time Warner when it comes to billing ux [sic].
no "[sic]", ux means "user experience".
Like anyone can even know that
That's not what I said. I said: "I know I would love to have Apple strong arming Time Warner when it comes to billing ux."
Like anyone can even know that
Mine is free. Digital TV + one HD box + Internet + high speed roadrunner = $83/month as of yesterday when I called them.
Just downloaded it on my fiances iPad2. I either get a "service not available" or when I sign on the application keeps saying it is signing on but never goes past that.
He said itard, huh huh.
This aint Daytona and you aint Dale Earnhardt. So stop trying to draft on Interstate 40.
You don't get it. Ask any itard and right now he is twittering/fbing frantically on just how UBER SUPER COOL his tablet is, that he can now watch TV AT HOME!!!!!!!!11!!!
I like watching TV on my iPad - a local station has an app - but it doesn't require me to have paid for the cable package up front, and then pay again for the bandwidth.
You need to learn to tell the difference between free and hidden cost.
TimeWarner gives 'Free HD' to anyone renting an HD box ... you can't get the Free HD without renting a box or a cable card, so its not free, its just the cost is hidden in the rental fees of something else.
Persistent Volume manager for Kubernetes - https://github.com/dwimsey/openshift-pvmanager
Time Warner Cable March 16 slashed the number of channels available for live streaming on the Apple iPad — less than 24 hours after launching the TV Everywhere app.
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/electronic-delivery/time-warner-cable-cuts-ipad-live-tv-access-50-23348