“Time Warner Cable Inc. is launching an iPad application that plays live TV, becoming the first cable company to do so,” Peter Svensson reports for The Associated Press.
“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,” Svensson reports. “Even then, it only works in the home, when the iPad is connected to the company’s cable modem via a Wi-Fi router.”
“Rob Marcus, the company’s chief operating officer and president, said the app will play 30 basic cable channels in high definition to start, but that number should expand soon,” Svensson reports.
“‘For all intents and purposes … this enables you to convert any room in a house into a TV room,’ Marcus said.”
Svensson reports, “Time Warner Cable’s app doesn’t work as a remote control, nor does it give access to video on demand or shows stored on a digital video recorder in the home. Marcus said these features will be added later.”
Full article here.
UPDATE: March 15, 8:40am ET: The TWCable TV app is now available via Apple’s iTunes App Store: here.
UPDATE: March 15, 5:45pm ET: We’ve been attempting to test and troubleshoot the app with TimeWarner and have come to the conclusion that the app only works with cable modem’s WiFi. In other words, if you’re using your Airport Extreme in between your TimeWarner WiFi cable modem and your iPad, the app will not work for you. Hopefully they’ll update the app soon to make it work with what’s likely to be quite a common setup.
MacDailyNews Note: The TWCable TV app’s current channel lineup:
Time Warner’s app required your Time Warner login username and password. The app does not require your Time Warner “MyServices” password if it is different from your TimeWarner login password (used to access https://login.timewarner.com).
Via YouTube, watch a discussion between Time Warner Cable CEO Glenn Britt, CTO Mike LaJoie, VP of Web Services Jason Gaedtke and Director of Digital Communications Jeff Simmermon:
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Joe Architect” for the heads up.]
Hey guys, get a load of the sixth paragraph:
“Time Warner Cable’s app doesn’t work as a remote control, NOR DOES IT GIVE ACCESS TO VIDEO ON DEMAND or shows stored on a digital video recorder in the home. MARCUS SAID THESE FEATURES WILL BE ADDED LATER. He also said laptops, smart phones and smart TVs could all eventually get apps, too.”
The story’s 6th paragraph is important:
“Time Warner Cable’s app doesn’t work as a remote control, NOR DOES IT GIVE ACCESS TO VIDEO ON DEMAND or shows stored on a digital video recorder in the home. MARCUS SAID THESE FEATURES WILL BE ADDED LATER. He also said laptops, smart phones and smart TVs could all eventually get apps, too.”
Not a first at all. This exists in Belgium since december 2010. The Yelo app does the same on iPhone, iPad, Mac and pc. See http://yelo.be/
Wow Time Warner Cable says that they were the first in the industry to stream live TV to an iPad. Well while TWC was figuring out how to stream content to a tablet, DISH Network has been streaming for the longest time. On another note, the Time Warner Cable app falls short of most of the competition. Sure you can stream live TV…from 32 channels that TWC picked. Sure you can watch when you want…but not everywhere (you must be connected to your home wifi). You can’t even stream your recorded shows. I am not impressed by this app. As a customer and employee of DISH Network, I can say that I am getting far more features from the first company to come out with streaming live TV and recorded shows to my iPad. Yes, I can be across the country, and as long as I have a 3G connection, I have all of my channels with me.
I am using the world’s best online TV viewing software. Spend a lot of time at the computer. For this reason than to watch tv on pc software is required. Thousands of HD channels, TV shows, series, movies all in one software. I searched and really did a very good choice. Don’t pay cable television fees for one year. You still pay them at once and watch tv free from your computer. Once you get use to life.