“Comcast has quietly snuck a new cloud-based DVR app into the iTunes store,” Michael Grothaus reports for TUAW.
“The app actually showed up back in July but is only being spotted now. The reason for that is because the app is companion software to a Comcast service that has not rolled out to a large audience yet,” Grothaus reports. “That service is called X2 and combines a set-top box with cloud storage to allow anyone to DVR their favorite shows and store them in the cloud.”
Grothaus reports, “Once the service rolls out, the Comcast Labs DVR app will allow users to access their cloud-based DVR (cDVR) programs when behind a Comcast modem.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Lynn Weiler” for the heads up.]
“when behind a Comcast modem”
If I am behind a Comcast modem I do not need the service.
And here I was, about to get excited. Either I’m missing something or this is not very useful.
Did you let out the same disappointed “Ohhh …” that I did when you read “when behind a Comcast modem”?
Shitty way of say “DVR app will allows Comcast broadband customers to access cloud-based DVR programs”.
Basically a streaming app for the programs which your leased (at a great cost I’m sure) X1 has recorded.
No cable company has been able to make a DVR with even the most basic reliability and UI so who knows. I know that TiVo has been wasting their time and money on shit and if this is anywhere a good UI they’re going to be out of business.
How exactly is this completive? Sling streams to the device and does not require one be near the companies equipment. Sounds more flash than substance.
It actually competes more with the TiVo Stream (which I have an use) than a Slingbox. You have to be on the same network as the TiVo Stream to get it to stream your DVRed shows to an iPhone or iPad.
I have a TiVo Stream too, and use it quite often when I want to watch shows on my iPad in rooms where we don’t have (or want) a TV.
This is slightly different because you can still stream content outside of your home network, you just need to be behind a Comcast modem.
The main reason for this may be shortsighted, but it comes down to Comcast not wanting to pay to move data off their network. Of course there are other dickish reasons for this too, but the main reason is to avoid the interconnect costs.