TiVo : Sky Q and VM answer ?

[robolots]

Originally Posted by Paul M

I have seen anything much worth watching on it, I have no idea why people think its so good.

This.
I too don't see all the fuss over Sky Atlantic.

[blood]

I am currently with sky until June is , I tweeted Virgin media a couple of nights ago about there plans for a new box in light of the new skyQ box


They told me they have no plans for a new box? Can this be right?



Cheers


Stephen

[denphone]

Well they are not going to reveal their plans to customers until they are good and ready..

[blood]

maybe not but maybe they could have said "work is ongoing" or something along those lines without giving anything away but they didn't say that they categorically said no new box.

Now Im not saying you're wrong but they seemed pretty certain!

Anywhoo I guess we will see in the next 6 months or so

Cheers


Stephen

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by blood

maybe not but maybe they could have said "work is ongoing" or something along those lines without giving anything away but they didn't say that they categorically said no new box.

Now Im not saying you're wrong but they seemed pretty certain!

Anywhoo I guess we will see in the next 6 months or so

Cheers


Stephen

It could be that the person replying to the tweet has not heard of any plans for a new box. AFAIK, Virgin don't generally tell their customer facing staff about any new hardware or service upgrades until they are ready to announce it to the public. Apologies if this is not the case with VM, but in my experience, a lot of big companies operate like that.

I think there are several reasons.

1. Some companies (not saying VM is like this as I don't know) test a lot of different hardware or changes to their services. It does not mean they will launch them quickly, or at all. This is what makes me laugh about Apple rumours based on what they have patented Apple come up with ideas for a *lot* of devices and services that they patent. Those ideas don't usually make it any further than testing (if they even make it that far), yet the media frequently publishes the patents as if they are a new product.
2. They may wish to reduce the number of people who know about the new box or service to limit the chances of it leaking to the public. The problem they have when it's leaked to the public is that if it's delayed or cancelled (for whatever reason), the public will complain.
3. Most companies don't want their competitors to know what they are launching before they are ready to launch it.

[muppetman11]

May be wrong here but if VM were to deploy cloud recording couldn't they do all this with its current TIVO STB's ?

When recordings are moved to the cloud doesn't the tuner issue become irrelevant ? I must admit to having limited knowledge here however in bits I've read on the subject it seems with cloud recordings the provider can set whatever amount of simulataneous recordings they see fit and can also sell storage amounts up and above the norm. I believe in the US cable co Comcast boxes still record local with a copy made available in the cloud also thus allowing for tablet/smartphone viewing and other STB's in the home.

I'm sure Spider will correct my mistakes.

[spiderplant]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

I'm sure Spider will correct my mistakes.

I see no mistakes.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by passingbat

You can pick up a now TV box for £15, or one with 3 months entertainment pass for £19.

New and existing NPower customers can get an entertainment pass for free.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by Paul M

I have seen anything much worth watching on it, I have no idea why people think its so good.

Other than the first series of True Dective, I fully agree. Have had Sky 7-8 months and other than the less than impressive second series of True Dective, and the very average and predictable plots set around of the sex and violence of Banshiee, I have not watched anything on it.

I will admit I have used Sky box sets to watch Sopranos and The Wire - which should have stopped after the third series.

Before I joined Sky I had no desire to watch Sky Atlantic. Now I have it, I still could not care less about it.

[mike_gain]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

May be wrong here but if VM were to deploy cloud recording couldn't they do all this with its current TIVO STB's ?

When recordings are moved to the cloud doesn't the tuner issue become irrelevant ? I must admit to having limited knowledge here however in bits I've read on the subject it seems with cloud recordings the provider can set whatever amount of simulataneous recordings they see fit and can also sell storage amounts up and above the norm. I believe in the US cable co Comcast boxes still record local with a copy made available in the cloud also thus allowing for tablet/smartphone viewing and other STB's in the home.

I'm sure Spider will correct my mistakes.

I'd imagine they would use the could app already installed on the TiVo to deliver the access to cloud recording service so every chance the current box could support it with the existing recording functionality remaining unchanged.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by mike_gain

I'd imagine they would use the could app already installed on the TiVo to deliver the access to cloud recording service so every chance the current box could support it with the existing recording functionality remaining unchanged.

Isn't one of the cited advantages of cloud recording, cheaper boxes? I.e. less hardware required, the obvious one being no need for hard drives.

And the processor in the current Tivo is still five years old. It's acceptable, but really should be updated so that it is more speedy.

So if VM do move to the cloud for recording, I would expect an updated box which will be less expensive for VM to buy.

Is it too soon for VM to move to the cloud? Would a change such as that be better in a couple of years time? I'm honestly not sure. But if cloud storage is only a couple of years away, what should VM do about the current box? Struggle on with it and patch it up a bit, or provide a new faster box?

If only we all knew what Spiderplant knows

[denphone]

And we all know his lips are sealed one suspects.

[jb66]

Originally Posted by blood

maybe not but maybe they could have said "work is ongoing" or something along those lines without giving anything away but they didn't say that they categorically said no new box.

Now Im not saying you're wrong but they seemed pretty certain!

Anywhoo I guess we will see in the next 6 months or so

Cheers


Stephen

Id rather they say that than "coming soon" like 4g on virgin mobile 2 years ago

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Isn't one of the cited advantages of cloud recording, cheaper boxes? I.e. less hardware required, the obvious one being no need for hard drives.

And the processor in the current Tivo is still five years old. It's acceptable, but really should be updated so that it is more speedy.

So if VM do move to the cloud for recording, I would expect an updated box which will be less expensive for VM to buy.

Is it too soon for VM to move to the cloud? Would a change such as that be better in a couple of years time? I'm honestly not sure. But if cloud storage is only a couple of years away, what should VM do about the current box? Struggle on with it and patch it up a bit, or provide a new faster box?

If only we all knew what Spiderplant knows

When things are moved to the cloud isn't the processing done in the cloud ?

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

When things are moved to the cloud isn't the processing done in the cloud ?

I don't use catch up or watch on demand via Tivo, but people always seem to moaning about it for various reasons.

I suspect it is like Netflix access via Tivo; slow compared to streamer boxes, but perfectly adequate all the same.

But people are always going to compare Tivo's speed to streamer boxes (without stopping to think about the fundamental differences).

Without the extra processing required for hard disc recording, my thinking is that a new Tivo designed for cloud recording should be pretty fast.