PVR Wire

1. PVR's have been around for how many years now? The iTunes video downloads is completely new, and people seem to forget, you don't have to watch it on your iPod, you can watch it on your computer or plug in to your TV. It's only a matter of time before Apple takes this prime time.

Posted at 10:41AM on Feb 16th 2006 by soundboy64

2. "... when they could record it on a cheap PC-based PVR card and transfer it to their portable media device (iPod or otherwise) for free..."

You answered your own question! People will pay for convenience - duh. When Tivo allows a recorded show to transfer to an iPOD in one click, maybe your argument is valid. In the mean time, it's about convenience, it's not about whether the technology is there to do it cheaper.

Posted at 11:08AM on Feb 16th 2006 by Dallas Texas

3. The iTunes video downloads of TV shows works to an extent.

Personally, I haven't spent any money on iTunes downloading videos, as I do not have the 5th generation iPod, which is the only one that works with it. And I have no need to download episodes of "Law and Order" to watch in pixel-y quality on my PowerBook when I can watch them on TNT-HD. (True, it's a home product and not a mobile one. Still, I don't have much need for mobile video.)

On the other hand, the ratings of shows like "The Office" and "Lost" have improved since they became available on iTunes, which must mean iTunes is growing the audience.

I hope the Apple strategy is to make video downloads ancillary to a HD set-top box and subscription plan that will allow Apple to do over IP what Comcast and others do over the cable lines. If Apple came out with an IP-based set-top box/computer for $500 or less with programming from all of the major networks and a subscription plan of less than $50 a month to get access to most or all of the programming and (of course) the Front Row UI, I would seriously consider dumping Comcast.

Posted at 12:14PM on Feb 16th 2006 by Porchland

4. What a luddite criticism. I expect that from Murdoch, who may be too old to grasp new technology (but never too old to push his own interests), but from a site like this?

Why not say "why would anyone want a DVR when I have a VHS machine that I can program to record shows for me, and then if I want to keep them, I just pop in a new tape"?

The point is that more and more people want to take their video with them, without the hassle of transferring from a PC based system (remember that most people don't have their PC in their living rooms yet). Just like with music, you could go out and buy a CD, rip it, and stick it on your MP3 player, or you can buy it off of iTunes and have it appear automatically in your library on your iPod.

My biggest complaint about the videos on iTunes is the lack of programming. I want more, and I want to be able to play it on my PSP (bigger screen, and I already own it).

Just try and keep up with the new uses of media instead of becoming bogged down with one technology. I could read USA Today if I wanted that crap.

Posted at 12:06PM on Feb 17th 2006 by Joshua Stein