October 19, 2005
Tivo launches application server
It looks like Tivo's application framework is about to come out of the woodwork and go mainstream. Tivo seems to have realized that having users running a PC just to use home media applications was a bad idea (and invitation to competition..."why not try Windows Media Center edition -- no monthly fee?"). Anyway, they've finally figured out the key to their survival is the same as the key to Microsoft's success: make it a platform. With over 3 million (more?) users, Tivo definitely qualifies as platform material. By allowing folks to run application servers over the internet, Tivo is opening the eyes of the little Tivo box and allowing users to enjoy homebrew applications on their Tivo without the hassle or installing the HME on your PC and having the PC running all of the time. The site apps.tv is the first directory of Tivo applications hosted on the net and is pretty sparse thus far, but as this catches on (and it should given the small yet significant market size) there is bound to be more applications and maybe a sure fire hit. I'll get cracking after I launch my secret afterhours project geared towards MSNTV2 and Windows Media Center devices (hopefully this application will be portable to the Tivo HME framework as well--but seriously doubt it since I'm writing it in the .net framwork)
