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I don't think Apple will buy Tivo
There is a rumor on "the Internets" that Apple Computer is thinking about buying Tivo. I am not so sure about that but it would be interesting to consider it.
The reasons to see why Apple and Tivo would be a good match are as follows. Apple has not made any set top personal video recorders and Tivo has never made a computer. Both Tivo and Apple have a very devoted cult following like customer base. They both compete with Microsoft formats and operating systems like Mac OSX vs. Windows XP and Tivo vs. Windows Media Center. Apple has a popular personal audio player and Tivo is the most popular personal video player. There is been a long rumor that Apple is planning a Video iPod but Steve Jobs has denied it. The Tivo OS is based on a custom Linux and Apple's Mac OSX is based on a custom UNIX OS.
Those are the reasons why Apple would buy Tivo but there are also a whole bunch of reasons why they would not merge. Apple has their own hardware design, hardware manufacturing, software development, R & D, marketing people, and a respected high tech brand. They have their own OS platform, their own video and audio formats, wireless networking and they have experience working with both Mac, PC, Linux and iPods. They have video editing software, photo editing software, digital music software. I just don't see Apple needing the Tivo brand or Tivo technology.
I just don't like Tivo monthly license and their willingness to add consumer restrictions. Such as banner ads on the skip button and self-expiring recordings that delete at the request of the broadcasters. Also I don't like the tracking data of what you are watching being sent to Tivo such as how many people went back and looked at the naked boob at last year's Superbowl.
If Apple really wanted to they could easily set up their own devision to make a personal digital video recorder. I could see Apple making their own digital video recorder with a Power PC CPU, ATI graphics chip, real time Quicktime MPEG-4 encoding, wireless networking, Ethernet networking, big ass hard drive, scaled down Unix OS, networking with Macs, iPods, iPod Photos, PCs and if they ever make the rumored iPod Video or the iPhone. They could have it link up to iTunes, iDVD, iMovie, iPhoto. They also have their own Safari web browser and it would be super cool if you could set it up to stream over a network or the internet. Not to mention they have some of the best graphic user interface design in on the planet.
That had to be cheaper than buying another company. I know that Apple has bought companies like NeXT and Power Computing in the past but I just don't see Apple and Tivo being a very good fit together.
Of course I could be wrong. But who the hell knows it is just internet rumors.
Hey I should have my iBook by Monday.
Jake at February 25, 2005 
Nerd
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Comments
"I just don't like Tivo monthly license and their willingness to add consumer restrictions. Such as banner ads on the skip button and self-expiring recordings that delete at the request of the broadcasters. Also I don't like the tracking data of what you are watching being sent to Tivo such as how many people went back and looked at the naked boob at last year's Superbowl."
Are they fascist warmongers?
NO CUSTOMER CAN POSSIBLE BUY SUCH A PRODUCT (AND HAVE AN IQ OVER 45).
Posted by: Jim at February 26, 2005 12:43 AM
Most consumers are really not that as in tune with their digital rights and digital privacy as they should be.
Tivo is in a hard spot because if they piss off the MPAA, NAB and RIAA they will find themselves in a very costly lawsuit.
I don't have a problem with anonymous tracking of TV viewing habits if it means that I never have to see tampon and penis pill commercials.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at February 26, 2005 8:16 AM
I can easily see Apple coming out with something like an iTV thingie which, much like the iPod, will playback video files much like iTunes song files. How big it would be, or how much storage space something like that would need to be worthwhile, I dunno. You have to admit it would be cool to have an iTunes-like store where you could download an episode of some show you missed for 99 cents.
Posted by: Alex at February 28, 2005 2:24 AM
I can easily see Apple coming out with something like an iTV thingie which, much like the iPod, will playback video files much like iTunes song files. How big it would be, or how much storage space something like that would need to be worthwhile, I dunno. You have to admit it would be cool to have an iTunes-like store where you could download an episode of some show you missed for 99 cents.
Posted by: Alex at February 28, 2005 2:24 AM
I have a feeling it would be more that 99 cents for a show, unless it included the commercials. But I would still go for it if it was in the sub $5 range.
Posted by: Riley at March 1, 2005 3:51 PM
fantastic writing, the entry is great!
Posted by: Dish Network at March 26, 2005 8:14 PM
im a lurker coming out to say hello
Posted by: trannies at March 26, 2005 11:03 PM
