General : Virgin TV Anywhere arriving in Autumn 2012

[Gavin-D]

Virgin Media has formally announced its Virgin TV Anywhere service, with an oline and iPad service that includes TiVo like services, on-demand content and remote recording arriving in the Autumn and an Android version in early 2013.

There;s been plenty of talk about the Virgin Anywhere service, and it will inevitably draw comparison with Sky Go and Sky's apps for iPad.

However, the Virgin TV Anywhere service does have some rather nifty strings to its bow – most of them based heavily on its TiVo service.
TiVoutstanding

For customers without the service there is limited online TiVo like recommendations, live TV and significant amounts of on-demand content.

But the real winners are the TiVo customers who not only get the PC-based TiVo functionality but also a fully featured tablet app which will double as a remote control.

"Want to be in control of your TV? Virgin TV Anywhere puts the power in our customers hands," emotes the company.

"Virgin Media: TiVo customers can manage their TV planning wherever they want, be it online or via our new app allowing them to search for shows, discover new content, set recordings and manage all their favourite content stored on their TiVo box.

"A brilliant 'App' exclusively for TiVo customers available on Apple iPad and other devices providing live channels, access to record shows, to tinker with their TiVo box from anywhere and even use at home as a remote control, explains Virgin Media.

"Customers can do all the usual things, like pause, rewind and fast forward through shows, but with just the flick of their screen."

The iPad app is coming in Autumn – so probably not in the next few weeks – and there is an expectation that the Android version will land in the early part of 2013.

We'll be checking out the service as soon as we possibly can, and comparing it to its UK market rival from Sky.

But for now - here are the first pictures of the service.

http://www.techradar.com/news/televi...n-2012-1095475

[nstokes]

Im guessing that Skys channels will not be on there for people to watch live. I think if they do Sky wont be happy

it will be good if they have nice Hi Def streams and even better if it does not count towards your traffic management quota

[Hom3r]

Why is android later?

Surely its easier to get the app put on Android first?

[nstokes]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

Why is android later?

Surely its easier to get the app put on Android first?

Its easier to program for iOS instead of Android as iOS is on Apple devices only so its all the sam OS. When its Android they have to program for the different versions and different devices

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

Why is android later?

Surely its easier to get the app put on Android first?

Well the US TiVo app has been out for a long time so VM will have been testing their version for a while. Also all iOS devices run the same OS with an iPhone, iPad and iPod touch all having standard screen sizes and resolutions.

Where as the US TiVo android app hasn't been out for long and android is a more complicated beast as there ae hundreds off devices out there all with different screen sizes and resolutions and also different processors and memory.

[clinteastman]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

Why is android later?

Surely its easier to get the app put on Android first?

Why easier?

[jb66]

i wish it could stream my recordings to my phobe, that would be ultimate app

[robtuk06]

Still no official word on how the devices will communicate with each other. Does the TiVo box need networking? Or will the app commands go via the Internet and back down to the Tivo? Seems unlikely - but there has been no mention of any additional hardware or wired home networking being required so far.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by jb66

i wish it could stream my recordings to my phobe, that would be ultimate app

As TiVo in the US has just launched an add on bit of hardware and can now stream recordings, I would think that VM will eventually add that feature.

---------- Post added at 14:05 ---------- Previous post was at 14:03 ----------

Originally Posted by robtuk06

Still no official word on how the devices will communicate with each other. Does the TiVo box need networking? Or will the app commands go via the Internet and back down to the Tivo? Seems unlikely - but there has been no mention of any additional hardware or wired home networking being required so far.

You will need your TiVo connected to your network in order to use the app as a remote.

[andy_m]

I'm sure I've seen it suggested that some of the delay may have been due to finding a way to network the TiVo through its existing connection to the Virgin network, rather than having to connect it to a home hub???

[pearl]

The big question for me is whether sky channels (specifically skysports) will be available to stream live through the website.

[robtuk06]

Originally Posted by Stephen

You will need your TiVo connected to your network in order to use the app as a remote.

Is that from an official source? I agree it is the most likely outcome, but haven't Virgin said something along the lines that they were investigating a better solution than this? This was given as one of the reasons for the delay in releasing the app.

[clinteastman]

You don't need you TiVo networked to use the app, you need it networked to use it as a remote.

[Risco]

So, I will need to plug the TiVo in to my router. Thus requiring either a homeplug or long lead depending on where I want to use it? Why can't they just supply a wireless dongle to plug in to the back, or better yet why was bluetooth not included in the first place? Smacks of a lack of foresight.