Amazon Unbox on Tivo underwhelms
March 19th, 2007 by Kevin
Amazon.com has entered into the digital download arena with their Unbox service. Video download services are a dime a dozen now and Unbox is certainly nothing special. However, Amazon is looking to distinguish their video service by integrating it with Tivo. From Amazon.com:
Unlike most digital video-to-TV services, Amazon Unbox on TiVo is not an extender service so you don’t have to somehow connect your PC to your TV or extender device. Instead, your TiVo DVR communicates directly with the Unbox service through your home network, so your videos get downloaded directly to your TiVo DVR, where you already watch your favorite movies and TV shows.
Sean Alexander tested out the new Unbox on Tivo service and was underwhelmed, although he thought it showed flashes of promise. Unbox integrates well with Tivo but still requires you to purchase a movie via Amazon.com (i.e. with a computer). You cannot browse and purchase movies through your Tivo interface. There is also no progress meter on your Tivo so you have no idea when the movie is ready to be watched.
Unbox on Tivo is another awkward download service suffering from an identity crisis. Is it competing with iTunes or is it competing your cable company’s on-demand service? Ultimately, it is half of a good idea. To me, it makes more sense to allow consumers to browse movies through the Tivo interface, similar to your cable on-demand service. Since you do not actually get a physical DVD when you buy a movie, it makes more sense to just rent what you want to watch on your Tivo.
Interested in Tivo? Purchase a Tivo at DVRlife.com.
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