Program your DVR from the road with TiVo Mobile

(Credit: TiVo)

TiVo is launching a cell phone-friendly Web site that will allow users to search programming and set their TiVo DVRs remotely. TiVo Mobile will be a free service available "with any Internet-enabled phone through any network, regardless of carrier," according to the company. Any user will have access to the program listings, but only TiVo owners (Series2 or Series3/HD) will be able to set their home DVRs to record programs they would've otherwise missed. A similar service was previously available--for a fee--only to Verizon customers. The service (available soon at m.tivo.com) is currently in beta, but will be more widely available "in a few weeks," according to the company.

It's worth noting that TiVo owners can already program their DVRs remotely through the company's main web site. Likewise, Slingbox owners can also access any DVR remotely (TiVo or otherwise) through the SlingPlayer Mobile software, which is currently available on Windows Mobile, Palm, Symbian smartphones, and coming soon to BlackBerry models as well.

[Blackjack_Joe]

I just tried the Tivo Mobile site from my iphone. Clean user interface, and seems to work well.

[daren.darrow]

The only problem I have with TiVos online scheduling is that it only works when the TiVo connects up to get new data (once per day). They really need a push data service for scheduling notifications to the TiVo so you can set things to record the same day.

[MuddyBulldog]

A TiVo connected via broadband will query the server every fifteen minutes to see if any new commands have been received.

[broadscaler2]

I recently starting using http://parkmytv.com which hosts my slingbox for me and I'm now getting MUCh better video quality since I'm not limited to my home DSL upload speeds and I pleasantly no longer annoy those at home watching TV while I'm switching channels on them while away :) I think they are in trials now but I was able to get an account early on...

Tivo's web services have been poor at best. They're getting better but still a long way from being a really useful tool. Feels like another site where the designers aren't real users. If they listen to user feedback, they sure aren't quick to implement suggestions. Sure could use the OpenSource world to come in and make some sweet apps to take the place of Tivo's web control.