Remote PVR Access coming Feb 12 2010

[hugh]

Mobile Syrup is saying that Bell will introduce the ability to program you HD PVR from your Smartphone on February 12th.

This is consistent with the IP connectivity options that became active in the lastest 9242 and 9241 HD PVR firmware updates.

List of smartphones that will work according to the site include: BlackBerry 8830 World Edition, BlackBerry Curve 8330, BlackBerry Curve 8530, BlackBerry Tour 9630, BlackBerry Bold 9700, Palm Pre, Samsung Omnia 2 and Apple iPhone 3G/3Gs.

A future website link was also provided www.bell.ca/rpvr

For more details check out Dish Remote Access

[hugh]

Mobile Syrup suggests this feature will only be available to Bell Mobile phone subscribers.

My suspicion is that this is incorrect and that any smartphone user with the app should be able to use it provided they have a Bell TV login. Also I suspect that the website may also allow for remote access meaning you will also be able to program it from a computer at work.

Again, its speculation and Bell has not announced this.

[sillywalk]

Hm, no love for Storm users.

[jayoldschool]

It would be crazy to release this function and not allow it from any computer.

[wbarbour]

No love for 9200 owners either.

[hugh]

jay, I agree hence why I think the rpvr site will allow you to access via the web. I assume they do have to be a bit concerned about authentication. You don't want someone signing onto your PVR and deleting all your recordings!

This is all rumour so before anyone says "no love for ..." lets wait for the announcement.

Does the 9200 have an Ethernet port?

[bartlett]

Feb 12th seems soon...Does Bell normally do there announcement that close to the "go live" of a service?

And Dish Network does both smartphone and web based. So I would guess bell would do this too.

[hugh]

Bell made a lot of big announcements just prior to the start of the Beijing Olympics so Feb 12th makes a lot of sense since Bell is heavily involved in Vancouver

[99gecko]

If the intention is to have this service active by the Olympics, there doesn't seem to be much time factored in for getting the bugs out.

Not sure how much I would use this service, and I have serious concerns about privacy.

[jayoldschool]

I'm sure it would have a login, same as anything else. You login to your email, your banking, this website... Bell's PVR function would be no different.

I don't think the 9200 has the ethernet port (can't remember, though, I haven't had one for a few months...).

[wbarbour]

Does the 9200 have an Ethernet port?

Granted, the 9200 does not have an Ethernet port, but there are Ethernet adapters that plug into a USB port. Whether the 9200 would recognize it is a question.

For those that do not meet the basic hardware requirements, all is not lost. There are other options, such as Slingbox and the Slingplayer software for PCs and Slingplayer mobile for phones. I just recently purchased this myself and I'm surprised how well it works.

[99gecko]

jay, I'm not talking about security.

I'm talking about what Bell is going to do with the information I send through it's server. What and when I choose to record is my business. I can see this evolving in the future into an advertising portal both on the device used to access your PVR and user specific advertising on your PVR.

[Stan Dev]

OK, this explains the buggy, poorly-tested new firmware releases -- they were rushing to add a new feature that they could tout in their Olympic promotions. Meanwhile, they continue to drag their feet on fixing serious, longstanding bugs, like the audio drop-outs.

[ScaryBob]

Great news for Bell PDA customers, at least when they are at a particularly boring Olympic event. OTOH, word is that few will be there because so many tickets intended for Canadians were diverted to US travel agencies and lodging is unaffordable due to advanced booking by Olympic agencies. I have no doubt that high ranking Bell executives got complimentary tickets though. I hope they have fun with their PDAs and PVRs while the rest of us are dealing with new firmware bugs.

What I would like to see is PVR integration with online TV listings. That's not so far fetched since Zap2it online TV listings will let you program your TiVo. But those are US companies, not Canadian. The good news is that the 9242 can now be programmed with a Bell PDA while sitting at your computer, but that makes no sense. It does, however, generate lots of extra revenue for Bell. But then, maybe that's the idea. Now, that's yet another argument for forcing Canadian telephone companies, broadcasters and BDUs to be split up into arm's length entities.

On another note, is it just me or do iPhone users seem to be getting all the love these days?

[hugh]

Scarybob read post #1. According to the blog, Apps are also available for iPhone, many Blackberry devices, android devices, Palm Pre and Samsung Omnia 2. That is a pretty extensive list.