March 30th, 2009
DirecTV releases iPhone app to taunt us cable customers
If its superior number of HD channels isn’t enough to elicit some envy from cable subscribers, DirecTV is rubbing it in a little more with the official release of an iPhone app that basically lets you control your DVR from anywhere.
More specifically, you can search for shows up to two weeks in advance, then record them onto any DirecTV DVR in your home, either as a one-time recording or a season’s worth. You can also use the app to find pay-per-view movies that can be recorded to your DVR. Even if you don’t use the satellite provider for your TV service, you can still download the free app to use as a programming guide.
Hopefully, for those of us with cable plans, this will prompt providers to work on their own apps (or speed up the development process for those already working on them). With the Cable Show ‘09 scheduled this week, maybe we’ll get a surprise announcement regarding this. Stay tuned.
Sean Portnoy spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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