i.TV 2.0 Available Soon With Tivo Remote

i.TV today announced the i.TV Remote Control Framework that gives third parties the ability to develop solutions to control external devices such as a television, an AV receiver or DVR via i.TV on the iPhone and iPod touch. The Tivo remote is the first integrated remote control on i.TV for TiVo subscribers with a broadband-connected TiVo DVR.

"With i.TV, you can now use your iPhone or iPod touch as a remote control for televisions, DVRs and other home entertainment devices," said i.TV CEO, Brad Pelo. "By bringing together the television guide and remote control on a mobile device you carry in your pocket, i.TV will change how people discover and watch television shows and movies.!We are pleased that TiVo is the first of our partners to introduce remote control capabilities for their customers who use i.TV."

"TiVo is about giving the user control of the television experience," said Jim Denney vice president of product marketing at TiVo Inc. "Having the TiVo remote available through i.TV is another way TiVo customers can access the content they want, the way they want."


The i.TV Remote Control Framework gives development partners a flexible platform upon which to re-imagine the traditional remote control. For example, developers can make alphanumeric keypads for channel number entry optional and instead present users with a graphical user interface where they can tap on images or links to change channels on a television.

Remote controls built upon the framework use scripts that define user interface elements and key press behavior for controlling external home entertainment devices. Device discovery and communication between the iPhone or iPod touch and external hardware are handled via the Bonjour protocol or Apple"s External Accessory Framework for Bluetooth accessories.

Also new in i.TV 2.0
● New user interface -- Streamlined and simplified UI and user experience, based on feedback and usage data from millions of i.TV users.
● iTunes integration -- From show detail screens, discover and instantly download download relevant television episodes, movies, and podcast content from iTunes.
● Alerts - Using the iPhone OS push notification capabilities, i.TV now allows users to set alerts for specific, upcoming shows or simply ask for an alert anytime a new episode will air.

Pricing and Availability
i.TV 2.0 with integrated TiVo remote control, iTunes integration and new user interface is free and will be available in August from the iTunes Store.