Linux is deployed in TiVo.
See the web site tivo.com and the preliminary IPO prospectus at
sec.gov.
These aren't college students. They're real programmers with a real business.
I've seen the product and it's very useful and I'll probably buy one. Here's a
section describing the business:
TiVo is a pioneer in the personal television industry. We have created a
unique personal television service that allows viewers to watch what they want
when they want. The TiVo Service creates a richer and more enjoyable television
viewing experience by offering viewers greater control, choice, and
convenience. We believe that the TiVo Service also allows television
programmers and advertisers to reach a broader audience by making shows more
accessible and easier to record and to target their programming and advertising
to specific viewers. The TiVo Service is a subscription-based service enabled
by a personal video recorder that we have designed and developed. The TiVo
Service has many features that distinguish it from traditional television
viewing:
Locate and Record Multiple Shows Quickly and Easily. Viewers can easily
locate and record a single show or schedule a customized lineup of
several shows. With the Season Pass feature, the TiVo Service
automatically records all episodes of viewers' favorite shows.
. Control Live Television. Viewers can pause or rewind live television
shows, fast forward to the live telecast, and execute any of TiVo's
advanced viewing commands, including slow motion and frame-by-frame.
Prior to the introduction of TiVo, the ability to control live television
in this manner was not available.
. Viewing Preferences and Suggested Programming. Using the Thumbs Up and
Thumbs Down buttons on the TiVo remote control, viewers can enter
preferences for particular types of shows. Based on these preferences,
the TiVo Service suggests programming that viewers are likely to enjoy.
. Specialized Content. The TiVo Service allows television programmers to
create Network Showcases, which are branded areas of the TiVo Service
that feature selected programming, upcoming movies, special events or
mini-series. The TiVo Service also includes TiVolution Magazine, which
features theme-based collections of shows compiled by our editorial
staff.
. Menu Driven Navigation and Viewer Interface. TiVo Central, the main
screen of the TiVo Service, allows viewers to access their customized
lineup of shows, Network Showcases, TiVolution Magazine and other
features. Viewers can quickly and easily browse through an on-air program
guide that includes a schedule of up to two weeks of available television
programming.
The TiVo Service also serves as a new platform for television programmers,
advertisers, and network operators to deliver television programming,
advertising, and in-home commerce. Potential future services include:
. Active Promotions. We anticipate that television programmers will be able
to use the TiVo Service to allow viewers to easily record a variety of
programming such as movies, sports events, television series and other
products and services. For example, we are currently developing iPreview,
a service that allows viewers to schedule and record featured programming
using a "point and click" feature during previews.
. Active Ads. We anticipate that advertisers will be able to use the TiVo
Service to reach a broader base of consumers and offer commercials that
better match viewers' interests. For example, during the same commercial
time slot, an automobile advertiser may feature a sport utility vehicle
in one household and a minivan in another, based on the viewers' stored
preferences. We are currently developing iBuy, a service that allows
viewers to get more information about and possibly purchase featured
products or services using the TiVo remote control.
We have strategic partnerships with a number of industry-leading companies
including DIRECTV, NBC, Philips and Quantum, who are also equity investors in
TiVo. We are working with our partners to establish personal television as a
major category of home entertainment, to create new specialized programming for
viewers and to market the TiVo Service and products that enable the TiVo
Service.
We expect to commence our retail launch in the second half of 1999. Philips
will spearhead this launch by manufacturing and selling the personal video
recorder that enables the TiVo Service, allowing us to focus our resources on
promoting and enhancing the TiVo Service.
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