Why has TiVo not built an iPad application yet? Ideally, it should do three things, two of which are directly related:
- Allow the scheduling of recordings from within the app. Yes, this can be done on TiVo.com, but anyone who’s used that UI can tell you that, uh, it’s clunky and very un-TiVo.
- Monitor the recordings currently scheduled on the TiVo in question. Yes, this is also done on the Web site, and while it’s easier to find, it’s not as easy as it could be. This would be related to the first in letting you see a) what’s being recorded and b) resolve conflicts in the TiVo app.
- On the local network where your TiVo resides, show the current queue of shows on the TiVo. This can be done, as the TiVo Now Playing Dashboard widget shows.
Admittedly, the last one could be done with a standalone app, but it seems like something that should be a part of a larger TiVo-focused app. Also, there’d be plenty of other opportunities for the app: in-app purchases equivalent to the TiVo store, etc. Seems like a win to me.