Comcast Wows the 2010 Cable Show with Xfinity Remote for iPad

[iDan]

9to5mac.com reports today that Comcast’s new Xfinity Remote prototype has been creating a lot of excitement since it was demoed by Comcast CEO Brian Roberts at the Cable Show 2010 in Los Angeles yesterday. 9to5mac.com quotes leading music industry blogger Bob Lefsetz as saying “So far, we haven’t found an app that demands purchase of the iPad.

Today, we’ve got one.†And as you can see from Comcast’s You Tube video, Xfinity is certainly a very impressive app indeed. Essentially, it’s a way of controlling your Comcast cable box with your iPad, enabling you to search for shows and movies on TV and video on demand, set your DVR remotely, and change the channel on your cable box from your iPad. It also boasts some great social and sharing features, such as the one demonstrated on the video, where Roberts invites Kevin from G4 to watch Gangs of New York with him via his iPad. Very cool! You can just imagine doing this sort of thing with your friends and family in the future.

By Maura Sutton, iPadForums.net
Source: 9TO5mac.com

 

[iDan]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLz72XErN8U]YouTube - Xfinity Remote[/ame]

 

[freebirdforever]

Definitely worth getting!

 

[write-stuff]

Now that is cool! Just need something like that for DirectTV and I'm ready to go.

 

[Bremen]

Does not really interest me, as I do not watch TV or movies. But, thatnis very cool. Not even even out 6 weeks, and look at all the inovative things our little pad is learning to do...., awesome!

 

[Zorban]

I want that but for Windows media center. That would be awesome!
Does anyone know if there is anything like that ?

 

[mcbrew]

I can't wait until this comes out. I have been wanting remote DVR control for a long time... and an iPad app makes it even better! Comcast's guide and menu system is pretty rough... after years of having DirecTV and TiVo I got used to a system that worked really smoothly. If this works as well as advertised, I will be a VERY happy padder!

 

[DavidNM]

I could see it for ease of use in looking at what's on cable - but wouldn't a remote be easier for changing channels, etc.?

 

[write-stuff]

I could see it for ease of use in looking at what's on cable - but wouldn't a remote be easier for changing channels, etc.?

A remote forces u to use the on-TV linear menu which will be very crude. With an iPad you could zoom thru the menus in any direction, set up your own schedule, and lots of other stuff you couldn't do with just the tv.

 

[cherhall]

There is an iPhone app for DirecTV. It shows the listings and allows you to set up shows to record remotely. My daughter uses it quite often to schedule things she forgets to set up.

 

[Odin]

Sign me up!!!
Just one question. I don't quite understand the whole xfinity thing. Is it an automatic thing with Comcast or is the xfinity this something you have to add on?

 

[rle737ng]

And does it cost extra?

 

[dalanw]

Comcast App Availability

Does anyone know the availability / release date of the Comcast app for the iPad ?

 

[figmo10]

The currently available app has terrible reviews.

 

[Ripplinghurst]

It's very cool! There are two Comcast iPhone apps, but none let's you control your cable box with it (one if for mail, voice mail, tv listings etc. and the other is just tv listing). You can send people emails about a show, but that's all.