an idea thats been bugging me (with picture!)...

[pilotError]

You can't patent look and feel.

There's literally 1000's of devices that do similar functions. Apple's DVD software pops up the progress and pause/rewind/FF functions when you use the mouse, I was thinking something similar. My cable box has an info button, I don't see why ATV can't use the up arrow in this context.

Great ideas, let see if they manage an update for something like this.

 

[balamw]

You can't patent look and feel.

You CAN patent user interfaces along with hardware.

Apple has $100 million reasons to take that seriously. They settled with Creative if you remember all about the iPod's user interface.

http://www.tuaw.com/2006/08/23/apple-pays-100m-to-creative-in-patent-lawsuit-settlement/

Echostar (Dish Network) also lost in the case TiVo brought against them, but the case is pending appeal.

This is the reason I discounted any non-HDD based devices, like satellite receivers and focused on TiVo. Any pertinent claims may be something like "A device that contains a hard drive and connects to a TV. A button which brings up an indicator showing how much time is left in the program and additional info".

B

 

[illicium]

Great Ideas

While you're at it, tell Apple to make a remote with clickwheel volume control. Being able to quickly see where you are in a video is a tremendous idea though. Especially for youtube when a video is taking a while to load.

I don't even have an TV but the info and progess ideas seem like no-brainers. I also really like the scroll wheel idea. Make the remote just like the iPod. There's already a menu button and top, bottom, left, and right buttons that could be made to function just like the iPod's click wheel for volume, play, pause, forward, back, and scrolling through lists. Not new ideas by any stretch, but they seem like they would be very effective implementations.

 

[Lebowski]

good idea...

honestly, i just want to be able to sort video content like you can for music.

i have TONS of movies, and they are just alphabetical. Would be nice to sort by genre, director, year... etc.

 

[VideoFreek]

Very Cool idea indeed. Send it to Apple and maybe it will get implemented.

LOL. And maybe pigs will fly someday! Actually, the suggestion most likely won't even be read! See this. And if it is read, you'll most likely get a nasty letter from Apple Legal--see this.

 

[tkidBOSTON]

LOL. And maybe pigs will fly someday! Actually, the suggestion most likely won't even be read! See this. And if it is read, you'll most likely get a nasty letter from Apple Legal--see this.

Haha, I forgot about that little news story. It was quite the great PR when everyone picked the story up.

 

[tilman]

I doubt it, DirecTV had this feature long before Tivo was dreamt of.

I suspect that pretty much any cable or satellite desktop box or tv-watching software for a computer that has access to programming data does this in one way or the other. Although they usually use dedicated buttons on the remote for that (like Info on my Comcast remote), not the up arrow

 

[Lancelot9201]

I Just Want "Shuffle" To Work Like It Should..!!

Very Cool idea indeed. Send it to Apple and maybe it will get implemented.

It is a great idea, but I would love to see the functions that's already included in Apple Tv to work properly. Take Shuffle, I can't get this function, even though it's listed to work properly with my Music video's or Movies. Ever tried to shuffle your TV Shows? Can't do this either.. I'm really disappointed that Apple has not offered even one update for this device since the last update back in March, if you want to call that an update.. For what some of us paid for this it shouldn't have been forgotten about by Apple..

Why have this function listed if it don't even work..

 

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Well, I've patented the warp drive (in case someone invents one, I can sue them!) and I've patented 2000 different control methods to control a warp drive so I can be sure and sue them a 2nd time when they go to design a way to implement it. It's all kind of vague like "uses a computer to select warp speed" so that ensures there's no possible they can get around having to pay me through the nose. After all, I hold the patents on the warp drive, so it's only fair. I mean I have no clue how to make a warp drive and sure all my ideas are vague, but they granted the patents anyway so I'm set for life as soon as someone invents one!

Meanwhile, I have patents pending on all uses of basic math and reading skills, no matter how simple or how distant the relationship with any product. It seems even though basic math has been used for thousands of years, no one actually bothered to patent them all that time! I expect them to come through soon. Yeah, I know they're not supposed to grant patents for ideas used before, but they grant patents for everything these days. You don't have to have working products or detailed designs. Just write off some vague idea like "streams music around the house using networking" and you're golden baby! Sue all you want! You will win because patent office clerks usually aren't too bright and grant them for anything if you have enough money!

Cha-ching!

 

[MikieMikie]

So, I now have to give you a licensing fee? I mean, my warp drive, if named "Warp Drive" is patented by you?

Sigh.

What am I going to do with this faster-than-light device sitting in my basement? I was planning on starting an organization, maybe NASA-2? Dunno what to do now... With all that time and effort invested bending space-time.

Hmm... if I rename my drive the "FTL(tm)" drive or, better, the "MikieMikie(tm)" drive, will you still sue me?