Two notes on the rumors that Apple and TiVo are working together on the next-gen Apple TV

So there's a random rumor floating around Wall Street today that TiVo and Apple are working in concert on the next-gen Apple TV -- it's gotten enough traction to boost TiVo stock by around seven percent as of this writing. Of course, it's not the first time TiVo / Apple rumors have gotten some traction, but two things make the whispers particularly suspect this go-around:

• TiVo's entire UI is now based on Flash.
• Here is a link to our TiVo Premiere review. Nothing has changed.

Of course, anything's possible -- Apple just bought Lala, which used a Flash-based music player, and TiVo is licensing its software to third parties like Best Buy now -- but it's hard to ignore those two facts and Steve Jobs putting down TiVo's entire business model at D8 by saying "no one wants to buy a box," no matter how much we want to be in love with love. We're thinking Apple's got something rather bigger than just another DVR in mind for the next-gen Apple TV, but we'll see -- heaven knows TiVo needs all the help it can get right now.

[BlondeBuddhist Posted Jul 26th 2010 8:36PM]

They need to
Drop the price of apple TV to $150 or less.

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted Jul 26th 2010 8:53PM]

I only own an iPod Touch so correct me if I'm wrong, but don't all non-mobile Apple devices support flash? I was under the impression Apple was only against Flash on the iPhone iPod and iPad. I don't see why it would matter if it has the processing power available for a seamless experience. Plus, aren't only the new HD menus on the Premiere using Flash (which is only like 2 levels deep), or were the old ones just ported over?

[BlondeBuddhist Posted Jul 26th 2010 9:54PM]

MacBooks/Pros support flash, however not very well. It's like putting unleaded gas in a 747 jet.

[Starcade Posted Jul 26th 2010 10:44PM]

Tivo is a really great product in search of a great media partner that can push it into more homes. A collaboration wouldn't be a bad idea, although to find a partner that is struggling more than you are, doesn't seem like a step in the right direction.

Maybe Apple TV will be something someday, but that day hasn't arrived yet.

[Onazuka Posted Jul 27th 2010 7:42AM]

I rent all my movies on Apple TV, watch all my TV shows, either recorded using Eye TV or from iTunes, watch 3 daily podcasts, play my library of music to my stereo, look at all my photo and other peoples photos, watch some You Tube videos, and more. I use Apple TV daily. That's a heck of a lot for something that hasn't arrived yet. I'm guessing you haven't really used Apple TV.

[Pipp Posted Jul 27th 2010 10:48AM]

I have an old iMac with OSX and flash has always worked fantastic on it. I've never understood where 'flash sucks on macs' comes from to be honest. It works just as well as it does on my Vista64 machine. That is, zero crashes, lag, etc.

As for Tivo, good for them if Apple is working with them. I'd like to see Apple reinvent their GUI to something more usable than the mess that is on the Premier.

[PeterFnet Posted Jul 27th 2010 5:19PM]

Maybe it will be a nice kick in the bum to get some updates to Media Center

[Nintendoftl Posted Jul 31st 2010 4:22PM]

Apple should buy tivo convert it to html5 and integrate it into itunes ios osx and apple tv