TVTonic is billing itself as "The Internet Channel".
There are plenty of companies muscling into that market currently (the Amazon/TiVO
partnership being the latest example), but TVTonic seems more focused on being a
subscription service for video podcasts. Essentially they are trying to become a TV
station for user-generated or 'amateur' content (and a bit of professional content); as
opposed to the Apples and Amazons of this world, who want to put professional video
content online.
TVTonic is also positioning itself closely with the new Media Center capabilities of Windows Vista PCs, which I think is a very smart move. There are lots of consumers, and I have to admit I'm one of them, who haven't yet gotten to grips with subscribing to Internet TV shows. TVTonic wants to make it easy for you to subscribe to video content on the Web. Note that the app runs inside an Internet Explorer Web Browser (no other browsers are supported).
Image credit: WebTVHub
So what specifically is TVTonic? Essentially it is aggregating content from across the Web into television-like channels. It says it has 300 channels and examples are the Diggnation video podcasts (part of the TechTonic channel) and RocketBoom. They also have "exclusive" video channels such as Looney Tunes. TVTonic's aim is to help take those kinds of Internet video shows from the home office into the living room. What's more, TVTonic can be navigated with a remote - from the user's couch - either via their Media Center PC or Xbox 360 console.
Video content can play "up to HD-quality", and promises not to freeze up with buffering and rendering. You can either watch the videos online or offline. But of course you need to have plenty of space in your hard drive, and a decent broadband plan, to utilize TVTonic properly.
What I like about TVTonic is that it makes video podcasts on the Web more accessible to normal people - which is not only good for the users, but gives video podcast shows like Rocketboom a better chance for success. TVTonic can take any RSS 2.0 video feed from the web and put it into its channels. And although I'm still in set-up mode with it on my PC, this review by WebTVHub says that the UI is indeed as simple and easy to use as promised.
Let us know of any other Internet video subscription service you're aware of, but for now TVTonic looks to be a great choice (especially for Vista users) for those of us wanting to explore Internet TV more.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.readwriteweb.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1954
Comments
Subscribe to comments for this post OR Subscribe to comments for all Read/WriteWeb posts
Check out my interview with Wavexpress/TVTonic's president Michael Sprague from a few months ago, here:
http://www.juxtaviews.com/2006/10/11/tvtonic-interview/
TVTonic is the best internet video subscription service for Media Center users, it works great even in Windows XP Median Center edition. Some other good options for non media center users include the Democracy player and iTunes.
But since getting the video iPod, I have exclusively switched my video podcast viewing to iTunes and my iPod. I have found that was the best way to sync the 5-6 shows I watch every week while I am on the go and at home.
Posted by: Rajiv Doshi | February 9, 2007 5:40 AM
Brilliant idea!
Posted by: Emre Sokullu | February 9, 2007 6:37 AM
The fact that you can use a remote to navigate the page means it stands out from the rest. I hope that it will work in Firefox as well though!
Posted by: Anthony | February 9, 2007 2:17 PM
This sounds a bit like Veoh. They have a client application that you can install and it reads RSS feeds, Bit Torrent, and Veoh videos. Also has remote control capabilities. Been using it for a while, and seems to work pretty well. A couple of bugs here and there, but nothing major.
http://veoh.com
Posted by: Al Gruber | February 9, 2007 11:04 PM
Great site!
Vidcasting has now emerged.
Finally a good brand that knows how to promulgate vidcasts for the consumer.
Michael
Posted by: Michael | February 10, 2007 8:49 AM
I better choose Online TV guide http://www.lordoftv.com
Posted by: helvi | February 12, 2007 12:43 AM
Interesting article. Except for one minor problem.
TVTonic is not currently supporting Vista in 32-bit or 64-bit.
Careful what you write on this. No need to mess up machines because you are just reissuing Wave's press releases.
Wave currently has no products that are Vista compliant.
Wave is currently in the vaporware business.
Watch your content please and be a little bit more diligent.
Nobody needs reviews on software that doesn't run.
Don't write reviews on software without trying it.
Best,
Bob
Posted by: Bob Denver | February 16, 2007 4:58 AM