Time Warner Cable has released its iPhone compatible app, which allows streaming of TV shows. Photo Credit: Brett Jordan/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY
Owners of the iPad used to be able to lord the Time Warner Cable app over iPhone users who weren’t able to watch television shows through their phone. However, Time Warner has now made the app available for iPhone.
In March 2011, according to TechCrunch, Time Warner Cable unleashed its iPad app, which can be used for a variety of things. There are similar applications for other services available, but the Time Warner app lets users peruse program scheduling, program their DVRs to record shows and watch select programs. It also as a digital remote control function.
The app was previously released for Android devices, but iPhone users were left out in the cold — until now. The app has been released for iPhone, though it is technically a universal app rather than an iPhone app.
[Time Warner used both iPhone and Android development for its app]
The hitch in the app is that streaming programs won’t work beyond the confines of the home. The TWC TV app requires use of the home WiFi network, though there are some functions of the app, such as DVR programming, that do work remotely. In order to use the app, according to Time Warner Cable’s website, the user also has to have a compatible digital cable box that uses the Navigator software. There are many models from numerous manufacturers like Cisco, Samsung and Pioneer that use Navigator program guide software. Now that the app is iPhone compatible, it is supported on any Apple device running iOS 4.3 or later, including the iPhone 3GS and later models, iPod Touch models from the third generation onward and all iPads.
Other cable service providers have apps for smartphones and tablets. Comcast, Cablevision and Verizon all have apps for their television services. Samsung has its own website devoted to apps, which launched in 2010, according to CNET.
Millions of people have already downloaded apps for Samsung smart TVs and for mobile devices. Samsung reportedly is challenging Android and Apple app developers to come up with apps that further integrate television sets and mobile devices. DirecTV has an app for mobile devices, which also allows the user to stream content, use a digital remote and schedule DVR, though it’s only available for Apple devices.
Samsung Apps: http://www.samsungapps.com/
DirecTV: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/technology/mobile_apps/ipad
