Sometimes, it’s the simplest ideas that are the biggest game changers. Recently, I have been using DirecTV’s DVR Scheduler, which allows me to remotely schedule programs to be recorded by my DirecTV DVR box via my mobile phone (works great on my Blackberry and iPod touch) or Mac/PC.
Literally, I just type in m.directv.com (or directv.com/tvlistings), search for a specific program I want to record (or by channel or manual time/channel), choose whether I want it to override conflict any recording conflicts, and I am done.
How great is that? I was out of town last week when I realized that I had forgotten to record the Dodger game. No problem.
Then the other night, while still out of town, I saw a commercial for a PBS Frontline documentary which was scheduled to premiere before I returned home (see my post, The Choice: Three Weeks to Go).
Again, no problem, and the recorded program was waiting for me when I got home.
This got me thinking. How cool would it be if DirecTV (or TiVo, etc.) added support for a social bookmarking function, whereby I could allocate a chunk of space for friends to record a program on my DVR box?
Think: "I just saw a great movie. You have to see it," or "That game was a classic, and ESPN is re-broadcasting it later tonight so I grabbed it for you," or "You told me that you've never seen the movie, 'Kingpin.' Well it was on last night so I recorded it for you."
You literally would need nothing more than a special “friend’s URL” and a delimiter UI screen in terms of time allocation and override rights.
It would take video recommendations to the next level.
