What do you call the remote control in your house? The remote, the clicker, the hoofer-doofer -- or the iPhone? Sky has teamed up with telly-watching app Zeebox to turn your smart phone or tablet into a remote control for your Sky box.
Remote-control features will be built into Sky apps so you can take charge of your viewing with your mobile or slate, as well as discussing what you're watching live with other viewers on social networks.
Zeebox is a social TV-watching service that hooks into your Twitter and Facebook accounts to show what your friends are watching, and give real-time viewing figures. It also works out what's being talked about on TV, and creates tags for those references, called Zeetags, that you can click on to find out what a show is referring to. You can even buy things that are mentioned in the programme.
Zeebox was co-founded by the chief technical wonk behind the BBC's iPlayer, Anthony Rose. Sky has bought a 10 per cent stake in Zeebox for a multi-million-pound sum, and will be the only UK service to offer Zeebox features.
Zeebox will be added to Sky apps such as Sky News, the Sky+ remote app that lets you set your Sky+ box to record something even when you're out of the house, and Sky Go, which lets you watch Sky on your iPhone or iPad. As well as the remote contol, Sky planner and Zeebox features, there'll be extra bonus content related to the programme you're watching.
Sky has gone in for apps in a big way, catching on to the increasing trend for dual-screen or second-screen viewing -- keeping one eye on your TV and one eye on the second screen of your phone, laptop or tablet to see what people are saying about Beyonce's bump or Cheryl's tan lines or something.
Rival Virgin Media also has remote recording apps for the Virgin Media TiVo set-top box, while Samsung and Panasonic offer apps that control their TVs. Meanwhile, the first Android-powered Google TV goggleboxes are on their way.
Are you a Zeebox user? Are apps like this a welcome bonus to the televisual experience or an annoying distraction? Tell us in the comments or on our primetime Facebook page.
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Comments 7
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phila 9 January, 2012 14:14
I REALLY get annoyed at technology companies who make apps saying they're for "smart phones" but are too ignorant to do anything but the bloody iPhone - there are more Android phones activated than iPhones, yet companies still stick their fingers in their ears and start chanting "must love Apple"
let's not forget the other smart phones like WP or BlackBerry, so let's only hit 25% of the smart phone market, but keep on kissing Apple's ass, because they're too lazy/stupid to develop for other platforms!!!
if Sky CARED about their customers, they would have gone to a development company who produced for more platforms, but their marketing idiots probably have iPhones, so think the rest of the UK must have them as well
* rant over
Simon Miller 9 January, 2012 14:20
zeebox has already announced that following the launch of web and iOS versions, Android and other platforms are next.
zeebox isn't a development company, however, rather it's a consumer-facing second-screen TV platform that will be present on *every* platform possible.
So...no need to worry.
phd8569 9 January, 2012 15:50
Totally agree with Phila. I'm concerned that even with the impressive activation numbers, Android is still an afterthought to the big company's when creating apps. If an app is decent the people will listen, try it, then buy it, so why limit your audience?
phila 10 January, 2012 08:39
Simon, Zeebox IS a developer, they have come out with apps, but only for iOS, but Sky "deliberately" went for a company that has ONLY developed for iOS rather than for other platforms, and if they CARED for their customers then they would have tried to find one that has developed for ALL platforms, or rather than just one that has done bloody iPhone stuff
even the Zeebox website only lists iOS devices, although they have the obligatory "coming soon" rubbish that everybody puts on their FAQ pages, but make very little effort in pushing it forward, otherwise they'd have something already, especially since BSkyB just chucked a ton of money their way
Simon Miller 11 January, 2012 01:06
Phila, I'm the Chief of Product & Content Development for zeebox. Don't worry. Not long to wait for what you want.
grandma 14 May, 2012 12:50
Being bisabled I need a 10'' tablet that I can get sky go on, does it have to be an expensive apple ipad? which I can't afford or can I get it on a cheaper android.
Sorry if this is a silly question but everything is moving to fast for us in our dotage.
Thanks
phila 16 May, 2012 08:35
@grandma, there is a "beta" Android app on their site - yes, it's taken FIVE MONTHS for them to get an Android app into beta and still not final - so much for Mr Miller's "not long to wait", more like "we won't put much effort into it, because we think everyone can afford an iPad, and if you can't, then we don't care about you!"