Although I love my Comcast digital service and high speed internet, I've never really been a fan of the Comcast supplied (Motorola) DVRs. I prefer TiVo HD DVRs. Nonetheless I have a couple of the Comcast DVRs around the house as well as a Comcast Digital Converter Box on a TV in the kitchen. I've been waiting for and begging for a great iOS App for my TiVo boxes and I continue to wait. In the meantime Comcast has delivered Xfinity TV for their boxes. I have to give credit where credit is due. They nailed it! 

Comcast Gets It!

We all have our complaints about the various services we have, but this time it's praise. Comcast delivered the App that I've always envisioned. First off it's a Universal App for all iOS devices and taking advantage of the iPad's larger display. Next it provides FAST access to the channel line up and guide. Of course it's not a new concept for an App like this to allow you to remotely program your DVR to record a show and this App does that very well. However, the thing I wasn't thinking about was that it also turns your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch into a basic remote control for the times when you're watching live TV. If you want to switch to a different channel/show, just scroll to the show you want to watch, tap it and the App will give you the option of switching your DVR/digital box to that channel right now. No line of sight required because it's doing it over the internet. No codes to learn because it already knows about your Comcast gear. Virtually no setup at all! You just log in with your Comcast user name and password and your Comcast equipment will show up. Since I have 2 of their DVRs they first showed up as DVR 1 and DVR 2. Thinking ahead, they allow you to tap each box and display an identification message on the screen of your TV so that you know which one is which. Then you can give them whatever names you want. For example, the one in my office is now called…. "Office". Since this control works over the internet you can do it from any room or anywhere in the world that you have an internet connection. I can already see the pranks happening that people will be playing on unsuspecting loved ones :) (Change the channel and then just as they reach for the remote, change it back…repeat…)

My only wish for the next update is that there doesn't seem to be a fast way to jump to a particular day in the future on the guide. You can search for shows. You can filter down to things like just HD, but if I want to go to Friday's listings I have to scroll and scroll and scroll (unless I'm missing something), just like on the physical DVRs. Give me that and it's a 5 star App!

If you're a Comcast TV customer and you have an iOS device, this is a must have App!

You can download the Xfinity TV App for Free here from the XFINITY TV - Comcast Interactive Media