3 chapters across the catalog
The history of digital video recorders (DVRs) is used to illustrate the "venture capital scam" cycle. While TiVo gained the most fame, ReplayTV was a contemporary competitor founded by Anthony Wood, who later founded Roku. An anecdote describes a lunch with Wood where he became visibly angry when discussing how ReplayTV was overshadowed by TiVo despite its technical merits.
Roku Spy Devices, Netflix Ads and ReplayTV History
The hosts discuss reports that Netflix is testing interstitial ads and that Roku has evolved into a massive advertising and data-tracking platform. A historical look at ReplayTV and its conflict with TiVo highlights the long-standing Silicon Valley practice of "poaching" ad inventory and tracking user behavior.
The Roku 3 streaming box is praised for its universal search function and high-quality H.264 decoding. A host recounts a meeting with the CEO of Roku, who previously founded ReplayTV and was a pioneer in DVR technology. The device is noted for its ability to run the Time Warner Cable app, allowing users to bypass standard cable boxes.
