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EyeTV Easter Egg Allows for Video Streaming Via 3G Networks

Friday October 16, 2009 1:18 pm PDT by Eric Slivka
Electricpig reports that it has discovered an easter egg in the recently-released EyeTV iPhone application from Elgato that allows the software to stream video content via 3G wireless networks.

Elgato's EyeTV app requires you register your Mac to its free My EyeTV service in order to tap into broadcasts outside the house, but use it when your iPhone has only a 3G connection and you'll see an error pop up, warning that "Live TV playback requires a Wi-Fi network connection."

Tap the OK button, and the app will act as if it can't receive broadcasts. However, tap the text of the warning message instead, and the Eye TV app will stream live TV over a 3G connection.

The report notes that the feature almost certainly went unnoticed by Apple's application reviewers and it is unclear how the company will react to its discovery.

Update: The easter egg was apparently first publicly disclosed nearly two weeks ago, just days after the application's release, and Apple has apparently yet to take any action in response to the issue.
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Unspoken Demise
Posted: 30 months ago
It will be pulled. Sure, Apple probably doesnt care, but Im sure AT&T will have something to say about it.
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yoman
Posted: 30 months ago
This reminds me of the C64 emulator, which was pulled for a similar easter egg like feature of the BASIC interpreter.
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BeyondtheTech
Posted: 30 months ago
http://www.myhava.com/havamobileplayer.html?Submit6.x=53&Submit6.y=16

Slingbox-like HAVA allegedly plays video over 3G.

I might switch over if I can find a buyer for my Slingbox Classic.
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Ted13
Posted: 30 months ago
But so long as you keep a copy of the current version of EyeTV you are in business! Wonder if you can have multiple versions of the same app on your iPhone if you rename it manually -- keep the existing one for 3G streaming, get newer ones for whatever future features get added (Remote control, please!)
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vvebsta
Posted: 30 months ago
so cool!
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Eddyisgreat
Posted: 30 months ago
LoL Elgato FTMFW! Now I can watch TV in my car, on the bus or in a train!
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Cartoonkid
Posted: 30 months ago

But so long as you keep a copy of the current version of EyeTV you are in business! Wonder if you can have multiple versions of the same app on your iPhone if you rename it manually -- keep the existing one for 3G streaming, get newer ones for whatever future features get added (Remote control, please!)


I don't know if that'll work. Can't Apple just disable or remove apps installed on our phones?
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ntrigue
Posted: 30 months ago
Way to go :) Now THAT's initiative!
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zombitronic
Posted: 30 months ago

I don't know if that'll work. Can't Apple just disable or remove apps installed on our phones?


Automatically? I'm not sure. I would think that you'd have to sync your phone to initiate any changes or removals.

I won't be updating my EyeTV app until someone confirms that a newer version keeps this easter egg intact.
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QuarterSwede
Posted: 30 months ago
Apple has yet to delete any app off of people's iDevices. Now that the genie is out of the bottle Apple will most likely pull it from the store until Elgato updates it with the code removed. Then again, with the FCC investigation (Apple, at&t and Google) it'll be interesting to see what Apple does.
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