No, I don’t mean the old HME SDK. Or the network remote control protocol. Part of the new TiVo Premiere software platform is support for apps written in Adobe Air as well as additional hooks for 3rd party apps for mobile devices and web apps that hook into the TiVo. To date the API for these new interfaces have only been used internally and shared with limited partners, but it looks like TiVo is preparing to make them more widely available.

There is now a TiVo Platform SDK page up on TiVo’s site where prospective developers can sign up to receive more information. As the page states:“The TiVo Platform SDK enables third-party developers to build applications for TiVo devices, and for websites, mobile and tablet applications that need to interact with TiVo devices and services.”

I’ve signed up for more information. We’ll have to see if they give me a peek since I’m a blogger and not really a developer (I’ve done software development professionally, but not for several years). But I presume that at some point they’ll want to get the word out if they’re serious about attracting 3rd party developers to the TiVo platform. I’ve been saying for years now that TiVo really needs to create an ecosystem around TiVo to make it ‘stickier’ for existing users and to give prospective customers more reasons to make the jump. I had high hopes for HME (Home Media Engine) back in the day, and it got off to a good start. But then TiVo pulled back from supporting the public API for HME and the updates stopped. HME became an internal-only development tool for TiVo and their partners. A lot has changed in the intervening years, within and without TiVo, so I’m hopeful this time things will be different.