Other DVRs offer this but it’s amazing how poorly they do it. Windows Media Centre was pretty mature but never got this feature other than 3rd party WebGuide which Microsoft then killed by hiring the developer and killing the product. My Virgin Media TIVO box had this but the iOS app had a dismal UI and the web interface was clunky, and you couldn’t see and edit recordings list via either. EyeTV has this via an IOS app but you can’t do even really basic stuff like editing recording schedules or even setting a series/season recording via the app.
My #1 preferred approach would be an official Channels iOS companion app with some kind of grid guide, remote setting of individual or series recordings, editing of scheduled recordings and ideally in future ability to stream recordings back over the Internet in the app, but that’s a real nice to have for the future. An OK option would be a mobile-friendly web interface for the above.
Also great would be a documented API for 3rd party developers. In the UK, the Radio Times has a website and an app with free guide data and a reasonably nice grid guide already implemented with all the UK FTA channels’ guide data in it. They also have great value-add stuff like detailed previews, recommended picks etc. They have an integration in their app and website where you can schedule recording on your Sky+ box right from within their app. If you could get them or someone like tvtv or digiguide or similar to offer channels remote record integration via an API in each target country, that would be cool.
