That isn't what followshows is about though.
The front page says, "Watch TV Shows in your Browser," and "Easily know when your shows are on next." Other headline-sized text on the front page basically reiterates those two points. That functionality is basically already served by the setup I describe. (TVTorrents + Automatic + Transmission + AirVideo.) I would rather watch TV on my iPad on the couch or on my bed than in front of the PC. I also get the "Know when the next show is" in just a few clicks.
If anything, my story points out a packaging issue, which may well be an opportunity. Only a programmer like me is going to stitch together the functionality of four apps to get the same effect. Let someone download a single tablet app, maybe download a "server" on their PC, and it all just works. There's issues doing this on the iPad, because of what Apple might or might not allow, especially with regards to torrents.
As it is, it looks like someone wanting to promote the site downvoted me to suppress competition. Not very cool, if that's the case.
In retrospect, perhaps the takeaway from the comment is that there's a certain category of potential user who will hear about the site, have a preconceived idea of what it might offer based on the name, and then look for that functionality.
Because, you know, comparative functionality of media is never of any use -- especially if it's to the "free/not-exactly-legal" part of the Internet.
Enough about me though. This thread is an opportunity for Dan and his co-creators to get feedback on what they've built.
It looks to me like the people behind the site are attempting to create a legitimate web site that isn't limited to hiding their identities or living in another country, where it's easier to flaunt copyright laws.
Personally, I don't take issue one way or the other with people who provide automated tools to get their TV shows through alternate means, but the moment you do that, you limit options for the product you're trying to build, be it just for fun or even profit.
Cause, you know, it's so hard to sign up for an account on a website in another country over the Internet. A good point you got there. Sounds nothing like FUD.
> provide automated tools to get their TV shows through alternate means, but the moment you do that, you limit options for the product you're trying to build
This is one area where there is a clear advantage to releasing on Android over iOS.
> Cause, you know, it's so hard to sign up for an account on a website in another country over the Internet. A good point you got there. Sounds nothing like FUD.
Please don't do that. Your snark is not constructive, doesn't help the discussion and reduces the signal-to-noise ratio.
If you reread jschuur's sentence with the parts you left out of your quote you will see that he is referring to the owners of the site not having to live in another country. There have been a few cases of prosecuted owners and admins of similar sites in UK and US recently.