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"TiVo traded DirecTV for Comcast (a downgrade)"

Comcast is bigger than DirecTV. Plus, it's not true: http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000360038927/

DirecTV and TiVo are still together.

I don't see anything about TiVo's leadership quitting. Co-founder Mike Ramsay is still there: http://www.tivo.com/5.1.asp

My argument isn't based in the potential of new products. Those are just the icing. The primary argument is that TiVo continues to sign new customers. In particular, contrary to popular belief, not even the largest cable company is succeeding in offering alternatives to TiVo that customers want.

Uh, so does TiVo.

1. O(1) scheduler
2. Freenet, TOR, I2P
3. Bittorrent
4. Kademlia (as applied in Azureus)
5. Plugger
6. Autocorrelated music downloads (iRate radio)
7. TiVo (Code is GPLed)
8. "Mindstorms" (less earthshattering, but a good example)
9. The concept of the Wiki
10. The Scientific Method

TiVo -- look into it.

It makes it all the more difficult for the entertainment cartel to fight the provision. Using the VCR as an example, going forward the VHS tape VCR is going to become extinct. Replacing it is digital. Tivo. MythTV, Knoppmyth. Digital cards/units like Air2PC, HD3000 cards, and other versions that will come out now that the broadcast flag has been temporarily set back. Ideally, you would want the same rights for these new products that you currently have with your VCR, right?

You can currently record a television program or movie from over-the-air or cable, pop the tape out, take it to your vacation home or friend or relative's home, and watch that movie while on vacation or at your friend or relative's house. You can even pop that tape into the mail and send it to your mom's house so you can watch it together when you stop in from your business trip on your way back home. Or visiting temporarily from school prior to going home for summer break. Or simply let your mom watch it while you stay at school for extra studies.

With a digital recording and a networked home, why bother with VCR tapes? You simply transfer the recording over the internet to your mom's home. And if you forget to do it while at your home or dorm, you can do it remotely by logging in to your home network and then transferring the program to your current location.

Digital Restrictions Management schemes all interfere with the above. Interfere with rights you already have when those programs exist in other forms, on other media. Why does innovation result in lost rights?

It is very important to frame your statements using the above examples. Simply stating that proposed copyright rules or digital restrictions management or treaties dealing with "IP" and "copyrights" will outlaw future VCRs is not enough. Legislators aren't experts. Far from it. You telling them that the proposed legislation or actions by them in a treaty will outlaw future VCRs falls flat on its face because they won't believe it. They didn't believe it with VCRs even though it almost happened (remember the Sony Betamax case and MPAA's suggestion of a $100.00 "tax" on each blank tape payable to them as compensation for "lost" sales like they had/have with the current $1.00 per blank VHS tape or whatever on blank cassettes or on other media in other countries outside US like Canada and elsewhere).

You need to frame your statement in clear, short and easy to understand terms. Something that the MPAA/RIAA will have a difficult time arguing against. They will use tactics like changing the subject, or use other unrelated examples to argue their point but when they do, unbiased legislators sometimes catch it. Always frame it over rights already held with VCRs against the same rights being lost in the new technology (digital, Tivo, transferring a recording to mom's home, etc.).

Include examples that highlight constituent backlash. Imagine what will happen when cable companies (not the studios, check the MythTV mail archives) enable a broadcast flag to prevent recording of Desperate Housewives. Or have the program expire a week later. Or prevent the transfer of the episode to mom's house while on vacation at her home and she can't operate the old VCR (or reset the clock) let alone the newfangled Tivo thing. That will start them thinking what happens if they allow the entertainment cartel legislation and their own wives can't record Desperate Housewives. Or their understanding on how they can't watch football on the big screen because the wives need to watch Desperate Housewives and can't Tivo it for later or to watch over someone else's house during a playoff game or the Super Bowl.

Each one of the examples above are good if you take the time to frame the statement properly. Sho

Yes. TiVo sells a Humax made one.

As DirectTV is moving forward on changing to Advanced Video Codecs (AVCs) such as H.264 the current HD Tivos will become obsolete as they can only recieve the current encoding of MPEG-2. Sorry, but tis true. I also doubt that Tivo will make an update to the MPEG-2 HDs to recieve the new codec. Also, I have heard that DirectTV is moving to the DVB-S2 transmission standard from their current DVB-S. Extra information and/or signal strength, their choice.

Newsflash: That already exists.

I think that it is Tivo's TivoToGo transfers that's being referenced. TivoToGo is a service that allows people to download content to their PC, according to the web page. One needs to be a Tivo subscriber to use this service. From there, its just a jump to the portable device.

Not all shows are available though. They've included this caveat on the TivoToGo web page:

Not all shows may be eligible for transfer from your TiVo box to your computer. Programming providers may restrict or limit the ability to record, display, view or transfer any particular program using a variety of copy protection mechanisms.

You didn't say it directly, but it's worth bringing out: Stand-alone TiVo's record an analog signal, and digitize it and compress it itself.

In early 2006, a TiVo is coming out that allows this. CableCARD is what you desire. A dual tuner CableCARD TiVo will be released that will be compatible with all (U.S., not sure about the rest of you) cable/digital cable standards, QAM. I can't seem to dig up pictures of it now, but a prototype was shown at the most recent CES.

I'm sure that for these, the digital stream will be recorded directly to hard drive like the DirecTV units do. The current HD TiVo does with over-the-air ATSC broadcasts already.

--falz

Real TiVo remote with rational button placement:

http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/publ ic/images/tv2125/tv2125_000note.gif

Finally, embedded programming on a cable box is worlds cruftier and more limiting than the Linux underpinnings of the current Tivo architecture. It's virtually certain that some features just won't be portable to this new box.

From Tivo's press release

"This long-term, non-exclusive partnership will provide millions of Comcast customers with the opportunity to choose the TiVo service, including TiVo's award-winning user interface and features like Season Pass(TM) and WishList(TM), as an additional option. In addition, the service will showcase TiVo's home networking, multimedia, and broadband capabilities."

Sounds to me like they are adding most functionality. I didn't follow to much of the Wiki's links, but is is possible that the Comcast box even runs linux (or some other OS) rather than just being "embedded"?

Tivo IS a linux PVR

Haven't you heard of TiVoToGo. You can already download the recordings to your pc and then burn using Sonic MyDVD 6.1

The cable companies don't need to license Tivo. You can go buy your own Tivo cable box soon:

TiVo Developing High-Definition, Digital Cable Ready DVR

I honestly believe that if Tivo wants to win they should allow shell access to the box and release development APIs so people can write their own Tivo applications

HME Development Challenge

I'm not sure about shell access, I know it was relatively easy on the series 1 Tivos but I'm not sure about the series 2 models...

~jeff

http://www.tivo.com/4.3.hme.asp

TiVo comes prepackaged with a million subscribers, partnerships with cable and satellite providers, lots of patents and other IP, engineering expertise, brand name recognition, supply channels and marketing, etc.

TIVO also comes with a lot of baggage, buying TIVO would only be a faster way of getting into the PVR buiness if they didn't change the TIVO much. TIVO has an incredible amount of different systems out there, trying to add a feature a large percent of them would be REALLY hard.

TIVO Desktop for the Mac currently lets you play MP3s(but not AACs) from iTunes via your Mac. They could spruce this up a bit, but I don't think that's going to make TIVO profitable again.

Ah. Hadn't thought about that. If you're right about what defines a set as HD-Ready then you're right and the split is, mostly, meaningless (at least within the markets that we are discussing). I'll ask instead what percentage of the population (cable population, or Tivo population), has a TV capable of showing an HD signal?

I know lots of people who went out and switched to digital cable for the channels, but for the most part, most of them are using TVs that are 5-10 years old still. Heck, I just bought my TV in '98 and the TV I had before that was from '86. While not being able to record 5.1 sound might be bad, I again am curious what percentage of the TV viewing population has a 5.1 setup and would notice the difference.

Not disagreeing that it would be nice if they had an HD Tivo ready now, just that it isn't practical until the CableCARD standard is rolled out, and I'm wondering how much of their user population would have benefitted.

Check out Tivo's press releases from the past CES BTW for the upcoming Tivo box that looks like it will address all your concerns.

Not sure why your parents can't watch one recorded program while they are recording another, but ...

http://www.tivo.com/5.3.1.1.asp?article=234

1/6/2005

TiVo Developing High-Definition, Digital Cable Ready DVR

TiVo® DVR with CableCARD Will Offer Flexible, Fully Featured Platform for Accessing HD Broadcast and Broadband Content

January 6, 2005 - CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW, Las Vegas, NV - TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO) today will demonstrate a high definition, digital cable ready DVR that will enable TiVo subscribers to access the growing number of high definition broadcasts available over the air or through their cable provider without a separate set-top box. The DVR will support CableCARD technology, enabling consumers to access their favorite premium and HD cable channels with the ease of use and powerful search capabilities of the TiVo® service. Moreover, as part of the "Tahiti" strategy announced at CES today, the new DVR will also allow consumers to access, download, and manage broadband content.

"We believe that the deployment of CableCARD technology is an essential development for the future of digital television. By eliminating the need for a separate set top box, consumers will enjoy more choice and flexibility over their entertainment delivery," said Mike Ramsay, chairman and chief executive officer, TiVo. "TiVo will play a key role in driving this technology forward to bring it to the masses."

TiVo's HD CableCARD DVR will be a premium product marketed toward consumers that want the very best in home entertainment. Consumers will be able to record their favorite entertainment from many different sources - high-definition channels, premium cable channels, and video content available via broadband.

CableCARDs free consumers from needing a cable set top box and offer consumers choice in how they get their digital entertainment. By providing consumer choice, companies like TiVo can provide an alternative to the traditional cable set top box and offer innovative services and content that address the consumer's personal interests.

The new HD CableCARD DVR is in development and TiVo plans to launch the product early next year.

For more information about any of the announcements made by TiVo at the Consumer Electronics Show, please visit www.tivo.com/ces.

Conditions of use
A product lifetime subscription to the TiVo service covers the life of the TiVo Digital Video Recorder (DVR) you buy--not the life of the subscriber. The product lifetime subscription accompanies the product in case of ownership transfer. The subscription remains in effect if your DVR needs to be repaired or replaced due to a malfunction (see manufacturer warranty details). Because a product lifetime subscription is linked to a particular DVR, it cannot be transferred to any other DVR (unless the DVR is replaced due to a malfunction covered by the manufacturer's warranty). Each DVR purchased requires its own service subscription and activation.

Of course, hardware products don't last forever and their lifespan will vary among individual products. TiVo makes no representations or warranties as to the expected lifetime of the product aside from the manufacturer's warranty.

So you see what I mean. Don't be confused about "lifetime" membership. When my friend asked how long Tivo boxes last, the representative on the phone said "Well, about 2.5 to 3 years". If you do the math, it's pretty close to what you'd pay for the lifetime subscription.

Oh, and linkage for those that'd like to see the actual text:
Click on the "Product Lifetime" link

As far as I know there are no version limitations on the WUSB12, which is a little bit more expensive but a much nicer unit to plug into your TiVo.

You can get a TiVo that has TiVo Basic, which gives you VCR like functionality and a bit more, without any monthly fee. I have the Toshiba SD H400 (which is a TiVo and a DVD Player). See http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/publ ic/tv1199.htm

A TiVo® box is intended for use only with a paid subscription to the TiVo® service. Without the TiVo service, a TiVo box has extremely limited functionality. No functionality is represented or should be expected.

TiVo To Go MPEG2 Decrypting

Ok, if this is the feature comparison page that you were mentioning, I see nothing in it that would lead me to want to give up my second tuner. Having 2 tuners is even more of an evolutionary step forward than the original TiVo features (pause, rewind, easy record) were. Time-shifting is one thing, but being able to watch competing programs in a reasonably live fashion is far more useful to me. This becomes especially important when more than one person watches TV. There aren't arguments over who's season passes get ranked higher since we rarely have 3 shows in the same timeslot.

So before you label DirecTiVo the "ugly step-child", you should consider it to be superior to the regular TiVo. Something to the effect of, "Yes the regular TiVos have online scheduling, burning to DVD and the home media option, but they're more expensive and all but useless without their second tuner."

Why not use the multiroom viewing functionality built into Series 2 TiVo?

http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/publ ic/tv2018.htm?

It's been available since the Home Media Option was launched, and is now free to Series 2 owners.

The SDK is out: http://tivohme.sourceforge.net/

Screenshots:
http://tivohme.sourceforge.net/?page=screenshots

TiVo is sponsoring a developer contest:
http://www.tivo.com/4.3.hme.asp

The press release:
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050131/sfm023a_1.html

Tivo already has a Music Jukebox and Picture Gallery, as part of the (no-additonal-fee) HMO software. The configuration is not web-based, per se, but it is possible to schedule recordings via the web.

You can get the TiVo Home Media Engine SDK from Sourceforge: http://tivohme.sourceforge.net/.

There is also a TiVo Developer Challenge: http://www.tivo.com/4.3.hme.asp
There are prizes for best overall, best music app, best photos app, best information app, best game app, and most creative. You can download and run a demo now! The demo has "SameGame", "Skull and Bones" (connect 4), and "Weather" in it. Checking it out now...

Um, TiVo already added the "cool feature" you requested. You can already copy your saved shows from your TiVo to your PC and burn them to DVD.

http://www.tivo.com/4.9.19.asp

I think the pull/push disctinction is kinda irrelevant here. After all, they do have ad filters for televisions now -- and television is probably the most pushy medium you're going to find. (In more than one sense of the word.)

Not to mention that if you had some kind of Pointcast-like kind of system, you could very well write a hacked client which would receive the ads but never display them, and nobody would be any the wiser.

But your main point remains. Today we have the technology to ignore/skip some of the content we're sent. It may not be perfect at all times, but it's there, but at the moment, fighting the filters in an arms race is pretty much what site owners can do.

I myself don't really have any business model lined up for the free-of-charge web sites that are ad-supported at the moment, other than some form of subscription-only based service. Sure, micropayments are here, and are probably not that hard to get working, but the problem remains -- why would anybody use micropayments to get content which they can get elsewhere for free using their ad-stripping proxies?

Personally, I don't use any ad-stripping proxies at all. I like to see exactly what I'm being sent, and sometimes ads can even be vaguely relevant to the information I'm looking for. The real challenge, in other words, is making ads that people *want* to see. Google adwords and similar programs are actually pretty damn close. Fight the reason people block ads, not the ad-blocking itself, before it's too late and everybody runs adblock software already.

You can order several types of remotes (colors) from TiVo themselves at: https://store.tivo.com/main.aspx?cid=102

I'd probably have 10 people signed up under me right now if I got some sort of compensation for it

It may not be cash, but look at this:

https://www3.tivo.com/tivo-com/rewards/prizes/show .do

Hmm, I got tivo for free. what does that make me? not tech savy-- consumer savy?

According to the company, included software - compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X - will convert any audio, video or image file to a format compatible with the MoviePlayer.

I call BULLSHIT. But if it can play the shows I get off my TiVo without me having to do any manual conversion, then I'm all in.

Somehow I think DRM'd files will not work, as well as multitudes of other formats like divx, but who knows, maybe they are really good at this stuff.

• In fact, some of you may have it already. You can find out if you've received the new software update here.
• If you haven't but are jonesin', add your name to the priority list so we know you're ready-and-waiting.

• In fact, some of you may have it already. You can find out if you've received the new software update here.
• If you haven't but are jonesin', add your name to the priority list so we know you're ready-and-waiting.

Among the goodies folks are finding is an undocumented one: A built in web server.

No, apparently not Apache but something else, what counts is it's there, it works, and it allows download of XML files containing show listings and the shows themselves. To get to it follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an early download of TiVo 7.1. Must have a Series 2, no DVD burner built-in (player is ok), DirecTV models aren't handled by TiVo. Basically TiVo Service Numbers beginning with 110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 540, & 590.

2. While on TiVo's web site note your password and the "Media Access Key" (MAK) for your TiVo. You'll need these later.

3. Wait for 7.1 to be downloaded and installed on your machine. Continually forcing reconnects will not hurry this, indeed the cumulative server load by that sort of thing will only delay the rollout.

4. Once you've got 7.1 (it's downloaded, installed, you've rebooted) point a web browser at https://your.tivo's.ip.address/nowplaying/index.ht ml . For user supply tivo and the password is your "MAK".

5. Go wild.

Turns out you need to have TiVo's DirectShow decryption filter installed, and that only comes with their TiVo Desktop v.2 which is, for now, Windows 2K/XP only. You also need a decent mpeg2 codec, which MS doesn't include in Windows. TiVo recommends a couple of commercial ones but there are also free ones out there too. Or, you might have one that came with DVD software.

However, contrary to TiVo's marketing, once a .tivo file is pulled through this it can be edited, saved, even burned to DVD, with nothing more special needed. That's right, no waiting for Sonic's soon-to-be-shipped software, no magic mojo involved, trusty ole TMPGEnc and Nero and all the rest are perfectly fine. Indeed once passed through the magic DirectShow filter (and your password supplied) the .tivo files are free to be rendered into a more normal mpeg2 files.

Sure the $50 "custom" software will probably do more with automation, labeling, and such, but I'm betting nothing that can't be whipped up in a few days by TiVo's customers, likely beating the Sonic software to the punch.

Pretty Kewl, eh?

Among the goodies folks are finding is an undocumented one: A built in web server.

No, apparently not Apache but something else, what counts is it's there, it works, and it allows download of XML files containing show listings and the shows themselves. To get to it follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an early download of TiVo 7.1. Must have a Series 2, no DVD burner built-in (player is ok), DirecTV models aren't handled by TiVo. Basically TiVo Service Numbers beginning with 110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 540, & 590.

2. While on TiVo's web site note your password and the "Media Access Key" (MAK) for your TiVo. You'll need these later.

3. Wait for 7.1 to be downloaded and installed on your machine. Continually forcing reconnects will not hurry this, indeed the cumulative server load by that sort of thing will only delay the rollout.

4. Once you've got 7.1 (it's downloaded, installed, you've rebooted) point a web browser at https://your.tivo's.ip.address/nowplaying/index.ht ml . For user supply tivo and the password is your "MAK".

5. Go wild.

Turns out you need to have TiVo's DirectShow decryption filter installed, and that only comes with their TiVo Desktop v.2 which is, for now, Windows 2K/XP only. You also need a decent mpeg2 codec, which MS doesn't include in Windows. TiVo recommends a couple of commercial ones but there are also free ones out there too. Or, you might have one that came with DVD software.

However, contrary to TiVo's marketing, once a .tivo file is pulled through this it can be edited, saved, even burned to DVD, with nothing more special needed. That's right, no waiting for Sonic's soon-to-be-shipped software, no magic mojo involved, trusty ole TMPGEnc and Nero and all the rest are perfectly fine. Indeed once passed through the magic DirectShow filter (and your password supplied) the .tivo files are free to be rendered into a more normal mpeg2 files.

Sure the $50 "custom" software will probably do more with automation, labeling, and such, but I'm betting nothing that can't be whipped up in a few days by TiVo's customers, likely beating the Sonic software to the punch.

Pretty Kewl, eh?

Among the goodies folks are finding is an undocumented one: A built in web server.

No, apparently not Apache but something else, what counts is it's there, it works, and it allows download of XML files containing show listings and the shows themselves. To get to it follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an early download of TiVo 7.1. Must have a Series 2, no DVD burner built-in (player is ok), DirecTV models aren't handled by TiVo. Basically TiVo Service Numbers beginning with 110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 540, & 590.

2. While on TiVo's web site note your password and the "Media Access Key" (MAK) for your TiVo. You'll need these later.

3. Wait for 7.1 to be downloaded and installed on your machine. Continually forcing reconnects will not hurry this, indeed the cumulative server load by that sort of thing will only delay the rollout.

4. Once you've got 7.1 (it's downloaded, installed, you've rebooted) point a web browser at https://your.tivo's.ip.address/nowplaying/index.ht ml . For user supply tivo and the password is your "MAK".

5. Go wild.

Turns out you need to have TiVo's DirectShow decryption filter installed, and that only comes with their TiVo Desktop v.2 which is, for now, Windows 2K/XP only. You also need a decent mpeg2 codec, which MS doesn't include in Windows. TiVo recommends a couple of commercial ones but there are also free ones out there too. Or, you might have one that came with DVD software.

However, contrary to TiVo's marketing, once a .tivo file is pulled through this it can be edited, saved, even burned to DVD, with nothing more special needed. That's right, no waiting for Sonic's soon-to-be-shipped software, no magic mojo involved, trusty ole TMPGEnc and Nero and all the rest are perfectly fine. Indeed once passed through the magic DirectShow filter (and your password supplied) the .tivo files are free to be rendered into a more normal mpeg2 files.

Sure the $50 "custom" software will probably do more with automation, labeling, and such, but I'm betting nothing that can't be whipped up in a few days by TiVo's customers, likely beating the Sonic software to the punch.

Pretty Kewl, eh?

Among the goodies folks are finding is an undocumented one: A built in web server.

No, apparently not Apache but something else, what counts is it's there, it works, and it allows download of XML files containing show listings and the shows themselves. To get to it follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an early download of TiVo 7.1. Must have a Series 2, no DVD burner built-in (player is ok), DirecTV models aren't handled by TiVo. Basically TiVo Service Numbers beginning with 110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 540, & 590.

2. While on TiVo's web site note your password and the "Media Access Key" (MAK) for your TiVo. You'll need these later.

3. Wait for 7.1 to be downloaded and installed on your machine. Continually forcing reconnects will not hurry this, indeed the cumulative server load by that sort of thing will only delay the rollout.

4. Once you've got 7.1 (it's downloaded, installed, you've rebooted) point a web browser at https://your.tivo's.ip.address/nowplaying/index.ht ml . For user supply tivo and the password is your "MAK".

5. Go wild.

Turns out you need to have TiVo's DirectShow decryption filter installed, and that only comes with their TiVo Desktop v.2 which is, for now, Windows 2K/XP only. You also need a decent mpeg2 codec, which MS doesn't include in Windows. TiVo recommends a couple of commercial ones but there are also free ones out there too. Or, you might have one that came with DVD software.

However, contrary to TiVo's marketing, once a .tivo file is pulled through this it can be edited, saved, even burned to DVD, with nothing more special needed. That's right, no waiting for Sonic's soon-to-be-shipped software, no magic mojo involved, trusty ole TMPGEnc and Nero and all the rest are perfectly fine. Indeed once passed through the magic DirectShow filter (and your password supplied) the .tivo files are free to be rendered into a more normal mpeg2 files.

Sure the $50 "custom" software will probably do more with automation, labeling, and such, but I'm betting nothing that can't be whipped up in a few days by TiVo's customers, likely beating the Sonic software to the punch.

Pretty Kewl, eh?

Among the goodies folks are finding is an undocumented one: A built in web server.

No, apparently not Apache but something else, what counts is it's there, it works, and it allows download of XML files containing show listings and the shows themselves. To get to it follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an early download of TiVo 7.1. Must have a Series 2, no DVD burner built-in (player is ok), DirecTV models aren't handled by TiVo. Basically TiVo Service Numbers beginning with 110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 540, & 590.

2. While on TiVo's web site note your password and the "Media Access Key" (MAK) for your TiVo. You'll need these later.

3. Wait for 7.1 to be downloaded and installed on your machine. Continually forcing reconnects will not hurry this, indeed the cumulative server load by that sort of thing will only delay the rollout.

4. Once you've got 7.1 (it's downloaded, installed, you've rebooted) point a web browser at https://your.tivo's.ip.address/nowplaying/index.ht ml . For user supply tivo and the password is your "MAK".

5. Go wild.

Turns out you need to have TiVo's DirectShow decryption filter installed, and that only comes with their TiVo Desktop v.2 which is, for now, Windows 2K/XP only. You also need a decent mpeg2 codec, which MS doesn't include in Windows. TiVo recommends a couple of commercial ones but there are also free ones out there too. Or, you might have one that came with DVD software.

However, contrary to TiVo's marketing, once a .tivo file is pulled through this it can be edited, saved, even burned to DVD, with nothing more special needed. That's right, no waiting for Sonic's soon-to-be-shipped software, no magic mojo involved, trusty ole TMPGEnc and Nero and all the rest are perfectly fine. Indeed once passed through the magic DirectShow filter (and your password supplied) the .tivo files are free to be rendered into a more normal mpeg2 files.

Sure the $50 "custom" software will probably do more with automation, labeling, and such, but I'm betting nothing that can't be whipped up in a few days by TiVo's customers, likely beating the Sonic software to the punch.

Pretty Kewl, eh?

Among the goodies folks are finding is an undocumented one: A built in web server.

No, apparently not Apache but something else, what counts is it's there, it works, and it allows download of XML files containing show listings and the shows themselves. To get to it follow these steps:

1. Sign up for an early download of TiVo 7.1. Must have a Series 2, no DVD burner built-in (player is ok), DirecTV models aren't handled by TiVo. Basically TiVo Service Numbers beginning with 110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 540, & 590.

2. While on TiVo's web site note your password and the "Media Access Key" (MAK) for your TiVo. You'll need these later.

3. Wait for 7.1 to be downloaded and installed on your machine. Continually forcing reconnects will not hurry this, indeed the cumulative server load by that sort of thing will only delay the rollout.

4. Once you've got 7.1 (it's downloaded, installed, you've rebooted) point a web browser at https://your.tivo's.ip.address/nowplaying/index.ht ml . For user supply tivo and the password is your "MAK".

5. Go wild.

Turns out you need to have TiVo's DirectShow decryption filter installed, and that only comes with their TiVo Desktop v.2 which is, for now, Windows 2K/XP only. You also need a decent mpeg2 codec, which MS doesn't include in Windows. TiVo recommends a couple of commercial ones but there are also free ones out there too. Or, you might have one that came with DVD software.

However, contrary to TiVo's marketing, once a .tivo file is pulled through this it can be edited, saved, even burned to DVD, with nothing more special needed. That's right, no waiting for Sonic's soon-to-be-shipped software, no magic mojo involved, trusty ole TMPGEnc and Nero and all the rest are perfectly fine. Indeed once passed through the magic DirectShow filter (and your password supplied) the .tivo files are free to be rendered into a more normal mpeg2 files.

Sure the $50 "custom" software will probably do more with automation, labeling, and such, but I'm betting nothing that can't be whipped up in a few days by TiVo's customers, likely beating the Sonic software to the punch.

Pretty Kewl, eh?

Tivo already lets you share video files between Tivos on the same home network. And now they've got that TiVO-to-go thing where you can watch them on your computer, which is a heck of a lot more than these TiVO knock-offs support.

The video files are supposed to be encrypted with a key specific to your account and viewing requires a Media Access Key number and password. I guess you could try to capture the output of the MPEG2 codec after the TiVo Desktop decrypts the video. Or read back the DVD the Sonic software can write for you.

The TV2Go transfers the Tivo uses MPEG2 compression. This has no DRM on it what so ever. And there are tons of tools out there for transcoding it to other formats. Have fun. http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/publ ic/tv2176.htm

A TiVo® box is intended for use only with a paid subscription to the TiVo® service. Without the TiVo service, a TiVo box has extremely limited functionality. No functionality is represented or should be expected.

Television stations serving all markets in the United States are airing digital television programming, although they still must provide analog programming until the target date set by Congress for the completion of the transition to DTV - December 31, 2006. That date may be extended, however, until most homes (85%) in an area are able to watch the DTV programming. At that point, broadcasting on the current (analog) channels will end and that spectrum will be put to other uses.

A TiVo® box is intended for use only with a paid subscription to the TiVo® service. Without the TiVo service, a TiVo box has extremely limited functionality. No functionality is represented or should be expected.

Television stations serving all markets in the United States are airing digital television programming, although they still must provide analog programming until the target date set by Congress for the completion of the transition to DTV - December 31, 2006. That date may be extended, however, until most homes (85%) in an area are able to watch the DTV programming. At that point, broadcasting on the current (analog) channels will end and that spectrum will be put to other uses.

• Assassination Politics by Jim Bell
• The American Holocaust
• Anarchist's Cookbook
• Icky, unpatriotic, morbid beheading videos and such
• Bias to balance U.S. news bias
• Map of the White House
• Location of NYC water resevoirs
• Alex Jones loves progress!
• Economic terrorism #1 - buy nothing day
• Economic terrorism #2 - evil ad-skipping Tivo
• Economic terrorism #3 - running out of oil isn't a conspiracy theory.
• Economic terrorism #4 - the top 10 most fuel efficient cars of 2005 :)
• The widening wealth gap
• Paper trails make it much harder to steal elections
• Hamster dance!

If jackboot thug out there wants to arrest me for "implicitly supporting" the content of any of these links, feel free to abuse the PATRIOT ACT in order to force slashdot.org to reveal the IP address associated with this post, and in turn my ISP will reveal my name and home address associated with the DHCP lease (because I didn't bother to post through an anonymous proxy(s)). tinfoil_hat_mode off.

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