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TiVo Hacking Book to be Released
weaknees writes "Wired News
reports that O'Reilly press has book in the works loaded with TiVo Hacks. The
author, an MIT guy, is collecting
100 hacks for TiVo, but is shying away from the most controversial hacks.... The
brief article points out that the most avid TiVo hackers seem intent on respecting
TiVo's interest in having hackers stay away from things like subscription theft
and video extraction."
fp
BULL3H AER TEH FAG0T!!!111ONEONEONE
first post lolz
"away from things like subscription theft and video extraction"
What is wrong with video extraction? No doubt this book will be bypassed for web sites, and possibly other books that don't overlook this important and entirely reasonable "hack".
Posting AC...Because I can.
Obviously I understand the reasons for being against subscription theft, but video extraction seems perfectly legal, and there are already recorders out there that will do it (and a new Panasonic that burns to DVD).
I guess Lessig was right, if each new invention dealing with the media needs to be vetted by incumbent powers in the courts it's really going to kill progress.
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
Seems O'Reilly are publishing a series of these. I heartily recommend their Linux Server Hacks book, btw. There is a Google one too - anyone care to comment on that?
YOU!
I thought video extraction was one of the most popular hacks, not something people made an effort to stay away from. Certainly in the ReplayTV crowd, video extraction is one of the most popular hacks, right up there with drive upgrades.
And unlike bypassing subscriptions, it's not something that is going to cost TiVo money, so I don't see why they would be concerned by it.
How does TiVo respond to the modding/hacking of their products? I know that most companies seem to get pretty angry about it.
Also, it's great that O'reilly is picking up this up.
Is Tivo really worth hacking for? Are we really running out of stuff to hack now? Hack tivo, and then what? gameboy advanced? to run linux on it? :)
buffering...
*pssst* (yeah, you)
hook up a vcr or dvd burner or what-have-you to the video-out of your tivo... playback the show you recorded while simultaneously recording with your attached device...
i hope this wasn't too controversial of a hack to share with you... don't report me.
Trellis Description of a Convolutional Encoder
.
A trellis description of a convolutional encoder shows how each possible input to the encoder influences both the output and the state transitions of the encoder. This section describes trellises, describes how to represent trellises in MATLAB, and gives an example of a MATLAB trellis.
The figure below depicts a trellis for the convolutional encoder from the previous section. The encoder has four states (numbered in binary from 00 to 11), a one-bit input, and a two-bit output. (The ratio of input bits to output bits makes this encoder a rate-1/2 encoder.) Each solid arrow shows how the encoder changes its state if the current input is zero, and each dashed arrow shows how the encoder changes its state if the current input is one. The octal numbers above each arrow indicate the current output of the encoder.
Figure 2-2: A Trellis for a 4-State Rate-1/2 Convolutional Encoder
As an example of interpreting this trellis diagram, if the encoder is in the 10 state and receives an input of zero, then it outputs the code symbol 3 and changes to the 01 state. If it is in the 10 state and receives an input of one, then it outputs the code symbol 0 and changes to the 11 state.
Note that any polynomial description of a convolutional encoder is equivalent to some trellis description, although some trellises have no corresponding polynomial descriptions.
Specifying a Trellis in MATLAB
To specify a trellis in MATLAB, use a specific form of a MATLAB structure called a trellis structure. A trellis structure must have five fields, as in the table below.
Table 2-4: Fields of a Trellis Structure for a Rate k/n Code Field in Trellis Structure
Dimensions
Meaning
numInputSymbols
Scalar
Number of input symbols to the encoder: 2k
numOutputsymbols
Scalar
Number of output symbols from the encoder: 2n
numStates
Scalar
Number of states in the encoder
nextStates
numStates-by-2k matrix
Next states for all combinations of current state and current input
outputs
numStates-by-2k matrix
Outputs (in decimal) for all combinations of current state and current input
Note While your trellis structure can have any name, its fields must have the exact names as in the table. Field names are case-sensitive.
In the nextStates matrix, each entry is an integer between 0 and numStates-1. The element in the ith row and jth column denotes the next state when the starting state is i-1 and the input bits have decimal representation j-1. To convert the input bits to a decimal value, use the first input bit as the most significant bit (MSB). For example, the second column of the nextStates matrix stores the next states when the current set of input values is {0,...,0,1}. To learn how to assign numbers to states, see the reference page for istrellis.
In the outputs matrix, the element in the ith row and jth column denotes the encoder's output when the starting state is i-1 and the input bits have decimal representation j-1. To convert to decimal value, use the first output bit as the MSB.
How to Create a MATLAB Trellis Structure
Once you know what information you want to put into each field, you can create a trellis structure in any of these ways:
* Define each of the five fields individually, using structurename.fieldname notation. For example, set the first field of a structure called s using the command below. Use additional commands to define the other fields.
s.numInputSymbols = 2;
The reference page for the istrellis function illustrates this approach.
* Collect all field names and their values in a single struct command. For example:
s = struct('numInputSymbols',2,'numOutputSymbols',2,..
'numStates',2,'nextStates',[0 1;0 1],'outputs',[0 0;1 1]);
* Start with a polyn
>The brief article points out that the most avid TiVo hackers seem intent on respecting TiVo's interest in having hackers stay away from things like subscription theft and video extraction.
Cool, so if I use a TivO in "subscription theft" mode, someone else loses their service?
Or does it not really steal someone's subscription?
Anyone want to fill me in? I didn't know TivOs were vulnerable to DoS attacks.
"If that bond gets broken, you can say goodbye to backdoors, 30 second skips, etc."
There is no reason at all to get worried over video extration. More and more will say goodbye to Tivo (unless they can hack and put back in the 30 second skips!)
On ReplayTV (with the 4000 and up models), there is a feature allowing you to send shows to other units, and another to stream video to another unit. Because the send show feature can go to any unit over the Internet, this is one feature that they're being sued over.
The hack portion of it is a bit of software you run on a computer that emulates the ReplayTV protocol, allowing you to send shows to and from a PC. This allows you to burn archival copies, as well as to effectively use the PC's hard drive for additional show storage. Running that software would be considered a "hack" as it was independently developed and not officially supported by ReplayTV.
TiVo seems to have a dual-faced plan for dealing with hackers. The hacks that they want to let happen seem to be too easy, while they make the hacks they don't want to happen hard. As a result, the hackers who take the path of least resistance get all the credit, the hackers who go into the marked red zones get shunned.
In most single-drive models TiVo just happens to provide a perfect mounting point for that second drive... in network-less models they just happen to provide a slot in which an add-on card can be installed... when you give you TiVo Internet access, they just happen to have left their data server exposed to the 'net and let you do your "daily call" that way... for some reason they just happen to use modems that support Caller ID decoding... and let's not forget all of the "cheat code" hacks you can do with your remote control...
But when you stray into the areas that threaten TiVo's business model, subscription theft and video extraction from the box, things stop getting so easy. In fact, TiVo starts actively programming to break such hacks in required updates if they are ever found to exist. These people are also shunned by the main TiVo-hacking community, so even if they discover something there's nobody who cares.
The result is that TiVo controls their hackers by letting them improve their units, but only in the way that TiVo has appoved. This strategy makes them appear hacker-friendly, when really there are two hacks that they specifcally forbid. By letting the hackers have the little things, they seem to have found the most effective way of preventing hackers from going after the big things...
I've got _Google Hacks_. It's pretty good: (1) lots of basic stuff, like the "site:" search term, information about the fact that google will rate search terms more heavilly if they appear multiple times in a query, the 10 word limit on queries; (2) info on the Google API; (3) a lot of perl code to do useful things.
Recommended
MTV gave an award to Gollum?
Ah, that clears things up a bit. Thanks.
Once upon a time whilst walking in a park I asked a geek "Do you have a girlfriend?". He responded with a very puzzled look. "A girlfriend?," he mused, "Who is the developer?". I chuckled and told him this was not an open source project. He then became slightly angry and inquired, "Are you trying to insult me? Only the best geeks use open source only! What planet are you living on?!". I reassured him I was well aware of his integrity as a geek (white skin, clumsy, pants that are too short, lack of daily shower, pocket protector etc), and explained, "A girlfriend is a female who to a male (most oftenly a male) has an intimate friendship." He gave me a very confused look. "I have never heard of such a thing.. this.. g-g-irlfriend?" He asked me, sounding very baffled. "I have heard of friends before, those pets other people have. But what is this thing you say.. Grill?". "Girl," I corrected. Then I asked him to sit down on a bench nearby so I could explain it too him, the poor, helpless thing. I told him that for human beings to reproduce, sexual intercourse must occur between a male and a female. "Perhaps you hear the trolls mention a thing called "pussy" on slashdot?". The geek burst into laughter, "Haha, you have been browsing at -1 lately, haven't you? You know that is just troll talk. Those silly trolls never have anything intelligent to say."
My face turned serious. "My dear geek, are you not aware of the female population amongst you? Do you not stare in the street and want to hump a post when you pass by a hot, slim, gorgeous looking chick with a firm bust and well sculpted ass?". The geek immediately began to appear as if he was having a nervous breakdown. His glasses began to fog up and he took them off to wipe them with this linux embroidered shirt, "I think I know what you are talking about. Those things are icky. They have cooties. Get away from me!" I felt offended. "Nonsense, I pleaded! Pussy is a beautiful thing. A sacred thing that you should strive to give pleasure to." The geek would not listen and he began to cry. "STOP IT!! You are EVIL!!" He then, quite geekishly, skipped off down the path.
I walked back to my house feeling rather disheartened. 'Why don't they listen to me' I asked myself? When I got home my girlfriend opened the door. She was wearing short-shorts and a sports bra. She had been doing the thigh master for the past 30 minutes and was sweating. I could see her dark nipples underneath her slightly damp bra. Oh god I could fuck her to the moon and back. I could smell her horniness the second I took my shoes off. I chased her, both of us laughing, to our bedroom [THE FOLLOWING has been censored for the well-being of geeks].... Six hours later, finally satisfied a little, I sat up and noticed that same geek hiding in the trees. He had been watching us the entire time. I swear his penis had to have been the size of a fucking horse cock (not bad for a geek, i might add), and he appeared as if he had gone into a state of shock. I could see cum stains forming near the bulge of his pant zipper. I thought to myself. There is one geek, finally brought into the real world.
There will evidently be a good few problems to be handled and disposed of before such a book will be released without impedance; I believe that most of you are aware of what the TiVo is and how it works, and that it is produced by a private corporation which appears to be benefiting greatly in a pecuniary fashion from this invaluable product. Unfortunately, since that is true, I doubt that they will pemit the publishing of such a text without at least attempting to halt it.
Ok, I have a real need for a device like a TiVo. I have read so many conflicting things here on /.
Is it cheaper to build my own or just buy a damned TiVo? If its cheaper to buy my own, what model do I want?
If its cheaper to build my own, can you give me a website that'll list the components I need and how much they cost?
Thanks.
Could you think of a better way to waste your time than writing a TiVO hacking book?
GAYDOT Description of a WANKER YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ
A GAYDOT description of a WANKER YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ shows how each possible input to the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ influences both the output and the state transitions of the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ. This section describes GAYDOTes, describes how to represent GAYDOTes in MATLAB, and gives an example of a MATLAB GAYDOT.
The figure below depicts a GAYDOT for the WANKER YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ from the previous section. The YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ has four states (numbered in binary from 00 to 11), a one-bit input, and a two-bit output. (The ratio of input bits to output bits makes this YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ a rate-1/2 YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ.) Each solid arrow shows how the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ changes its state if the current input is zero, and each dashed arrow shows how the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ changes its state if the current input is one. The octal numbers above each arrow indicate the current output of the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ.
Figure 2-2: A GAYDOT for a 4-State Rate-1/2 WANKER YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ
As an example of interpreting this GAYDOT diagram, if the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ is in the 10 state and receives an input of zero, then it outputs the code symbol 3 and changes to the 01 state. If it is in the 10 state and receives an input of one, then it outputs the code symbol 0 and changes to the 11 state.
Note that any polynomial description of a WANKER YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ is equivalent to some GAYDOT description, although some GAYDOTes have no corresponding polynomial descriptions.
Specifying a GAYDOT in MATLAB
To specify a GAYDOT in MATLAB, use a specific form of a MATLAB structure called a GAYDOT structure. A GAYDOT structure must have five fields, as in the table below.
Table 2-4: Fields of a GAYDOT Structure for a Rate k/n Code Field in GAYDOT Structure
Dimensions
Meaning
numInputSymbols
Scalar
Number of input symbols to the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ: 2k
numOutputsymbols
Scalar
Number of output symbols from the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ: 2n
numStates
Scalar
Number of states in the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ
nextStates
numStates-by-2k matrix
Next states for all combinations of current state and current input
outputs
numStates-by-2k matrix
Outputs (in decimal) for all combinations of current state and current input
Note While your GAYDOT structure can have any name, its fields must have the exact names as in the table. Field names are case-sensitive.
In the nextStates matrix, each entry is an integer between 0 and numStates-1. The element in the ith row and jth column denotes the next state when the starting state is i-1 and the input bits have decimal representation j-1. To convert the input bits to a decimal value, use the first input bit as the most significant bit (MSB). For example, the second column of the nextStates matrix stores the next states when the current set of input values is {0,...,0,1}. To learn how to assign numbers to states, see the reference page for isGAYDOT.
In the outputs matrix, the element in the ith row and jth column denotes the YOU ARE TEH SUXORZ's output when the starting state is i-1 and the input bits have decimal representation j-1. To convert to decimal value, use the first output bit as the MSB.
How to Create a MATLAB GAYDOT Structure
Once you know what information you want to put into each field, you can create a GAYDOT structure in any of these ways:
* Define each of the five fields individually, using structurename.fieldname notation. For example, set the first field of a structure called s using the command below. Use additional commands to define the other fields.
s.numInputSymbols = 2;
The reference page for the isGAYDOT function illustrates this approach.
* Collect all field names and their values in a single struct command. For example:
s = struct('numInputSymbols',2,'numOutputSymbols',2,.
Why would TiVo possibly be opposed to (or be less than neutral about) video extraction? It doesn't have any negative impact on their business model... with one critical exception: Legal fees!
ReplayTV was sunk because they were sued repeatedly, and TiVo hardly wants to spend its precious money on lawyers! Larry Lessig may be a great professor and scholar, and he might like little guys who want to publish copywritten books, but I don't see him supporting TiVo when they get sued by every media giant under the sun.
If and when the courts catch up with the this technology, and if the decisions come down like the betamax decision did, then I'm sure TiVo will be more than willing to add features and DVD recorders into the mix... but if they decided to be at the forefront, they'd get slaughtered.
It is for this reason that the larger tivo upgrade companies don't rock this boat... TiVo was brilliant to embrace (or at least not shun) the hacker community with respect to adding hours, and even built many nifty features that empowered the hackers to do cool stuff.... and we in turn respect that by not doing thinks to get them into legal hot water.
TiVo Upgrades
Oh they want to respect tivo? but tivo doesnt give a monkeys about upgrading software without asking users permission and disabling features. As far as im concerned screw them they are selling hardware,they are trying to sell a service. Take advantage, buy the hardware hack it until your hearts content. These companies dont respect us, we shouldnt respect them. Who gives a f*ck really, mod me down if you want i have the karma.
This comment does not represent the views or opinions of the user.
YOU FAIL IT, you filthy whore.
While I understand why TiVo are against people "stealing" subscriptions by, say, using someone elses user ID, what about replacing the TiVo update service altogether?
I wouldn't mind getting a TiVo, but the subscription charges puts me off. I already have a two digital TV guides, one on my computer and one on my digital STB. If I wanted to connect the TiVo to my computer and get program information from there (without the forced ads etc) then what's wrong with that?
const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
http:/www.sesamestreet.org/
. . . but is shying away from the most controversial hacks . . .
This isn't entirely correct. SonicBlue was being sued over two features: Internet Video Sharing and Commercial Advance. IVS is a distinct feature from in-home sharing, running at a much slower speed and utilizing a custom DNS like service to locate remote replaytvs. It also creates a local copy of the file. Streaming doesn't create a local copy and occurs at full speed (obviously). DVArchive, a popular program, acts just like a ReplayTV, so it's capable of both receiving shows (which are saved rather than played), and streaming the saved shows back to the actualy ReplayTV. AFAIK, the streaming functionality has never been in question.
DVArchive Very nice tool.
Replay believes it a ReplayTV. So you push shows or pull shows. Allows you access to unlimited storage.
It is JAVA based so work about every where.
Other cool features include remote control of a ReplayTV. So do can run a video cable from the replay in one room to another and still turn it on/off change stations by using a a local PC.
Though playing the video stream is easier.
I mean, even a 5 year old could understand this..
Tivo is a corp that wants to make money, and they are astroturfing their fake "Hacker Friendly" image to sell more boxes and subscriptions.
They do not "care" about their customers, they are in this for the money.
Obviously it is trivial (for any reasonably computer saavy person) to use Myth TV. And that "Lifetime" subscription is only good until
Tivo closes up shop
Tivo decides to remove some feature during the next "Upgrade".
And these decisions are up to Tivo, NOT the owner of the box, "Lifetime" subscription or no.
So your "cost savings" on a "lifetime subscription" is worth NOTHING when Tivo makes a change that takes away functionality you have PAID FOR.
Hell, they took away "subscrition free" machines going from the version 1 to the version 2.
DON'T YOU GET IT???!!!
They can do WHATEVER they want!
YOU paid for the box, THEY own it!!
...because unless you don't value your time at all, buying is much cheaper.
Buy the cheapest one you can find on eBay, get the lifetime subscription if it's not already included, hack/mod as desired. Or don't. It will work right out of the box, no dicking around with it necessary.
I bought a 20 hour Series 1 TiVo on eBay in January of '02. I put a 120GB drive in it the day it arrived and paid for the lifetime subscription, and a couple months ago finally decided to add ethernet so I could extract recordings for archival purposes. The TiVo has worked flawlessly the entire time I've had it. I have not had to think about it at all, and IMHO that is the mark of a good system.
~Philly
I've got a question about the 30 second skip hack that's mentioned in the article. When you enable that, don't you lose the functionality of the button it's assigned to? Seems like a tradeoff.
If this doesn't explain how to pull video off the thing and burn to VCD or DVD, I really don't see the point. Yet another book less useful than the web, I guess.
sulli
RTFJ.
Video extraction is something they will not talk about? How lame! Might as well change the name from TiVo hacking to TiVo case mods, would be more honest even though it likely wouldn't sell as well.
I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
This is slightly off topic but still: I live in Pakistan and have been wanting a tivo/replaytv for a long while now. The thing which has stopped me from ordering it from amazon is the fact that it needs to be activated. Now, I don't think it is possible to activate from outside the US/Canada. I know they don't work if they are not activited. Secondly,the tivo program guide is not valid outside the us anyways so i don't need their service. So: Is it possible to just buy the tivo and program it manually? Will it run without the activation? Any hacks to use to without activation?
Stealing subscriptions is one thing, I certainly don't endorse that. Bypassing subscriptions is something else. Just because I might have bought a TiVo, I don't owe TiVo a monthly fee for the rest of my life, or need to pay them a lifetime fee when their lifetime might be much shorter than mine. Who cares if it reduces TiVo's revenue - If I own the box I believe I should be able to bypass the subscription system and simply tell TiVo when and what channel to record. Any "hack" book that censors itself to not provide such information isn't worth squat.
Sure, if there's a last minute program change, I could miss the show. Same thing happens with a VCR; I can get over it. But I find the complete reliance on a subscription the most offensive part of TiVo, and would not consider one unless I could hack past it, either to avoid the costs or to know the hardware will still be of use if the company folds.
I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
This book is useless! Do people know that most of the TiVo hacks can only be done to the Series 1 units, which are basically unsupported by TiVo Inc.? Series 1 units can't connect to the Internet (officially), they will not receive the new 4.0 software update, they don't have USB ports, they are slower than Series 2. There are some great hacks you can do to a S1 such as programming it remotely, caller ID, and instant messaging. But as of now the Series 2 can't be hacked, although you could add a new hard drive, and some of the 'hacks' are supported officially by the new Home Media Option.
Eventually someone will figure out how to hack the Series2, this will almost definitely involve replacing the unit's PROM chip (aka BIOS), then installing a new kernel that would allow hacks. Of course, that won't be in this book because it hasn't been figured out yet.
I recorded from my Tivo onto a VCR, now my Tivo thinks I'm lame, and records Pat Boone documentaries.
This whole "sell at a loss and sue your customers to act in a way which will generate a future profit" business model has to go. It's done with the Xbox, tivo, and plenty of other hardware systems. If your hardware can be used without having to pay you future costs, then don't sell the hardware at a loss. These companies think they can control the behavior of their customers, when in reality that's just never going to happen. If they'd realize that, they'd realize that they have to make a profit intially, rather than expect a lawsuit-based profit later on down the road.
Stupid people make stupid things profitable.
So who's he writing the book for? Tivo?
No balls, no gain.
Raffi isn't a tivo hacker, nor has he released any software for the tivo. His only contribution has been a book about the tivo, but to say that he wrote the book himself is also misleading. He solicited other people from the tivo community (including myself) to write sections for him.
In other words, he hasn't done anything and the drafts of the book don't look too promising.
- MbM
I don't care to comment, because it seems someone already did.
This is my digital signature. 10011011001
"If I own the box I believe I should be able to bypass the subscription system and simply tell [the box] when and what channel to record."
TiVo feels the same way. If you stop paying for your subscription, you get a box exactly like what you desicrbe above. I have two TiVos; one with a subscription (lifetime, BTW) and one without.