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Automated TiVo to iPod formating

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stumbling-towards-awesome dept.

Berkana writes "PVR Wire reports that 'TVHarmony.com has released a new version of its AutoPilot software that supports converting TiVo-recorded shows into a format that's compatible with the new video iPod. It also works with Palm devices that can view video. "The software automatically transfers, converts and stores your TV programming. You can select shows to be downloaded automatically, in the middle of the night if you like, and process the transfers into popular formats. AutoPilot keeps track of the shows you've already downloaded so you can transfer an entire TV series without duplicates.' . . . in other words, one of the biggest gripes concerning the new iPod has been addressed."

104 comments

  1. How Exclusionist! by darth_MALL · · Score: 0, Funny

    I can afford neither a TiVo nor an iPod, you insensitive clod!
    It's a miracle that my neighbor hasn't noticed me sneaking into his house at night to adjust the Pringles can on his WAP antenna.

    1. Re:How Exclusionist! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "It's a miracle that my neighbor hasn't noticed me sneaking into his house at night to adjust the Pringles can on his WAP antenna."

      So that's YOU who's been doing that? You bastard.
      At least wipe your feet before you come sneaking in... and keep out of the fridge!

  2. Commercials? by scotty1024 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I didn't see anything in there about trimming out the commercials... and the video iPod doesn't have a skip 30 seconds ahead button.

    1. Re:Commercials? by futurekill · · Score: 3, Informative

      The AutoPilot software has a ComSkip option that you can turn on during the setup.

      --
      The gates in my computer are AND, OR and NOT; they are not Bill.
  3. now I'll have to by platypussrex · · Score: 2, Funny

    go buy a TiVo and a video iPod... oh wait, I don't have cable or satellite either. This is going to be really expensive!

    1. Re:now I'll have to by dascandy · · Score: 1

      You don't have a TiVo, no video iPod, no cable, no satellite? Where do you live, Mars?

    2. Re:now I'll have to by mctk · · Score: 5, Funny

      The investment will be worth it, trust me. You'll understand when you're sitting on the train, hunched over a 2.5-inch LCD screen enjoying that rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond, and feeling sorry for those poor saps who still have to read or even talk to pass the time.

      --
      Paul Grosfield - the quicker picker upper.
    3. Re:now I'll have to by Hellad · · Score: 2, Funny

      Dear Mods, I think that this was supposed to be sarcastic, not insightful...

    4. Re:now I'll have to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dear hellad, they're saying that his sarcasm is insightful.

    5. Re:now I'll have to by That's+Unpossible! · · Score: 1

      Obligatory Link

      --
      Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
    6. Re:now I'll have to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Why would you have a TiVo if you have the Internet? Why would you have an ipod at all? Satellite you're fucked.

      The only one of those worth having is the cable, and then only because you get TV + Internet for less than TV + Internet with any other service.

    7. Re:now I'll have to by notthe9 · · Score: 1

      Dear AC, he was saying that sarcasm is non-insightful.

    8. Re:now I'll have to by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "Dear Mods, I think that this was supposed to be sarcastic, not insightful..."

      Dear Hellad, I think he struck right on the point of what makes this thing useful, this making his point 'insightful'. But if you're riding a bus that's actually more fun than watching an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, I'd really like to hear about this magical bus. That'd be a hell of a tourist trap.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    9. Re:now I'll have to by Dare+nMc · · Score: 1

      >if you're riding a bus that's actually more fun than watching an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, I'd really like to hear about this magical bus. That'd be a hell of a tourist trap.

      Topless tour bus
      http://www.walnet.org/csis/news/world_2002/reuters -021206.html

    10. Re:now I'll have to by cthulhu11 · · Score: 1

      Don't forget to add in the cost of setting up an MS-DOS machine to run it on.

  4. DRM? by neuro.slug · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Wait, hold on a second. I'm assuming that video iPods use some derivative of Quicktime, and Quicktime AFAIK has no DRM. Even if it did--or does--can this software translate over the embedded DRM? I think I hear lawyers madly typing up lawsuits.

    1. Re:DRM? by The+Lerneaen+Hydra · · Score: 1

      It stands to reason that quicktime can have some form of DRM, becuase otherwise ABC and other large media conglomerates would be up in arms in regards to iTunes Video Store, where one can "buy" episodes of various TV shows.

    2. Re:DRM? by enrico_suave · · Score: 4, Informative

      unless i'm mistaken... there's kinda a neat common sense approach to "DRM" at work here. They take out the annoying/retarded .tivo DRM and make a standard mpeg2 (or whatever utility you use, i.e. psp/ipod/etc) BUT they embed your tivo MAK # as a small watermark. So you'll be less likely to spread your drm-less file all over the interweb, so to speak as it has some identifiable info on it (at least somwhere in a tivo database somewhere)

      I may be mistaken though, that's how it works with tivo2mpeg, i don't have a video ipod or played with the utily for the sake of spitting out quicktime ;)

      --
      Build Your Own PVR/HTPC news, reviews, &
    3. Re:DRM? by eobanb · · Score: 2, Informative

      I'm assuming that video iPods use some derivative of Quicktime, and Quicktime AFAIK has no DRM

      You assume too much

      --

      Take off every sig. For great justice.

    4. Re:DRM? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      Ok, first off, DRM can be added to any compression or container format, and I wish people would get that through their heads and stop confusing the issue. Grand-Ogg-Tarkin or vorbis or MP3 or whatever could be encapsulated in DRM just as easily as WMA or AAC.

      That said, the DRMed videos on the iTMS are in a MPEG-4 container file, which while very very similar to a quicktime movie, isn't quite the same thing. AFAIK, no one has made any Quicktime DRM software or movies with any real DRM (i.e. something more than setting a simple flag asking players not to allow saving in the metadata).

    5. Re:DRM? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      iPod videos are in either MPEG4 or H.264 video and AAC-LC audio. The actual files are just wrappers for the video and audio streams. That wrapping can include DRM, such as the FairPlay DRM used when purchasing songs and videos from the iTunes Music Store.

    6. Re:DRM? by circusboy · · Score: 4, Informative

      quicktime has the capability but not the necessity of DRM. I have happily encoded quite a lot of video, (from dvd's that I own) into quicktime movies that I can play without killing the battery fast.

      I can play them anywhere. No 'translation' necessary. the only time DRM enters into the discussion at all is when you purchase something in the form of a file, and the vendor wishes to prevent you from making copies of that digital file.

      It is not, and never has been, necessary to encode files for the iPod using any sort of DRM.

      Are we all clear on this?

      --
      -- it's ridiculous how many people misspell ridiculous... (damn, damn, damn...)
    7. Re:DRM? by Guspaz · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Since Apple offers television shows, music videos, and other copyrighted content, I assume they must have support for some DRM.

      I don't think this program is likely to be targetted. By transferring direct from Tivo to iPod the content industry can't claim that this is helping piracy, because the content can't be distributed. Yes, I'm sure there is a way to capture it in transit, but lots of other programs can do that much easier. This is not aiding in DISTRIBUTING the content, so I see no problems.

    8. Re:DRM? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No DRM anyone other than Apple can use, then.

  5. it will also convert to PSP by enrico_suave · · Score: 4, Informative

    I know the video ipod is the new hotness, but it should be noted that this will easily / automagically pull content from your tivo2go network connected TiVo and spit out PSP format video for you in batch jobs...

    E.

    --
    Build Your Own PVR/HTPC news, reviews, &
    1. Re:it will also convert to PSP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      On an interesting note, some of us geeks have already been doing this with mythtv and a modified nuvexport script to convert to psp playable format.

    2. Re:it will also convert to PSP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The thing about the PSP is that it has crappy metadata and download management. With the PSP, file names are 8.3 of a very particular structure and the only embedded header is a title (less than 20 characters). There is no default software like iTunes that allows you to manage your stuff.

      Sure PSP has better screen and better battery life but only supports memory stick (~1GB). No match for a 60 GB iPod that you can simply plug in (kerchunk) and have everything neatly organized.

      iPod video is much more compelling for large video libraries because of the rich metadata and iTunes syncing. Apple got it.

  6. Good consumer! by NineNine · · Score: 4, Funny

    A Tivo AND an IPod? Anyobdy who both isn't keeping up with the Joneses, they ARE the Joneses! Does owning both of those also require that one also own a Volkswagen?

    1. Re:Good consumer! by TeamSPAM · · Score: 1

      Hey, my family resembles that remark!

      On another note, my wife wishes VW would make a cabrio again. The VW Beetle just doesn't do it for her.

      --
      Brought to you by Team SPAM! where we believe: "Information in the noise!"
    2. Re:Good consumer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0



      Tivos.. 3
      iPods (including a shuffle).. 5
      Volkswagens.. Currently owned: 2 Previously Owned: 8

      and you know what should also be included:
      Pre OS X Macs: 3
      Post OS X Macs (iBooks, iMacs, Etc.): 4

      Birkenstocks: Check
      Dr. Martin's: Check

      I'm either a Yuppie or I just happen to enjoy a product with a definitive character, and a reputation for reliability.

      - Mr. Jones.

    3. Re:Good consumer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Ha, you're a marketing mans wet dream. You swallow all the lies and delude yourself that you're actually buying character and reliability.

    4. Re:Good consumer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nah, you just seem to have problems with self esteem, a need for status that you're satisfying through purchases of unnecessary consumer electronics, and self control.

      we are not overly impressed. it doesn't really take a special person to buy more shit. anyone with a credit card can do that.

    5. Re:Good consumer! by converge18t · · Score: 1

      Unforunately, you are not buying reliability with a Volkswagen.

    6. Re:Good consumer! by die444die · · Score: 1

      has she not seen the incredibly hot VW Eos? check http://www.vwvortex.com/

      --
      die444die
    7. Re:Good consumer! by die444die · · Score: 1

      And I'm not talking about that horribly ugly Eco-racer that's on the front page...

      --
      die444die
    8. Re:Good consumer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I'm either a Yuppie or I just happen to enjoy a product with a definitive character, and a reputation for reliability.

      Hopefully you didn't fall for buying one of those G3 iBooks. My circa 2002 G3 iBook has been back to Apple 5 times for motherboard fixes. It's the worst computer I've ever owned.

    9. Re:Good consumer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe you should look for what the parent suggested?

    10. Re:Good consumer! by johndierks · · Score: 1

      http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publish/volkswagen_ news/article_1526.shtml

    11. Re:Good consumer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've already one-upped the Joneses, I have an iPod (Photo, not video), TiVo, Sony PSP, and an Audi A4 (Audi is owned by Volkwagen) and have a relative that owns a Volkwagen car... so there! :P

    12. Re:Good consumer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unfortunately for you, neither TiVoToGo nor this new TVHarmony AutoPilot work with Macs; only with Windows.

      That may change, but for now, you need a Windows box to get this functionality.

    13. Re:Good consumer! by TeamSPAM · · Score: 1

      If that car makes production, it might be an option. Though my wife prefers a convertible that has a back seat for additional passengers.

      --
      Brought to you by Team SPAM! where we believe: "Information in the noise!"
  7. I'm still not satisfied... by bennomatic · · Score: 2, Funny

    Until the damn thing cooks, cleans, and can do basic maintenance on my car, I think the iPod is missing essential features! All I want is for it to do those simple things. COME ON, APPLE!!! GET A CLUE!

    --
    The CB App. What's your 20?
    1. Re:I'm still not satisfied... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can get a woman for that, oh wait, you cant.

  8. Sounds cool, but I use.. by Winckle · · Score: 5, Informative

    Videora ipod converter

    Easy to use and very useful, free as in beer, check it out.

    1. Re:Sounds cool, but I use.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've given up on Videora's auto-queuing, though. Spits out a hell of a lot of .Net (surprise!) errors when adding stuff that Azureus has downloaded. I've switched over to queuing things manually.

      It's a shame, because it really does kick ass. I've taken to using it over my Mac for converting DivX to iPod.

  9. Windows only by mccalli · · Score: 4, Informative
    Blatent plug for me: v3 of my Tivo Podcast software is planned to do this too. Tivo Podcast software is Perl/Java and uses two support binaries available on both Linux, OS X and Windows, so this will run on any platform. At the moment it just handles audio, as it was written before the video iPods came out. I've got a v2.1 release planned, which will be an efficiency release and still audio, then 3.0 is going to go for for video.

    Cheers,
    Ian

    1. Re:Windows only by ari_j · · Score: 1

      Both Linux, OS X, and Windows? I'm so confused!!!

      Keep up the good work, though. I may just get a TiVo someday with gadgets like thsi coming into being. :)

  10. Mac Software? by futurekill · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Anyone know of any good software to convert .tivo files on the Mac nativley? I currently use VirtualPC to start an XP VM on my G5 then strip off the DirectShow stuff with a filter. It's a real pain...

    --
    The gates in my computer are AND, OR and NOT; they are not Bill.
    1. Re:Mac Software? by Blondie-Wan · · Score: 2, Informative

      It appears the upcoming version of the software described in the post directly above yours should be exactly what you need.

    2. Re:Mac Software? by futurekill · · Score: 1

      I saw that...we must have posted at about the same time...thanx...

      --
      The gates in my computer are AND, OR and NOT; they are not Bill.
    3. Re:Mac Software? by Warlock7 · · Score: 1

      If you're using a TIVO series 2 box, then this is what you want to try: TIVO Desktop. The Mac support has ended, but the software is supposed to work very well under the latest incarnation of Tiger.

    4. Re:Mac Software? by mccalli · · Score: 1
      You're looking for TivoTool, an excellent OS X conversion utility. Will handle conversion to MPEG-2 in various varieties (.mpeg, .vob etc.), XViD MP4 and will also integrate well with iTunes.

      For offline conversion (ie. you already have the .ty or .tivo), it includes a pre-compiled vsplit binary which will do the conversion on the command line. ffmpegx will also convert a .ty to a DiVX AVI.

      Cheers,
      Ian

    5. Re:Mac Software? by Sandor+at+the+Zoo · · Score: 1
      From what I can tell, both of the above-linked apps rely on your TiVo already being hacked, with software installed on it.

      It's annoying, that nobody's bothered to crack the format, probably because it's too easy to workaround on Windows. It's gotta be some tweak to MPEG2 that relies on the MAK.

      Hopefully when Mac moves to Intel someone will come up with something that can do the same DirectShow filtering without actually having to use Windows.

  11. Not to be a spelling nazi, but... by Vicsun · · Score: 1, Funny

    Formatting. Formatting. FORMATTING!

    Formating? As in mating 'fore the sunrise?

    1. Re:Not to be a spelling nazi, but... by dangitman · · Score: 1

      Why is "formating" incorrect? Where did you get the extra "t" in "format" to make "formatting"?

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
    2. Re:Not to be a spelling nazi, but... by Vicsun · · Score: 1

      format

      tr.v. formatted, formatting, formats

      google wants to correct the horrible misspelling that formating is too

    3. Re:Not to be a spelling nazi, but... by dangitman · · Score: 1
      So what? Americans spell "colour" without a "u."

      Both "modeling" and "modelling" are considered correct. Just because you looked up a non-definitive website, doesn't mean that it isn't acceptable to use a perfectly logical derivation of the word "format."

      Are Americans incorrect for replacing "s" with "z" and other variations?

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  12. Ugly video conversion by toupsie · · Score: 2, Informative
    From the website:

    Caveats

    To prevent copyright validations and to be consistent with Tivo's usage policy, these applications imprint your Tivo Media Access Key as a a watermark on your video which can be tracked back to your account in case of illegal duplication. To validate your media access key, the software must communicate with your Tivo prior to conversion.

    So the tiny little screen on your iPod will be filled up with a legible Media Access Key because the author's don't trust end users. No thanks...

    --
    Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
  13. ReplayTV - iPod by meehawl · · Score: 1

    AVS Forum gets down'n'dirty...

    Same for the ReplayTV -> PSP...

    --

    Da Blog
    1. Re:ReplayTV - iPod by enrico_suave · · Score: 1

      well replayTV has always been easier / more straightforward for doing this sort of thing... which is kinda how it got sue to brink of non-existance/relevence.

      I kinda wish I bought a replaytv instead of a tivo back in the day =(

      e.

      --
      Build Your Own PVR/HTPC news, reviews, &
    2. Re:ReplayTV - iPod by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      well replayTV has always been easier / more straightforward for doing this sort of thing... which is kinda how it got sue to brink of non-existance/relevence.
      ReplayTV fell way, way, way, way, way behind TiVo long before Replay got sued by the content providers. That's because Replay sucks donkey balls as an actual time-shifting device in comparison to TiVo. Sure, if you are a pathetic packrat who has a weird desire to digitally archive everything, Replay was easier to work with than TiVo. Guess what? That constitutes a tiny fraction of the marketplace, and these packrats also tend to be cheapskates who don't like to pay for anything. Replay, in trying to "cater" to this kind of market, slit its own throat. TiVo understood that the name of the game was easy, intuitive, effortless timeshifting of TV. TiVo kept its eyes on the ball and thus survived.

      I kinda wish I bought a replaytv instead of a tivo back in the day =(
      I have a Replay. I hardly ever use it compared to my four TiVos. Replay's UI and "logic" is clumsy and inefficient and as a time shifting device Replay makes things more difficult than they have to be. Sure, it's better than a VCR, but it's no TiVo.
  14. Okay, maybe not... by toupsie · · Score: 4, Informative
    Lower down on the page in the change log:

    Moved MAK from watermark into invisibly encoded MAK directly into file.

    --
    Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
    1. Re:Okay, maybe not... by enrico_suave · · Score: 1

      " Lower down on the page in the change log:

      Moved MAK from watermark into invisibly encoded MAK directly into file. "

      Cool! I've got to get the new version!

      e.

      --
      Build Your Own PVR/HTPC news, reviews, &
  15. Halo effect by Captain+Perspicuous · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    From the page:
    System Requirements: (...) Windows 2000 or Windows XP


    iPod halo effect, was nice meeting you. Now you're dead.
    1. Re:Halo effect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes, because unquestionably the lack of this program on Mac OS will prevent would-be buyers from purchasing a Macintosh.

      There will be a Mac equivalent in no time - almost certainly from a different source.

      You shouldn't say something just because you think it sounds good, you know?

    2. Re:Halo effect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Equally, though, there is a half-valid point in that this software has first surfaced for the PC; if the halo effect had been as successful as forecasted Apple would have kept shipping Mac-formatted iPods that use Firewire, etc.

    3. Re:Halo effect by mallardtheduck · · Score: 1

      They dropped firewire due to the lack of a single-chip implementation and the lack of space in the new ipods.
      As for mac-formatting, having a single ipod model is simpler for the consumer. Although, with the new video ipods, how long will it be until the fat32 4gb file-size-limit becomes an issue?

    4. Re:Halo effect by alphakappa · · Score: 4, Informative

      You can use ffmpegx on the Mac to convert your Tivo togo files to iPod ready MPEG-4. It's free (as in beer) and is a great GUI for the ffmpeg app.

      Here's a tutorial on using ffmpegx to create iPod ready videos (Link is not worksafe!)

      --
      "When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to resemble a nail." - Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)
  16. huh? by CDPatten · · Score: 1, Insightful

    ". . . in other words, one of the biggest gripes concerning the new iPod has been addressed."

    "gripes"? I must have missed something, but everyone in the media, and all the articles I've seen, have had nothing but good things to say. Occasionally I see someone say, "well the screen is to small to watch a movie", but then they quickly say "BUT that isn't what apple was going for anyways. Praise Steve. Amen." They all talk about anything apple does as the second coming of Christ.

    I guess I'm just shocked to see that there were any gripes about the video ipod.

    Other then that, that software is pretty cool.

    1. Re:huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There've been many articles addressing the fact that it's quite a pain to get recorded TV on to your iPod quickly and easily. This software solves that.

  17. How long? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As this is an useful feature, how long till Tivo or Apple break this?

  18. Mispelling in article title by recoiledsnake · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    It should read "Automated TiVo to iPod for mating" instead of the current "Automated TiVo to iPod formating"

    --
    This space for rent.
    1. Re:Mispelling in article title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When correcting other people's spelling and grammar, you should really get yours right first. It's "misspelling", not "mispelling".

  19. What about OS X? by beagle · · Score: 1

    Is there any way to do this on OS X? I have no PCs in the house, and I'm not about to buy a Windows box just to be able to convert video from my TiVo...

    1. Re:What about OS X? by HebrewToYou · · Score: 5, Informative

      You don't need a Tivo.

      Go talk to your cable company and get them to provide you with an HD box, specifically the Motorola DCT6200. It has a FireWire port on the back of the box. It can be connected to your Mac and with one simple application (iRecord) you're able to record television to your hard drive with less compression (AFAICT) than a TiVo.

      My favorite part: there is no DRM. You can use another application (VLC) to open the files and save them in whatever format you like, including the new iPod format. It's one of the most slick integrations of technology that Apple has yet to publicize. All you need is a firewire-enabled cable box, a recently-made Mac, a FireWire cable and you're good to go.

      --
      I'm not popular enough to be different.

      Homer Simpson, The Simpsons

    2. Re:What about OS X? by enrico_suave · · Score: 1

      "Go talk to your cable company and get them to provide you with an HD box, specifically the Motorola DCT6200. It has a FireWire port on the back of the box. It can be connected to your Mac and with one simple application (iRecord) you're able to record television to your hard drive with less compression (AFAICT) than a TiVo.

      My favorite part: there is no DRM.      "

      This is true to a point... BUT no DRM, you must not have come up against any 5c flagged material on your cable box. Try firewiring some Pay Per View or HBO some time. If the firewire 5c flag is not set to 0 you can't pull it over firewire. (even if it is set to copy once, it can't which is odd)

      Still a cool alernative making use of existing devices. I wouldn't be surprised if TVHarmony adds a plugin (albeit on the windoze side, for now) to pull from firwire cable boxes -- or not... *shrug*

      e.

      --
      Build Your Own PVR/HTPC news, reviews, &
    3. Re:What about OS X? by HebrewToYou · · Score: 1

      "This is true to a point... BUT no DRM, you must not have come up against any 5c flagged material on your cable box."

      Oh, so very true. The OnDemand and PPV features are disabled for FireWire recording.

      I completely understand why the cable companies do this. They host quite a bit of programming via OnDemand & PPV, programming that I don't necessarily feel entitled to copy. The OnDemand library is fairly static and part of my subscription fee, so there's little need to record it. The PPV stuff is mostly DVD release material and widely available in other media. But subscription channels (local, basic, extended, premium) are not. As such, recording from those sources proves to be the most "rewarding."

      In any case, this is indeed one of the downsides of my suggestion.
      OTOH, adding additional storage capacity to my suggestion is trivial. FireWire/USB/FireWire800 storage devices can be daisy chained to maximize capacity as needed. And playback is not at all restricted, so the files can be burnt to DVD, streamed over a network or copied to infinite iPods.

      --
      I'm not popular enough to be different.

      Homer Simpson, The Simpsons

    4. Re:What about OS X? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The cable companies own the box, not you. If you think there isn't going to be any DRM in future, you are naive.

      Also, the cable company DVRs suck @ss. The UI and basic DVR functionality is pretty crude, and many of them are buggy as hell. If you are used to TiVo, you would find it extremely painful to downgrade to a cable company DVR. The only reason to do it is if you simply have to have a High Definition DVR.

      However if you have Comcast, a TiVo cable box DVR is on the way. And eventually we'll see TiVo with other cable providers as well, especially if TiVo wins its patent suit against Dish Networks.

    5. Re:What about OS X? by beagle · · Score: 1

      I have, as Clark Howard calls it, the poverty package. I am not interested in spending more than 4x the money just so I can get a DVR from my cable company... I already have a TiVo, so I'd rather just be able to get at the video stored on that unit.

    6. Re:What about OS X? by HTH+NE1 · · Score: 1

      Go talk to your cable company and get them to provide you with an HD box, specifically the Motorola DCT6200.

      What if your cable company doesn't use Motorola boxes? What if they like Scientific Atlanta? Are suitable boxes available under that brand?

      --
      Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
    7. Re:What about OS X? by HebrewToYou · · Score: 1

      What if your cable company doesn't use Motorola boxes? What if they like Scientific Atlanta? Are suitable boxes available under that brand?

      Great question.
      I point you here: http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/fcc-requires-firew ire-on-all-cable-boxes-015708.php
      Pardon the unformated link, but I really dislike embedding them and adding the url in [brackets].

      Cable companies -- by law -- have to offer a box with FireWire.
      Call and ask yours which one they offer and threaten a lawsuit if they don't offer one. ;)

      --
      I'm not popular enough to be different.

      Homer Simpson, The Simpsons

  20. Humans are so funny by jmilezy · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Who says we NEED all of these new expensive gadgets? Just because "bigger and better" exists does not mean I need it. "Modern society corrupts" -Rousseau

  21. TiVoToGo and OS X by TeamSPAM · · Score: 1

    If only TiVo would release some decent software to run on OS X. The TiVo Desktop won't work under Tiger and haven't seen any hope of getting the TiVoToGo software.

    --
    Brought to you by Team SPAM! where we believe: "Information in the noise!"
    1. Re:TiVoToGo and OS X by macslut · · Score: 1

      Try using TiVo Desktop with Tiger 10.4.2. There's no TiVoToGo support of course, but the latest Tiger patch (as of this writing) fixed the incompatibility issue. In fact, it's now *much* more faster and reliable than Tivo Desktop was with 10.3.

  22. If Only... by Fusen · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I'd maybe care if the iPod Video was at least a decent PMP, but it's not so I'm not really interested. nyone who wants to not have to squint at a 2.5" screen and be stuck with support for only 2 codecs should take a long at www.archos.com

  23. So much for e-books... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Guess we can forget about the e-book revolution when people can take an idiot box wherever they go.

  24. Why are Mac people buying Tivos? by drakethegreat · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    You guys are stupid. You should of never bought a tivo. There are DVR units that work for a mac and export to formats that mac uses. So its your own fault for not doing research before buying a product meant for PCs. EyeTV works with macs and exports to MPEG4 and Quicktime H264 so you can use the video on your Mac, burn to DVD, or copy it to the iPod. If you don't know how to take the mpeg that the device spits out and drag it into iTunes to be copied to the iPod then you might not want to be using a computer. Keep in mind this is slashdot so I'm assuming certain things. In other words IF YOU OWN MAC OS X AND A MACINTOSH DONT BUY TIVO BUY EYETV! The website is www.elgato.com and they sell them at the Apple Store in your area.

    1. Re:Why are Mac people buying Tivos? by macslut · · Score: 4, Informative

      Keep in mind that up until TivoToGo was released, TiVo offered full Mac support, and did it very well. There was, and still is compatibility with the latest version of Mac OS and Tivo Desktop which works great with iTunes and iPhoto. Maybe the fact that the CEO of TiVo is a Maccie has and the amount of support TiVo has had, as well as all the buy-out rumors through the years, may have lead many Mac users to consider buying a TiVo...as well as the fact that TiVos weren't compatible with *any* computer without hacking for quite some time.

      I have eyeTV as well as eyeHome, and they work well for what they are, but there are huge advantages to TiVo, and what Mac users are complaining about is that the final bridge to compatibility is not something that would be that hard for TiVo to do. Of course, the blame may be just as much directed at Apple as to TiVo.

  25. You can take your... by Brilleklar · · Score: 1

    iPod and shove it... I'm watching TiVo without the apple interference

  26. How to use the Videora Converter by alphakappa · · Score: 2, Informative

    Since not all the settings in the converter will give you iPod ready videos, I have typed out a quick tutorial.

    --
    "When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to resemble a nail." - Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)
  27. Mod Parent Funny! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    People with no sensahyuma shouldn't moderate. Hmph.

  28. Wait, by rolandog · · Score: 1

    isn't reading and having interesting conversations supposed to make you smarter?

  29. Tivo to Ipod by mj0hns0n · · Score: 1

    Wicked news, I cant wait for this to come out. Ipods lawyers will be going nuts.

    --
    Check Out [url]www.webreviews.ca[/url] and [url]http://music.webreviews.ca[/url] for music reviews.
    1. Re:Tivo to Ipod by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Uh, you do realize that "iPod" is a product made by a company called "Apple", right?

    2. Re:Tivo to Ipod by dangitman · · Score: 2, Funny
      Ipods lawyers will be going nuts.

      Wait... your iPod has its own lawyer? That seems a little excessive.

      --
      ... and then they built the supercollider.
  30. Still useless for Series 2 Owners by inio · · Score: 1

    This still requires a series 1 Tivo with modified software on it. When you get it working with TiVo2Go files, then you'll have something worth plugging.

    1. Re:Still useless for Series 2 Owners by mccalli · · Score: 2, Informative
      When you get it working with TiVo2Go files, then you'll have something worth plugging.

      Not its purpose - I actually did this so that I could listen to BBC radio programmes on my iPod whilst commuting into work. To do offline conversion, look into ffmpegx and mencoder. You'll still need the descrambling hack for certain models installed as far as I'm aware though.

      Cheers,
      Ian

  31. No, you can't by crimbil · · Score: 1

    You can't convert Tivo ToGo files (.tivo) with ffmpegx because, to quote the author of ffmpegx ".tivo files can't be supported because they have DRM and breaking DRM is illegal in most countries."

  32. Expires after 12/31/05 by Anonymous+Cowdog · · Score: 2, Insightful

    From the site:

    "The current version of TVHarmony AutoPilot is 1.0 Beta 1, v05 and will expire on 12/31/05."

    Stunts like this are why I like open source.

    Their ploy means that without giving users any ability to rely on the functionality in the future, they effectively dissuade any competitor from offering a similar product.

    This wouldn't be so annoying if it weren't for the fact that this is exactly the kind of software that could be banned by some future BigCo lawsuit. If the company gets sued out of business, not only is the source not available, but the existing copies of the software expire, at least for most people who aren't tuned into any hacks that might become available.

  33. It does work for Series 2 Owners by TVHarmony · · Score: 1

    Actually the opposite is true. We only support Tivos with TivoToGo functionality. We use the Tivo's built-in webserver to find and download shows.

    1. Re:It does work for Series 2 Owners by inio · · Score: 1

      I was referring to the tool linked in the parent. Your tool looks great, albeit Windows-only.