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Automated TiVo to iPod formating
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."
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.
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!
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.
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.
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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?
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?
Videora ipod converter
Easy to use and very useful, free as in beer, check it out.
Cheers,
Ian
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.
Formatting. Formatting. FORMATTING!
Formating? As in mating 'fore the sunrise?
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.
AVS Forum gets down'n'dirty...
Same for the ReplayTV -> PSP...
Da Blog
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.
". . . 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.
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?
It should read "Automated TiVo to iPod for mating" instead of the current "Automated TiVo to iPod formating"
This space for rent.
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...
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?
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!"
iPod and shove it... I'm watching TiVo without the apple interference
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)
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)
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.
isn't reading and having interesting conversations supposed to make you smarter?
Wicked news, I cant wait for this to come out. Ipods lawyers will be going nuts.
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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.
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."
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.
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.