TiVoToGo for Portables Updated

fistfullast33l writes "In a followup to previous stories on Slashdot, IGN is reporting that TiVo has released a new version of TiVoToGo that now allows subscribers to transfer shows to portables such as the iPod, PSP, and Treo without the need for third-party software such as Videora. The upgrade costs $25 for current subscribers and includes the ability to transfer to desktop PCs as well. To recap, you can now transfer your TiVo shows to your laptop, desktop, and portable, as well as burn them to DVD. Time for me to subscribe to HBO."

Comments

Before you bitch about the fee...

[Controlio]

I know that I was a little disappointed at paying the additional money for this feature... but it boils down to codec licensing. Quoth the TiVoPony:

The upgrade? While TiVo Desktop 2.3 is free (as always), and the automatic transferring of programs to the PC is also free, the ability to convert those recording for portables has a small cost. It's $24.95 to unlock that ability (there's stuff in there that we have to license, and we can't give that away to everyone for free). But it's a one time fee...you pay once, and you can convert your recordings for playback on your portable automatically, every time they're transfered.

Resolution low + Tivo still allows broadcast flag

[elrous0]

People are joking that they should alert the MPAA on this one. But, seriously, TivotoGo portable transfer seriously lowers the resolution of your recordings (you didn't expect to get that nice Mpeg-2 quality directly out of the Tivo did you?). And, of course, Tivo still allows networks to set the broadcast flag on shows to keep them from being transferred or burned to DVD at all (so far, mercifully, not many are apparently using this "feature").

So TivotoGo is hardly everything it's cracked up to be (if you want true freedom, you'll still have to set up MythTV or a similar app). Adding portable support is a step in the right direction. And it is nice to be able to transfer recordings to DVD (but only using Tivo's special codec on the encrypted transferred files).

-Eric