TiVoToGo for Mac Announced

An anonymous reader writes "After much anticipation, some backpedaling, a bite of hope, and a delayed release date, TiVoToGo Mac Edition is here. While there have been some unofficial hacks, those solutions have not been ideal for everyone. With support for transferring shows and burning to DVD/iPod, TiVoToGo is bundled as a part of Roxio's Toast Titanium software that will be announced tomorrow at Macworld."

Comments

Too bad, almost sounded useful

[Anonymous Coward]

Bundled as part of Toast? Well, so much for that idea then. A CD burning application that costs $100 and breaks with every security and system update that apple puts out? No thank you, I'll stick with the "unofficial hacks" (which work just fine).

Re:Too bad, almost sounded useful

[slughead]

Bundled as part of Toast? Well, so much for that idea then. A CD burning application that costs $100 and breaks with every security and system update that apple puts out? No thank you, I'll stick with the "unofficial hacks" (which work just fine).

I don't understand, I haven't updated toast 7.0 since it came out and haven't upgraded to 7.1--or whatever it's at now (I'm doing 10.4.8 on a Mac Pro now).

Toast has always been the 'end-all' of burning software since I started using it nearly a decade ago.

These days it can take in raw video, including mpeg2, and burn a DVD with no other software. It'll auto-compress video (and video_ts) to fit DVDs.

Combined with ElGato's software, burning TV shows from Miglia or EyeTV devices can be done without recompression. I used to do this three or 4 times a week, putting 2 hours on each disc.

It even started doing dual layer way before Apple even offered the option.

I've never had compatibility issues, even though I rarely upgrade. In fact, I've never had a single issue with Toast, and I use it for all sorts of crazy stuff.

Unfortunately... There's DRM

[8127972]

According to Engadget.com:

"Take heed, the software does indeed embed a non-visible watermark of your Media Access key into converted video -- same as the PC kiddo."

Click below for the full details:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/08/roxio-deliverst ivotogo-for-mac-yes-roxio/

I saw this coming.

[kyouteki]

This timing, of course, is not coincidental. The open-source hack tivodecode has made .tivo file decoding possible on non-Windows platforms. Tons of people are using tools like the TivoDecode Manager to replace the functionality not available from TiVo officially...until now.

Likely to work with a Series 1?

[mccalli]

The UK only ever got Series 1 hardware - is this likely to work with a series 1 device?

Incidentally, for some more of those infamous hacks might I recommend TivoTool for the Mac and my own cross-platform TivoPodcast for handling podcasts of digital radio.

Cheers,
Ian

Not available without Toast?

[masonbrown]

It looks like there's no transfer-to-Mac capabilities without purchasing Toast:

"Roxio is the exclusive official provider of TiVoToGo(TM) for the Mac--and Toast 8 Titanium is the way to get it and enjoy your favorite shows on the Mac, on DVD, and on-the-go."

http://www.tivo.com/mactivotogo/

Re:Not available without Toast?

[TobyRush]

Why, I ought to just yank my TiVo out and toss it in the... *sob* Oh, who am I kidding? They have me right where they want me!

You have GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. Mac users wait, and then wait, and then wait some more, and then finally TiVo announces it... for $100? The thing which has been a free download for Windows users for... ever? I'm miffed, but also genuinely curious why they would so obviously spit in the face of their customers like this. Is the Mac port somehow dependent on Toast's technology? Do they figure that Mac users must all be rich and spendy, and thus won't care about forking over $100? Are they just desperate for cash?

We're supposed to hear more about the "iTV" and Leopard tomorrow. Maybe there will be a TiVo-related announcement made there that will make me feel a little less affronted, but after waiting this long for TiVo to show even a little Mac love, I'm not holding my breath...

Not Exactly

[shirizaki]

More like meta data. DRM would hinder actual play of video files on players, btu it will encode it for iPod and PSP use, so calling it DRM isn't correct.


If anything, this is the proper way I'd like to see content distributed with protection.

"We'll give you free reign, but we're marking it."

Re:Not Exactly

[Niten]

No, it's not DRM. It's a watermark. It does not and cannot prevent you from doing anything at all with the video; all it does is provide the content owners with a means of identifying copyright violators, should the video show up in a torrent somewhere.

I agree with shirizaki - this is the proper way for media to be distributed online. This watermark will never be an issue for you until after you've already, publicly violated someone else's copyright.

So what.

[Laith]

At home I'm mostly a Mac guy. By bundling the new software only with a pay product when the Windows version is free is just insulting and bad business.

I just want to be able to copy some of our programs to a computer to watch. So I can watch my Sci-Fi when my wife or daughter are watching one of their programs, or so my daughter can watch one of her shows when the TV is otherwise busy.

We have no dvd burner in the computer and no desire to save these shows after viewing. Just want to have another screen to view them on.

$100 vs free

[diamondsw]

And note that while Windows users get it for free, Mac users only get it as part of a $100 application; one that you hardly need with all of the built-in CD and DVD burning services.

Roxio Discount

[frenchs]

I'm pretty sure I'm in line with everyone else in that I don't really want to buy a $100 dollar piece of burning software just so I can download and view my tv shows on my mac.

But for those that are into that. If you go to Roxio's site to an invalid URL (Like this one), you can get a 10% off coupon for their online store.

Re:In other news...another badly ported, late app.

[repetty]

>> Tell me again why the Mac is a better platform is the apps lag by years?

The main virtue of the Mac platform is that it pisses guys like you off.