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Nero Unveils LiquidTV, TiVo For Your Computer

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the easier-to-take-your-tv-with-you dept.

bigwophh writes to mention HotHardware is reporting that Nero has decided to try a new step forward for home theater PCs by bringing the TiVo service to your computer. The new LiquidTV / TiVo PC package includes a (USB-based) high definition ATSC digital/analog TV tuner, antenna, remote control, IR blaster, Nero's LiquidTV software, and a 12-month subscription to the TiVo service for around $200. You can cut that in half if you already have a compatible TV tuner. This is the first time that TiVo has licensed their intuitive interface for a PC package. In addition to the TiVo interface, the rest of the LiquidTV software package allows you to burn your TV recordings to DVD or transfer the videos to other computers, iPods, PSP, or "other mobile devices." This service is due to launch next month.

8 of 156 comments (clear)

  1. Geeks do this w/o TiVo by clang_jangle · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I would expect that those of us who like to use our computers for video would already have these capabilities without spending $200/yr on a subscription. I know I do.

    --
    Caveat Utilitor
    1. Re:Geeks do this w/o TiVo by ivan256 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Me too.

      I pay $100 a year for the subscription.

      The subscription to TiVo is worth every penny just for the lack of having to fiddle with it all the time.... Getting the updates installed with no time investment, etc...

      And that's before you take into account its ability to record encrypted QAM, since it's cableCARD certified.

      I used to use a home-built DVR, but TV just doesn't matter enough to me to invest the time. I'd rather throw (much) less than a day's pay at it once a year and not have to think about it.

    2. Re:Geeks do this w/o TiVo by jedidiah · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The "fiddling" with a home-made DVR is driven primarily by other "fiddling".

      Set it up and leave it alone and it tends to stay setup. That first part is the trick.

      Once you make Tivo the combination of a random collection of spare parts and some
      software, you are going to blow away Tivo's strength in this area. It will be like
      trying to run MacOS on a non-mac using some hack.

      Simply put: Tivo is last to the party and is in serious danger of being left
      behind by everyone.

      If you are already accustomed to the more powerful features of PC PVR software
      then a PC running Tivo software is not going to be that compelling. Otherwise
      you would already just be running a Tivo anyways.

      What HD capture options will it have? How open will the recordings be?

      Will I be able to use the software on the platform of my choice?

      --
      A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
  2. Re:Hey America by ZeroNullVoid · · Score: 5, Insightful

    My first thoughts exactly.

    MythTV has progressed into a beautiful solution over the years.

    I have both TIVO devices and MythTV and I personally like the MythTV solution better.

  3. Who asked for this? by Control-Z · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have a TivoHD and Series 2, which both work great. What's the advantage in running it on your own PC? Only thing I could think of is the Tivo software should be faster on a decent PC.

    But if I was going to go the PC route I would install something like MythTV that would give me complete flexibility. Tivo still has to work with the networks to ensure shows are handled the way the networs want.

  4. Re:People need to stop mentioning MythTV by Dan667 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    As another poster has noted, if you set it up and run it Mythtv just works. If you jack with your installation and install updates or new features, then you will be messing with it. (like you would anything that you constantly change)

    The difference between Mythtv and paying for a solution is just in the raw power of what you are able to do. My setup has multiple diskless computers at all the tv's in the house served from a central machine and everyone can watch a different recorded program at the same time without commercials (it just automagically skips them). And when away from home you can set programs with a web browser or even stream your music or recorded programs over the web. People have made all kinds of really great add ons to it.

    I love it, and could not go back to a barebones and probably DRM'ed PVR package. The Microsoft one stopped recording shows when a network set the broadcast flag recently. I will stick with Mythtv. YMMV.

  5. Re:People need to stop mentioning MythTV by niiler · · Score: 5, Insightful

    On the other hand, considering this is Slashdot, you might find that the audience here actually does find fiddling with their TVs to be more entertaining than actually watching. :-)

  6. Re:People need to stop mentioning MythTV by jedidiah · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...something else that should bring up in all of this
    nonsense about "how I can magically convert my free
    time into little gold coins" is the fact that all of
    the other PVR solutions offer far superior commercial
    skipping features.

            I don't have to worry about my 30-second skip button
    going away or trying to re-program it afterwards.

            My PVR skips those pesky commercials automagically.

            Nice convenience. Nice time saver.

    --
    A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.