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."

Too bad, almost sounded useful

[by 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 (592713)]

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.

Re:

[lakeland (218447)]

I used to use toast too, but have stopped since the number of things it can do best has shrunk to virtually zero.

As a serious backup program it doesn't work. It doesn't handle backing up open files and I don't even think it has an option to span disks.
Backing up the odd file from your home directory is far easier in the Finder than launching a seperate program.
Music and Photo backups are meaningless now with the builtin apps doing them better.
That leaves movie backup. It does a passable job there, but so

Of course it it...

[moracity (925736)]

I just spent all weekend getting two-way video working between my new iMac and Tivo.

How about DirecTV TiVo ??

[jdray (645332)]

We've got a DirecTV TiVo unit (oldie but goodie). I've never investigated interfacing it with my computer, but we're starting to realize that 35 hours of storage just isn't enough for long-term storage and still catch everything we want to watch, so it's time to figure something out. We hate the remote on the new DirecTV PVR, so don't want to switch. Any idea if there's a way to pull things off of it to my iMac without a whole lot of extra equipment like FireWire TV tuners and the like?

Re:

[dafz1 (604262)]

DirecTv's version of the TiVO OS(version depends on hardware)doesn't include an FTP server, like the "real" TiVO OS does(vs. 7). Secondly, DirecTv also disables the network port in software. So, there's no easy way to get content off.

That's for official support. There are hacks available that allow you to enable the network port(if you have one, otherwise you need to buy a USB ethernet adapter), start a telnet/ftp server, so you can transfer things off via command line. AFAIK, it won't support Tivo2Go.

Re:

[jdray (645332)]

Eh. That's what I was afraid of. I'll just rely on ISOHunt to find torrents for the stuff I want to keep. thx JD

Re:

[Warlock7 (531656)]

You can keep waiting. DirecTV dropped TiVo and is now using their own half-assed DVR service.

Unfortunately... There's DRM

[8127972 (73495)]

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/ [engadget.com]

Not Exactly

[shirizaki (994008)]

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:

[Aadain2001 (684036)]

I haven't RTFA, so correct me if my assumptions are wrong, but wouldn't the restrictions be on making perfect digital copies that you could distribute freely over the internet?

While DRM is like a four letter word on here, there are good kinds of DRM and bad kinds of DRM. Good DRM will be simple to use and won't get the in way of basic use: watching on your computer, burning to DVD, watching on iPod/PSP, etc. At the same time, good DRM would prevent people from making unlimited copies that could be spread

Re:

[novus ordo (843883)]

The restrictions would be that everything you ever convert will be directly traceable to you. Would this be bad? Depends on what you're converting and how bad someone wants to find you. Of course real pirates would have a bogus key anyway. Maybe even yours.

Re:Not Exactly

[Niten (201835)]

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.

Re:

[christurkel (520220)]

Unless I am mistaken, Toast in version 7 put in some DRM stuff.

Re:

[Ed Avis (5917)]

I don't think that is particularly evil. Unless it's removing some of your digital rights, I don't think you can justify calling it DRM. There is enough real DRM out there without muddying the water. As far as I can tell, you can still exercise your rights to fair dealing, time-shifting and so on even if there is an invisible watermark in the video.

Re:

[alanQuatermain (840239)]

I'd have to say that I agree, this doesn't sound 'bad' to me, although I'll admit I haven't read the full details. But a watermark is the perfect 'DRM', I'd say. No actual restrictions on what you can do, but if the authorities find pirate DVDs sold from a market stall at $2 apiece, or liberally distributed online, they are able to track down the originator through the watermark. Meanwhile, other people who aren't making copies to sell for profit or otherwise distribute (i.e. are only interested in exercisi

Re:

[pyite (140350)]

I agree. However, watermarks can be pretty useless. Most are vulnerable to collusion. Assume for the moment that iTunes downloads didn't have copy protection DRM, just watermarks. Now how about five of us get together and download the same file on iTunes. Then, we get together and "average our files." Often times this will destroy the watermark but leave the original media intact. There is definitely research to create collusion resistant fingerprinting (see Anti-Collusion Fingerprinting for Multimedia [rutgers.edu] by W

Generations / DRM isn't about copying

[bill_mcgonigle (4333)]

Then, we get together and "average our files." Often times this will destroy the watermark but leave the original media intact.

Yes, but to do so you incur a generation loss.

I'm with you though, watermarks are a great alternative to DRM from a user's perspective and from the purported-need perspective. Then you realize that DRM isn't about controlling how many copies of a work you can make, but controlling where and when you can play your media and suddenly the watermark isn't effective DRM anymore.

I saw this coming.

[kyouteki (835576)]

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

Re:

[kyouteki (835576)]

That's what strikes me. Competent programs doing the same thing the Windows version does, for the same price...and then they release it bundled only with an expensive, broken piece of software. tivodecode development won't stop because of this, because it's ridiculous.

Dissappointing

[Hawthorne01 (575586)]

Clearly, this is an attempt by Roxio to stay relevant on the Mac. But there's no word yet of iTunes integration for full-size videos. Therefore, I have doubts (which hopefully will be settled tomorrow) about how this will work with 'iTV".

Re:

[MBCook (132727)]

OK, I've gotta ask, why would I care if it worked with iTV? My TiVo is already attached to my TV. What point would there be in moving the file from the TiVo to the Mac to the iTV?

Long term storage

[Cadre (11051)]

OK, I've gotta ask, why would I care if it worked with iTV? My TiVo is already attached to my TV. What point would there be in moving the file from the TiVo to the Mac to the iTV?

Long term storage. I DVRed all of the Expedition Everest episodes on Discovery. In a couple months I'll probably want to watch them again, but I sure don't want them just sitting on my DVR in the meantime taking up space.

Re:

[Hawthorne01 (575586)]

Or watching it on other TV's in the home. I like the idea of one central media server versus having TV shows, movies and music scattered on various devices around the home.

Re:

[Hawthorne01 (575586)]

The best you'll be able to do with this (for iTunes, Front Row and iTV integration) is add some applescript to have it convert the videos for iPod use and then drop them into iTunes.

And it iPod resolution, too. Crappity crapcrapcrap.

And thus, my dream of TiVo ends. Looks like it's an El Gato for me.

DRM

[sckeener (137243)]

Talk about timing....I was about to start trying my Mac because my pc is cutting it. I worked off and on all weekend to get my .tivo files to work through my mediaplayer.

I do not care how, but I need to get rid of that DRM. I've tried graphedit and xumxer (msp?), but I'm still not getting sound when I play them through my mediaplayer. Admittedly supposedly graphedit is supposed to prompt for the media access key and I am not getting that prompt. The graphedit created video file is playing fine on my p

Re:

[mark0 (750639)]

Install the TiVo Desktop and DirectShow Dump.

Likely to work with a Series 1?

[mccalli (323026)]

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 [tivotool.com] and my own cross-platform TivoPodcast [eruvia.org] for handling podcasts of digital radio.

Cheers,
Ian

Not available without Toast?

[masonbrown (208074)]

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/ [tivo.com]

Re:

[TobyRush (957946)]

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 the

So what.

[Laith (21370)]

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.

Re:

[King_TJ (85913)]

Agreed... but then there's another way of looking at it. If you're a Tivo user, you're probably already shelling out $15 or so a month just to keep your unit usable.

I used to have a Tivo, back when units could still be purchased with a "lifetime subscription". But that unit broke down, and I decided to build a MythTV box instead. Now I pay nothing in monthly subscription fees, and have a much more flexible, customizable system too. (Can't run old arcade games via MAME emulation on a Tivo, nor can you pu

And...

[sootman (158191)]

...still no love for DirecTiVos. And, I guess, never. From http://www.tivo.com/4.9.4.1-1.asp [tivo.com]
"The TiVoToGo feature is not currently available on Series3. This feature will not be available [emphasis mine] on the DIRECTV DVR with TiVo or the original TiVo boxes (TiVo Series1)."

All I want to do is download shows. I've got two hackable TiVos (and even a supported USB/network adapter) but I've never been able to get it to work, and with two jobs, a newborn, and no "spare" PCs anymore, it's difficult for me to try--my last attempt was over a year ago. Are there any reputable services/people that can hack my TiVo for me? I'm not trying to get around TiVo's fees, I just want to have it make shows available for download, and maybe a web-based frontend for recording/deleting shows and the ability to make its daily call over the network would be nice, too. Any suggestions?

Re:

[wandazulu (265281)]

I have a similar DirectTV-based Tivo and from what I gathered from googling around, the usb ports are disconnected inside the box itself.

The Tivo software is also at least a full point release behind the Series2, which my folks have and what my DirectTV Tivo claims to be. That's the killer, I believe...my folks Tivo have all the neat features like TivoToGo, etc., which I believe requires version 7 or somesuch, while the DirectTV ones are, from what I understand, permanently at 6-something.

Basically, DirectT

$100 vs free

[diamondsw (685967)]

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.

Re:

[by Anonymous Coward]

Not exactly. Yes, the software is free on the PC, but won't actually play video without you having already acquired an MPEG-2 codec for the machine, can't burn to DVD without you acquiring DVD burning software from a third party, and won't convert to some of the formats this supports without an additional fee (~$30) to cover the costs of the codec licensing for those formats.

Since the Mac OS X software as packaged has a vastly different things feature set than the Windows version, as packaged, it's not an a

Re:

[diamondsw (685967)]

What you omit is that MPEG-2 codecs on the PC can be had for free, and Apple already includes DVD burning at the OS level. If you need an MPEG-2 codec on the Mac (since you can't get at the one built into DVD Player), Apple supplies one for $30.

There. Release the software for free on the Mac and it really would be comparable.

Re:

[phorest (877315)]

Cutting edge of computing design & Function: ~$2400.00

Cost of anuual upgrades: $129.00

Cost of TiVo for Mac: $100.00

Cost of wanting proprietary hardware and operating system: $Expensive$

Re:

[lubricated (49106)]

You do need it if you want to copy audio cd's.

Roxio Discount

[frenchs (42465)]

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 [roxio.com]), you can get a 10% off coupon for their online store.

It's still TiVo - I won't go there

[TheWoozle (984500)]

Unless TiVo change their policies about gathering information on what I watch, forcing downloads of advertising and other content that I don't want, etc., I don't want a TiVo.

I think I'll wait and see what Jobs & Co. have cooked up in the new "iTV" device. Anybody heard anything from the Macworld keynote yet?

Re:

[Have Blue (616)]

The keynote is tomorrow at 9AM PST.

Re:

[MachineShedFred (621896)]

Wait... that matters?

Titanium

[Nom du Keyboard (633989)]

Titanium huh? What is it that makes this metal more valuable Silver, Gold, and Platinum editions of various products? For sure Aluminum was once as costly as gold, and now we make "Tin Cans" out of it.

Re:

[HTH NE1 (675604)]

Titanium huh? What is it that makes this metal more valuable Silver, Gold, and Platinum editions of various products?

It is more suitable for bio-implantation [wikipedia.org] and has the virtually unique property of osseointegration [wikipedia.org].

Yeah, right.

[Blakey Rat (99501)]

This has been on Wired's vaporware list for like 3 years now. I'll believe it when I see it installed on a computer and working.

Re:

[LMacG (118321)]

Maybe you could stop geeking out and find other ways to distract her in bed? (Insert appropriate smiley thing here).

Re:

[ben there... (946946)]

SageTV has linux clients and servers. It also has Placeshifter for streaming across the web.

Re:

[slughead (592713)]

back PEDALING, not peddling.

Nonsense. They meant that they went back in time to sell Tivos to people in the past.

"Back Peddling"

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

[repetty (260322)]

>> 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.