Leon has released version 1.7 of Galleon. Galleon is an award winning TiVo HME server that allows you to do a number of things with your TiVo including reading email, checking the weather & listening to your favorite music. Version 1.7 includes the following fixes/new features:

Version 1.7.0:
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Fixed multiple network interfaces bug
Increased ToGo date width
Added download limit for email accounts
Improved download manager error handling

Hat Tip: Dave Zatz

I’ve considered purchasing a lifetime subscription on one of my TiVos however; I haven’t been able to pull the trigger. There are really two reasons why I haven’t forked over $299.

1. High Price Tag: I find it hard for me to justify paying $299 for a lifetime subscription when the monthly subscription fee is only $12.95 ($6.95 with multiple DVRs). If the lifetime subscription were a little less, I would probably go ahead and purchase it. In order to recoup my money back, I would have to own my DVR for at least 23 months ($299/$12.95). Some people will say that 23 months doesn’t seem like a long time however; in terms of tech gadgets this is a lifetime. Besides, what would I do with my Series2 DVR when the Series3 (or whatever they call it) DVR comes out. I guess I could just keep my Series2 DVR however; a tech geek like me has a tough time using inferior technology ;).
2. Lifetime Subscription Policy: I’m a little concerned with how the lifetime subscription works. The lifetime subscription stays with whatever TiVo you apply it to. In other words, if you have a lifetime subscription on a TiVo box and it breaks for whatever reason, you had better get the box fixed or else you are out $299. TiVo’s policy explicitly states that you are unable to transfer the lifetime subscription to another box. I understand why TiVo does this however; this policy has prevented me from purchasing the subscription.

Do you have a lifetime subscription on your TiVo? If yes, why did you decide to purchase the lifetime service instead of just paying a monthly fee?

In case you don’t already know, there’s a new HME website on the block called Apps.TV. The site offers third-party HME (home media engine) applications that you can use on your TiVo via your broadband connection. Adding the applications seems to be pretty easy all you need to do is enter the following ip address into your “Add Server” configuration screen: 209.97.196.52

The site doesn’t say anywhere on it that it is owned by TiVo however; it seems likely that TiVo might be in on this endeavor.

Hat Tip: Dave Zatz

Updated 10/17/05: Looks as though this is infact a TiVo site. Dave Zatz replied to a comment I made on his site asking him why he thought Apps.TV was a TiVo site. Here is his response:

Bob “Pony” Poniatowski, of TiVo Product Marketing, announced the site. Carl Haynes has worked under contract for TiVo. The site may be distinct from the TiVo company, but the hosting and current apps are coming from TiVo employees.

Dave Zatz has posted a couple of great posts which contain some news he was able to gather from this year’s DigitalLife expo. During the show, Dave was able to corner a couple of TiVo reps and get some inside info. His two posts contain information on the up coming TiVo software release (7.2.1), a hardware dongle, overlap protection and new info on a HD dual-tuner TiVo DVR. Head on over to Dave’s site and read the posts for yourself (first post, second post)…..

Here’s another question that I received via this site’s feedback form. I think I know the answer to the question however; I want to make sure that I don’t provide any misinformation.

I currently have a tvguide powered dvr/dvd recorder and am very happy with it. I’m planning on adding 1 to 2 more dvr’s. My question is can you use the TiVo’s manually without paying tivo a dime, because the one thing I refuse to do is to ever pay a company a monthly fee to use a piece of hardware that I own. With the tvguide powered ones you can use tvguide or manual programming. Does TiVo units offer manual programming? Thanks

TVHarmony has gone ahead and released Beta 1 of AutoPilot. According to the site, AutoPilot is a:

powerful scriptable scheduling tool that will automatically transfer, convert, and store your programming while you are asleep. Using a simple user interface, you can:

Select shows or series to be download automatically

Process the transfers into popular formats including Sony PSP

Schedule processing for the middle of the night while you sleep so they’ll be ready the next morning.

Will Wagner (the owner of TVHarmony) was kind enough to let me try out AutoPilot prior to this beta release. The software is especially useful for anybody who wants to automatically transfer their favorite TiVo recordings to their PC.

To get a copy of AutoPilot, head on over to TVHarmony’s website. System requirements are as follows:

A networked Tivo with TivoToGo capability

A minimum of 10GB of available disk space

P4 or equivalent CPU recommended

Windows 2000 or Windows XP

Tivo Desktop 2.1 or higher software installed

MegaZone has alerted me to the fact that TiVo is offering their 80-hr Humax DVD Recorder for only $199.99 after a $150 instant rebate and a $150 mail in rebate. This is a great offer for anybody who wants to easily transfer their favorite TiVo recordings to a DVD. More information on the offer can be found here. Thanks MegaZone!

This may seem like old news however; since I’m a TiVo addict it really isn’t. Just today, I got around to watching this past Thursday’s episode of The Apprentice. During the episode, TiVo made a great showing. The winners of the competition chose to use TiVo as one the tech gadgets that they taught residents of a nursing home how to use. TiVo’s user interface is so easy to use that elderly people in a nursing home were able to get the hang of it. If you’re wondering about what to buy your Grandmother or Grandfather for Christmas, consider a TiVo!

I’m rather proud to say that TiVoBlog.com has been named one of the top 100 blogs according to cnet.com! When I started the site back in July ‘04, I never could have imagined that it would be such a hit. Thanks to everybody who keeps on reading this site. I really appreciate it!

Complete Top 100 list here!, OPML file

David Zatz has posted an exclusive interview with Leon Nicholls. For those of you who don’t know, Leon is the developer of Galleon which is an award winning TiVo HME media server. I interviewed Leon twice, once in Sept ‘04 and again in Feb. ‘05.