Being that I’m a recent switcher, I thought it was only appropriate that I cover some of the Mac software which is capable of working with a TiVo. This post will discuss TiVoToGo software for the Mac. I don’t plan on getting into a lot of detail. Instead, I’d like this post to be an overview of what TiVoToGo software is available for the Mac. In future posts, I plan on discussing Mac software for other TiVo functions including, TiVoGoBack and the TiVo HMO functionality (Pictures and Music playback).

Up until recently, TiVoToGo on the Mac was extremely difficult if not impossible. That was until TiVo partnered up with Roxio and until a third party utility called TiVoDecodeManager was released. Both software packages have their pluses and minuses. Roxio Toast costs $76.99 (after a $30 mail in rebate) whereas, TiVoDecodeManger is free. Obviously, the TiVo partnered app (Roxio Toast Titanium 8) is officially sanctioned by TiVo whereas TiVoDecodeManager (TDM) is not.

Before I get into more detail on these two apps, I need to put out the following disclaimer: NOTE: TiVo Blog does not support illegally sharing copyrighted material. TDM (which I’ll discuss later) should be used for your own private use as a free alternative for TiVoToGo on the Mac. Do not illegally share copyrighted material!

TiVoToGo Overview

TiVoToGo allows you to transfer recordings directly from your to TiVo to your Mac. Once on your Mac, you can burn them to DVD or transfer them to any number of portable devices. For a more detailed description, head on over to TiVo’s website.

Roxio Toast Titanium 8

After several months of delay, TiVo decided to partner up with Roxio for TiVoToGo on the Mac. Roxio Toast is the official provider for TiVoToGo functionality on the Mac. The software costs $69.99, however, along with TiVoToGo functionality, you also get a lot of other features which Roxio Toast is known for.

Roxio Toast® 8 sets the standard for burning CDs, DVDs, and now Blu-ray discs on the Mac. Create superior sounding audio CDs with crossfades. Enjoy your TV shows anywhere with exclusive EyeTV burning and TiVoToGo™ transfers to DVD or iPod®. Copy your audio CDs, movies and DVDs. It’s your digital life, Toast It!

Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance to play with Toast just yet. I’ve heard a number mixed reviews on the product. Some people have said that the software is the best thing since sliced bread (no pun intended) whereas others wouldn’t recommend it. I honestly can’t say whether or not it is good. In any case, if you want a TiVoToGo solution which is officially sanctioned by TiVo, you may want to drop $69.99 and pick up a copy of Toast (check out this page for several purchase options). If you want to save some money, read on for a free (unsupported) solution which provides some of the same functionality. As a side note, if you do decide to go with Toast you may want to download the missing TiVoToGo theme (details can be found here).

TiVoDecodeManger

TiVoDecode Manager is a free alternative to the TiVoToGo functionality which Roxio Toast currently provides. The software is extremely easy to use and within a couple of minutes you can download and playback TiVo recordings directly on your Mac. The software leverages an open source utility called TiVoDecode (not to be confused with TiVoDecodeManager). Essentially the TiVoDecodeManager is a graphical front end to the tivodecode command line utility. If it wasn’t for the TiVoDecodeManager, you’d have to run tivodecode directly from the command line. For some people this may be acceptable. If for some reason you don’t like TiVoDecodeManger, you can also try out a number of other software packages which leverage the tivodecode command line utililty.

In case you missed it, Macworld has a pretty detailed writeup on the TiVoDecode Manager. The post is definitely worth your time…

Conclusion

Thanks to Roxio Toast and a number of free solutions, TiVoToGo on the Mac is now possible. Each software package has its’ pluses and minuses. If you’re the type of person who just wants it to work and you don’t want to mess around with free software, you may want to pay for Roxio Toast. On the other hand, if you want a free solution and if you are willing to deal with an unsupported solution, you might want to try out TiVoDecodeManger.

I hope this roundup provides you with information on what’s available for TiVoToGo on the Mac. Stay tuned for additional posts in which I’ll talk about other TiVo features and how you can get your Mac to work with them.

Can somebody explain this to me? According to last week’s post, the Family Guy was ranked 22nd and this week it is ranked 21st. How does 22 –> 21 = -4? Maybe I’m missing something…

It looks like somebody has updated the list.  Now everything appears to be correct.

Original Source: TiVo.com

Do you have a Slingbox? I’d love to get one but I’m not sure I could justify it. Maybe my buddy Dave can hook me up with one now that he has made it big :).

Here’s the top 25 season passes for the week ending 4/15/2007. I plan on making this a weekly post and in the future I will provide some analysis as to what has changed from the previous week (similar to what PVRWire once did).

Original source: TiVo.com

Today, TiVo published their annual report which contains at least two pieces of information that I found interesting. According to the report, TiVo earned $16.2 million in revenue directly from the Comcast TiVo partnership. The report also states that the Comcast and Cox roll outs are expected to launch in FY08.

………. Development and deployment of the TiVo service software solution for Comcast and Cox are expected to launch in initial markets during fiscal year 2008. During fiscal year 2008, we expect to recognize technology revenue associated with the development work from our Comcast and Cox agreements.

Service and Technology Revenues. Our service and technology revenues, which include subscription fees received for the TiVo service, advertising fees, and engineering and licensing fees, increased $47.1 million or 28% during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007 compared to the prior fiscal year. This increase was primarily due to an increase in our cumulative TiVo-Owned subscription installed base of approximately 235,000 net TiVo-Owned subscriptions during the fiscal year ended January 31, 2007, coupled with $16.2 million in technology revenues from licensing and engineering work recognized from our Comcast Agreement.

The report contains a lot of other useful information which I just don’t have time to go over right now. Feel free to read the report for yourself if you’re into that kind of thing. I may try and summarize the report a little more tomorrow but for now I just need to get to bed since I have to get up early….

This analyst thinks so…..

JMP Securities LLC analyst Ingrid Ebeling gave TiVo a “Market Outperform” rating and an $8 price target.

She is optimistic on the company’s deal with Comcast to serve as a software-only provider of the TiVo interface that resides on cable operators’ digital video recorders. The TiVo-Comcast deal is set to debut in select markets in late spring or early summer.

I think that the Comcast partnership is a big deal. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see other cable companies partner up with TiVo once Comcast starts to roll out TiVo software on their DVRs. I know from personal experience how horrible the default set top box software is. TiVo is going to make a lot of Comcast customers extremely happy. Once other cable companies see this, they’re going to want to jump on the bandwagon and  provide TiVo sofware as alternative.

What do you think about TiVo’s prospects?  Do you think that the Comcast partnership is going to help TiVo form a partnership with other cable companies?

Thanks for the referral Bob! As always, you can put me down as your referrer simply by entering my email address (raianoat AT gmail DOT com) when you activate your TiVo.

Congratulations! Your friend Bobby credited you with a TiVo® service activation.

No need to lift a finger. Your TiVo Rewards™ account has automatically been credited with 5,000 TiVo Points.

Just thought you’d like to know. Plus, it gives us an excellent excuse to thank you for being the wonderful TiVo Rewards™ member that you are! We appreciate your support.

To review your TiVo Rewards™ account summary, browse rewards or redeem TiVo Points, simply sign in at www.tivo.com/rewards anytime.

For those of you who missed it, TiVo recently started to push version 8.3 of their TiVo software. If you’re really dying to get this latest release, you can head on over to the software priority request form.

There’s not much information on what 8.3 includes other then the fact that it will have “new options for recorded programs” as well as “improved” TiVoCast support. One thing to note, this update is only available for Series 2 TiVos.

Thank you for your interest in the new TiVo Spring 2007 Service Update, featuring new options for recorded programs and improved TiVoCast support!

This update is for TiVo Series2 Digital Video Recorders only! DIRECTV DVRs with TiVo and TiVo Series1 DVRs are not eligible for this update.

Have a TiVo Series3 Digital Media Recorder? This update is not yet available for these units.

Only DVRs with TiVo Service Numbers beginning with the following numbers are eligible for this software:
110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 275, 540, 565, 590, 595, and 649.

(You can find your TiVo Service Number by going to:
TiVo Central -> Messages and Settings -> System Information.)

*** Please note: It may take up to three business days to receive your new software. We appreciate your patience.

You have received the update when the software version in the System Information screen begins with “8.3″. For more information, please visit our Customer Support site.

Thank you for using the TiVo Service!

TiVo Customer Support

Spotted on ZatzNotFunny and TiVoLovers.