John Kohl just announced that Galleon 2.4 alpha is now available for the Mac. Try it out if you haven’t already…

Posted By: johnkohl
Date: 2007-06-16 21:12
Summary: MacOS installer for 2.4.0 alpha

I’ve updated and created a MacOS installer for 2.4.0 alpha. Submit any bugs with SourceForge tracker.

I just upload a simple OS X dashboard widget that I created with Yahoo Pipes and Apple’s dashcode development environment. The widget displays content from several of the top TiVo related websites/blogs. Currently the widget subscribes to the following websites/blogs.

• TiVoBlog
• ZatzNotFunny(only TiVo content)
• TiVoLovers
• Zeigen.com (only TiVo content)
• DavisFreeberg.com (only TiVo content)
• TiVo’s Official Blog (even though it isn’t updated that often)
• TVSquad (only TiVo content)

One of the nice things about using Yahoo Pipes is that I can add a new feed whenever I want and anybody who is using the widget will automatically start to receive content from the newly added feed.

Version 1.0 can be downloaded by clicking on this link or by visiting the “downloads” section of this website.

Let me know if you encounter any problems of if there is a feed that you would like me to add. I’m also looking for some help in sprucing the widget up. Let me know if you’re interested.

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.

While not completely TiVo related, I thought I would post this video since I’m sure there are some people out there who are considering getting Toast 8 now that it provides TiVoToGo for the Mac.

Hat Tip: GearLive.

As most of you are aware, just a couple of days ago, Roxio and TiVo announced that they had partnered up on a TiVoToGo solution for the Mac. The only problem with this partnership is that you have to pay ~$100 (without rebates) to get this software. For somebody who is cheap like me, this is a lot of money. Especially considering the fact that an upgrade to OS X Tiger only costs $129.

The folks over at tuaw (the unofficial Apple weblog) were able to speak with somebody at the Roxio booth(Macworld 07) about the possibility of Roxio developing a stand-alone TiVoToGo client for the Mac. The nice thing about a standalone client would be that it would cost less since you wouldn’t be getting the CD/DVD burning capability that Roxio provides. According to tuaw, the Roxio folks said that they would consider producing a standalone client if enough people showed an interest.

Update 1/8 @ 9:47AM EST: TiVo has updated their website which now includes a link to Roxio’s software. Apparently TiVo has been working with Roxio to provide this software. The following press release contains even more details.

“The demand for TiVoToGo continues to grow rapidly, especially as the use of mobile devices for viewing video becomes more pervasive. Now, through our joint alliance with Roxio, we are able to answer that strong demand by delivering TiVoToGo to the Mac platform,” said TiVo’s vice president of product marketing, Jim Denney. “By extending this capability to the passionate Mac community, TiVo continues to support our idea that “It’s not TiVo, unless it’s a TiVo.”‘

For a limited time if you purchase Roxio Toast you will also receive a free TiVo glo remote!

To celebrate the arrival of TiVoToGo for the Mac OS, courtesy of TiVo, customers who purchase Toast 8 Titanium either at Macworld Expo booth #314 or through www.roxio.com/macworld can receive a FREE TiVo Glo remote, a $49.99 value. This offer is for a limited time while supplies last.

Dave Zatz got the scoop on the latest version of Roxio Toast for the Mac. According to Dave, Toast 8.0 includes TiVoToGo capabilities so that Mac users can finally burn their TiVo recordings!
Roxio’s website has even more details on this product, here’s a snippet taken from the site:

TV Shows Anywhere You Want them Enjoy your favorite TV shows on DVD or on-the-go with Toast’s exclusive support for TiVo and EyeTV digital video recorders. Watch your TiVo recorded shows on your Mac, burn your shows to DVD or DivX disc, or convert for your iPod, PSP or other portable player. Fred & Barney. Gilligan & The Skipper. Ernie & Bert, and now… TV & Toast – another perfect TV pair

Screenshot taken from Roxio’s website:

This is great news for all you Mac maniacs. It’s disappointing that TiVo couldn’t deliver on their promise but at least another company has stepped up and taken the lead.

I plan on getting a copy of Roxio Toast once I purchase my Mac. If somebody else tries it out before me let me know. I’m interested to hear how it works….

Stephen Mack (Director of Service operations at TiVo) has put together an interesting post on his blog in which he talks about the TiVoToGo Mac slipup. It’s worth a read if your interested in TiVoToGo on the Mac.

Scheduling and estimating for any project is an inexact science. Issues come up, things happen, people underestimate, bugs occur. TiVo has seen its share of missed deadlines. (Although we never seem to get any credit for the countless software and hardware and service releases that occur on time.)

Recently, Wired Magazine included us on their “vaporware” list for TiVoToGo for the Mac. There are a lot of TiVo employees who love and use Macs, and all of us want to see this released soon. It’s fair to say this is late, since we announced it for mid-Summer of 2006.

I’m not close to the project, so I don’t know when it’ll be ready. But Jim Denney, a VP I work with, wrote a good explanation of what’s going on. I agree with the philosophy that we should never announce a release date until we’re 100% sure that we can hit that release date. And given the lessons of the esteemed Fred Brooks, usually the only time you’re 100% sure is when it’s ready to be released.

Thanks Steve for taking part in the conversation and for providing us with this information. It’s great to see that TiVo knows there is a problem….

I’m personally interested in the whole TiVoToGo Mac thing since I’m probably going to buy a MacBook sometime in the near future. Please keep us updated if you/when you find out more.

Paul’s Time Sink has put together an interesting post in which he (I can only assume Paul is a man) compares the experience of listening to podcasts on his TiVo versus Apple’s FrontRow.

With the Series3 installed, we now have two ways to easily listen to podcasts on our main system. We can either use FrontRow on the Mac mini, or use the podcasting application on the TiVo Series3. There are good and bad things with both of these solutions.

Other then in the Apple store, I haven’t really had a chance to play around with FrontRow. I’m interested to hear what other people have to say about this. Is TiVo’s podcasting application better then what FrontRow has to offer?

Remember back in November ‘05 how TiVoPony said that we would have TiVoToGo for the Mac in mid ‘06?

Regarding the Macintosh…

Yes, we intend to support it, but not in the February release. Macintosh support for the new features announced today is planned for mid-2006.

Pony

Well, it’s mid ‘06 and there still isn’t TiVoToGo support on the Mac. Based on some pictures from CES we know that TiVo is developing this capability and that it’s not just vaporware.

What’s going on TiVo? Are you spending all your time working on the Series 3 TiVo? I’m sure there are a lot of people out there who would like to know what the status is…