Update (12/10/07): I’m republishing this post because I originally published it too early in the holiday season. Let me know if you think I should add an item to the list.

Do you have a TiVo addict on your Holiday shopping list? If yes, here’s a list of items that any TiVo geek would love to receive as a gift.

Hardware:

• Series 3 TiVo ($368.03 after $200 rebate) OR TiVo HD ($254.49): The Series 3 has a couple of features that set it apart from the TiVo HD. Purchase the Series 3 if you care about these added features. Otherwise, go ahead and pickup a TiVo HD. Both DVRs will allow your TiVo addict to record high definition content from their cable TV provider.
• Western Digital 500 GB My DVR Expander (TiVo HD or Series 3 only) ($199.99): This drive is a great option if your TiVo geek would like to expand the storage on their Series 3 or TiVo HD DVR. The drive is easy to install and it will add approximately 65 hrs worth of HD recording capacity to a TiVo HD or Series 3 DVR.
• Series 2 Dual Tuner TiVo ($211.78): The Series 2 DT TiVo is a great option if your TiVo geek doesn’t care about recording high definition. Out of the box, the DVR is capable of recording up to 80 hrs. worth of standard definition content. One of the great things about the S2DT is that it offers dual-tuners so your TiVo addict will be able to record two shows at once.
• TiVo Wireless Adapter ($39.99): The TiVo wireless adapter will allow your TiVo addict to connect their TiVo to their network (802.11g or 802.11b). I’ve used this adapter before and I’ve got to say that it works great. The Series 2 DT, TiVo HD & Series 3 allow provide a hard wired Ethernet connection so you are going to want to check with your TiVo addict to make sure that they actually need this adapter.
• Slingbox ($109.72): A Slingbox will allow your TiVo geek to watch their TiVo from anywhere that they have an internet connection. The device is a great option if your TiVo addict travels a lot. I use my Slingbox while on the road as well as when I’m sitting on my deck and I want to watch something that is on my Series 3 in the living room.
• TiVo Upgrade Drive (~$249 - ~$549): An upgrade drive will allow your TiVo geek to increase the storage on their TiVo. Unlike the expander drive mentioned above, an upgrade drive must be installed inside in the TiVo DVR. I upgraded my Series 3 TiVo back in August and the process was extremely easy.
• Logitech Harmony 890 Advanced Universal Remote Control ($290.12): A Harmony remote is a great gift especially if your TiVo addict would like to be able to control all of their AV devices with one remote control.
• External USB Drive: If your TiVo addict transfers a lot of content off of their TiVo using TiVoToGo, they are definitely going to need some additional storage on their PC or Mac. An external USB hard drive is a great way to add external storage.

Software:

• TiVo Desktop Plus (Windows only) ($24.95): TiVo desktop plus is one of my most favorite pieces of software. Desktop plus will allow your TiVo geek to automatically convert TiVoToGo transfers for playback on a compatible portable device. This software add-on will also allow your TiVo addict to transfer videos downloaded on their PC to their TiVo box and watch them on their TV.
• Roxio Toast 8 (Mac only) ($54.99 after $20 rebate) OR Roxio Popcorn 3 (Mac only) ($42.99): Toast & Popcorn are the only officially supported TiVoToGo client for the Mac. I use Popcorn and I have been extremely happy with the software. Both Popcorn and Toast will allow your TiVo geek to transfer shows from their TiVo and burn them to a DVD. Along with being able to burn TiVoToGo content to a DVD, both Toast and Popcorn will also allow your TiVo geek to convert their TiVoToGo content into a format that is compatible with many portable devices. Toast provides additional features which are geared more towards authoring DVDs whereas Popcorn is centered more around converting digital content into different formats.
• Roxio Easy Media Creator Suite 10 (Windows only) ($59.99 after $20 rebate): Roxio Creator will allow your TiVo addict to burn their TiVo recordings to a DVD. Just like Toast (mentioned above), Creator also provides a number of other features that aren’t centered around TiVo.
• VisualHub ($23.32) (Mac only): VisualHub is a great application that will allow your TiVo addict to convert video content into a format that their TiVo can then playback. The software is great if your TiVo addict wants to be able to easily convert video files into a bunch of different formats.

Books

• TiVo Hacks ($16.47): This is a great book if your TiVo addict is interested in “hacking” their Series 2 TiVo. I’ve read most of the book and I was able to pick up a couple of neat “hacks”.
• Beginning TiVo Programming ($26.39): I’ve never actually read this book but I have heard that it is pretty good. Purchase this book if your TiVo addict would like to write HME applications that can interact with their TiVo.

Miscellaneous

• TiVo Service Gift Card ($50 - $300): Not much to say about this one. A gift card is a great gift if your TiVo addict doesn’t already have a lifetime subscription.

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Disclaimer: Most of the links above reference my Amazon associates account. I would appreciate it if you used these links since it helps to support TiVoBlog.com. Thanks and have a Happy Holiday season!

Both Slingbox and TiVoToGo are great for whenever I have to travel. Right now I’m sitting in the Syracuse airport waiting for my plane to arrive. Thanks to my Slingbox, I am able to access my Series 3 TiVo and catch up on a couple of shows that I wasn’t able to watch last week. While in the air, I plan on watching one or two movies that I’ve transferred from my Series 3 TiVo and onto my iPod using TiVoToGo.

Do you use a Slingbox and or TiVoToGo when you travel?

Recently I was lucky enough to receive a Slingbox AV via the TiVo rewards program (thanks for all the referrals BTW). Here’s a couple of screenshots of the SlingboxPlayer connected up to my Series 3 TiVo.

Overall, I’m extremely happy with my Slingbox. The picture quality has been great and the setup was extremely easy. I would definitely recommend a Slingbox to anybody who wants to be able to watch there TiVo from anywhere in the world.

Thanks for the referral Elias! Now I’m only two referrals away from getting a Slingbox or the Bose sounddock.

Congratulations! Your friend Elias 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.

As always, if you’d like to send a referral my way, you can do so by entering my email address (raianoat AT gmail DOT com) when you activate your TiVo.

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 a post that I put together prior to TiVo announcing their new pricing structure. I thought I’d publish it even though I am taking a break…

Are you wondering what you should get your TiVo fanatic for Christmas? Here’s a list of some of the best accessories and TiVo DVRs that every TiVo geek would love to receive on Christmas. Feel free to recommend any item that I haven’t mentioned.

• Sling Media Slingbox PRO ( SB200-100 ): The Slingbox allows you to watch what you’ve recorded on your TiVo from anywhere you have an internet connection.
• Logitech Harmony 890 Advanced Universal Remote Control: This is a great remote especially if you have multiple devices each with their own remote. I don’t currently own one but I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Harmony remotes. Anybody have anything to add to this?
• TiVo TCD648250B Series3 HD Digital Media Recorder: The Series 3 TiVo will allow yo u to record multiple shows all in high definition. It’s by far the most advanced DVR on the market. If you’re feeling really nice, you can also pick up one for me :).
• TiVo Wireless G USB Network Adapter for Series2 DVR (AG0100): This is a must have if you want to network your TiVo. By networking your TiVo you can access your music and pictures on your computer as well as several other features including TiVoToGo.
• TiVo TCD649080 Series2 80 Hour Dual Tuner Digital Video Recorder: If you don’t have the cash for a Series 3 TiVo (mentioned above), I would recommend that you go with this TiVo. It doesn’t allow you to record HD but you do get dual tuners so you can record two shows at once.
• TiVo Hacks: This a great book for anybody who wants to hack their TiVo and access some new features/capabilities.
• TiVo Upgrade Drive: Both Weaknees and DVRupgrade provide upgrade drives so you can add more recording capacity to your TiVo.

Disclaimer: All of the links above reference my Amazon associates account

Qusers.com has posted an interesting video where they show you how SlingPlayer can access your TiVo using a Moto Q and an EVDO connection. I was really surprised on how well this works. It almost makes me want to get a newer phone and a Slingbox. Maybe I should take advantage of the special offer that Dave Zatz reported on (Slingbox for $150!).

Is anybody out there actually doing this on a regular basis? It’s especially cool if you travel a lot and you don’t want to have to fire up the laptop just to connect up to your Slingbox.

Technology sure is great isn’t it?

Spotted on Gizmodo and eHomeUpgrade.