Roxio recently released an updated version of both Roxio Toast (v8.0.3) and Roxio Popcorn (v3.0.2). Both updates provide compatibility with Leopard and the TiVo’s 9.2 software update. This update seems to have fixed all of the issues I was having with Popcorn. It would have been nice if there never was an issue with 9.2 but, at least Roxio has stood by their software and provided us with an updated version in a somewhat timely manner. Nice job Roxio! I really do appreciate it.

Toast 8 Titanium v8.0.3:

• Resolves issue where Music DVD projects created on Leopard were of poor quality
• Resolves issue where selected video quality options were not always honored
• Error 9011 will no longer occur when burning DVD with MPEG-2 and PCM audio
• Error -2009 will no longer occur when using PCM pass through audio
• Enabling “Optimize on-the-fly” will no longer result in error -35 in Custom Hybrid and Mac Volume projects
• Various Leopard related cosmetic issues have been corrected
• TiVo recordings created after TiVo’s Fall 2007 DVR update will no longer cause the application to hang during encoding

TiVo Transfer v1.1.1:

• Resolves issue that may result in failed transfer of recording from DVR
• TiVo recordings will be displayed with correct metadata

Toast Video Player v1.0.2:

• TiVo HD recordings now play back at correct speed

Popcorn v3.0.2:

• Popcorn 3 is now compatible with Mac OS X v10.5 (Leopard)
• Resolves issue where DVD chapters were not correctly preserved as bookmarks
• DTS audio is no longer incorrectly identified as MPEG-1
• Language of audio tracks is now correctly displayed to user
• Users can now properly switch between PAL and NTSC output settings for DVD-Video
• Should no longer receive error 1634955892 when using physical DVD source
• Exporting from DVD source should no longer cause error –43 or -206
• Resolves issue where exporting to 3G format would generate an error message
• Resolves synchronization issue experienced when using 24fps H.264 content
• Resolves issue where disabling Fit-To-DVD compression generated -50 error
• Resolves issue where Fit-to-DVD video compression calculation was incorrect
• Resolves issue with black frames appearing in video after conversion
• TiVo recordings created after TiVo’s Fall 2007 DVR update will no longer cause the application to hang during encoding

Ben Drawbaugh has posted a wonderful review of TiVoToGo and MRV (multi-room viewing) on the Series 3. Overall, the review is rather positive however, Ben did say that his transfer speeds are rather slow.

Granted, the transfers were pretty slow — in fact, they were about twice real time — and our understanding is that the hardware is the bottleneck, so upgrading to a gigabit network probably won’t help.

My transfer speeds aren’t as slow as what Ben is experiencing. For example, a 30 minute HD shows takes around 43-45 minutes to transfer. I don’t know why there is a difference between what I’m experiencing and what Ben is. At first I thought it was because both of my TiVos are wired but than I noticed that Ben’s TiVos are wired as well. Whatever the case may be, I’m happy that my transfers are faster :).

How fast are your transfer speeds? Are they more in line with what I’m reporting or are your recordings transferring at a speed similar to what Ben is reporting?

bkdtv has posted a great FAQ about TiVoToGo (TTG), Multi-Room Viewing (MRV) and TiVoToComeBack (TTCB) on the Series 3 and TiVo HD. The FAQ answered several questions I had about TiVoToGo including why TTG on the Series 3 is faster than TTG on my Series 2 DT.

Check it out if you have some questions about TTG, MRV or TTCB on the Series 3 and TiVo HD.

Like a kid on Christmas, I was extremely excited yesterday when I was able to successfully transfer a high definition show from my Series 3 TiVo using the 9.2 service update. To my surprise, TiVoDesktop only took ~48 minutes to transfer a 55 minute 6GB HD program! How is possible? Why is the Series 3 better at transferring programs than my Series 2 TiVo? My Series 2 normally takes around 60 minutes to transfer a 60 minute standard definition program so how is my Series 3 able to transfer a HD program in the same amount if not less time? Does the S3 have some hardware built in which allows it to perform better when it comes to TiVoToGo or is there less conversion necessary with the HD content? Can somebody educate me?

Whatever the reason is, I’m extremely happy with being able to transfer shows off of my Series 3. I am however, having some issues with getting Roxio Popcorn to work on my Mac. Has anybody successfully transferred a show from their TiVo HD or Series 3 using Roxio’s Popcorn or Roxio Toast for that matter?

We all knew this was coming but, today TiVo sent out the following press release which indicates that we should see an upgrade for the S3 and TiVo HD sometime in the near future. As expected, the upgrade will bring TiVoToGo and multi-room viewing (MRV) support to the Series 3 & TiVo HD. Also as expected, TiVo has partnered with Western Digital to release an eSATA drive ($200) which will allow you to easily add additional storage to a S3 & TiVo HD.

TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ: TIVO), the creator of and leader in television services for digital video recorders (DVRs), today announced the new availability of several exciting feature upgrades and product support for TiVo Series 3 and TiVo HD customers. The news includes the availability of external storage (E-SATA) from Western Digital, the introduction of Multi-Room Viewing and TiVoToGo availability and the new feature of progressive downloads - all for Series 3 and TIVo HD subscribers. Please see below for more information on the news.
E-SATA
· The My DVR Expander external hard drive is capable of storing up to 600 hours of standard-definition (SD) or up to 65 hours of high-definition (HD) television programming based on 500 GB of hard drive storage.
· This is current the only TiVo Verified external storage device.
· The My DVR Expander is compatible with both TiVo HD and TiVo Series3 DVRs.
· WD’s My DVR Expander external hard drive is available now in the United States from Best Buy retail stores and by ordering online from TiVo.com/store.
· MSRP for the My DVR Expander drive with 500 GB is $199.99 USD.

Multi Room Viewing (MRV)
· MRV allows you to transfer programming between TiVo DVRs.
· It now includes support for Series3 and TiVo HD DVRs, meaning you can share shows between Series2, Series3, and TiVo HD boxes.
· Only SD recordings may be sent from a Series3/TiVo HD to a Series2.

TiVoToGo
· TiVo HD and Series 3 users can now enjoy TiVoToGo functionality.
· TiVoToGo™ transfers are available to all networked TiVo DVRs. This service enhancement allows users to transfer programs from a TiVo box to a desktop or laptop PC.
· Using TiVo Desktop software for Windows or Roxio Toast 8 or Popcorn 3 for Mac OS, TiVo subscribers can now transfer recordings from their Series 3 and TiVo HD boxes for playback, DVD burning, or converting to portable device formats on personal computers.

Progressive Downloads
· The progressive download feature gives TiVo subscribers the ability to watch TiVoCast content while it is still downloading, including Amazon UnBox on TiVo.
· When a download begins, the TiVo box checks the speed of the download, and calculates whether you can begin playback. If the download speed is going faster than playback speed, it will let users start playback immediately.
· If the download is slower, it will wait until users have enough of the program “buffered” on disk to be able to play it from start to finish without hitting the end of the buffer, and then let you start playback.
· This service is available for TiVo HD and Series3 subscribers.

Spotted on Gizmodo & Engadget.

Last night I was pleasantly surprised when my TiVo indicated that it needed to be restarted for the 9.2 service update. For those of you who don’t know, the 9.2 service update is supposed to enable the eSATA port on the S3 & TiVo HD so that you will be able to easily add additional storage. Now all we’re waiting for is for TiVo to update their website so that we can find out which eSATA drives are officially supported.

In addition to enabling the eSATA port, 9.2 will also enable Amazon Unbox progressive downloads. Progressive downloads will allow you to watch an Amazon Unbox program while it is being downloaded as opposed to having to wait for the entire download to complete. Having the ability to play an Unbox video while is is being downloaded will be a great feature. Just the other day I had to wait for the entire episode of The Office to transfer before I could play it.

CNET has published a review of the Rhapsody on TiVo HME application which TiVo recently launched. Overall the review is rather positive and it definitely has me interested in trying Rhapsody on TiVo once my S2 & S3 receive the update.

Despite all these gripes, Rhapsody on TiVo shows a lot lot of promise. When it was working smoothly, it was great to extend the Rhapsody experience to my living room and the service certainly has the TiVo “touch.” While Apple TV is great for bringing your purchased iTunes music collection to your home theater, Rhapsody on TiVo effectively brings millions of songs to your home theater. I’m definitely not ready to give it my full recommendation–it’s much too glitchy in its current state–but if TiVo and Rhapsody can smooth the kinks out, they might have a killer service on their hands.

TiVo has activated a priority request form for the 9.2 software update. Head on over to TiVo’s website and enter your TSN (TiVo service number) so that you can get the update ASAP. According to TiVo, it may take up to three business for the update to appear on your TiVo.

For Series 2 TiVo DVRs the latest release features the Rhapsody Music Service and additional power and flexibility to TiVo Wishlist(R) searches.

For TiVo Series3 & TiVo HD DVRs the latest release also enables the use of a TiVo Verified storage device. (COMING SOON)

These updates are for TiVo Series2, Series3, and TiVo HD Digital Video Recorders only!
DIRECTV DVRs with TiVo and TiVo Series1 DVRs are not eligible for this update.

Only DVRs with TiVo Service Numbers beginning with the following numbers are eligible for this software:
110, 130, 140, 230, 240, 264, 275, 540, 542, 565, 590, 595, 648, 649, and 652.

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

For Multi-Room Viewing to work in software version 9.1, your other DVRs must also be running software version 9.1. Please sign up all DVRs on your account and have 9.1 installed before attempting to use MRV.
** At this time Multi-Room Viewing is not available on Series3 or TiVo HD units.

Software versions 9.1 or 9.2 and the Rhapsody application will be delivered in separate updates. Please allow up to 3 business days to receive the software update and an additional 3 business days to receive the Rhapsody application. If you already have software version 9.1 or 9.2, you can use this page to request the Rhapsody application.

The Rhapsody Music Service will be available for Broadband connected DVRs under Music, Photos, Products & More.

**The TiVo DVR must be connected to the TiVo service via Broadband and running software version 9.1 or later before the Rhapsody Music Service will appear.

I just added my Series 3 TiVo….

Spotted on TiVoCommunity.com

Dave Zatz and several users on TiVoCommunity.com were first to report that TiVo has started to roll yet another service update (9.2). This service update appears to officially enable the eSATA port on the back of the TiVo HD and Series 3. Along with this much anticipated feature, 9.2 also includes more flexibility when ordering Amazon Unbox content (ie: you will be able to watch Unbox content while it is being downloaded).

TiVo has published a placeholder on their website where you will eventually be able to get more information about adding additional storage via the eSATA interface. My guess is that TiVo wants to get 9.2 out before the holiday shopping season so that people will buy “verified eSATA drives” directly from TiVo.com. I would definitely be interested in picking up one of these drives if it wasn’t for the fact that I recently upgraded my Series 3. Recording HD content takes up a lot of space and it sure would be nice to have the option to easily add storage via the eSATA port.