J&P Group J&P BMCG J&P InfoSol J&P Multimedia Labs J&P NoBoS
friends
fun

J&P | J&P Multimedia Labs | TiVo

TiVo

 

What's TiVo...?

TiVo is the pioneer of the digital video recorder (DVR) which started in the United States, and is now available in Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Taiwan. Created by TiVo, Inc.. TiVo DVRs provide an electronic television programming schedule, and provide features such as Season Pass recordings (which ensure subscribers never miss an episode of their favorite shows) and WishList searches (which allow the user Find and record shows that match their interests (by title, actor, director, category or keyword). TiVo also provides a range of features when the TiVo DVR is connected to a home network, including movie and TV show downloads, advanced search, personal photo viewing, music offerings, and online scheduling. [en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TiVo, Nov 2008] (See also en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReplayTV for some additional history.)

 

Hardware - TiVo Series (1, 2, 3)

  Series 1 Series 2 << Series 3
  general general Toshiba SD-H400 general
Manufactured, from: March 19994
(HDR110)
20026
(TCD140060)
2003 Sep 20062
(series3)
to: 20025 still (Nov '08) 2005 still (Nov '08)
TiVo Service
No Prefix (e.g.):
000, 140, 264 648, 652, 658
Hardware        
Dual Tuners: no first Apr '067
(TCD649080)
no Yes
High Def (HD) capable: no no no Yes
Harddrive sizes 13 GB - 2x30GB 60GB-160GB 80 GB std
(300 GB J&P)
250GB-1TB
Inputs   (HDR110) (TCD649180)    
Coax (RF) A,V 1 1 1 1
Composite (L,R,V)
A,V 1 1 1 no
S-Video V 1 1 1 no
CableCARD slots: A,V no no no Yes (1)
           
Outputs          
Coax (RF) A,V 1 1 1 1
Composite (L,R,V)
A,V 2 2 1 2
S-Video V 1 1 1 1
Component (Y,Pb/Cb,Pr/Cr)
V 0 0 1 1
Digital Optical (Coax) A 0 0 1 0
Digital Optical (Toslink) A 0 0 1 1
HDMI A,V no no no Yes (1)
           
Other Ports          
Power pwr 1 1 1  
Phoneline data 1 1 1  
Serial ctrl 1 1 1  
IR ctrl 1 1 1  
USB data no Yes (2) Yes (2) Yes (2)
Ethernet (RJ-45) data no From 2006
(TCD649080)
no (but via USB) Yes
eSATA data no no no Yes (1)
miscellaneous    
  • Channel 3/4 switch
  • Interlaced/Progressive switch
 
Software          
hackability very good harder ?
         
1 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TiVo
2 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TiVo_DVR
3 www.tivopedia.com/
4 "The Philips HDR series was the first TiVo ever commerically produced." www.tivopedia.com/model-philips-hdr110.php.
5 As far as known to us at J&P, the Series 2 completely replaced Series 1.
6 "The TCD140060 was the first of the Series2 units made by TiVo. This was based on a completely revamped internal structure, more similar to the first generation DirecTV TiVos than to the first generation standalone TiVos. This was the first TiVo with USB ports, which are the gateway to all of the networking features that have been released since. This unit also marked the debut of the larger peanut remotes, allowing for use with two TiVo DVRs and giving more control over the TV." http://www.tivopedia.com/model-tivo-tcd140060.php.
7

04/25/2006
TiVo Announces First Standalone Dual Tuner Product, the TiVo Series2 DT DVR
www.tivo.com/abouttivo/pressroom/pressreleases/2006/pr2006-04-25.html

8 http://www.tivopedia.com/model-tivo-series3.php
8 From Jan 2006;
www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=281066
, 01-09-2006, 09:45 PM
"Series2 units run version 7.2.1 currently. All Series2 units have the ability to use networking features. The main differences between version 3 and 7.2.1 are:
* Folders
* Overlap protection
* Home Media features (Digital Music, Digital Photos, Multi-Room Viewing, TiVo Central Online)
* TiVo To Go
* Online Applications
* Content download"

video and L/R audio

www.google.com/search?q=tivo+series+differences

 

Subscriptions

Today, per November 2008, there is currently only one service level offered by TiVo, the TiVo® Service.

Around 2001 and forward for a few years, there was also a TiVo Basic service - a complimentary version of the TiVo service available only on DVD integrated models from Toshiba and Pioneer. TiVo Basic service was - and still is - not available on standalone TiVo DVRs.

 

Features

TiVo Basic
(VCR -style
recording)

TiVo® Service
(was called TiVo Plus)
(Smart, automatic recording and
Networked Home Entertainment)

Cost free
(see comment above)
$12.95/monthly
$129/annually ($10.75/month)
$299/3-yr ($8.31/month)
$399/prod life time
Hard Disk Recording X X
Record from Guide X X
Record by time and channel X X
Control Live TV
With TiVo you can pause, rewind and slo-mo live TV.
X X
Program Information Up to 3 days Up to 14 days
Broadband Connectivity X X
Parental Controls X X
KidZone X
TiVoToGo   X
Search by Title   X
Browse by Time and Channel   X
Sort by Date/Time and Folders in Now Playing
The Now Playing screen can be organized alphabetically
or by date. In addition, you can group programs together.
  X
Season Pass
Choose your favorite shows, and the TiVo service will
automatically record every episode whenever they air.
  X
Wish List
Got a favorite actor? Special hobby? The TiVo service
will find and record programs based on your interests.
  X
Smart Recording Options
Skip repeats, choose the number of episodes saved, and more!
  X
TiVo Suggestions   X
Customize the Program Guide   X
Digital Music and Photos   X
Multi-Room Viewing   X
Remote Scheduling   X
Program Source Inputs Allowed 1 2

www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/customerservice/activateortransferservice/
What_Is_the_Difference_between_TiVo_Basic_and_TiVo_Plus.html
(09-45-01 ?!?; Sep 2001?)

 

Software

Application: TiVo Desktop
TiVo Desktop
Plus
TiVo Desktop
Toast® Titanium
Why use this version: Free... Video in multiple folders,
automatic handling of
subscribed podcasts etc
Best Choice
for Music!
transfer video
from DVR to Mac
Platform: windows
PC/Windows
windows
PC/Windows
mac
Mac/OS X
mac
Mac/OS X
Mfg: TiVo TiVo TiVo Roxio
Cost: free $24.95 free  
Version (as per 2008-11-30): 2.6.2 ? (2.6.?) 1.94_055 v9
(J&P got v8)
Features
Publish to TiVo DVR
from Mac / PC
windows Music Yes
(personal
music library)
Yes
(iTunes library
incl Playlists!)
no
windows Photos Yes
(personal
photo library)
Yes
(iPhoto
albums)
no
windows Videos Yes
("My TiVo Recordings"
folder only)
Yes
(in any folder;
+ auto-transfer to DVR)
(actually
Yes
- hidden feature
)
no
compatible web videos to your
TiVo DVR for viewing on your TV
no Yes no no

Transfer from TiVo DVR
to Mac / PC

windows recordings Yes no Yes
  (Built-in web server (https://) also allows transfer of recordings from DVR)
On Mac / PC Convert shows for playback on iPod,
PSP, or other compatible device windows
no Yes no Yes
Burn shows to DVD windows no no Yes
Additional Notes         v9 adds HD support
    more info,
2.5 info
more info more info  

www.tivo.com/desktop/

www.google.com/search?q=tivo+desktop+release+notes

http://www.tivo.com/buytivo/tivogear/software/tivodesktopplus.html

http://www.tivo.com/mytivo/howto/downloadmoviesandtv/index.html

http://www.tivo.com/mytivo/howto/downloadmoviesandtv/howto_download_videos_using_PC.html

     
Domino's Pizza, order directly from TiVo , Nov 16, 2008.  
Netflix, view videos Only on TiVo Series 3 HW (TiVo® HD, TiVo® HD XL and TiVo® Series3™ DVRs.) Oct 29, 2008.  
RSS

"TiVo users can subscribe to and watch a broad range of content available on Real Simple Syndication (“RSS”) feeds"...

"The new web video capability requires TiVo Desktop Plus 2.6, an update to the Windows application which also converts recorded TV shows for viewing on portable devices like iPod and Sony PlayStation Portable. TiVo Desktop Plus 2.6 will be available in March for a one-time fee of $24.95, and will be a free upgrade to earlier versions. "

Jan 14, 2008.

 
YouTube videos directly on TiVo Only on TiVo Series 3 HW. Mar 12, 2008.  

www.tivo.com/abouttivo/pressroom/

Compatible portable media players

TiVo Desktop software (PC only) supports the following portable media players:

* Windows mobile devices (with video playback capability)
* Treo 700w

TiVo Desktop Plus software (PC only) supports the following portable media players:

* Apple iPod
* Sony PSP
* Treo 650
* Treo 700p
* Nokia N80

Roxio Toast Titanium software (Mac only) supports the following portable media players:

* Apple iPod
* Sony PSP

Transferring programs to a portable device requires that your TiVo DVR is connected to your home network and that you have the appropriate software listed above.

Compatible web videos

If you have downloaded videos from the Internet in any of the following formats, you can use TiVo Desktop Plus software for the PC to transfer them to your network-connected TiVo DVR to view them on your TV:

* Windows Media Video (.wmv)
* QuickTime Movie (.mov)
* MPEG-4/H.264 (.mp4, .m4v, .mp4v)
* MPEG-2 (.mpg, .mpeg, .mpe, .mp2, .mp2v, .mpv2)
* DivX and Xvid (.avi, .divx)

PC

Also available - Turn your PC into the best PC DVR experience with Nero LiquidTV™ | TiVo® PC www.nero.com/enu/liquidtv-introduction.html.

 

TiVo Desktop for Mac

There is a hidden feature that allows publishing of videos from the Mac (to one DVR at the time).

  1. Open System Preferences... (Apple menu)
  2. Press both Command (Apple) and Option keys and click on the TiVo Desktop icon.
  3. The TiVo Desktop preferences window will now display also a Videos tab (along the Music and Photos tabs) that allows configuration of the hidden TiVo Come Back feature.

 

Web Server (Built-in)

http://www.google.com/search?q=tivo+dvr+built-in+webserver

http://<ip-of-DVR> - only show a page with information

https://<ip-of-DVR> - require logon (user: tivo; password: the TIVo's MAK address); shows all recordings and allows for downloading to Mac / PC.

http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=215838

http://192.168.1.103/TiVoConnect?AnchorOffset=0&Command=QueryContainer&Details=All&ItemCount=0

http://<your tivo ip>/TiVoConnect?AnchorOffset=0&Command=QueryContainer&Details=All&ItemCount=0

http://<your tivo ip>/TiVoConnect?AnchorOffset=0&Command=QueryContainer&Details=All&ItemCount=1

 

Tips and Tricks

TiVo To Go Unleashed! www.zatznotfunny.com/ttg.htm, from June 2006, but contain some info still valid as reference (for e.g. conversions).

TiVo: 10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do (local save)
ARTICLE DATE: 11.03.08
www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2333721,00.asp

www.tivocommunity.com/

www.tivohelp.com/

From PC Magazine Oct 2004:

Hack Your Gadgets

TiVo to the Max

TiVo hacks are so popular that at last count, we found three books on the topic, as well as numerous Web sites, and they cover both series 1 and series 2 TiVos. The hacks run the gamut from simple access to the internal Linux operating system to backdoor codes that call forth a variety of undocumented features, including enabling a 30-second skip. Some of these "features" can also turn your TiVo into a doorstop, so proceed with the utmost caution and read everything before you do anything. www.tivocommunity.com is a good place to start, as is the www.tivohelp.com knowledge base.

You'll find freeware TiVo screensavers, utility programs that run on the TiVo OS, and some guides to hacking TiVo hardware. You can even install an FTP server on your box and transfer files over your LAN with it. The amount of effort people have expended on their TiVos is impressive; it's a wonder that they have any time left to actually watch TV.

(www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1658421,00.asp, 10.19.04; Oct 2004)

www.google.com/search?q=tivo+tricks+clock

 

Feature from PC Magazine: A Media Center PC - www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2010775,00.asp - don't skip commercials, remove them!

 

File Formats, Conversions

www.google.com/search?q=convert+tivo

TiVo To Go Unleashed! www.zatznotfunny.com/ttg.htm, from June 2006, but contain some info still valid as reference (for e.g. conversions).

www.google.com/search?q=sonic+tivo

Converting .tivo -> .mpg without Sonic
www.andrewconnell.com/blog/archive/2005/01/22/868.aspx

Removing Tivo encryption without Sonic software | genesoc.com
www.genesoc.com/node/274

graphedit tivo - Google Search
www.google.com/search?q=graphedit+tivo&start=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

 

TiVo on Mobiles

stumpled upon the below Sun 2008-11-30:

www.gamerscircle.net/2008/11/26/tivo-on-the-go/

TiVo on the go

It seems like TiVo is really out to make customers happy this holiday season. First they allow their users to order pizza from their couch, then they made a killer bundle deal withBestBuy and now they launch a new website that allows users to remotely search and record shows from their mobile phone for free. The service was announced yesterday, November 25, in the form of a press release. TiVo informed the masses that they had launched a new site (http://m.tivo.com) which can be used by anybody to search for show times and will also allow TiVo subscribers to schedule any selected program by providing their account information.

https://m.tivo.com/

 

This section uses Nov 08 CSS Frames.