TiVo recently introduced an updated version of their desktop software which allows a networked TiVo to transfer its recordings to a PC and automatically convert them for playback on an iPod. Great, right? Yes. After a week of testing this feature, I can confirm that it is great. The video quality is good, it syncs up perfectly with the audio (a problem I've had with freeware transfers), and it's easy to get the newly transferred files onto the iPod. The show name and episode name are carried over from the TiVo's information making for easy organization.
What's NOT great is that I had to pay about $25 extra to use it. It seems the feature is built into the upgraded software, you just have to purchase a license to unlock it.
BUT...that gripe aside, it works very well and I think it's worth the extra cash. Now I can watch Austin City Limits and even uncut, commercial free films from TCM on the bus on the way to work.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
TiVo's iPod support
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1 comments:
Well, the fee is to cover the license costs. To do the conversion TiVo Desktop Plus includes an MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 codec, as well as software TiVo licensed. They have to pay for every copy activated, so that cost is passed on as the fees.
The free solutions are technically illegal, they usually have the MPEG codecs without paying the required license fees.
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