TiVotoGo - Move Content from your TiVo to your PC/Mac
When TiVoToGo was launched in January, 2005, it was truly revolutionary, and
ended a long-simmering controversy surrounding the ability to get digital content
from a TiVo to a PC or Mac for viewing somewhere other than the TiVo itself.
When the Series2 TiVo was launched, networking a TiVo with a home network became
a reality. Even though the box could be networked, the networking features were
severely limited. Without TiVoToGo, the TiVo could only be used to stream music
and view photos from a PC on a TiVo. Later, a home with two TiVos could share
content between the two boxes.
Finally, in January, 2005, nearly a year after it was announced, could TiVo
owners move actual files from the TiVo the PC. Later, that feature was extended
to allow the shows to be burned to DVD and to allow the shows to be moved to
personal video players (such as the PSP--Playstation Portable--and other devices).
TiVoToGo was so mired in controversy that 20 months after launch of TTG, when
the Series3 HD TiVo was launched, that box did not have the TTG feature! It
took more than a year to bring TTG to the Series3 HD TiVo, due to wrangling
between TiVo, on one hand, and CableLabs and content owners, on the other hand.
Content owners were paranoid about pure digital (and high definition) content
being moved off the TiVo and into the world of Internet piracy.
Using TiVoToGo
TiVoToGo works with both Macs and PCs, but in either case requires you to download
the TiVo Desktop software (available at tivo.com) to your computer. Once you
have the TiVo Desktop software installed, you can:
- Publish your personal music library to your TiVo DVR for playback through
your TV and home entertainment system.
- Publish your personal photo library to your TiVo DVR for viewing photos
and slideshows on your TV.
- Transfer shows from your TiVo DVR to your computer in order to view them.
Currently, TiVo offers an upgrade to the TiVo Desktop software that will unlock
additional features (currently PC only--no Macs). That upgrade is $24.95 and
will enable you to:
- Convert shows for playback on your iPod, PSP, or other compatible device
- Transfer compatible web videos to your TiVo DVR for viewing on your TV (TiVoToComeback)
Using TiVoToGo with third-party software packages
If you have a Mac, Toast
Titanium (and presumably later versions) will allow you to:
- Transfer shows from your TiVo DVR to your Mac
- Convert shows for playback on your iPod or PSP
- Save your TV shows to DVD using your Mac's DVD burner
If you have a PC, Roxio
Easy Media Creator® Suite for PC will allow you to save your TV shows
to DVD using your PC's DVD burner.
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