If you ’ve got a networkedTiVo , you ’re belike aware ofTiVoToGo — and the fact that it does n’t currently work with Macs . ( If you ’re not conversant with TiVoToGo , it ’s a software package package that lets you transfer your TiVo recordings , over your local mesh , to your estimator where you could then find out them , burn down them to magnetic disk , or transfer them to a PDA or other mobile participant . ) TiVo has been anticipate Mac living for quite a while , but … well , rent ’s just say we ’re still expect .
in person , I ’m banal of waiting . I need to be capable to put my recorded TV shows on my MacBook Pro and my iPod so I can watch them on - the - go . If you ’re at the geeky end of the computing spectrum , an open - author instrument calledTiVo File Decoderwill let you grab TiVo content and convert it to a standard MPEG picture data file . But TiVo File Decoder is n’t the most user - friendly solution , given that it requires using Terminal . Thankfully , two developer have taken TiVo File Decoder and slapped a rudimentary GUI on top . The solution , both free , are TheBenesch’sTiVoDecode Manager 1.5.5and Nik ’s Software’sTiVo Decoder 1.3 . Both covering provide a usable port ; however , I prefer TiVoDecode Manager , as it not only converts TiVo video file cabinet , but also download them to your Mac over your internet .
When you first launch TiVoDecode Manager , you ’ll want to leave your TiVo ’s IP address and your TiVo Media Access Key . If you know the former , you’re able to enter it manually , but TiVoDecode Manager ’s My TiVos pop - up menu should heel all the TiVos on your local web ; prefer one and its IP address will be infix mechanically . To get your Media Access Key ( MAK ) , just go to the TiVo Web site , snap the Manage My Account link , and then click the Media Access Key link on the Manage My Account screen . Once you ’ve entered your MAK , TiVoDecode Manager will remember it on subsequent launches .
dawn Connect to TiVo and the app will link to the prefer TiVo and list its contents , including each program ’s ID , show name , episode name , description , date / time , and size ; you’re able to sort the list by any of these bits of information by clicking on its column header . ( After you ’ve connected , the Connect to TiVo button change to Update from TiVo ; chatter it refreshes the list of contents . )
Before take shows to download and convert , choose your download location and format at the bottom of the window . Your formatting choice include “ MPEG-2 ( aboriginal ) ” and “ Quicktime MPEG-4 ( iPod ) . ” The former requires no actual conversion , so it ’s faster , but the resulting files ca n’t be play by QuickTime ; you ’ll need to habituate an program such as VLC or MPlayer ( or use something like VisualHub to covert the file ) . The MPEG-4 transition option take on more time but produce video files that can be toy both in iTunes and on your video - equal to iPod . alas , the MPEG-4 option is currently useable only on Intel Macs .
To download and commute a TV show , select it in the list and get across on Download & Decode Show ; it will straight off be downloaded to your Mac and converted . If you want to get multiple shows , choose each and select Add Show to Queue ; each show will be added to the Queue at the bottom of the window . get through on Download & Decode Queue and all the shows in the Queue will automatically be downloaded and converted to your choose formatting . ( you’re able to also remove shows from the queue via the Remove Show from Queue push button . )
The procedure is n’t loyal ; you ’re download anywhere from a few hundred MB to several gigabit of data and , if you ’ve chosen MPEG-4 formatting , then commute it — both processes that are slow - drop dead on their own . And if your TiVo is connected to your mesh wirelessly , like mine is , download speed can vary dramatically . For example , to download and commute a half - hr sitcom over an 802.11b wireless connection take several hours one day , whereas an hr - long show postulate only an hour and a one-half another . Still , the resulting MPEG-4 TV wager absolutely on my Mac and my iPod .
That ’s not to say this is a milled Cartesian product ; both TiVoDecode Manager and the open - source TiVo File Decoder on which it ’s establish are works in progress . As I mentioned above , you’re able to currently convince to MPEG-4 format only on Intel Macs . You ca n’t customise the encoding calibre or setting . And I experienced a few issues the encoding summons : a couple time audio and video were out of sync , and I occasionally have dropout that stopped the download physical process without apprize me — TiVoDecode Manager thinks it ’s still downloading , but it never land up . ( Granted , a likely contributor to this latter issue is a dull wireless connection , but the app should provide some kind of alert or , even better , computer error rectification or reconnection features ; after all , many TiVo ’s are connection wirelessly . )
Still , until TiVo finally relinquish the long - promised Mac translation of TiVoToGo , this is a workable alternative .
TiVoDecode Manager requires Mac OS X 10.4 ( Tiger ) and a networked Series 2 TiVo . ( Series 1 TiVos do not sustain TiVoToGo ; Series 3 TiVos and DirecTiVos may support TiVoToGo in the future , but presently do not . )
