iTivo let’s you take your favorite shows with you
iTivo–a download for Mac–lets you send your favorite Tivo shows to you iPhone or iPod. or Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP or Apple TV.
- Formats include h.264, mpeg-2, mpeg-1, decrypt-only.
- Target devices include iPhone, iPod, AppleTV, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP, youtube.
- ’subscriptions’ to your regular shows: downloading them whenever new episodes are available.
- Automatically perform an ‘iTunes sync’ to your device when the download is completed.
- Automatically remove commercials from downloaded shows.
- Reporting on tivo’s Hard Drive usage
Found via Geeksugar
Twilight Mama
I can’t let the weekend pass without commenting on the cultural phenomenon that is Twilight. I know I’m not the only Twilight Mom out there.
To be honest, it’s been a while since I have purchased a DVD. I typically prefer downloading to my Tivo via Amazon Unbox. However, I just had to have the three-disc set from Target.
Now buyers have so many options–one disc, two disc, blu-ray, HD, download.
Target scored with the three-disc bonus and they let buyers have a free download of the movie from iTunes.
Amazon kept their pre-order customers happy by offering a free digital download so you didn’t have to wait for delivery on Monday since the movie came out on Saturday (12:01 a.m.)
How did you get your Twilight fix?
Quite a Combination
What more could you want than the ability to fast forward through commercials and record any movie of your choosing? Well, a lot more apparently. As if Tivo didn’t have enough going for it to begin with, now Netflix and Tivo are officially partnering up for real.
Netflix (probably by December) will be streaming the movie library already available online through Tivo HD customers. Think of the options, the possibilities, all those movies. The deals only been in the works for four years, but better late than never I suppose. The innovation of television is not over and boy is that exciting.
Order Pizza via Tivo
Yes, it’s true. First it was by phone, then by web and mobile and now by Tivo remote.
Just when you thought Tivo couldn’t get any better now you can order your favorite pizza from Domino’s with a few clicks of your remote. I saw an article on first and then clicked on my Tivo guide. Sure enough, there were the links to order via Tivo. You simply log in with your Dominos.com user info and then pay by cash when the pizza arrives.
The concept launched this week and is the latest in on-demand living. Tivo already has partnerships with music providers, Amazon Unbox and Netflix to provide on-demand music and movie service. I wonder what is next?
A New Place to Watch
When it comes to college there are a lot of choices to be made (beyond what school). More specifically I’m talking about what to buy and bring. Of course you’ve got your basics where tech is concerned: computer, cell phone, alarm clock. But what about those little extras to keep you happy so far from home?
Some of the more popular extras I’ve seen include printers, refrigerators, and of course, TVs. But say you have a PC, maybe you don’t need a TV after all!
This is where Nero Liquid TV comes in. Basically watch TV on PC computer, with Tivo. That’s right, with Tivo, the best invention since the video cassette. Lets be honest, many computer monitors are bigger than televisions anyway, and think of the space you could save with only one screen to make space for.
The Nero also boasts features that include exporting recorded shows to ipods (ironic since it’s only compatible with PC’s right now) or burning them to DVD’s. If only I wasn’t a Mac owner. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to get an old fashioned TV style Tivo to help out with my hectic television interrupting work schedule.
TV On My Time
DVR is probably the best thing to happen to television since color displays. I mean, it wouldn’t be worth much if there weren’t anything to watch, but there are (Lost and Heroes to name my top picks). The fact is TV hasn’t been this engaging, or more irritating , in years. You can’t miss a single episode or you’ll be disoriented for weeks, thus DVR comes in.
For anyone still unsure as to what a DVR is it’s a digital video recorder, you can record any programs you are going to miss, due to unfortunate time conflicts, without having to set a tape and a VCR. Pull up the television guide, hit a few buttons, and you’re golden. The example I have at home is a Tivo. The Tivo controls are relatively simple, and definitely easier than any VHS recording. Simplicity should be the goal of all technology and a DVR provides just that.
Even better than missing a show and not worrying about it is being able to watch an incredible show a second time! (As a Lost fan this specific possibility is especially important.) If a simple recording option wasn’t enough Tivo has recently announced that it will soon be providing Youtube videos directly to your television (a service previously only offered through Apple TV). What could be more amusing than watching Charlie the Unicorn on a wide screen display?
If only I could bring a DVR back to college with me, if I’m ever likely to be over scheduled and miss a show it’s at school.
Gentlemen, start your televisions
Finally, Fall season premieres are beginning. It’s been a long, long summer waiting for the return of my favorite shows.
As you know, I’m a Tivo afficionado so I have my season passes set for my old shows, but I need to add some updates for the new series options I want to check out, like Fringe.
TV Guide has you covered with a complete fall TV listing guide with the premieres and updated info on every show thats fit to watch.
Of course if you just can’t wait a few more weeks, get your fix here – oh, so that’s what is going to happen with Mer-Der!
Warning: This package will self-destruct
I was standing in my local Staples office store recently and noticed a Flexplay kiosk. Interesting idea.
Flexplay are time-limited DVDs you purchase online or at a kiosk for $4.99 to watch whenever you want for 2-days and then you can toss or recycle the disc.
The disk works by using a patented adhesive that once exposed to oxygen when you open the package will degrade overtime making the disc unreadable after a 2-day viewing window.
This is a good concept for those that don’t want to mess with returns and late fees as you can watch as many times as you want in the 2 days after opening and then just get rid of it. The cost is comparable to rental fees and with free, fast shipping, it’s a good deal.
The downside is waste–although they do encourage recycling–and waiting to get the movie. This latter issue can be avoided by finding a disc at a local kiosk like the one I found at Staples.
Of course, I still like using my Amazon Unbox through Tivo, but if you don’t have that option, this might work for you.
Yet Another Reason to Love Tivo
As if you needed another one! You can now browse and watch YouTube videos via your Tivo just as you would online.
If you have one of the nifty broadband-connected TiVo HD or Series3 DVR, you can browse on over to YouTube through ‘TiVo Central’ > ‘Music, Photos, Products, & More’ screens.
Unlike Tivo downloads, YouTube videos aren’t stored on your machine and do not take up recordable space. You can pause, rewind, fast forward etc. just like you would any other Tivo-viewed show however.
Also, like YouTube via Internet, you will see suggestions of similar or related videos available for viewing. Remember, however, if you have YouTube enabled, your kids will have access to everything available on the site. You can restrict access through Tivo’s built-in KidZone feature.
I wish I had known about this a few weeks ago when I showed my son the classic movie The Red Balloon, about a boy in Paris and his balloon. We watched it around my computer screen, but it would have been nicer on the TV.
Father’s Day Unplugged
We just got back from our annual pilgrimage to Oconee State Park in South Carolina for my husband’s family reunion. It’s a beautiful place–everything a mountain park should be. Trees with birds to hear, rivers with rocks to throw, bugs to bite, lakes to fish . . . really glorious. The only thing it doesn’t have is a cell signal anywhere for miles around.
You literally have to drive about 15 minutes down the mountain to make a cell phone call. It really is nice to be truly away to just remember how it feels to be a family without my cell phone or * gasp * my television!
Bless my little boy he only asked for the TV once. He was having way too much fun putting rocks in his garbage truck toy, fishing with his dad, skinny-dipping in the river and exploring a local tunnel.
A recent hack I mentioned to save time and maybe your life by storing seldom used by important numbers in your phone really helped out, too. An illness I had been taking antibiotics for earlier in the week returned with a vengence our first night in the cabin. I woke up with a 101.3 fever and my doctor was 5 hours away. Luckily I could still access my phone directory and get my docs number to call from the park office, saving myself a trip to the urgent care.
After a full day of bedrest on doctor’s orders (thanks again mimi!) I was feeling like a new woman and made it to the state fish hatchery to feed the baby rainbow trout.
Of course, even though I loved my few days of “roughing it” I took great comfort knowing my trusty TIVO was back at home recording the first vote for So You Think You Can Dance and my son’s favorite cartoons. I also knew I wouldn’t miss a thing online since my Google Reader was collecting all my favorites. Ahh, the best of both worlds!
