Other than network or External Drive, what is the USB port for?

[NewYorkLaw]

What other uses are there for the built-in USB ports? Printer? Camera? DVD Burner? I'm curious...
Pete

[HDTiVo]

Guess what, its not used for external drive.

[bsnelson]

It could be used for a lot of things, but the current software only supports networking.

Brad

[SullyND]

It could be used for a lot of things, but the current software only supports networking.

Are you SURE?

Anybody try hooking up one of these babies :D

http://www.hardwarecooling.com/images/usb-fan.jpg

[HDTiVo]

Can it recharge an iPod? :)

[megazone]

OK, yes clever folks, it can be used strictly for power.

[dmdeane]

OK, yes clever folks, it can be used strictly for power.I knew there had to be a reason for TiVo to include USB ports instead of an Ethernet port on Series 2 hardware. :p

[HDTiVo]

I knew there had to be a reason for TiVo to include USB ports instead of an Ethernet port on Series 2 hardware. :p
And you don't have to unplug your network connection to charge your iPod!

Very clever.

[Stanley Rohner]

Why would you want to hook a printer to a TiVo ?

[MickeS]

And don't forget this one!http://www.motivators.com/resize.asp?path=products/coffeewarmer.jpg&v=2

What would be more convenient than keeping your coffe mug warm with a USB-connection to the TiVo?

[ZeoTiVo]

Why would you want to hook a printer to a TiVo ?


to print out a show of course :p

[gonzotek]

Why would you want to hook a printer to a TiVo ?In all seriousness, if the TiVo could print out the movie tickets you can now buy through their agreement with Fandango, that'd be pretty sweet. I think it'd also be sweet to have the TiVo act as a print server for the household, but I know that's unrealistic for several reasons.

[That Don Guy]

I always thought it was there in case somebody came out with a cable box that used USB rather than a serial cable for channel changing.

-- Don

[dmdeane]

I always thought it was there in case somebody came out with a cable box that used USB rather than a serial cable for channel changing.Yeah, but look at most cable companies complete disinterest in enabling that feature for their subscribers. Using USB to control a cable box would be great, but we'll all probably have Series 3 TiVo boxes with CableCARD long before most cable companies allow USB control of cable boxes....by which time we won't need the cable boxes anyway. Oh well.

[dmdeane]

In all seriousness, if the TiVo could print out the movie tickets you can now buy through their agreement with Fandango, that'd be pretty sweet. I think it'd also be sweet to have the TiVo act as a print server for the household, but I know that's unrealistic for several reasons.That might be okay for those without a home network, but once you have your TiVo hooked up to your home network, it's just as easy to send the print job over the network to your printer anyway.

[NewYorkLaw]

You could print:
1. tv guide
2. to do list or list of season pases
3. email (galleon)
4. weather or movie times

no?

Pete

[NewYorkLaw]

It would also be nice to be able to connect my MP3 player to the usb port, since the tivo can see my mp3 collection, why not use it to fill my player with music?

How about connection to my digital camera? Tivo sees my photo directory, why not let me cocnnect the camera and copy straight to the computer via tivo?

Pete

[dmdeane]

Originally Posted by Stanley Rohner
Why would you want to hook a printer to a TiVo ?to print out a show of course :pAfter which, you use the print out as a "flip book animation"! :p

[dmdeane]

OK, yes clever folks, it can be used strictly for power.This topic jogged my memory about something I saw several months ago (http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2005/12/the_tivo_tag_on.html#comment-12113325) which I found to be rather amusing, including this item (http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpende/60136190/), showing just how useful TiVo USB ports truly are! :)

More:
http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2005/12/the_tivo_tag_on.html#comment-12113325
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpende/60136190/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpende/60136182/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bpende/60136168/

I realized last week that my TiVo had a USB port... and wondered if I could charge my Palm T5 from it... and you know what? I could!!!

Because our stereo is too big for our enterntainment center, I don't have anywhere to plug in my T5 for listening to PodCasts in the living room. Now, I can charge my T5 and plug the T5 into my VCR to pass audio out of the TV speakers... Complicated, I know, but I get to listen to my PodCasts and charge my T5 at the same time... tres cool. Amazing but apparently true. :)