Sick of lack of TTG support for Mac

[pobox3721]

Tivo has been awfully busy lately; unfortunately, for the Macintosh community, it appears that we are low on their priority list.

Hey Tivo! I hope you're listening to this, because I know I am not the only one here fed up with the BS you've been giving us for the past year and a half or so.

Since you released TTG for the PC, you have created, troubleshot, got it approved through CableLabs, and released an entire new Tivo box! Where's my TTG for Mac????

You introduced your new KidZone crap and have announced that you'll be releasing it by mid-year! Where the hell is my TTG for Mac????

You're also releasing a scheduling feature where people can schedule recordings with their Verizon cell phone in the "coming months!" Where the hell is my TTG for Mac?

Looks like you've been very busy Tivo, but all you're doing is pissing off this Mac user for lack of support. Here's an idea, instead of releasing new features, how about getting all the features operable for the rest of your customers??? I know I'm getting sick and tired of hearing all the wonderful things other people can do with your service ... how about bringing functionality to the rest of your clientele???

Aren't you aware that Mac users make up 15% of your client base? (2004 statistic, I'm sure it's gone up since then, http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/editors/2004/01/000031/index.php) By the way, that reference to MacWorld I just made, is a 2004 article where they were informed that TTG support was to arrive later that year according to a Tivo spokesman at CES that year.

Keep in mind Tivo that it costs 10x more to acquire a new customer than it is to keep the ones you already have. It looks like I may be turing my Tivo box into a doorstop soon if you keep blowing us off.

TivoPony - Care to chime in???? I'd love to hear your thoughts on the situation. Maybe you guys can open-source what you have done so far. It's amazing what fans can do when given the proper tools. Best thing is, they can help you complete your TTG for Mac, and you get it done for free. In the real world, we call that a win-win situation. You get something for nothing, and we all benefit from it.

-Nyx

[Jerry®]

Amen!!

[sixseven]

I don't mean to start a flame war or anything, but I'm kinda getting sick of hearing people complain about lack of mac support...

Many years ago, I was once a big MacAdvocate. Back in the day, I realized it was up to me to figure out compatibility. For example, I remember setting up an NT4.0 server with appletalk services in my house, just so I could print from my PowerMac 7500 to an HP LaserJet that I inherited. (I forget the model of LaserJet, but it was not apple compatible.) So granted, I just dated myself, but the same idea holds true today. You can make it work, it just may take a little more doing.

IMO, TTG is more about mobility than the decoding/transcoding platform. If I had my vote, Tivo should bring forth PSP and Ipod support before Mac support. But this is one man's opinion, and again, I am not wanting to start a flame war.

[bostlaw]

I don't mean to start a flame war or anything, but I'm kinda getting sick of hearing people complain about lack of mac support...

Many years ago, I was once a big MacAdvocate. Back in the day, I realized it was up to me to figure out compatibility. For example, I remember setting up an NT4.0 server with appletalk services in my house, just so I could print from my PowerMac 7500 to an HP LaserJet that I inherited. (I forget the model of LaserJet, but it was not apple compatible.) So granted, I just dated myself, but the same idea holds true today. You can make it work, it just may take a little more doing.

IMO, TTG is more about mobility than the decoding/transcoding platform. If I had my vote, Tivo should bring forth PSP and Ipod support before Mac support. But this is one man's opinion, and again, I am not wanting to start a flame war.

I don't generally jump into these threads cuz they tend to be too fanatical...however... PSP and iPod support is already out there for PC users...it's free, works well, and appears to do everything that TiVo has promised for its own upcoming iPod/PSP support... Transcoding with a Mac, however, is presently impossible (other than by running Windows emulation software)... My guess is that the present Mac community will be left behind, TiVo will withstand the criticism...and then it will become less of an issue as time goes on and more Intel-based Macs are in the user base (still requires running Windows though)... I transcode through Windows emulation on my Mac...it works, but it is long and painful (I have a four hour daily bus commute, so I like having my TiVo to go on my iPod, Treo or PSP)... No flame war here, just noting that the PSP/iPod support is there already for PC users...even if not from TiVo directly... This Mac user would love to have TiVo support...I'm just not holding my breath...

[tonyf3]

I don't mean to start a flame war or anything, but I'm kinda getting sick of hearing people complain about lack of mac support...

Many years ago, I was once a big MacAdvocate. Back in the day, I realized it was up to me to figure out compatibility. For example, I remember setting up an NT4.0 server with appletalk services in my house, just so I could print from my PowerMac 7500 to an HP LaserJet that I inherited. (I forget the model of LaserJet, but it was not apple compatible.) So granted, I just dated myself, but the same idea holds true today. You can make it work, it just may take a little more doing.

IMO, TTG is more about mobility than the decoding/transcoding platform. If I had my vote, Tivo should bring forth PSP and Ipod support before Mac support. But this is one man's opinion, and again, I am not wanting to start a flame war.

Hey!,
We're sick of waiting for what everyone else has as a paying TiVo subscriber.
Also, if you've really been paying attention you would be a big MacAdvocate again!
Your story is 10 years old. Mac is light years from that now, and it will even boot windows. Mac and Windows comatibility is no longer an issue. Mac to TiVo? now that's another story.

[tonyf3]

I don't generally jump into these threads cuz they tend to be too fanatical...however... PSP and iPod support is already out there for PC users...it's free, works well, and appears to do everything that TiVo has promised for its own upcoming iPod/PSP support... Transcoding with a Mac, however, is presently impossible (other than by running Windows emulation software)... My guess is that the present Mac community will be left behind, TiVo will withstand the criticism...and then it will become less of an issue as time goes on and more Intel-based Macs are in the user base (still requires running Windows though)... I transcode through Windows emulation on my Mac...it works, but it is long and painful (I have a four hour daily bus commute, so I like having my TiVo to go on my iPod, Treo or PSP)... No flame war here, just noting that the PSP/iPod support is there already for PC users...even if not from TiVo directly... This Mac user would love to have TiVo support...I'm just not holding my breath...


Not holding my breath either, but that won't stop me from using a cattle prod on them with an Apple logo on it.

[homertime]

I don't mean to start a flame war or anything, but I'm kinda getting sick of hearing people complain about lack of mac support...


You shouldn't be getting sick of us complaining... We're paying the same $13 monthly and are missing a VERY VERY VERY useful service.

I've said it once, and I'll say it time and time again, when you pay for a service that offers expandability with personal computing devices, you must have support for all major operating systems.

I wouldn't be as disappointed if you just purchased a Tivo Box and you didn't pay any subscription fee. That would be like going to the store, buying a digital camera, and finding out that it's not compatible with your computer. Sure it takes pictures, and you can bring your memory card to the store to have photos developed, but you can't access the information through your computer - which if you're not paying on a regular basis for it to do such a thing, it isn't an issue. But this is something that we continuously put A LOT of money into, $13 monthly plus our original cost of the box. All subscribers DESERVE the SAME FEATURES regardless of operating system. Mac's have been around long enough that this shouldn't be an issue, and no one should be throwing the dirt at Apple. There are a ton of private developers that create new programs every day without apple's help, it's no excuse.

When you say that we have no right to complain, you're making an egotistical comment that your money is better then mine. Same cost - same features - no questions asked.

If they wanted to offset my fee to $10 monthly for not having the TivotoGo feature, I would gladly have no arguments since my service charge is on par with the service I receive.

[tonyf3]

You shouldn't be getting sick of us complaining... We're paying the same $13 monthly and are missing a VERY VERY VERY useful service.

I've said it once, and I'll say it time and time again, when you pay for a service that offers expandability with personal computing devices, you must have support for all major operating systems.

I wouldn't be as disappointed if you just purchased a Tivo Box and you didn't pay any subscription fee. That would be like going to the store, buying a digital camera, and finding out that it's not compatible with your computer. Sure it takes pictures, and you can bring your memory card to the store to have photos developed, but you can't access the information through your computer - which if you're not paying on a regular basis for it to do such a thing, it isn't an issue. But this is something that we continuously put A LOT of money into, $13 monthly plus our original cost of the box. All subscribers DESERVE the SAME FEATURES regardless of operating system. Mac's have been around long enough that this shouldn't be an issue, and no one should be throwing the dirt at Apple. There are a ton of private developers that create new programs every day without apple's help, it's no excuse.

When you say that we have no right to complain, you're making an egotistical comment that your money is better then mine. Same cost - same features - no questions asked.

If they wanted to offset my fee to $10 monthly for not having the TivotoGo feature, I would gladly have no arguments since my service charge is on par with the service I receive.


Well said.
I've suggested the same concept a while back in a different thread. If they don't want to support the platform, and we're paying the same amount for lesser service. Then discount the service to those users who aren't enjoying the full feature set until we're on par with everyone else.

But wait,... they'll tell you they're working hard on it since Jan.'05. 1 1/2 years since the windows release. Pending release in Mid 2006. We're still waiting, we're still ticked off, and I'm not buying another box from this company until they make good on( and release) what they've promised.

[TydalForce]

Playing devil's advocate here for a moment...

They still have time to hit their mid-2006 promise. If they miss it, I'll likely get pretty disgruntled with the rest of the gang here, but I can wait...

The fact that the recent TiVo Desktop 1.9.3 added some pretty snazzy functionality is a good sign - they're working on things, rolling in new features, and have people actively working on Mac software.

Now if they can't make the mid-2006 deadline, I think they should offer a discount to the Mac users who are on monthly plans and want TTG. Its a fair deal ;-}

[jwpereira]

I have to jump in here. I have been a tivo customer for 5 years, and have a series 1 and 2, and planning on buying a HD series 3 when they come out. My favorite feature is tivo to go, and use it all the time. However, over the last 6 months I have switched purchased 2 Macs and love them, mostly because of how well they handle media. I can do any type of Video with ease, except one thing... talk to my TIVO! I even have a Intel Mac Mini hooked up to my 50" plasma, right next to my Tivo. If i'm any indication, new Intel Macs are making people take notice, and the population is climbing. Please, don't make me look elsewhere to get my tv shows into my macs.

- Long Time Tivo Fan

[paulyras]

I should also point out that by not having proper Mac support, they are forcing people to come up with all sorts of alternatives which circumvent their own DRM (Directshow Dump, for example), and frankly appear to be wink-wink-nudge-nudge supporting it, IMHO, as a finger in the dam.

With a proper watermark (so to be able to trace the source of publicly distributed copies and bring down the hammer of the DMCA), and formats applicable to PSP, iPod, and Macs (I'm really only talking about one output, as they will all take the same files), there would be no need for people to look to circumvent the DRM.

If you think this isn't a problem, look around p2p sites and IRC rooms (though I'm not advocating DLing content that isn't yours). There are lots of unDRM'd files that are obviously from TIVOs (telltale signs like the channel changing right at the beginning of the recording, weird start and stop points, etc...

What it really comes down to is that most of us (myself included), only want to be able to watch our own shows on the platform of our choosing. I will say that I love my TIVO, but the idea that noone will ever come out with anything that does the same thing as well or better is silly. Tivo is a small fish playing in the pond with Samsung, Motorola, Sony, etc... Sooner or later, one of these guys (or, even better, another TIVOesque startup), will give us what we want. I'm here to say that I, for one, am not married to TIVO, but I'm hoping that they understand that mac support is key to keeping me in the fold long term.

OK. I'm done...