iPod and Deluxe version

[Austin Bike]

OK, I have a 60GB iPod and 2 series 2 Tivos.

I have put video on the iPod and it has been pretty seamless, when I have the file in a format that can be seen natively.

If I want to put a show from Tivo onto my iPod, this is what I need to do today:

1. Record it on tivo
2. Copy from Tivo to my server
3. Use etivo to prep the file
4. Use videora to covert to an ipod format
5. Copy over to ipod with JR Media Center

What I would love is a single program that can make the transition today from Tivo to iPod without any interaction on my part. (videora does not sync soud to video that well).

What are the steps from the Tivo Deluxe program? Is it easy/quick? Does it require iTunes to sync?

[ACraigL]

I believe that the desktop plus will download, convert and place in the iTunes folder. You will them need to use iTunes to sync the video. Given your current process, it would seem simpler to use DT+, cue up several files, and sync them all at once.

[windracer]

TiVoDesktop Plus will automatically download the show (assuming you set up a recurring transfer) and then convert it for your iPod (H.264 or MPEG-4 formats). It does not however, automatically move it into iTunes. It leaves it in a "TiVo Recordings for Portable Devices" folder and you have to manually drag it into iTunes to sync it with your iPod.

[ACraigL]

Thanks for keeping me honest... sorry about about that. I'm assuming you can add that folder to iTunes. There are 3rd party auto-update tools around to rescan the iTunes folders, as well, so maybe that combination would help.

[classicsat]

Yes, you can add that folder to iTunes, but you will have to add it each time to scan it.

[ACraigL]

iTunes Library Updater:
http://itlu.ownz.ch/wordpress/

Small Tutorial on it:
http://mp3.about.com/od/playorganizemymusic/ig/iTunes-Library-Updater/Getting-Started.htm

Other Tutorial (this is good) for batch scripting functionality:
http://www.lifehacker.com/software/top/hack-attack-automatically-sync-itunes-to-any-folders-175161.php

[tivofan3]

I upgraded to tivo deskup plus so I could convert my transferred shows from tivo to computer to ipod. Half of my files converted ok to MPEG-4, the other half converted to MPEG which isn't compatible with the 60GB ipod.
Suggestions?

[windracer]

Check your conversion settings under File - Preferences - Portable Devices. Maybe it was changed?

[dmk1974]

For converting the file to transfer to an iPod, does it really matter if it's MPEG-4 or H.264? I mean, I know it says H.264 is for iPod, but aren't they both? If so, is one a better quality than the other? I would like to have the ability to play the video on my iPod screen or hooked up to a TV via the AV cable connected to the iPod.

Thanks!

[Phialpha]

I found a program called TVHarmony Autopilot that "says" it should be able to do all of what you are looking for, Schedule transfers (one time or reoccuring), Convert, and Load into iTunes. You can also convert the videos to other formats also.

HOWEVER, I haven't been able to get it to work and it has been noted on there forum that they know it doesn't. Anyway getting things setup seemed pretty easy so keep an eye out for an updated version. I am using 1.0.B2.31 (50), so if you see a newer one try it since it's free.

If anyone else has one I'd like to try them. It would be so much easier if Apple would just make iTunes do it for us.

[tomthumb]

question...
currently with a couple shareware programs and the free tivo desktop, I'm pulling shows from my tivo box and converting them for my ipod. It works fine, but is very slow and can take a couple hours to do the transcoding.

Is the Tivo Desktop Plus any faster? I think it'd be worth the $25 if so.

What's your experience been?

Thanks in advance!

[windracer]

I'm not sure the transcoder in TiVo Desktop Plus is any faster ... except it will transcode multiple files at a time. It still takes a while to transcode a 2 hour movie, though I haven't officially timed it (I usually just let 'em run overnight).

It's nice to have the whole thing automated though.

[wilcotree]

question...
currently with a couple shareware programs and the free tivo desktop, I'm pulling shows from my tivo box and converting them for my ipod. It works fine, but is very slow and can take a couple hours to do the transcoding.

Is the Tivo Desktop Plus any faster? I think it'd be worth the $25 if so.

What's your experience been?Thanks in advance!
The transfer speed depends on the length and quality of the recording. Using the Tivo Desktop Plus it first transfers to the computer and then it transcodes it for the portable player which for me is the iPod 5th gen. I wouldn't call it fast exactly but like the post above mine says it's very simple. You check off as many as you want just like the regular Tivo desktop and it takes the extra transcoding step automatically. I do about 6 at a time and just go away or overnight like already stated. I recommend it not so much for speed but for the simplicity and reliability.

[windracer]

You check off as many as you want just like the regular Tivo desktop and it takes the extra transcoding step automatically.
Or, if you set up automatic transfers, you don't even need to do that step: Desktop will automatically download the show as soon as it is done recording it.

[pan4life]

The TiVo Desktop Plus is pretty quick and worth the $25 I paid, but there is one problem. It automatically converts shows to iPod after it transfer them to TiVo to desktop, but I don't see any way to do a manual conversion. For example my PC crashed one time during a conversion after downloading an episode. The only way I can see to get it on my ipod is to delete the show off the TiVo desktop completely and transfer it over again, which we all know takes too long. They need to enable a manual conversion. I also have shows on my TiVo desktop that I transferred before the latest version with conversions came out...I want to transfer some of those too. Am I missing something?

[CuriousMark]

The TiVo Desktop Plus is pretty quick and worth the $25 I paid, but there is one problem. It automatically converts shows to iPod after it transfer them to TiVo to desktop, but I don't see any way to do a manual conversion. . . . Am I missing something?
See the TiVo Converter Wrapper sticky at the top of the forum.

[Phialpha]

Just found out that the TVHarmony software was updated to correct the crashing issues I mentioned before.

I also found that it you have the option to control things from the Tivo since it works with Java.

So far I have setup rules (to transfer season passes) and converted a few files manually that were on the computer already. I still need to try the Commercial Skip feature and the "Access from Internet" feature. On occasion I found that the program gets stuck transfering shows to iTunes, but for the most part it works. I think the uploading to iTunes is the best feature.

It is still free. I tried to stay on topic, since I thought people might like spending $25 on a 2nd HDD instead of to find a software without the features they want.



Tomthumb, mine is transfering shows REALLY slow, but I think that is the USB network adapter I bought. I would suggest searching for the adapter you have in the forums to see if it is mentioned. If you have the linksys 100 [something], that's what I have. It uses USB 1.1 and I am thinking about getting a different one. It takes about 1.5 times the length of the show to download (1 hour show = 1 hour 30 minutes to download).

[GreatSwine]

So the iPod will not play .tivo files natively? They must be converted to MP4 or M4V? If so, is this a restriction with the iTunes software? That is, if you are using one of the "alternative" methods for loading video on your iPod, will be able to play .tivo or .mpeg files?

[Phialpha]

I think the big thing is getting the Screen Resolution right. When my files are converted the file size is reduced also. It's converted to optimize it for the iPod screen.

And the .Tivo files have you Media Access Key stamped in the file.