ANN: TiVo Broadcaster 1.0 for Mac OS X 10.4

iDriveX · 05-08-2005, 10:33 PM

Hello-

I recently simplified the process of fixing the TiVo/Mac OS X 10.4 problem. I created two shell scripts. The first one fixes the iPhoto Library issue (no it does not mess with your iPhoto Library), the second one is the broadcaster and fixes the TiVo not seeing your iTunes Library and iPhoto Library. It is a self contained application and I put a flag in the preferences so that it doesn't clutter up your dock. It's all wrapped up in a nice little installer package.

I guess I've done enough whining around here about TiVo giving us the shaft. Here's my "valentine" to TiVo users. (And no, it's not a Valentine like Berman & Braga's wonderful little Valentine)

Instructions

Enjoy. Please report any problems to this thread, not my personal e-mail in case it doesn't work.

rog · 05-09-2005, 01:40 AM

This looks pretty cool, but... well... no offense, but I'd like to know exactly what this package is doing to my system before I install.

The installer is a nice touch for those not able to follow Dennis Wilkinson's instructions, but it scares me because I can't see what it is doing. And there is no uninstaller, correct?

I'm sure there is probably a way for me to track its changes, but I don't know how to do that.

Make me smart.

[Don't take this as a slight, I'm just paranoid about installing new applications!]

iDriveX · 05-09-2005, 01:42 AM

No worries. The installer is doing NOTHING to your system. It is simply placing some shell scripts into a folder in your Utilities Folder. Running the shell scripts is what alters your system. And the shell scripts are an exact copy of Dennis Wilkinson's Terminal commands.

I was a Mac OS X newbie when OS X Public Beta first came out. The Terminal scared me and so did anything having to do with scripts. I educated myself and learned the developer's tools. I decided to make Dennis' instructions nice and simple for the people out there that used to be just like me!

No slight taken!

weathertop · 05-09-2005, 07:20 AM

Is it necessary to rerun the shell scripts after every restart in order for Tivo desktop to work?

iDriveX · 05-09-2005, 10:04 AM

Only the TiVo Broadcaster one as far as I know. You need to keep "broadcasting" in order for TiVo to see the server.

Mr. Zarniwoop · 05-09-2005, 10:55 AM

I recently upgraded to Tiger and lost TiVo HMO capability.

I run the installer, and it seems to work, but nothing new is placed in my utilities directly. Spotlight can't find the filenames described in the installation.

Tried re-installing, "The software was successfully installed", no errors, just no files.

wickerbill · 05-09-2005, 04:06 PM

I'm getting the same problem. Software says it was successfully installed, but I can't find any scripts to execute. Spotlight couldn't find any files with tivo in them.

iDriveX · 05-09-2005, 05:17 PM

There was a problem in the mpackage creator. I don't know why it happened. I will recreate the packages tonight after I get home from work...hang tight...

briguymaine · 05-09-2005, 07:33 PM

ohhh... I'm so bad at waiting...

iDriveX · 05-09-2005, 09:48 PM

All set now, installed on my PowerBook remotely to simulate the same thing an end-user would go through, everything worked great!

Puddin'head · 05-09-2005, 11:35 PM

iDriveX:
I just downloaded the repackaged TiVo Broadcaster and installed it, and it works perfectly...as long as I'm online. I'm cursed with dialup Internet, and if I disconnect, so does the TiVo! Once I redial my ISP, I must stop and start TiVo Broadcaster to get the HMO up and running again.

Puddin'head

iDriveX · 05-10-2005, 12:48 AM

Huh, that's kinda interesting. It shouldn't have anything to do with your ISP as long as you have a local subnet. Are you using a router? How is your intranet configured? What kind of setup do you have?

briguymaine · 05-10-2005, 09:55 AM

iDriveX is officially the man. Thanks for the workaround! Meant to thank Dennis too, always looking out for us lonely Mac guys.

Dennis Wilkinson · 05-10-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Puddin'head

iDriveX:
I just downloaded the repackaged TiVo Broadcaster and installed it, and it works perfectly...as long as I'm online. I'm cursed with dialup Internet, and if I disconnect, so does the TiVo! Once I redial my ISP, I must stop and start TiVo Broadcaster to get the HMO up and running again.

If iDriveX is just using the mDNS command I posted a few days ago (thanks for wrapping it up with an installer, by the way -- I've been very busy) -- mDNS is really a testing application for Bonjour/Rendezvous/ZeroConf, and is documented as not really being the right way to 'do' Bonjour in a scripting environment (it was just the fastest thing that would work when I did my testing.)

What's likely happening is that it (meaning mDNS) is simply not responding to certain network up/down events that would require it to set things up again. You might be able to set up your network config so that this isn't an issue. What do your network settings look like?

Poogie · 05-10-2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

always looking out for us lonely Mac guys

And gals, too!

Thanks Dennis and iDriveX!

I had some problems. On my secondary system, I got it working, after I input my IP address. Still not working on the main system. Under music and photos, I get nothing. When I input the IP, it can't find it. I can, however, I can see my other TiVo in "Now Playing."

briguymaine · 05-10-2005, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poogie

And gals, too!

Sorry, can't forget the ladies!

BaileyW · 05-10-2005, 01:38 PM

Help! I need to reinstall TiVo Desktop 1.9.1 on my newly upgraded Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger iMac but the installer fails. Using unpkg to manually copy the files doesn't seem to work. Now the System Preferences panel quits when I try to turn on the TiVo Desktop.

TiVo Broadcaster seemed to install just fine. What am I doing wrong? Thank you!!

Bailey Walker

briguymaine · 05-10-2005, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaileyW

Help! I need to reinstall TiVo Desktop 1.9.1 on my newly upgraded Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger iMac but the installer fails. Using unpkg to manually copy the files doesn't seem to work. Now the System Preferences panel quits when I try to turn on the TiVo Desktop.

TiVo Broadcaster seemed to install just fine. What am I doing wrong? Thank you!!

Bailey Walker

Did you run the scripts and see if music & photos show up on your tivo? It will probably work. I had the same install issues before the workaround, Sys Prefs would crash, but after running the scripts all is working well.

Best of luck!

BaileyW · 05-10-2005, 08:06 PM

Yes, I ran the scripts and then opened System Preferences, selected TiVo Desktop. I was able to select playlists and albums without difficulty. But as soon as I clicked the "Start" button System Preferences immediately quits and displays a box which gives me the option to send a report to Apple, close, or retry.

I suspect there's some crucial component missing. The three TiVo folders and their respective files are in the appropriate Library folder (Application Support, StartupItems, and PreferencePanes). Attempts to reinstall TiVo Desktop result in the Installer reporting a failure.

I'm stuck for now.

Thank you for your help and assistance,

Bailey Walker

Puddin'head · 05-10-2005, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis Wilkinson

If iDriveX is just using the mDNS command I posted a few days ago (thanks for wrapping it up with an installer, by the way -- I've been very busy) -- mDNS is really a testing application for Bonjour/Rendezvous/ZeroConf, and is documented as not really being the right way to 'do' Bonjour in a scripting environment (it was just the fastest thing that would work when I did my testing.)

What's likely happening is that it (meaning mDNS) is simply not responding to certain network up/down events that would require it to set things up again. You might be able to set up your network config so that this isn't an issue. What do your network settings look like?

Dennis & iDriveX:
I'm using a Titanium Powerbook with an Airport card and an older Airport base station (802.11b). I'm not sure what specific network settings you need...TCP/IP is set to "Use DHCP" and PPPoE, Appletalk and Proxies are all off. In the "DNS Servers" field I have 2 IP addresses that were supplied by my ISP. Would it make any difference to change DHCP to "Manually"?

iDriveX · 05-10-2005, 09:18 PM

Not at all, I am using DHCP automatically and have pretty much the exact same setup as you.

Let me clarify also regarding the installer. For those of you who whipped your drive and installed Mac OS X Tiger, I feel bad, You need to reinstall the TiVo Desktop, but unfortunately, the latest TiVo Desktop installer won't install without an error. I have heard of people having success with TiVo Desktop 1.8 though, with Dennis' scripts or my installer. Where you can find TiVo Desktop 1.8, I have no clue! If someone does find it, please tell me so that I can package it up with my installer and create the "ultimate" solution until TiVo gets their act together.

iDriveX · 05-10-2005, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaileyW

Yes, I ran the scripts and then opened System Preferences, selected TiVo Desktop. I was able to select playlists and albums without difficulty. But as soon as I clicked the "Start" button System Preferences immediately quits and displays a box which gives me the option to send a report to Apple, close, or retry.

I suspect there's some crucial component missing. The three TiVo folders and their respective files are in the appropriate Library folder (Application Support, StartupItems, and PreferencePanes). Attempts to reinstall TiVo Desktop result in the Installer reporting a failure.

I'm stuck for now.

Thank you for your help and assistance,

Bailey Walker

Bailey, what version are you using?

rog · 05-10-2005, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iDriveX

You need to reinstall the TiVo Desktop, but unfortunately, the latest TiVo Desktop installer won't install without an error. I have heard of people having success with TiVo Desktop 1.8 though, with Dennis' scripts or my installer. Where you can find TiVo Desktop 1.8, I have no clue! If someone does find it, please tell me so that I can package it up with my installer and create the "ultimate" solution until TiVo gets their act together.

Behold the power of Google. Here is the first of several sites where you can download TiVoDesktop-1.8 for the Mac:

http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Audio/TiVo-Desktop.shtml

Here's the Google query.

---

And again, thank you both (Dennis and iDriveX) for your help!

e30mpower · 05-10-2005, 10:35 PM

I was one of the poor souls that wiped my hard drive and did a Tiger clean install. I reinstalled Desktop 1.9.1 and, as everyone, got an error. But... It seems that everything installed OK. I opened up the TiVo package and expanded the archive.pax.gz and all of the things that TiVo installs seem to be contained in there, complete with the correct hierarchy for installing them on your HD. I just dragged the files from the gzip into the corresponding folders and was able to start TiVo desktop. But, and this is before installing iDriveX's tool, the System Preferences pane says the Desktop is running, with no errors, but doesn't show up on my TiVo.

So, just a tidbit explaining my setup with 1.9.1. I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep it, but I'll know in a second when I go to redownload iDrive's "soapboxware" ;-)... And FYI... I probably will write that letter to TiVo.

e30mpower · 05-10-2005, 10:44 PM

OK. nevermind. 1.9.1 does not work. But it is kind of fun to sit here and fight with it, seeing how long it will say "TiVo Desktop On" before changing to "TiVo Desktop Off."

Oh, it's these little things in life that bring the most pleasure, like a little grinning TV with feet arguing over whether the Desktop is on or off.

BaileyW · 05-10-2005, 11:08 PM

Mac OS X 10.4, TiVo Desktop 1.9.1.

The TiVo Desktop software has worked perfectly until the upgrade to Tiger. Now, trying to install the TiVo Desktop the installer seems to work but gives an error message before completing the install. That's why I attempted a manual install after opening the pkg file using unpkg.

The TiVo Broadcaster is installing OK. I'm running the scripts from the folder installed in the Utilities Folder.

Also, I've done all the usual permissions repairs, run Tiger Cache Cleaner.

Thanks for help.

Bailey

BaileyW · 05-10-2005, 11:12 PM

Sorry, I forgot to include that it says scriptlet version 1.0b3 of the TiVo Broadcaster scripts but I'm not sure whether or not that's relevant.

Poogie · 05-10-2005, 11:25 PM

My head is ready to explode!

In my bedroom system (Humax DTR-800), I can connect to my music and photos as long as manually add the server. This DVR also shows up in the now playing menu of my main TiVo.

My main TiVo, however, cannot access my music and photos—even if I manually add the server. It also does not show up in the now playing list on my bedroom TiVo.

I have taken all the TiVo stuff out of my system and reinstalled it numerous times. Tried installing Desktop 1.8. Shortened my computer's name in sharing.

I'm kind of at a loss as to what to try next. The sucky thing is, it's working in the bedroom, which is not where I wanted to work!

bhaveshp · 05-10-2005, 11:25 PM

Big Kudo's to iDriveX & Dennis!

Here's my installation summary:

First of all, Tivo desktop was no longer installed after the 10.4 upgrade, so you have to reinstall 1.9.1.

When installing Tivo desktop, it installs, but gives an error after installing the software. Ignore the error.

Launch system preferences and start the Tivo desktop servers.

Then download and install the Tivo Broadcaster pkg. Install this. The script that must be running to 'broadcast' to the Tivo. This is a dock less script. After running it, I hid the script and it has disappeared.

Ran over to the Tivo, and all the music and pix are there as normal.

I haven't restarted the iMac yet to see if I need to launch the broadcaster script again, but I'll find out on the next system update.

Dennis Wilkinson · 05-10-2005, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaileyW

I suspect there's some crucial component missing. The three TiVo folders and their respective files are in the appropriate Library folder (Application Support, StartupItems, and PreferencePanes). Attempts to reinstall TiVo Desktop result in the Installer reporting a failure.

Sounds like you have everything installed (the Installer failure you report is expected -- the Installer leaves a receipt behind after install, and it thinks you've got that version installed already.)

You could try starting the server from the command line. Go to Applications -> Utilities and open the Terminal application. At the command line, enter:

sudo SystemStarter start TiVoDesktop

and enter your admin password when prompted.

You could also be seeing the issue caused by the preferences being in binary form (hitting Start does change a preference.) If so, in the Terminal, enter this command:

plutil -convert xml1 ~/Library/Preferences/com.tivo.desktop.plist

then open the TiVo prefs pane and hit start.