Tivo S3/HD & Windows Media Extender?

I was just wondering how many people would like to have Windows Media Extender functions & capabilities added to the Tivo S3 & Tivo HD?

Yes I do have an Xbox 360 Elite and yes it does have Windows Media Extender capabilities.

However, I think, beleieve & would like to see those same functions added to the Tivo S3/HD. Why you ask since I have an Xbox 360 elite?

Well for one, I have 4 TV's in my house. Each with a DVR (Currently have 3 Tivo HD's on order to replace TWC's DVR's) I have my S3 hooked to my main TV. I have no desire to purchase 3 more XBox360's Just to act as a media extender. Yes I do know there are Stand Alone Media Extender's available. No it isn't a money issue. Its a cosmetic issue. I would like to keep the number of EXTRA "Box's" to a minimum with the 3 other TV sets. IE would like to have just 3 box's instead of 4. (Surround sound receiver, Tivo HD, Avionix (Media player).

Windows Media Extender has features that my AVionix Server/player don't have currently.

Thus the poll.... I think Tivo Might consider adding this if they see enough people would like it.

Would love to hear your comments pro or negative. Just please no flaming.

TexasGrillChef

 

Not really, because it requires that you run Tivo Desktop, and currently Tivo Desktop isn't very compatible with Windows Vista.

Second, there are more features and capabilities available with Windows Media Extender then there are with just TIVO Desktop.

For instance with WME, you can browse the web, get weather info (not just from yahoo), & other internet capable programs that can run under Windows Media Extensions.

As well as the fact that in the computer that my WME would connect too I have a dual tuner ATSC with Qam support tuner card. Therefore... if my S3 had WME capabilities. It would be like having a 4 tuner Tivo.

So all in all WME has more capabilities, features and possibilities than Tivo Desktop could provide with MRV, TTG, TivoBack, etc....

TexasGrillChef

 

The Xbox 360 ELITE does. When you use the HDMI out.

I have checked using WMV-HD files that are in fact 1080p.
1. Downloaded a few 1080p WMV-HD files from the internet.
2. Made by myself using my Sony HD camera & Ulead VideoStudio 11 Plus which in fact pulls the 1080i content AVCHD and writes it as a WMV-HD 1080p 25fps with 5.1 surround sound file.

Both files (Downloaded & made by my HD cam) are both in fact 1080p files.

My XBOX 360 elite plays them with full resolution. It doesn't downscale them and then re-upscale them.

My TV also "Auto" detects the signal coming out of the HDMI from my xbox 360 elite as being a 1080p signal.

TexasGrillChef

 

Sad to say, but I agree with you. Tivo would never pay the licensing fees Microsoft would want for WME capability. Yes some (not all) of the features of MCE and WME are similar and in compition to some degree with each other. Obviously my Windows Vista MCE records dual channel ATSC & Clear Qam cable. (ATI 650 PCI express).

Tivo does need to work on some form of video streaming from a local computer network such as a DLNA certified NAS (Network Attached Storage) or computer and of course support Hi-def files such as h.264, WMV-HD, or any of the other popular HD file formats.

I personally like WMV-HD, Why? because 3 of the programs I use with my Sony HD camcorder make using WMV-HD files extremely easy and simple to use.

The other reason I liked WME with Tivo is all the other features that are capable with WME. Such as "ADDING" your own "Gadgets" & other internet capability for weather, traffic, etc from OTHER sources besides "YAHOO"


Thanks for your input though.


TexasGrillChef