TiVo coming to PC via Nero software

TiVo has just announced an agreement with multimedia software provider Nero AG that will bring its familiar interface and feature set to the PC. According to the joint announcement made today, Nero will embed the TiVo experience in its next generation of software, allowing the millions of us who rely on USB dongles for our TV to finally join the exclusive realm of Series1, 2, and 3 owners. Plus, as Zatz Not Funny! points out, Nero's international presence should help spread TiVo to the far corners of the Earth like some digital Happy Meal. Hopefully this new PC timeshifting solution -- release window: unknown -- will also convince other purveyors of home theater-only hardware-based services to finally bring their wares to the desktop. Yes, we're looking at you, Sling.

[Thanks, Dennis C.]

[Carbonize @ Nov 28th 2007 9:42AM]

What can TiVo offer that my Haupage TV software does not? I already have ability to pause live TV and record it digitally. As well as set it to record from the EPG.

[brad @ Nov 28th 2007 9:57AM]

So, is that Tivo Deathwatch countdown timer you boasted a few months back going backwards in time yet?

[Matt @ Nov 28th 2007 10:01AM]

What can this do that even something as basic as Vista Media Centre can't? I can pause, rewind, record, and schedule recording with that...

[Ron @ Nov 28th 2007 10:11AM]

Tivo has the best search and interface of any DVR/PVR product I have ever used. If Nero can repicate with a suite of PC software, that would be fantastic.

[tk @ Nov 28th 2007 10:16AM]

@ Ron

You clearly haven't used Sky+ then. If thats the Tivo interface above then it looks pretty awful to me.

[patsy @ Nov 28th 2007 10:16AM]

well, if the software supports media streaming like the stand-alone boxes, you could set up a PC with a few honking drives and several tuners to be your primary recording device and use your other TiVo boxes as glorified media extenders. Of course, if you're already set up with MC and extenders, this won't buy you much besides the GUI.

[jason51873 @ Nov 28th 2007 12:16PM]

LOL @ Ron


Vista Media center not only looks 100x better then that janky looking TiVo UI but also works flawlessly on my media center computer. I can do everything this worthless software can PLUS manage all my other media with Vista Media Center.

PLUS Vista Media Center was FREE with my purchase of Vista.

[Paladin27 @ Nov 28th 2007 2:16PM]

@Jason51873. I have had two Tivo's since 1999 and I finally bit the bullet and replaced my last Tivo with a Vista Media Center PC earlier this year. While I love the VMC box... it still pales in comparison to the UI from my Tivos. :( I miss Suggestions and the simplicity of Season Passes most of all. VMC does most things that Tivo did for me, but with a frustrating and awkward interface. If there was a DirecTV compatible HD Series 3 Tivo currently available, I would jump ship back to Tivo in a heartbeat.

[Cyril @ Dec 1st 2007 2:39PM]

Sky+ is VERY VERY HORRIBLE interface-wise compared to either TiVo or Vista Media Centre IMHO. I would rate Sky+ interface as 1/10,ReplayTv 8/10, Tivo and Vista 8.5/10.
Other so called DVRs are even worse and get 0.1/10 to 0.9/10 so Sky+ isn't all bad :)

After using Sky+ for 2 years I still hate it compared to TiVo. The lack of features is appalling!

Vista Media Centre is very pretty, but I much prefer the stability and robustness of the Linux based

[Patrick @ Nov 28th 2007 10:08AM]

I wish they would just work on their Media Center plugin...last time I checked it sucked ass and only worked on Viiv PCs.

[freakmarket @ Nov 28th 2007 10:10AM]

I use a simple program called WinVDR Pro to record ... i take my TV stuff with me on my Zune.

[Nick @ Nov 28th 2007 10:15AM]

The question is, will this require any subscription fee like the standalone TiVo boxes.

[Akbar Fazil @ Nov 28th 2007 11:01AM]

This is vital information that needs to be known.

[Frankenstein Black @ Nov 28th 2007 12:57PM]

Subscription fee? Of course it will. They wont do it “for free” unless (1) its a watered down version designed to drive sales of their hardware boxes or (2) it is heavily supported by advertising. As a long time ReplayTV - RIP :^(… many desktop guide scheduling software and TiVo user, I have to say TiVo has kept up with the times.

- The universal swivel search (TV guides plus web/Amazon video searches).
- The suggestion program recording (finds shows based on the interest of the user).
- The ability to convert and load home and downloaded videos from the web.
- The ability to download and watch vblogs and web casts (want to know where your favorite Tech TV pals went? Kevin, Patrick, Alex, John C, well maybe not him :^).
- Ability to easily add external storage (for you pack rats and torrent whores). Bla, bla, bla (to many other features to mention).

In addition to the low price, currently $264 on Amazon for the HD (which go nicely with all those recently purchased Black Friday HiDefs). All that’s left to do is sign a deal with google (and others) to create a genuine indexing platform that has the ability to tame, search, categorize and organize all of that monstrous web video content and bring it to the living room screens. Tivo without question is the closest to doing just that.

PS Imagine TiVo suggestion recording and favorite functionality turned loose on all that web video content? Holy! I enter Skyline as a favorite, come home and have an azz-load of automatically downloaded web video clips of Skyline racing footage including those crazy rich Arab kids and their Skyline vs Ferrari vs Porsche vs lambo vs Turbo Hayabusa videos. No need to spend time search YouTube. Sick slick I tell ya, Sick slick!!

[Matt @ Nov 28th 2007 1:06PM]

Subscription fees are not a foregone conclusion. Other pvr software includes the cost of the epg data in the initial cost of the software, ie sagetv and beyond tv.

[Mike Nelson @ Nov 28th 2007 10:25AM]

has anyone else noticed how some shows (namely NBC's) start about 2 minutes before the hour? many shows i watch have already started by the time my Tivo starts recording them... kind of annoying, my guess is that its the networks fighting back against DVR's

[Sam Lowry @ Nov 28th 2007 10:34AM]

You can tell your Tivo to start minutes earlier or later in the Season Pass recording options for that particular show.

[Alexander @ Nov 28th 2007 10:37AM]

It's not the networks, it's your cable company that is doing that--with the intent of making you buy their CRAPPY DVR.

My TiVO has a way to start programs a minute or two before the show starts. I only have to do it for a few programs, but it is there.

[KC @ Nov 28th 2007 4:15PM]

@Alexander, the crappy Dish DVR that I have does not compensate for the programs that start earlier than expected. So who's fault is it now?

[mike nelson @ Nov 28th 2007 4:58PM]

yes i can start it a few minutes earlier, but there are times where i have one show that is say 7:30-8:00pm, and the next is at 8:00pm on a different network.

[Alexander @ Nov 28th 2007 10:30AM]

No Linux == no $$$ from me

[Matt @ Nov 28th 2007 1:08PM]

You sir are what's affectionately known as a freetard. Enjoy yourself.

[Alexander @ Nov 28th 2007 1:24PM]

I'm sorry that you are comfortable with paying for something when there is a perfectly viable legal alternative for free.

Enjoy your viruses, spyware, adware, rootkits, malware, buggy updates, serial numbers that expire, DRM, shareware, trialware, BSOD, crippled 64-bit CPU support.

You sir are what's affectionately known as a sheep. Enjoy yourself.

[Matt @ Nov 28th 2007 1:36PM]

No virus's here. I haven't had a virus on my windows box in (at least) 5 years. You see a little restraint goes along way on the internets. Btw, your not a freetard just because you use linux (nothing wrong with that) your your a freetard just because you just are.

[Alexander @ Nov 28th 2007 2:35PM]

I haven't had a virus either. I haven't had to have an antivirus scanner installed or even running for just over 3 years now. I also haven't had to worry about any exploits, rootkits, or anything of that nature. no serial numbers to track down, no shareware to worry about.

And you aren't a sheep just because you don't use Linux. Your a sheep because you will gladly be fleeced over and over again.

[michael @ Nov 28th 2007 7:29PM]

@Alexander:

Get with the program.

I use Windows, and surprisingly, like many Windows users these days, I don't get a virus. Or any form of malware.

I do have a anti-virus program, but it does more than just "protection". It cleans up old files on my computer, back-up and restore stuff, and it's not a bother at all. It doesn't annoy me, or slow down my computer.

And at the SAME time, I get the benefits of compatibility with virtually every consumer software, and free software.

I have NEVER experienced, a BSOD, I just remove trialware (and that's not Windows, that PC makers), buggy updates, don't even know what a rootkit is, and all the lies you say. I don't even see any DRM on Windows that's stopping me. I bought this computer, and I don't have to worry about a single serial code at all.

A copy of Windows isn't TOO much, depending where you get it. So I don't get your point there mister.

[Quix @ Nov 28th 2007 10:34AM]

Better make yourselves comfortable. How long ago did they announce that Comcast would be using TiVo software on their DVR boxes? Two years? I'm still waiting for this to actually happen.

TiVo loves to throw out announcements and then take their good, sweet time bringing them to fruition.

[dm @ Nov 28th 2007 10:34AM]

The good thing about Tivo isn't that it has more features, but that it's more pleasant to use and gets the details more right than its competitors. Or that's my experience with Tivo compared to Comcast's DVR.

[chrisaroz @ Nov 28th 2007 10:37AM]

Finally! I've been dreaming of this day for YEARS!!!

[Onetruebill @ Nov 28th 2007 11:38AM]

You Need to go outside...
and I hope your next few years are more interesting.

[Bob S. @ Nov 28th 2007 10:38AM]

Good lord. If they use a single byte of the disastrous 9.x "upgrade" Tivo pissed out earlier this fall, this could turn people off DVRs for the rest of their lives. (And small consolation, Quix, but Comcast's already rolling out Tivo software. But right now, like I say, using Tivo software is like drinking the purple kool-aid.)

[tekdroid @ Nov 28th 2007 10:44AM]

Nero needs to get back to its core competencies. Waiting for a Nero Slim distribution here.

[jccalhoun @ Nov 28th 2007 11:00AM]

This is pretty cool if they offer the whole tivo software and not some cut down version. It would mean you could build your own tivo box.

[majortom @ Nov 28th 2007 11:03AM]

desperate housewife's ??!!

[Eric @ Nov 28th 2007 11:15AM]

Drat. Just after I buy a TiVO HD and move my TiVO 2's lifetime subscription over - Total $500 - this comes along!

Ah well, Nero doesn't write software for the Mac. Either Roxio will do it with Toast as they have with TiVO 2 Go, or Mac users are stuck with the hardware solution. Which, as far as I'm concerned, since I can now move files to my Mac and burn them to DVD, I could give a rip.

[kuthippie @ Nov 28th 2007 12:14PM]

fuck tivo, doesn't every tv-company offer tivo-ish services for free?
wouldn't buy it just because it has a well thought out interface.
(the again, I don't live in the us...maybe things are different overthere, seeing most your internet is slow as hell)

[Matt @ Nov 28th 2007 1:11PM]

I really don't understand you negativity. Don't you think well thought out products with the consumer in mind should be encouraged? Who do you think you have to thank for your crappy cableco supplied dvr? While not the powerhouse in once was Tivo deserves some respect for be the "all-father" of dvr's

[p-diddy @ Nov 28th 2007 6:26PM]

Well, I wouldn't expect someone from third-world-nation, which lets be frank, ALL countries except the U.S. are, to understand what it's like to have a TiVo or not want to pay $15 a month for the cable company's crappy DVR. When Comcast informed me that renting their crappy DVR would cost me as much a month as TiVo service does, I ditched the Comcast DVR.

I'd worry about developing technology like the wheel in your country before worrying about what Americans want in their DVRs.

Gee, I guess it IS fun to make baseless opinions about a culture you know nothing about. Thanks for showing me that.

:-p

-p-

[mike @ Nov 28th 2007 1:19PM]

I don't know... I have the same thing with shows on the DVR being cut off just before the teaser for next week usually. Meanwhile the front of the recording has the end of the previous show.
So... the same couple minute off hour problem...

...and that is with my cable companies "crappy dvr" (time warner nycap region)
So, if it is the cable company, I think it is just incompetence. That's my point.
I'd sooner believe it is the networks themselves though... though I'm not married to this line of thought.

- Mike

[kevin.gilchrist @ Nov 28th 2007 1:24PM]

Hmmm, I won't bother with PC-based DVR until I capture cable HD.
(and I don't mean the dedicated PC's from Dell etc. that have to be cable labs certified a card I could buy separately and install myself. No sign of that happening though).

[Mile @ Nov 28th 2007 1:35PM]

On a side note, I wish they would make TV wireless. I'm sick of that coax cable.

[spaceb @ Nov 28th 2007 1:57PM]

So this means that Nero software will be more bloated than already is?

[Yoyodyn @ Nov 28th 2007 1:58PM]

I would have to say that Tivo is to the DVR market as Palm was to the PDA market. There are plenty of other choices, more features maybe. But Tivo does what Tivo does very well. And they have a loyal following because of it. I still use my Series 1 (hacked with an ethernet adapter and upgraded RAM) with the lifetime service. Tivo may get passed up by others soon, but not today.

[rantanamo @ Nov 28th 2007 8:24PM]

interesting only 1 mention of CableCard, I agree that if it does nothing for HD cable then its useless.

[Warren @ Jun 5th 2008 1:44PM]

Best news I've heard all day.

Tivo is so much more than a DVR.. around here it's a way of life.

Wish I could use my Tivo Remote with my radio, and sometimes with life.. if you see me twitching my fingers.. it's just an unconscience Tivo addict reaction