Well, what do you know? TiVo's delivering as promised with this one, as Desktop Plus 2.6 is indeed going live in March -- just like we were told back in January (and nary a week after TiVo promised YouTube access later this year). Truth be told, there's not a whole lot here that you didn't already get a taste of in our hands-on at CES, but here's the skinny. As of today, TiVo users can grab hold of the latest version of Desktop (Windows only, we're afraid) and "enjoy a broad range of web entertainment available directly from their TV." More specifically, these customers "can choose web videos downloaded on the home PC using web browsers, RSS video clients such as iTunes podcasts, or other video download software to automatically copy to their TiVo DVR's Now Playing List alongside recorded broadcast and cable TV shows." In case you couldn't tell, Desktop Plus 2.6 can be downloaded today for a one-time fee of $24.95, but consider that waived if you're upgrading from an earlier version. Click on through for the full release.

There's no question that the we love TiVo around here, but that doesn't mean we're afraid to point out its faults. Currently one of our biggest gripes is that TiVo doesn't always get HD and this isn't anymore true than with the TiVoCast feature. Thankfully that is about to change as TiVo Desktop 2.6 (Windows only, due in March '08) finally fills the missing pieces to make getting HD on your HD TiVo, drop dead simple. This update will work with any podcatcher software you have, -- you know like iTunes Miro -- all you have to do is point TiVo Desktop to the directory where your HD content is downloaded and it will parse all the sub folders and create corresponding folders on your Now Playing List. And just about every video codec and resolution under the sun can be transcoded before it is automatically transferred to your TiVo -- no word on what happens to AC3 audio, but we'd guess it gets converted to 2-channel. If this is all too complicated for you -- which we doubt -- you can also browse select podcasts just like you can Amazon UnBox content.

It's that time again folks, when you gleefully head on over to TiVo's website and download a new release of its desktop software to add more of those PC / TiVo integration features you love so dearly. While we've watched the software mature from 2.1 to 2.2, right on up to the much-anticipated 2.3, it's now time for 2.4 to shine, albeit in beta fashion for the time being. While the now-prior rendition allowed users to convert TiVo recordings into mobile-friendly versions for a $25 fee, 2.4 seeks to offer up the process a bit in reverse by allowing non-DRM-laced video files on your PC to be transcoded for playback on your TiVo box. Unfortunately, the $25 fee for the required TiVo Desktop Plus upgrade key is still again in place, and while this process can be done manually for those looking to save a few bills, at least the company is offering up a simplified alternative for those with more money than time. Additionally, users can look forward to broadcasting "HD resolution" (read: up to 1,280 x 720) photos from their PC to a Series3 unit, but beta software wouldn't be complete without a stash of digs built in. Aside from the list of known issues that will hopefully be ironed out by the final release, Mac users won't be enjoying any of these niceties right away, and of course, the $25 fee is a debatable downside as well. Still, for those looking to get their transcoding on with non-protected WMV and MP4 / H.264 files, and don't mind the expected hiccups associated with a "preview release," be sure to hit the read link for your downloading satisfaction, and tap the Via for a few snapshots while you're at it.

[Via ZatzNotFunny]

We were a bit hazy on the deets the first time around, but now that TiVo has unveiled its new TiVoCast "network content partners" for Series2 boxes, it turns out there really isn't too much more to tell. Despite TiVo's protestations, TiVoCasting is still pretty much straight up video podcasting, with rejiggered branding and a lack of user flexibility. The main news is that TiVo has managed to nab some fairly decent -- if not totally exclusive -- content for the service, including various programming from CBS Interactive, Reuters, Forbes, dLife, Plum TV and Nano, not to mention old standbys like Rocketboom, and our personal fav, Danger Rangers. Unfortunately, Plum TV looks to the main one providing full episodes over the service, while other networks are mainly repurposing their online or supplemental content for TiVoCasting. As for developing your own channel of TiVoCast content, TiVo has teamed up with One True Media to allow people to upload and edit their movies online, and then share them via TiVoCast with a special code given to friends and family with Series2 setups. Not quite the sort of TiVoCasting freedom we would hope for, but it might prove to be a welcome feature to Joe Consumer. What we found much more exciting was the new PC-to-TiVo functionality being rolled out the TiVo Desktop Plus 2.4. We've got a full walkthrough after the break, but the basic gist is that you can take pretty much any video file and shoot it on over to your TiVo with little hassle. You just set TiVo Desktop to watch a particular folder, and when you place files in there they get automatically transcoded over to TiVo's format and become available to your TiVo over the network. Keep reading for the lowdown.

Engadget columnist and correspondent Dave Zatz caught up with TiVo's VP of Product Marketing, Jim Denney, to ask him few questions about TiVo's new lawsuit bait, their Desktop 2.3 software announced yesterday. Check it out!

As we reported yesterday, TiVo Desktop 2.3 has been released for Windows with a few new tricks up it's sleeve. Enhancements include scheduled series downloads and MPEG-4 to MPEG-2 video transcoding for a variety of  portable devices. While we've been using unsupported methods for massaging video onto the iPod and PSP, official support is now provided at a cost of $24.95. TiVo's going with the soft sell and won't be issuing a press release, so we hit up Vice President of Product Marketing Jim Denney for the details.

Pricing
We'd prefer TiVo didn't charge for the new conversion features, but recognize MPEG codecs don't come cheap. For example even Apple will sell you (partially-working) MPEG-2 playback in QuickTime for $19.99 and Microsoft offers zippy MPEG-2 decoding, free or otherwise. When asked about TiVo Desktop's $24.95 price point, Mr. Denney responded that they have attempted to find a sweet spot -- balancing TiVo's "real costs" including software development, "royalties for technology," and support with providing "value to the end user."

Piracy
Mr. Denney clued us in to the "proactive steps" TiVo has taken to prevent piracy. In addition to the already existing (and easily bypassed) PC .tivo file encryption, Denney confirmed the unencrypted converted video includes a watermark "embedded in the file" (you can't see it) that references a subscriber's account. Additionally, TiVo feels by limiting transcoded files to a low resolution of 320 x 240, they further protect the rights of content owners while providing appropriately sized video for portable devices.

We've been waiting a long time for TiVo to get it in gear and release version 2.3 of their desktop software, and judging by the new features they've gifted us with, it's been worth the wait. Actually, it was probably inappropriate to use the term "gifted," since one of the two major enhancements -- tools to convert your recordings into portable device-friendly formats -- finds TiVo charging for software for the first time since dropping the $99 fee on the Home Media Option. Still, $25 is a small price to pay for hassle-free, integrated MPEG-4 or H.264 conversions for your iPod, PSP, or Treo, and combined with the upgrade's second major addition -- the ability to setup automatic, scheduled transfers of selected shows -- you now have a one-step option for turning last night's episode of Law & Order into this morning's subway-ride entertainment. Both the free and paid versions of the update are available immediately by following the Read link, and don't forget to also click on that Via link for some more screenshots and insight.

[Via ZatzNotFunny, thanks Alex]

Mac users with TiVos, we got a one-two punch for you today. TiVo released the new version 1.9.3 Universal TiVo Desktop software which is all fine and good, but sadly we're still without Mac TiVoToGo or some equivalent, simple, expeditious way to export video to the Mac. But on the upshot TiVo Commmunity user Dennis Wilkinson discovered a way to enable the so-called "TiVoBack" video sharing on your home network with an easy terminal hack, allowing you to drop some raw MPEG-2 files onto a folder on your Mac for playback on your TiVo. We'd warn you to prepare for TiVo to patch up their bug feature as the Hawthorne Effect will surely kick in after we report this -- so download it here and now before the next build takes it all away.

[Via Zatz Not Funny]