TiVo Hackers?

[rpm]

This looks like it could be interesting!
source

TiVo hacks flourish
Published: November 11, 2004, 4:00 AM PST
By Paul Festa
Staff Writer, CNET News.com

Five years after TiVo introduced the rewind and fast-forward buttons to broadcast television, hackers are pushing its digital video recorder to new heights--and possibly giving the company some ideas about where to go next.

TiVo boxes are in many ways a perfect target for gadget hobbyists, providing both the means and motive to create some high-powered enhancements.

The devices use mostly off-the-shelf computer components and run the open-source Linux operating system, making it easy for curious tinkerers to try out their skills. In addition, TiVo has intentionally left many tantalizing features out of its boxes due to concerns over potential copyright violations.

That combination has fueled a high-stakes game of underground innovation for TiVo, which must tread carefully as it seeks to create new features to stay ahead of rivals without angering Hollywood and broadcasters such as partner DirecTV.

TiVo hacks available for download let those inclined to tinker do a range of things: add a Web interface to the TiVo unit, convert programs to DVD and other formats, alter TiVo native features, expand the unit's hard drive, transfer files back and forth from the unit to the PC, or archive shows at smaller file sizes.

"TiVo is missing some tremendous opportunities," said Riley Cassel, a programmer who last year released a popular, unauthorized extension called MFS_FTP. "There's no technical reason you couldn't watch TV across the Net...Of course, the problem is that the same software can be used to broadcast HBO or Discovery HD, so Hollywood would go nuts."

Among hard-core, high-tech TiVo users, customization is king. The risks of voiding the warranty, provoking Hollywood or even getting electrocuted aren't enough to keep some fans from prying open their units and hacking them.

TiVo may frown on the practice officially, but it has done little to crack down on such tinkering so far. In fact, some industry veterans said they believe the company is reaping significant fringe benefits as it now moves to add enhancements aimed at fending off deep-pocket rivals.

TiVo said it will enforce its terms of service and reserves the right to pull the plug on users who violate these. But the company also acknowledged that, in practice at least, its treatment of the thriving hacker community is hands-off.

"We don't really do anything--we don't condone it and don't encourage it," said Bob Poinatowski, product manager for TiVo's service business. "We don't really participate in any way, though we know they're there."

An interesting read if you check the entire 3 page article. Sounds like TiVo is taking the same approach that automakers did with hotrods. Let the owner screw it up himself, if it works and is popular, then put out a factory version.

[Chairboy]

My family has a ReplayTV, a similar device.  We've upgraded the hard drive in it (from the original 30 gig/hour) twice so far as bigger drives have gotten cheaper, and we just got a newer model that has progressive out (still doesn't record HD) and an ethernet jack for transferring shows to our computer.

Personal Video Recorders are one of those things that sound kinda dumb if you haven't seen one in action yet, but once you have it, you'll ask yourself how you lived without it.  It has nothing to do with archiving shows for millenia, it's about watching TV when YOU want, not when the schedule dictates.  The only stuff I watch when I have my replay is stuff I want to watch.  I never have to settle for some half interesting show while waiting for the next good one, and consequently, I think I watch less television.

[Gunslinger]

My Tivo has a USB port on it and I would LOVE to be able to rip the movies I have saved on there and burn them to DVD for future viewing.  I havnt started looking yet but I'm sure there's allready software out there that can do it.

[mietla]

Apparently the software support is already there. All you need is an external WIFI (or wired if you prefer) adapter which you plug into the USB port. If you use a supported adapter the IP config page will show up on TIVO


http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2006.htm#wireless
http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2003/08/connecting_your.html

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by mietla
Apparently the software support is already there. All you need is an external WIFI (or wired if you prefer) adapter which you plug into the USB port. If you use a supported adapter the IP config page will show up on TIVO


http://customersupport.tivo.com/knowbase/root/public/tv2006.htm#wireless
http://www.pvrblog.com/pvr/2003/08/connecting_your.html

WOW, It will work with a wireless adapter?????  KEWL!!!!

I was gonna build a cheap PC and put it behind the entertainment center.