Music/Photo sharing to TiVo from a Mac

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josephhinvest

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#46734 8-Nov-2009 21:09

Is it possible to share (stream) music and photos from a Mac to TiVo?
The Home Networking Package is unfortunalty not Mac compatible, is there a way to share photos, preferably iPhoto events, and music, preferable iTunes aac files to my TiVo?

Tivo.com (indeed NOT tivo.co.nz) has articles refering to this.
I have downloaded the TiVo Desktop software for Mac, but when I attempt to install, it fails with the error:
"TiVo Desktop can't be installed on this computer. The specified message could not be found for the index 19".
The machine in question is MacBook Pro running Mac OS 10.6.1.

I realize the main use of the Home Netorking Package is to "export" TiVo recordings to PC, presumably to then archive onto DVD-R or whatever. Does anybody know if this facility will eventually be available for Mac too?

Cheers,
Joseph.

LennonNZ

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#271103 8-Nov-2009 22:01

You pay for the MAK (Media Access Key) which is a key which it talks HMO to the TiVo via HTTP. Without this you cannot access any files via HTTP . (well XML over HTTP).

The problem with Snow Leopard. It seems you are stuffed.. It will not install as far as I know on it (only 10.5 and then you can upgrade) and then you have to pay for Toast and get an upgraed for it :-( (http://www.tivo.com/buytivo/tivogear/software/index.html)

BUT
open source software comes to your help with..
http://code.google.com/p/pytivox/

but be aware streambaby is broken at the moment on NZ/AU Tivo's as they changed things recently...

r0lly

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#271104 8-Nov-2009 22:04

I've been doing a bit of research and playing around with the Tivo and OSX.
I don't know about an official Tivo Desktop software for Mac, but there's a number of open-source tools around. However, as they were written for US Tivo's and MPEG2 streams, things aren't quite the same here.

Streambaby transcodes and streams files to the Tivo. However, the Aussie's have been having a number of problems with it, and I guess we will too. http://tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=416858&page=56

For exporting from the Tivo to OSX, there are tools like iTivo and Tivo Butler. I've tested iTivo, it connects, lists files, and all looks good. But there are two main problems.

Firstly, with our systems being H264 and not MPEG2 like in the US, the downloads have changed from PS (program streams) to TS (transport streams). It's easy enough to edit iTivo's files (inside it's package) to download the right type - but then you run into the second problem.

All the available open source tools are built around TivoDecode - a utility which decrypts the Tivo files, ready for transcoding into whatever you like. However, TivoDecode only works with Program Streams, and not Transport Streams, and so won't decode our files.

So until somebody can update TivoDecode, we're not going to get anywhere with Tivo's and OSX.... :-( Look's like Roxio's Toast as recommened my mytivo.co.nz is the only viable native option today....

wellygary

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#271215 9-Nov-2009 10:43

There seem to be reports that PyTivox does work with OZ based Tivos to get content from a Mac to Tivo, even reportedly works with 10.6

http://forums.mactalk.com.au/20/63060-anyone-using-tivo-mac.html

http://code.google.com/p/pytivox/

Has anyone in NZ seen if this will allow you to play Mac based files on a NZ Box?

If it does work, I would be seriously tempted by Tivos offering, but the ability to play content from my media library is a deal breaker for me, ( going from tivo to mac, meeh... not so interested)

r0lly

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#271229 9-Nov-2009 11:06

The pyTivo part of pyTivoX works on the NZ units. This allows you to transfer files from OSX onto your Tivo. It appears it transcodes the files into MPEG2, resulting in large file sizes - I'll test to see if you can get native H264 files across.

The Streambaby part of pyTivoX does not work, so no steaming of video to the Tivo yet.

josephhinvest

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#271241 9-Nov-2009 11:26

Thanks for comments and suggestions.

It looks like iTivo is the way to go to get recorded content from my TiVo to my Mac. I don't really have a need for this, my MacBook is connected to TV anyway.
Would it be beneficial to connect my Mac to TiVo with an Ethernet cable?
Both are currently connected to same wireless network, will this even work?

Similarly, pyTiVoX looks to be the way to share content from Mac to TiVo.

The only reason I want to do this is to show photos on the telly from another mac, not the one already connected to TV.
In order to use either, am I correct to assume I will need the MAK?
Do I obtain this by going through mytivo.co.nz, and in Dashboard, click to Activate my Home Networking Package.
I have to "Confirm I am a PC User before activating".

<n00b>What does obtaining the MAK do?</n00b>.

Cheers,
Joseph.

LennonNZ

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#271250 9-Nov-2009 11:44

The "MAK" Media access key is basically a password used to access the HTTP (via XML) interface. The MAK is generated from the Serial Number of your TiVo.

Without this you cannot access the TiVo via this method. The way TiVo sells it in NZ it sounds like you are buying the software and they give you the MAK but its around the other way as you can use the MAK (with other software such as PyTivo etc) without the windows software.

r0lly

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#271252 9-Nov-2009 11:54

No problem - I'm enjoying seeing what we can do with the Tivo

iTivo would be the way to go - if it worked. Once the bundled TivoDecode util works with our files, it'll be great.

pyTivoX also would be the way to go.... but.... today it only works for transferring video into your "Now Playing" list. The photo functionality you want is definitiely there, but it's broken, with our newer units.

Definitely get the MAK - it enables all network functionality. And yes, lie a little about being a PC user.

Once you have your MAK, try this Dashboard Widget out, it lists all your content out - very nice.
http://www.dashboardwidgets.com/showcase/details.php?wid=281

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josephhinvest

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#271253 9-Nov-2009 11:59

Great, thanks LennonNZ and r0lly, I will get the MAK, and I am indeed a Personal Computer user (not that I use that "windows" operating system!).

Cheers,
Joseph.

r0lly

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#271291 9-Nov-2009 13:56

OK, it's possible to get native H264 MP4 files across with pyTivoX. You need to do a little bit of web configuration on the pyTivo part, but then it's possible to push transfer MP4's across. If anybody wants the details, let me know, and I'll post here.

Divx, MKV's all transcode into MPEG2. MP4/H264 transfer natively, and I assume WMV VC1 files may be native too - but I don't have any test files.

wellygary

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#271294 9-Nov-2009 14:21

r0lly: OK, it's possible to get native H264 MP4 files across with pyTivoX. You need to do a little bit of web configuration on the pyTivo part, but then it's possible to push transfer MP4's across. If anybody wants the details, let me know, and I'll post here.

Divx, MKV's all transcode into MPEG2. MP4/H264 transfer natively, and I assume WMV VC1 files may be native too - but I don't have any test files.

Details on pushing 264s across would be gratefully appreciated, sounds like a workable solution until streambaby get tweaked.

Am I right to assume that the NZ Tivos have a Gigabit Ethernet port?

LennonNZ

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#271308 9-Nov-2009 15:02

Here ppl go.. instructions for pyTivoX as supplied by r0lly

http://www.tivoworld.co.nz/?p=220

r0lly

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#271899 11-Nov-2009 06:31

No, Tivo's are only 100Mb Ethernet.

And joFizz, you might like to try the new official Mac software detailed at http://www.tivoworld.co.nz/?p=243, this will provide your photo/music solution you're after!

r0lly

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#272034 11-Nov-2009 13:37

OK, learning new stuff all the time:

The new Tivo Desktop software (v1.95) for Mac is available - see my previous post for download details.
Officially, it supports only Music and Photos through to the Tivo - this new version also works fine under Snow Leopard.

You can also "pull" video from your Mac. To enable, hold down "Command" whilst clicking on the Tivo icon in System Preferences. This enables a hidden "Video" tab - point at your video directory and away you go.
Two problems - only MPEG2 video supported. You must covert your video first to .mpg, there's no automatic transcoding here. And secondly, it seems you need to Start/Stop the Tivo Desktop service to have the Tivo see new videos.

josephhinvest

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#272087 11-Nov-2009 16:31

Great, I am looking forward to trying it out tonight!