Output from Magic TV

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kiwiwombat

23 posts

Geek

#64552 17-Jul-2010 20:56

I was tossing up between TIVO and Magic TV and I have three questions

1. Has anyone tried both and which is better?

2. On Magic TV it appears that you can input from a camcorder. Can you input from a VHS player? If not can TIVO?

3. Having recorded a programme on Magic TV, is there any way you can copy it to DVD or blu-ray recorder? If not, can TIVO?

Thanks

RingoTB

118 posts

Master Geek

#352822 17-Jul-2010 21:47

kiwiwombat: I was tossing up between TIVO and Magic TV and I have three questions

1. Has anyone tried both and which is better?

I choose the MagicTV over TIVO, though I have not tried TIVO. I wanted the biggest HDD and the EPG for Prime. Also the MagicTV was cheaper.

2. On Magic TV it appears that you can input from a camcorder. Can you input from a VHS player? If not can TIVO?

The MagicTV does not have any inputs, apart from the aerial input, and the ability to play certain file types from a USB drive. I have not actually tried this though.

3. Having recorded a programme on Magic TV, is there any way you can copy it to DVD or blu-ray recorder? If not, can TIVO?

When you are playing a TV program on the MagicTV, a non copy protected SD signal is output on the SVideo and Composite Video outputs. This can be fed to a HDD/DVR recorder and copied to DVD. This recording is in Standard Definition. It is not HD. I have not tried to copy using the Component or HDMI outputs, but I am guessing the HDMI will be copy protected.

Jaxson

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#353253 19-Jul-2010 10:00

Not strictly copying to DVD etc, but wasnt' there a network add on for TIVO that allowed some sort of remote connection to the unit? Was this for viewing or actually copying files across a network?

Stu

Hammered
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#353262 19-Jul-2010 10:17

Jaxson: Not strictly copying to DVD etc, but wasnt' there a network add on for TIVO that allowed some sort of remote connection to the unit?? Was this for viewing or actually copying files across a network?

The Home Networking package. It was included with our unit but no longer available last time I checked. Can't recall why. Did notice the other day that current pricing on the TiVo had a limited time only comment somewhere. Perhaps they're looking at putting the price back up and making the networking pack available again? Pass.

Mac2008

121 posts

Master Geek

#357489 27-Jul-2010 23:27

The file input feature works great on the MagicTV, but at the moment it needs to be AVCHD format on a USB drive. It's not a big problem but it does require converting standard Mpeg or AVI files to AVCHD using a free converter. Once done the Magic uses them fine and upscales to 1080p.

TechnoGuy001

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#360339 30-Jul-2010 20:08

Mac2008: The file input feature works great on the MagicTV, but at the moment it needs to be AVCHD format on a USB drive. It's not a big problem but it does require converting standard Mpeg or AVI files to AVCHD using a free converter. Once done the Magic uses them fine and upscales to 1080p.

So does it not play 1080p/720p H.264 encoded files? (mp4,m4v's etc)

Mac2008

121 posts

Master Geek

#361989 2-Aug-2010 22:28

TechnoGuy001:
Mac2008: The file input feature works great on the MagicTV, but at the moment it needs to be AVCHD format on a USB drive. It's not a big problem but it does require converting standard Mpeg or AVI files to AVCHD using a free converter. Once done the Magic uses them fine and upscales to 1080p.

So does it not play 1080p/720p H.264 encoded files? (mp4,m4v's etc)

Yeh, the AVCHD is an HD format, but that is the only file package type supported.