update-related stories
Posted Apr 10th 2008 10:31AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Software, TiVo
Hot on the heels of
TiVo Desktop 2.6, Tivo has released
TiVo Desktop 2.6.1 for Windows. The new version includes a number of bug fixes as well as all the features originally included in version 2.6.
The main reason to upgrades is that TiVo Desktop 2.6.1includes a new Windows Certificate. The old one will expire soon so upgrading isn't really optional. But you'll want to upgrade anyway because the new version includes improved recovery from interrupted transfers between your PC and set top box.
If you're running Windows 2000 or an older operating system, you'll need to use
a different certificate updater.
[via
Gizmo Lovers and
TiVo Community Forum]
Posted Apr 2nd 2008 9:29PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Software, TiVo
If you hate waiting for your sluggish TiVo to accomplish basic tasks like scheduling recordings, returning to the TiVo Central screen, or changing Season Pass priorities, help is on the way. But you may have to wait a little longer. Oh the irony.
As we
reported a few days ago, TiVo has begun rolling out an updated version of its set top box software. The 9.3 software update reportedly brings improved multi-room viewing, and progressive downloads from Amazon Unbox, meaning you can start watching a video while it's still downloading. But
BetaNews reports that TiVo's 9.3 software update will pack a major speed increase.
Users should apparently see 10 to 30 seconds shaved from the amount of time it takes to create a Season Pass or adjust the priority of existing Season Passes. More basic functions like bringing up the TiVo Central screen, scrolling through Now Playing recordings, and changing channels will also get speed boosts, of around 1 second each.
If you've got a Series2 recorder and want to increase your chances of getting the update before your jealous friends and family members, you can sign up at TiVo's
priority update web page.
Posted Mar 29th 2008 4:33PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Software, TiVo
It looks like TiVo is starting to roll out a software update to Series2 TiVo owners. The update brings progressive downloads (which means that if you download a movie from Amazon.com you can start watching before the download is complete), and improved multi-room viewing support.
TiVo tends to do phased rollouts of software updates. So it may be a while before you notice the 9.3 software on your machine. But you can check out firsthand
accounts at from members of the TiVo Community Forum who have already received the update.
[via
Gizmo Lovers]
Posted Nov 2nd 2007 5:15PM by Joel Keller
Filed under: Industry, WGA Strike
Earlier today,
Anna reported that the leaders of Writers Guild of America were to decide when to begin their strike against the studios and networks. Well, that decision has been made, and, as many speculated,
the writers will definitely walk out on Monday.As you might expect, the impact of the strike will be seen immediately on the late night talk shows. Jon Stewart mentioned
on last night's The Daily Show that he didn't think there was going to be a new episode on Monday because of the strike and he was right; since there is no backlog on those late-night shows, they'll all be in reruns starting on Monday. Hopefully the strike won't drag on to the point where we run out of new episodes of scripted shows, but this matter of revenues from alternative delivery methods (DVDs, online, iTunes, etc.) is a sticky one that's not going to be settled easily. How long do
you think the strike is going to last? Let me know in the comments.
Posted Sep 26th 2007 12:04PM by Keith McDuffee
Filed under: Other Reality Shows, Contests and Giveaways, Cancellations
It's been a bit over a week since we started the
TV Squad cancellation trifecta game, and a near-miss today calls for an update.
As reported in today's
Cynopsis,
Nashville has been taken out of its Friday night slot for the next two weeks, making room for repeats of
K-Ville. However, this is
not a cancellation -- yet! Word is that this is due to the baseball season, with the show returning when baseball concludes.
So, what happens if
Nashville actually never returns? Well, according to a quick look at the entries to the contest, there are about 200 of you who've chosen this show as the first to go, and you'll all be in the drawing for the first part of the prize. Cross your fingers!
Posted Apr 27th 2007 5:35PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: HDTV, PVR Wire, TiVo
Looks like TiVo's
pushing out version 8.3 of its software to Series3 HD TiVo boxes. And while there's no really dramatic updates like adding TiVoToGo or multi-room viewing for Series3 units, TiVo had added a few new
HD-specific features.
Now you can search for HD programs or create wishlists that will only look for HD programming. There's still no HD suggestions, but this is a good start. There's nothing worse than buying an expensive new PVR that will work with your HDTV only to realize that most of the programming you're recording is in standard definition. Well, there's probably a few things worse, but it can still be pretty annoying.
Posted Apr 24th 2007 7:05PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Software
Microsoft has released an update for Windows Vista Media Center. The April 2007 Cumulative Update is available for
x86 and
x64 systems and includes the following features and bug fixes:
- Online media support for the 64-bit version of Windows Media Center on Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate
- Video playlist support for Media Center extenders
- Improved caching
- Support for some combo TV tuners
- Fixed bug that caused video playback to stop when resizing the Media Center window
- Fixed bug that caused video to freeze when playing some DVDs
- Fixed some cover art and photo problems.
[via
Aaron Stebner's Weblog]
Posted Mar 9th 2007 10:00AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire
Sure, TiVo hasn't sold Series1 boxes for a while. But there's still plenty of people out there who bought the original TiVo and never saw a reason to upgrade it.
Well, this weekend you're about to see your first major glitch. TiVo's official
Daylight Saving Time page is up. Like we told you
earlier this week, Series3 units will handle the earlier Daylight Saving Time change just fine. Series2 units will not miss any recordings, but may display the wrong time for a while.
But TiVo Series1 units will do more than just show the wrong time on the clock. Your Series1 unit will properly record Season Pass, Wish List, and pretty much anything you schedule through the program guide. But manual recordings on these older boxes rely on local time.
That means for the three weeks between March 11th and April 1st, any manually scheduled recordings will start an hour late. So you'll have to schedule them to record an hour early. The easy solution is to schedule all of your recordings through the program guide, but if you have a channel that doesn't show up properly in the guide, or some other reason for scheduling manual recordings, maybe you should keep a clock set to the wrong time by your TiVo as a reminder.
[via
TiVo Lovers]
Posted Feb 16th 2007 3:16PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire
BeyondTV 4.6 is out, with a number of new features and bug fixes. 4.6 is a free upgrade for BeyondTV 4.x users. Here's a quick look at what's new:
- Microsoft Vista 32bit compatibility
- Web based DivX streaming
- Support for Hauppauge HVR-1600 in dual tuner mode
- ShowSqueeze and SmartChapters now work if you have Windows Media Player 11 installed (previously, installing WM11 would cause major glitches in programs you ShowSqueezed to Windows Media Video)
- "Display Upcoming Episodes" now displays all channels a show airs on
- The Web Admin is faster
- Improved video playback
- Faster SmartChapter generation
- Faster keyword searches
Bonus feature: If you tried out BeyondTV 4.5's DVD burning plugin for 21 days and decided not to buy it, you can get another 21 days free with BeyondTV 4.6.
Update: I just installed the upgrade, and I'm still having major problems with the audio in WMV ShowSqueezed files. I'll stick with using DivX compression for now and see if I can't find a solution to post about later.
[via
byopvr]
Posted Feb 13th 2007 10:38AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: HDTV, PVR Wire
If you've shelled out the big bucks for a Series3 TiVo, you're probably reveling in high quality, high definition recordings. But it's always seemed a bit silly that you have to give up many of the perks Series2 boxes have to offer, like TiVoCast, KidZone, and WPA wireless support.
Well, TiVo's finally rolling out version 8.1 of its software for Series3 owners. It's a phased rollout, so if your TiVo doesn't have the updated software yet, rest assured it's coming soon, probably by next week.
This doesn't mean Series3 TiVo units can do everything a Series2 does just yet. There's still no TiVoToGo for transferring recordings from your set top box to your PC. And there's no multi-room viewing. But that's a small price to pay for CableCard support and high definition television right? Right?
[via
Zatz Not Funny]
Posted Mar 22nd 2006 11:55AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Talent, TV on the Bigscreen, Celebrities
This is the type of news that makes me think a.)
Hollywood doesn't know what its doing, b.) Producers have no imaginations, and c.) Big stars will do anything for a
f***ing paycheck.
Will Smith, who did soooooo well bringing
Wild, Wild West to the big screen a few
years back, will take on the Robert Wagner role in an
updated version of
It
Takes A Thief. Now, this was a very cool show. I loved it as a kid. But why do they insist on remaking these shows?
It's not the premise/plot of a show that makes it great, it's the combination of a certain star at a certain time in TV
history. (I've talked about this so many times on these pages I really don't have the energy to go into it anymore.)
I don't care who they have writing this or who they have directing it, I can tell you right now it's going
to be lame. It
has to be.
Posted Feb 15th 2006 7:58PM by Ryan j Budke
Filed under: Other Drama Shows, ABC, Lost, TV Squad Chatcasts
I don't know, but it looks like Sayid has a couple
of ideas in mind, and none of them look too nice. Make sure you
check back here at TV Squad at 8:00pm EST tonight, and
that's when we will unveil the hidden location for the chat. Sayid is working it over at the moment, trying to find out
where it is, but it just won't crack. In the meantime, make sure that you have
AIM or
a compatible instant messenging system (GAIM, Trillian, etc) installed. I'll be in the room under the id TVSRyan and a
couple other of the TV Squadders will probably stop by, so look for us. Will this week's episode be as
"dividing" as last week's? I don't know, but come join us tonight and we'll find out together.
UPDATE:
Come one, come all; here is the secret location for our Lost Chat! See you
inside.
Disclaimer: All or parts of the discussion in this chatroom
may be posted in a later column on this site.Continue reading Live Lost Chat Location
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