CNET Editors' note: Does not support AAC audio files (including music purchased at the iTunes Music Store).
Publisher's Description
From TiVo:
TiVo Desktop is an easy-to-use application that lets you publish and share digital music, photos and TiVo recordings between your networked TiVo Series2 DVR and your computer. Digital Music & Photos and the TiVoToGo feature come included with your regular paid subscription to the TiVo service. With new TivoToGo Tranfers you can easily transfer your favorite recordings on your TiVo box to your computer. You can also view your entire digital photo library on your TV screen and access and control and play your entire digital music collection from your TV screen.
What's new in this version: Version 2.8.2 has ability to select speaker settings for playback of TiVo Recordings and faster transfers from the TiVo Premiere and TiVo Premiere XL DVRs.
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All versions:
2.7 starsout of 24 votes
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Current version:
3.1 starsout of 12 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Useless...."
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
The app opens
Cons
90% of the content it shows is copy-protected. Can't transfer anything other than a few shows.
I'm finding it hard to want to keep and pay for my TiVo at this point. I truly see no difference between this and a box from the cable company.Summary
TiVo really needs to step it up. You can't continue to offer the same product for 15 years and expect it to continue to perform.
DVRs are everywhere -- and the cable boxes are quite comparable. If TiVo can't offer the features I want, then I'll save my money and get a box from the cable company.
The whole point of this app is to be able to transfer your shows. And then TiVo has the audacity to actually CHARGE people to upgrade to be able to transfer their three recordings that aren't copy-protected to they mobile device. Gee, what an irresistible offer.
Maybe I'll switch back to a VHS recorder... -
"It transfers recordings ok"
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
-Transfers tivo recordings
-Things can be scheduledCons
-Recordings are DRM'd
-It has services running in the background all the time.
-It requires Apple Bonjour.Summary
This works, but it could be better. Because of it's services, I'm installing it in a VM. I'll set it to put recordings in a folder on the host (which appears as a network folder to the vm) and use directshow dump to remove the drm. I simply don't need all the services slowing down my boot times!
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"What's the point?"
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
I can see my TiVo from my computer...
Cons
That's pretty much all you can do with it.
Summary
Looking at my TiVo desktop right now. All I see are a plethora of red circles with lines through them indicating that "This is copy protected and cannot be transferred" (verbatim).
Well, the point is to be able to manage your recordings isn't it? You know, move them around. Save them etc...? Nope not with TiVo. You just wasted your time downloading a worthless app that's only job is to take up space on your hard drive and eat up process cycles on your CPU.
My opinion? Ditch TiVo (DVRs for that matter). The days of recording shows are over. With cloud based services delivering TV & movie rentals, purchases as well as music & sports venues, they're just not worth it any more. Everything is available at your fingertips on the Web now.
My 2 cents! -
"Excellent way to share between PC and TiVo"
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
The only way to copy content from TiVo to PC that I've found
Convenient way to share photos, music, and videos from PC to TiVoCons
Much content is restricted from copying from TiVo to PC
Cannot delete from TiVoSummary
Can't beat the price!
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"I Have been using desktop for a few years its great"
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
ihav'nt had any problems with desktop until i upgraded to windows 7 i down loaded 2.8.2 and everything seems to be fine again.
Cons
as i have two TiVo's a 160 and a 320 + a WD expander it took me a little time to figerout what to do but as usual TiVo Support were more than helpful , now everything seems to work great
Summary
I had to buy the second TiVo as my partner who resisted buying the first one would not let me have the remote once she got the hang of it , so the only solution was to buy one for myself :-p .
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"Windows 2000/Windows XP?"
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
Why do the quick specs say the OS is Windows 2000 or Windows XP? Does this mean that it does not work with Windows Vista or Windows 7?
Cons
does it work with Win 7?
Summary
I used a previous version and was not happy with all the services that were running all the time. Has this one improved? Don't know... I am on Win 7 now and have not yet tried it.
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"Good software"
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
Able to move programs from DVR to computer
Cons
It periodically crashes.
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"The download speed was improved."
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
The ability to download shows to PC is a very nice feature.
Cons
Would be nice to be able to watch downloaded shows on something other than Windows Media Player.
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"Does what it's supposed to. Intuitive interface."
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
Like its predecessors, it works. The user interface is simple and easy to use and understand.
Cons
I never had any problem with this or any of the previous versions.
Summary
This program interfaces the TiVo to my desktop. For projects where I need to move the TiVo files to my PC, it does its job very well. After I copy TiVo saves to my PC I can then either transfer them to a portable device, watch programs on my PC, or use Roxio's Easy Media Creator to burn DVDs. That's all I want and expect from this program. The best part is that it's free! There was an issue some years ago where an automatic update to the TiVo itself created problems with the TiVo Desktop. Transfers would fail randomly. Many folks blamed it on the TiVo Desktop but it had nothing to do with it. The trouble was with the patch installed on the TiVo unit. TiVo acknowledged the problem but took their sweet time doing anything about it. The fix was part of the "spring update". Of course, this didn't please the people who got TiVos for Christmas and were unable to use the TiVo Desktop to load personal players. I think there is still some residual resentment over it and many wrongly blamed this program. I offer this only in way of explanation to those who may have heard of issues with transfers. Except for that, this program has always worked superbly for me. Did I mention it's free?
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"not much point, install help was VERY poor"
Version: Tivo Desktop 2.8.2
Pros
upgrade I guess
Cons
VERY poor help
Summary
not sure what the advantage of the upgrade was, but it didn't seem worth it. nothing worked after installing, help no help. I just kept going at and finally made it work.
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