Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Software, Video
This just in: Roxio charging $99 for free software
Sure, it was probably a painstaking and grueling process to build a Mac OS X client, and it's even likely that many Bothans died to bring us this software. But *bundling* it with a $100 disc burning app and no alternative for a stand-alone purchase? Even accepting the fact that they (for some odd reason) *have* to charge for a Mac client, I call foul - and so do plenty of our readers. I'm sure many of Toast's users will welcome the new 'feature' in this version upgrade, but Roxio and TiVo really need to offer a separate purchase (or free!) option for those who, like me, would rather use burning software that won't break the bank.
With complaints in hand, I'll be sure to bug Roxio about this during our Macworld 07 coverage this week.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chip Daiger said 1:17AM on 1-09-2007
Amen
Reply
japtor said 8:32PM on 1-08-2007
this is pretty much the same as the mydvd package on here along with the plus package which does mp4 encoding (which is $25 on its own):
http://tivo.com/4.9.4.1-2_win.asp
transfers have actually worked for a long time (its accessible through an https page hosted by your tivo), but there has been no way to watch the .tivo files on the mac or do anything with them (up until recently).
roxio or tivo should just split it up (...if possible) and make distribute the parts like they handle it on the pc side. free transfer/viewer app, encoding upgrade, then roxios full toast package. or something like that.
Reply
Alan said 8:36PM on 1-08-2007
Screw you TIVO and Roxio.
Reply
YoYoPa said 8:37PM on 1-08-2007
umm... First off, your link shows that TivoToGo is free, but it only runs on Tivo series 2 (not Windows, nor a Mac). Complaining that Roxio is charging for it is kinda silly as it is akin to complaining that Apple charges for a usb port when Tivo provides one for free.
Secondly, to make use of TivoToGo on a computer, then Tivo Desktop is required. For Windows this is free, and for OSX this is free. If you want to transfer the Tivo media to a portable device, then you need Tivo Desktop plus for Windows ($25), or Roxio 8 for OSX ($99). If you need a breakdown of why Roxio 8 is better than Tivo Desktop plus, then it might be time to start a new blog.
Reply
Alan said 10:34PM on 1-08-2007
Okay, Easy Media Creator for Windows is around $50-60. It does more than Toast, even though both are from Roxio. Toast is $100. TivoToGo is free for Windows. Bastards
Reply
Clair said 9:10PM on 1-08-2007
When did TiVo start charging for windows users?
The copy I have, which I downloaded from TiVo.com transfers files freely to my *retch* Windows computer. Well, it did, until I stopped using it when Tivodecode came out.
Reply
Matthew said 9:22PM on 1-08-2007
Good riddance to Tivo: was a customer but now I'm not. there are too many other commercial-free and hassle-free options available now thanks to the Internet.
I cancelled our Tivo subscription a few months ago (after being a customer for three years) because of stuff like this. The customer comes second to Tivo, at least in my experience.
Rabid Tivo fans will probably disagree, but I cite the fact that until very recently users HAD to have a land line installed in order to get the Tivo set up initially, the lack of Mac support, and their pathetic customer service as examples of why I don't miss Tivo one bit.
Canceling was like a night at the Hotel California. We could check in but we could never leave. It took us four calls to finally get confirmation that Tivo actually cut the service. The next month we discovered that they we're still auto-billing us for service that they had cut off a month earlier. That issue took several escalated phone calls to resolve.
Reply
Ellen said 9:05PM on 1-08-2007
#3, Actually, TiVo Desktop for Mac doesn't allow playback at all. The only way to get free on-computer playback on a mac (for instance, to watch shows on your laptop while on the plane) is to strip the DRM with tivodecode, and that's questionably legal.
I wholeheartedly agree that forcing the playback functionality (free for windows users) to be bundled with expensive burning software is just another poke in the eye to the Mac TiVo users and will keep them running to alternative solutions.
Reply
Simpson said 10:38PM on 1-08-2007
Free..
http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2006-12/tivotogo-on-your-mac/
Reply
Albert Martin said 12:56AM on 1-09-2007
I used to be a huge fan of my TiVo ... but one thing after another, and finally THIS has convinced me to DITCH them. They obviously don't care about the Mac platform ... waiting for a third party developer to do the hard work and probably cashing in on a pretty hefty royalty for doing so.
They charge for their hardware (you *could* settle for the standard def hardware and get it for free) and then kill you with an extra monthly fee or $300 before you can even turn the thing on!
I am currently in the process of writing my own Tivo-ish program that will interface with my EyeTV and newly purchased Mac Mini. The best thing is, running it from my Mac I have all the flexibility I could possibly want.
Good riddance TiVo!
Reply
fishpatrol said 10:39PM on 1-08-2007
I have an EyeTV 500 and Toast 7, and I do appreciate the way they work together. If I had a Tivo, I certainly wouldn't be disappointed by the integration. But having it be the only supported method for .tivo playback on Macs seems really heavy-handed of Tivo. I understand the benefit for Toast, but how is this really a win for Tivo?
Reply
Jason said 10:41PM on 1-08-2007
While I'm reading this, a free, third party program is archiving shows off my ReplayTV. The shows are stored in MPEG natively, so I could easily run a script to convert them to iPod-size (if my iPod wasn't black and white) or transcode to mp4 or something.
I'm sure one of you Tivo fanatics has laughed at ReplayTV owners. Now it's our turn. :) Don't forget our commercial skip, no extra blipverts, and ability for many ReplayTV users to send shows to other owners over the net... too bad they're not for sale any more :)
Reply
Robert McGann said 1:04PM on 1-09-2007
Gimme a break guys... You will never be happy. Did you guys not notice the street price of Toast 8 (~$85), the rebate (up to $30), the fact that you get a free glo remote (worth $50) if you order from Roxio??? Also, as was pointed out on the Tivo Community forums, the MPEG2 codec in Mac OS X is only usable by the DVD Player, so TiVo would have to pay for a license...so it COULD NEVER BE A FREE SOLUTION. To get the same full-blown rip, convert, DVD burn solution on the Windows side requires them to pay for Sonic MyDVD. Did it occur to you rocket scientists that maybe they had a cheaper more basic version on the verge of being released alongside Toast and the freeware hackaround spurred them to pull it? Why support your own app when the opensource folks will take care of it for you?? We are not being screwed in any horrible way compared to the Windows folks.
Toast is a great app... And, as someone who does not want a geeky El Gato solution or a crappy Comcast DVR I have to say TiVo is the only game in town for me. TiVo certainly has its missteps, don't get me wrong, but this is not a horrible one. Heck, if you guys don't want to pay for it, go get the free solution and direct your anger at TiVo for taking two years to get you a solution... But don't fall into the typical stereotype everyone on the planet has of us Mac users as NEVER being happy unless it comes from Apple itself and/or is free. It's rants like the ones above that make people roll their eyes at me when I tell them how great the Mac platform is.
Reply
Jonathan said 8:51AM on 1-09-2007
Complain about it all you want. I paid for the upgrade. $30 off coupon for upgrading. $10 off for placing the order when I first visited yesterday. So, I got my upgrade for $60. Started burning my Dr. Who episodes this morning, right after reading everyone else's whining about price. Going to Bahamas tomorrow with my shows on DVD... Priceless.
Reply
eric said 10:00AM on 1-09-2007
this Toast upgrade is pointless to me until Tivo enables Series 3 tivo to go.
Reply
eric said 2:41PM on 1-09-2007
UPDATE: the upgrade price + coupon code is now $53.99 downloaded immediately. no rebate. sweet.
Reply
earnest said 4:44PM on 1-16-2007
I've got 3 words for you.
Boston Tivo Party.
Huck those crapboxes into the sea!
Reply