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DVR posts

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch

DirecTV beams down iPhone app

by Mel Martin (RSS feed) on Mar 30th, 2009

Long rumored and eagerly awaited, DirecTV has finally posted their free iPhone app for finding and recording content. The DirecTV app [App Store link] has been pretty hard to find. It didn't come up in an iTunes search last night and this morning, but that may have been fixed.

Locating programming is much faster and friendlier than using the iPhone friendly web page that had been the way to look at the DirecTV schedule.

The new app allows you to search for any shows up to 14 days in advance. You can browse the DirecTV schedule by date and time or by channel. You can select from multiple DVRs if you have them, and you can record a single episode of a program or a series.

The app runs on either the iPhone or iPod touch with version 2.2.1 software or above. You can search the schedule even if you're not a DirecTV subscriber, but if you want to trigger recordings you must use your DirecTV password. I set up a few tests and all the recording worked, one DVR request was made 2 minutes before the program started and the data made it to the DVR via satellite in time to catch the show.

I liked the old web-based method, but this is light years better. You get good program descriptions and ratings when available, and speed over the 3G network or even EDGE was quite usable.

Note: DirecTV says the app requires DIRECTV Plus® DVR (models R15, R16, R22), DIRECTV Plus® HD DVR (models HR20, HR21, HR23) or TiVo® Series 2 receivers with 6.4a software.

Tags: DirecTV, DVR, iPhone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, program schedule, remote record, satellite TV

Filed under: Video, Cool tools, Internet Tools, iPhone, iPod touch

Schedule DirecTV recording with your iPhone

by Mel Martin (RSS feed) on Jan 12th, 2009

A lot of people may know about this, and a lot may not. Here's the straight skinny. Last year DirecTV rolled out the ability to go to a web page and give instructions to your DVR to record a program. TiVo and Replay TV also had this ability for quite some time. Meanwhile Dish Network just announced integration of Slingbox technology into some of their new DVRs.

DirecTV has a mobile web page that makes this easy on web enabled devices like the iPhone. It should also work on the iPod touch. Using Safari you go to m.directv.com. That will put you on a page called "DVR Scheduler." Then you log in and search for the show by name or by channel. You can also search by actor names or host name. Any eligible DVRs will show up and you can ask for the recording to be made. In my experience this can be done very closely to the scheduled air time of the show. Shortly after, you'll get a confirmation that DirecTV has your request. It is not a guarantee that the recording will work, however, but it always has for me. DirecTV then sends your request from the website to your DVR and all should be well.

You don't need an iPhone to do this. It works from a laptop or desktop computer, and DirecTV provides a list of mobile phones that work. Here's the FAQ that tells you all about it. (You'll need to be a DirecTV customer to see this.) This page should give you information if your are not logged in or a DirecTV customer.

So if you haven't tried this, give it a go. It has saved me a few times when I forget to record something while I was away from home. It might save you too.

Tags: DirectTV, DVR, iPhone, iPod touch, remote recording, ReplayTV, Tivo

Filed under: Apple TV

Patent filing shows DVR for Apple TV

by Cory Bohon (RSS feed) on Mar 15th, 2008

Gallery: Apple TV DVR patent filing

Page 1Page 2Page 4Page 3Page 5


Earlier this week, AppleInsider reported on an Apple TV patent filed in 2006 and just published; it shows DVR features, and the patent also includes a feature where the iPod could be docked with the Apple TV to sync content for on-the-go viewing.

"For example, program data for upcoming programs, e.g., for the next month, can be downloaded and stored on the remote control device," Apple said in the patent. "Thereafter, a user of the remote control device can search programs that are to be broadcast and determine which programs to record. The recording settings can be programmed onto the remote control device, and then be provided to the video device when a data communication is established between the remote control device and the video device."

If Apple manages to implement DVR functionality for the Apple TV, it could definitely bring a game-changing device to the TV industry. Who knows, it could become a direct competitor to the TiVo. Be sure to look through our gallery of patent filing pictures.

[via AppleInsider]

Tags: Apple TV, AppleTv, DVR, patent

Filed under: Macworld, Hardware, Software, Video

Show floor video: El Gato HD hardware and EyeTV 3

by Victor Agreda, Jr. (RSS feed) on Jan 24th, 2008

While we wait for Apple to cram a TV tuner or cable card into the Apple TV (don't hold your breath-- seriously), El Gato continues to pump out some nice hardware/software tools for watching the tube on your Mac. One thing that caught my eye: you can start distributing recorded live video around your house 30 seconds or so after the EyeTV starts recording a show. I remember when we had to rig some VLC nonsense together to get livestreaming on a remote machine with the old EyeTV. Oh, and they've apparently added something very similar to the Season Pass feature on Tivo, which is quite cool.

Check out a nice demo after the jump.

Continue reading “Show floor video: El Gato HD hardware and EyeTV 3”

Tags: dvr, el-gato, elgato, eyetv, macworld, macworld08, pvr, tivo, tv, tv-tuner, tweet-this, video

Filed under: Hardware, Multimedia, Software

Elgato brings EyeTV Support to HDHomeRun

by Mat Lu (RSS feed) on Jul 24th, 2007


We previously mentioned a hacked together, rudimentary Mac interface for the HDHomeRun and expressed hope for EyeTV support. Well, our wish has been granted as Elgato has announced the HDHomeRun for the Mac. The HDHomeRun is a nifty little device that features two over-the-air / Clear QAM HD tuners which decode HDTV signals and send them out over ethernet. The video can then be watched on any Mac on the network with the EyeTV software. Since there are two tuners, you can watch or record two different channels at the same time.

The EyeTV package includes the HDHomeRun as well two EyeTV licenses for $199.95.

[via MacMinute]

Tags: DVR, Elgato, EyeTV, HDHomeRun, HDTV, TV

Filed under: Multimedia, Software, Odds and ends, Freeware

HDHomeRun HDTV Mac Streaming Tool

by Mat Lu (RSS feed) on Mar 6th, 2007


I first heard about the HDHomeRun on DL.TV a while back, and while it looked very interesting I was left disappointed that it lacked full Mac support. The HDHomeRun is a cool little device that contains two over-the-air HDTV tuners to receive HDTV and then stream that HD content over your home ethernet network. The streams it produces can be viewed with VLC so it it was possible, if somewhat difficult, to make it function with a Mac. Now, however, aa1979 has posted a Mac GUI to the Silicon Dust forums which makes it much easier to set up a stream. It's still far from as full featured as the Windows Media Center interfaces, and you still need to use VLC to watch the stream, but the level of hackery necessary to use the HDHomeRun with the Mac has gone down considerably. I wish EyeTV supported the HDHomeRun, though there's some hope that once SageTV gets going on the Mac (later this year) it may support this device to make a true Mac-based HDTV DVR.

Thanks, Andy!

Tags: DVR, HDHomeRun, PVR, SageTV, VLC

Filed under: Hardware, Software, Video

Elgato releases new EyeTV Diversity DTT tuner

by David Chartier (RSS feed) on Nov 7th, 2006

Looks like Miglia isn't the only kid on the block with a picture-in-picture TV tuner for the Mac anymore, as Elgato has released the EyeTV Diversity, offering powerful DTT reception, picture-in-picture viewing and the ability to record one channel while you watch another. DTT, for those who might be scratching their heads, stands for Digital Terrestrial Television, a new digital broadcasting standard adopted mostly by European and Asian countries, allowing for more better channels and content to be served over traditional broadcasting systems (i.e. - from what little I know about DTT from the Wikipedia entry and Elgato's product page, this product doesn't really have North Americans in its demographic, for now).

Nevertheless, judging from its size and feature list, the EyeTV Diversity is packing quite a punch, and it's available now from Elgato for 149,95 Euros.

Thanks Todd

Tags: diversity, dtt, dvr, elgato, eyetv, eyetv diversity, EyetvDiversity, picture in picture, PictureInPicture, pip, television

Filed under: Hardware, Apple, Mac mini

Now that's a Mac mini PVR

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on May 31st, 2006



Jeff on 123Macmini sure knows how to turn a Mac mini into an awesome PVR (that's personal video recorder to you). Check out the 'behind the scenes' pic for more details.

Well done, sir, well done.

Tags: dvr, mac mini, mac mini pvr, MacMini, MacMiniPvr, pvr, tivo

Filed under: Multimedia, Software

Elgato releases the eyeTV 250

by Dave Caolo (RSS feed) on Apr 6th, 2006

Elgato, the makers of the popular eyeTV digital TV recording software and hardware for the Mac, today introduced the eyeTV 250. This thing is small, as in barely-bigger-than-an-mouse small (see picture at right). With it, you can watch, pause and rewind live TV, edit recorded shows and schedule recordings in advance. Plus, the included software will transfer your shows to an iPod automatically.

Note that the eyeTV 250 only does analog cable/antenna recording. However, it's so compact and moderately priced ($199) that I think it looks great. It's on sale now and requires a G4, G5 or Intel Core processor, 256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended) and Mac OS 10.4 or later.

[Via PVR Blog]

Tags: dvr, elgato, eyetv, ipod, pvr

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Video

Don't expect an Apple DVR anytime soon

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Mar 3rd, 2006

The reaction to the new Mac minis almost universally was, 'It is great, but what it really needs is a DVR.' Well, Larry Angell, over at iLounge, just has to go and burst our bubble. He suggests that perhaps you shouldn't hold your breath waiting for a DVR solution from Apple anytime soon.

Why not? Because, Larry posits, Apple is selling TV shows on the iTunes Music Store, why would they enable Mac users to easily record the same shows that you can buy for them for free, and get them at a much higher resolution to boot.

Depressing, but it does make sense. Head on over to iLounge and read the whole thing for yourself.

Tags: apple dvr, AppleDvr, dvr

Filed under: Macworld, Software, Video

EyeTV 2 released

by Scott McNulty (RSS feed) on Jan 11th, 2006

As previously reported on TUAW, Elgato has released EyeTV 2. It costs $49 and includes a host of new features including playlists, a new on screen remote (pictured to the right), single click iPod export, batch export and much more.

Check out all the new features here.

Tags: dvr, elgato, macworld, macworld2006

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