ReplayTVBlog

DVArchive, the invaluable companion to any ReplayTV, has finally been updated to version 3.2 and is available for download now at the DVArchive website.

DVArchive Version 3.2 has many bugfixes and new features, including:

• The ability to work with current versions of Java - Finally, DVArchive will work with modern versions of Java! This has been one of the biggest issues I’ve had with DVArchive — having to run two different versions of Java (one old version for DVArchive and one current version for everything else) AND getting the right one to launch when running DVArchive.
• Support for WiRNS (Windows Replay Network Server) - If you run a WiRNS Server on your network for ReplayTV Guide Data, Show Storage, etc. DVArchive will now recognize the WiRNS server and can use it for it’s own TV Guide information. This way, you can be sure that your DVArchive guide will match your ReplayTV Guide.
• Improved Error Messages - Previous versions of DVArchive have been somewhat lacking when it came to error messages to say the least. Now, there are more error messages when DVArchive does things it shouldn’t do (like crashing on startup) and all the error messages have been improved to include more information to help with troubleshooting the problem.

DVArchive version 3.2 includes many other enhancements and fixes, all listed in the changelog included with the download.

Technorati Tags: DVArchive, WiRNS, ReplayTV, DVR, PVR

Popularity: 21%

One of the great benefits of using ReplayTV in combination with DVArchive is the ability to copy recorded shows off of your ReplayTV to your computer with DVArchive and then edit the video files to remove commercials. The commercial free shows can then be imported back into DVArchive and watched on your ReplayTV, commercial free.

The one downside to this is that it is a manual and time consuming process. After editing the videos, they need to be converted to DVArchive format and then reimported back into DVArchive to make them available to your ReplayTV. To help with this situation, a new software tool has been released called RTVConvert Admin (RTVCA). RTVConvert Admin is a free program for Windows that will automate the process of taking edited ReplayTV videos and converting the videos and then importing them back into DVArchive.

Basically, RTVCA will perform the following tasks when it is run:

• Run the RTVConvert Program (from the ReplayTV Tools package) on all videos with a filename that ends with _CUT and sends the converted videos either directly into DVArchive or to a user specified directory so they can be imported into DVArchive later.
• Delete the edited video files that have just been converted into ReplayTV format.
• Delete or Backup the original ReplayTV video and index files
• Modify the DVArchive XML file for the unedited video with the new filename and length of the edited video.
• Rename the DVArchive XML file to the name of the edited and converted video filename.

RTVCA doesn’t actually convert the files (this is done by RTVConvert) but it does automate the process. It is configurable through a nice GUI Windows program and when run it will place an icon in the system tray. When you have files that are ready to be converted, all you have to do is double click the tray icon and all the files ending in _CUT will be processed.

Technorati Tags: ReplayTV, RTVCA, RTVConvert Admin, DVArchive

Popularity: 13%

TiVo is beginning to roll out the newest version of their software, version 7.2.2, to subscribers. This new version is for TiVo Series 2 units only — unfortunately, series 1 and and DirecTV DVR with TiVo owners are left out in the cold. This is an advanced release (the current released version is still version 7.2.1) that includes the following new features:

• Improved Support for USB Network Adapters - The new version will add support for some new Linksys and SMC USB Network Adapters. USB Network Adapter support had definetly been a weak point so far — if you’ve ever tried to find a network adapter for your TiVo in a retail store, you know what I mean.
• New and Improved Suggestions
• An Undelete Feature for Recently Deleted Recordings

Of all the new features, probably the most interesting is the new Undelete Feature. Basically, it will act somewhat like the trash bin in Windows XP. When a recording is deleted, it will be kept in a Recently Deleted Group in the Now Playing List. As long as there is space available on the hard drive, the deleted recording will be available in this group and can still be watched. As soon as space is needed, the oldest deleted recordings will be removed from the Recently Deleted Group to create enough space on the TiVo hard drive for the new recording.

The Undelete feature is definitely a good idea, but I’m not sure how well it will work in the real world. I know that my hard drive on all of my DVRs is constantly filling up with recordings — I just don’t seem to have enough time to watch all the TV shows I’m recording! So, for me I don’t think recordings would end up staying in the Recently Deleted Group very long (if at all!), buy your mileage may vary.

To get the advance release of the version 7.2.2 software downloaded to your TiVo, you need to request the update at the TiVo website and then it should be downloaded to your TiVo within three business days.

Technorati Tags: TiVo, DVR, DirecTV

Popularity: 4%

A new version of WiRNS (Windows Replay Network Server) is now available at the WiRNS website. Version 1.3.2.10 includes the following fixes and additions to version 1.3.2.9:

• A fix for the integrated Remote Control
• Download guide from Zap2it at their suggested time
• Implemented IVSBase email processing
• Upgrade the Sqlite3.dll to version 3.3.4

These are just some of the changes with the new version. For a comprehensive list of all the changes, see the latest changelog document at the WiRNS site. To download version 1.3.2.10, go right to the WiRNS download page.

Technorati Tags: ReplayTV, WiRNS

Popularity: 5%

For those of you out there with a TiVo (I’m not one of them — yet) and a Wordpress Blog you can now share what your TiVo is currently doing on your blog with this Wordpress Plugin. It will allow you to put a TiVo Status Button on your blog (presumably in the sidebar) which will query your TiVo approximately every 15 minutes and display an icon showing what your TiVo is doing (if anything). The status image also has a popup tooltip that shows more detail — what show is being recorded, show description, etc.

The TiVoStatus Plugin talks to your TiVo using TiVo Web Project Software, so this also needs to be installed and setup for the plugin to work.

When I first saw this plugin I thought, this is another one of those stupid blog plugins that shows people what I’m watching or listening to — who cares! But maybe there is some use for this plugin. If I want to check the status of my TiVo — make sure it’s up and running and recording what it should be recording — this is a quick and easy way to do it. Of course there are other ways that will give more information, but this is simple.

Now I think I might have to hack together something similar for my ReplayTV …

Technorati Tags: TiVo, ReplayTV, Wordpress

Popularity: 4%

Snapstream has announced the release and availability of Beyond TV 4. Beyond TV is Snapstream’s DVR Software for PCs and version is a major upgrade over the previous version including one of the most important features in DVRs today, HDTV support.

Beyond TV 4 has many new features including:

• Record Over the Air Digital HDTV Signals
• Record in multiple formats including DivX, MPEG2, and WMV
• New categories for shows with the ability to search by category
• The ability to play and pause FM Radio Stations

Snapstream is also offering Beyond TV in a number of different bundles, so if you don’t currently have a TV Tuner for your computer, you can purchase Beyond TV with a supported TV tuner at a bundle price.

Also, until midnight November 14, every Beyond TV purchase comes with a free Firefly Remote so that you can control your PC from across the room when watching TV!

Technorati Tags: SnapStream, Beyond TV, HDTV, DVR

Popularity: 5%

A new version of WiRNS (Windows Replay Network Server) has been released. Version 1.3.2 incorporates many new features and fixes including:

• Configurable Channel Offsets
• Memory Leak Fixes
• Support for SQLite v3.2.7
• Improved flagging of shows as repeats

For more information on all the changes and updates see the WiRNS Changelog.

Technorati Tags: ReplayTV, WiRNS

Popularity: 3%

SnapStream has announced version 4 of their DVR software, Beyond TV.

New to this version of Beyond TV will be HDTV Recording and Playback. Initially, several HD tuner cards will be supported, including the AVerTVHD A180, HDTV Wonder, VBox DTA 151 and USB-A 3560, and the Fusion HDTV 3, but when this version is actually released, more cards should be suported.

In addition to HDTV Recording and Playback there will also be FM radio and DivX support. This version is currently in a beta testing stage, but hopefully it won’t be too long until there is a full release.

Technorati Tags: ReplayTV, DVR.

Popularity: 4%

Earlier this week, SnapStream released a new version of their PC DVR software, Beyond TV.

The new version, 3.7, includes the following new features:

• Support for DivX recording and timeshifting using the new Plextor boards
• Support for the new ATI All in Wonder Boards and the new ATI Drivers
• Many performance improvements and bug fixes

Beyond TV is a DVR solution for your home computer. Basically, it is software that will turn your computer into a ReplayTV or Tivo. All you need is a TV Tuner Card in your computer, available from ATI, Hauppauge, and others.

Although I have yet to try Beyond TV, I have heard very good things about this software. This is one of the few software DVRs that has been compared favorably with ReplayTV and Tivo, and there is a free 21 day trial.

For more information, check out the Beyond TV Product Page

Popularity: 13%

A modified version of the Videolan VLC video player is available with several ReplayTV enhancements including:

• Automatic commercial advance
• Faster streaming startup

and several other enhancements.
The windows version is available for download Here along with the source and more information on the install and other enhancements.

Currently Watching: The Thing (Collector’s Edition)

Popularity: 12%

A DVArchive plugin for Meedio has been released and is available for download from the Meedio site.

This plugin will let you view all ReplayTVs and Computers running DVArchive on your network, review the shows listed on them and play those shows on your PC running the Meedio Software.

Meedio is a program for your computer that provides an interface on your TV to control your Home Theater PC with a compatible remote control. More information is available on the Meedio website.

I don’t have Meedio installed on my home computer, but from the screenshots on their website it looks very interesting — with the DVArchive plugin, you can control and view media from both your computer and all of your ReplayTV units on your TV. They have a free trial, which I plan on installing and I will post a review here after I have had a chance to test it out.

Click here to go to the Meedio website and download the DVArchive plugin.

Popularity: 12%

There is a new version of replaySchedule available at sourceforge — the new version is 116.40 dated 10/21/04.

According to the release notes, this version fixes a bug related to wrong padding of recurring manual recordings.

For those of you unfamilar with replaySchedule, here is the description from their website:

replaySchedule is a c-based program to generate a recording schedule (A.K.A to-do list) in the form of an html file for ReplayTV 4000/4500/5000/5500 DVR series for those using ethernet connection. The html output lists shows to be recorded by one or more of your DVRs as well as any potential conflicting recordings and the ones likely to be recorded. You also have the option to have the program list potential recordings you may be missing, perhaps due to changes in scheduling.

Click here to goto the replaySchedule website and download the latest version

Popularity: 12%