TiVo to pull free Desktop PC software in early June

By Mike Flacy May 8, 2013

tivo-premiere-4 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Announced by TiVo this week, the DVR company is planning on discontinuing the free version of TiVo Desktop for PC on June 5, 2013. For those unfamiliar with the software, TiVo Desktop for PC allows users to connect to their TiVo hardware over the home’s Wi-Fi network and transfer content between the two devices. Basically, users can transfer any video content currently stored on their TiVo and watch it on a laptop or PC. In addition, music and pictures on the PC can be viewed through the TiVo using the TiVo Central menu interface.

While TiVo Desktop for PC will continue working for anyone that downloads the software prior to June 5, users will have to pay approximately $16 for the TiVo Desktop Plus software after that date.

TiVo Desktop Plus adds compatibility with the Windows 8 interface and offers other features such as transferring video from the PC to the TiVo as well as converting TiVo recordings to formats that are compatible with mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Compatible video formats that can be transferred to a TiVo include Windows Media, Quicktime Movie, MPEG-4/H.264, MPEG-2, DivX and Xvid.

By phasing out the free version of TiVo Desktop for PC, this also adds another incentive for users to purchase a TiVo Stream set-top box. Rather than messing with video transfers, the TiVo Stream allows users to stream recorded content to a mobile device. In addition, users can watch live content as it’s being recorded and transfer video to mobile devices in order to watch it later.

One of the drawbacks to software like TiVo Desktop is that you have to initiate transfers that can take an extended amount of time to complete depending on the speed of your home’s network. TiVo video files can also take up a significant amount of space on a PC’s hard drive. For instance, a 30-minute episode of a show like Parks and Recreation is approximately 2GB in size when recorded in the highest quality format.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…

Audio / Video

Amazon is giving you 6 months of MGM+ when you buy a new Fire TV

Amazon announcing a partnership with MGM.

Amazon is giving six months of free access to MGM+ in conjunction with the purchase of a new Fire TV. The announcement came as part of Amazon's massive annual device event at HQ2 in Arlington, Virginia. And that means low-cost sticks, as well as more expensive televisions running Amazon Fire TV.

Unsurprisingly, Amazon also used the event to announce a new Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and Fire TV Soundbar. Amazon announced in March 2023 that more than 200 million Fire TV devices had been sold worldwide, and that number is poised to continue growing strongly.

Audio / Video

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are $80 off today

A woman wearing the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Best Buy's offer for the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 stands out as one of the most attractive headphone deals that you can shop today. From their original price of $379, they're down to a more affordable $299 following a discount of $80. There's no telling how long this bargain will last and if stocks are already running low, so if you want to grab these noise-canceling headphones for much cheaper than usual, you're going to have to complete the transaction right now. Tomorrow may already be too late, so act fast.

Why you should buy the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700
The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are featured in our roundup of the best wireless headphones as the top choice for comfort and conference calls. Their earcups are angled at 15 degrees to match your head and ears, the ear cushions are built using soft protein leather, and the lightweight headband is wrapped with soft silicone-covered foam, creating a comfortable fit for all-day listening. That can be taken literally, as the headphones can last up to 20 hours on a single charge, with 15 minutes of charging replenishing up to 3.5 hours of usage.

Audio / Video

Hurry — Samsung just knocked $1,100 off this 85-inch QLED 4K TV

The Samsung Q60B QLED Smart TV sits on a media cabinet in a living room.

If you've always wanted to add a massive TV to your home theater setup but exorbitant prices have been holding you back, this may be the offer that you've been waiting for -- the 85-inch Samsung QE1C QLED 4K TV at $1,110 off from Samsung, bringing its price down to $1,690 from its original price of $2,800. It's still not cheap, but with this discount from Samsung deals, there's a chance that it's finally within your reach. The bargain is only available for a limited time though, so if you're interested, there's no time to waste. Proceed with the purchase now before you miss out on this amazing opportunity.

Why you should buy the 85-inch Samsung QE1C QLED 4K TV
The 85-inch Samsung QE1C QLED 4K TV packs most of the features that you'll expect from the best TVs, including 4K Ultra HD resolution for sharp details and vivid colors, 4K upscaling to improve the quality of HD content that you watch, and access to all of the popular streaming services through Samsung's Tizen Smart TV operating system. You'll have to make sure that it will fit your living room though -- you can check out our guide on what size TV to buy for help with that.