Importing video to the Video iPod from TiVo

Was sent a question from Chris at CBS:

Where does the Video I-Pod stand with being able to import video from TiVo unit directly? Like, when I have my Mythbusters show on my Directv play list and I want to download it to a video I-Pod for the train ride. Do I first have to go through a computer? Is the technology for that direct connect there yet? Thanks Brother!

Great question. Here’s a link to the TiVo site about their intentions to bring TV programming to the iPod the first quarter of this year (press release from 11/05):

http://www.tivo.com/cms_static/press_66.html

It’s due out in February, according to updates from the New York Times. Don’t want to wait? Here’s a how-to-now for Windows, from the engadget.com site, by contributor Dave Zatz:

http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/18/how-to-get-tv-shows-off-of-you

If that how-to is too complicated, you can use (can’t recommend because we haven’t tried it ourselves) TVHarmony.com’s AutoPilot, also for Windows, available here:

http://www.tvharmony.com/main/products.php

Or MyTV ToGo (also Windows only): http://www.mytvtogo.com/site/index.html

Here’s a link to a non-trivial script that can be setup to run on your Mac OS X, from Anders.com:
http://www.anders.com/cms/143/TiVo/Podcast/iPod/convert/video

Got a Mac and want the ability to convert simply, now? Consider El Gato’s Eye TV. It’s a TiVo replacement, recording directly to the hard drive of your Mac. learn more here: http://www.elgato.com/

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