It might be time to build that MythTV box…I recently got a sample of Tivo DRM, accidentally I suspect. Recently a Simpson’s rerun recorded with a red-flag next to it (an icon I’ve never seen before). When I selected the episode, I got a message to the effect that “the copyright holder prohibited saving the episode past date mm/dd”. I also noted that this episode could not be copied using Tivo Togo (but ironically it could be “saved to tape” – I guess that is the analog hole). [via] Link.
4 thoughts on “TiVo 7.2 OS adds content protection, blocks transfers, and auto-deletes some shows?”
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This is almost certainly a glitch – noise in the VBI that looked like the flag bits for MacroVision.
TiVo isn’t alone in supporting MacroVision, ReplayTV signed the same license a year before TiVo, and other DVR vendors also support it. It is basically a business requirement – and mandatory for any that also support DVDs. To legally support DVD you must support CSS, to support CSS you need MacroVision.
So while ubergeeks could build MythTV or FreeVo boxes, most folks will learn to live with this. While glitches like this can happen, if it is used deliberately then pressuring the content providers would be more effective. And there are ‘video cleaners’ that can strip this stuff out between a cable box and the DVR – of course, when we go to CableCARD and integrated tuners, that’s gone.
I take exception to the ubergeek comment. You don’t need to be an ubergeek to build a DIY PVR (it doesn’t hurt however!).
With deference to awesome open source software out there (which is both philosophically awesome and functionally awesome! Knoppmyth has really made the linux/mythtv install much more accessible imho)… The commercial 3rd party windows pvr software like BeyondTV and SageTV really have made it pretty simple to setup a PC PVR.
If you can install a PCI card and can do the functional equivalent of installing M$ word or a PC video game (i.e. install shield wizard and guided setup) AND you know your zipcode you can build a PC PVR. And if opening up and installing a PCI card is too difficult there are good USB 2.0 alternatives.
Shlop a Hauppauge WinTV PVR150 into a modest PC and download and doubleclick on BeyondTV or SageTV. Go through guided setup… start recording/watching.
Granted a Tivo is the gold standard for UI and out of the box ease of use, but this Myth (no pun intendeD) that a PC PVR *has* to be difficult is silly. Of course “uber geeks” can decide to make their systems more complex and fancy or have unique requirements, but that comes with the territory and is part of the freedom you don’t have as easily with a STB.