Anyone using Beyondtv software? - iPhone 3G

Crash Override · 10-04-2007, 02:34 PM

I downloaded it last night and recorded a couple of Tv shows on my PC.
I'll try adding them to my iPhone when I get home tonight. It's pretty cool how it has options to automatically convert/compress the show to the correct format and add it to itunes (as a podcast).

The tutorial on how it works is here:
http://blogs.snapstream.com/2007/09/...es-and-iphone/

Clayfree · 10-04-2007, 04:58 PM

I use to use BeyondTv, I now use Sage. I got the same e-mail and it looks really interesting. I love the podcast feature. Please report back with you results.

iMerlin · 10-04-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crash Override

I downloaded it last night and recorded a couple of Tv shows on my PC.
I'll try adding them to my iPhone when I get home tonight. It's pretty cool how it has options to automatically convert/compress the show to the correct format and add it to itunes (as a podcast).

The tutorial on how it works is here:
http://blogs.snapstream.com/2007/09/...es-and-iphone/

Am I correct in saying that you would need a video capture card in your PC for this? Im looking for some way to stream movies or TV shows to my phone but nothing seems to cut the mustard.
I tried Orb but can only get music to work, not movies.

Would there be any way for me to get the shows off of my DVR onto my PC to use with iPodifier or Beyondtv.

Tinman · 10-04-2007, 06:13 PM

I've used BTV for years now. I'm a beta tester, and am not sure at the moment what the general release version is, but the latest betas have had native iPhone/iPod support--straight to iTunes. Pretty cool. This showed up in August, so it's still a new feature. Thought they were gonna charge extra for the plugin.

Nice thing about BTV is that it is pretty easy to setup.

--
Mike

Crash Override · 10-04-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iMerlin

Am I correct in saying that you would need a video capture card in your PC for this? Im looking for some way to stream movies or TV shows to my phone but nothing seems to cut the mustard.
I tried Orb but can only get music to work, not movies.

Would there be any way for me to get the shows off of my DVR onto my PC to use with iPodifier or Beyondtv.

Yes, you'd need a TV capture card. I don't know of any way to move the shows from your DVR to PC. Depends on what type of DVR you have, i'd think.

Norwest · 10-05-2007, 02:38 PM

I looked into BTV a couple of times but I still like MCE better. Besides, I'd have to get another IR Blaster as it doesn't work easily the MCE blaster.

In my view Media Center 2005 (and Vista I suppose don't know) is the best PVR app out there. THAT DAMN DVR-MS format!!! No option to record to other formats.

As far as functionality it works great, it's never missed a recording and thye guide is always up to date. MS did this one right. I extend it through the home network with my kids XBox 360 when I want it in the living room... perfect.

HINT for PVR Software people....

Buy a $70 Sima "Video Enhancer" and place it inline between your cable/satellite box output and your video capture card. It will strip macrovision copy protections so you can edit and burn anything you record. Works like a charm.

Tinman · 10-05-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norwest

I looked into BTV a couple of times but I still like MCE better. Besides, I'd have to get another IR Blaster as it doesn't work easily the MCE blaster.

In my view Media Center 2005 (and Vista I suppose don't know) is the best PVR app out there. THAT DAMN DVR-MS format!!! No option to record to other formats.

You just illustrated why MCE is not the best: proprietary format, not to mention recording restrictions (it's great being told by your PVR software that you are not allowed to record a certain show).

I have BTV running on a dedicated HTPC, plus BTV link on all PCs, and most of those PCs run either MCE 2005 or Vista Home Premium or Ultimate (both with MCE functionality).

BTV also lets me use other PCs as, in MS's terms, "Media Extenders" (BTV Link). So I can sit outside on my patio with my laptop and watch live TV--or any of my recorded shows--with the same look-and-feel as the BTV server machine. I don't need an XBox to do this.

Then there is the direct-to-DVD, the new direct-to-iTunes plugin, and much much more. Oh, and BTV gives you a free account to access your TV listings on-the-go. Naturally you can record from this account too (I have used this many times). I can almost replicate that with MCE and Orb, but I find the listings served by Orb are often incomplete. I also have certain keywords registered with BTV and I am notified if any upcoming shows contain that keyword (e.g., "iPhone").

So, again, IMO BTV is better than MCE--even though I have MCE functionality on every PC I own.

--
Mike

Norwest · 10-05-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinman

You just illustrated why MCE is not the best: proprietary format, not to mention recording restrictions (it's great being told by your PVR software that you are not allowed to record a certain show).

-
Mike

It doesn't stop you from recording, just from burning. That's easily handled with the Sima video enhancer put in line.

BTW, the protection I'm talking about comes across embedded in the signal so the PVR software has nothting to do with it... kinda.

I agree though BTV looks pretty darn sweet.

Tinman · 10-05-2007, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norwest

It doesn't stop you from recording, just from burning. That's easily handled with the Sima video enhancer put in line.

BTW, the protection I'm talking about comes across embedded in the signal so the PVR software has nothting to do with it... kinda.

Small correction: the PVR software has almost everything to do with it since they are the ones who recognize and abide by the flag. The flag by itself is benign.

MS chose to cave in and abide by the (CGMS-A) flag. BTV, and other PVR solutions, do not. Ergo I don't need anything to remove the flag before it gets to BTV.

BTW: CGMS-A can most certainly be used to prevent recording, not just burning to DVD, of a program. And if MCE encounters a program flagged as such it will not record it. Yes it can be used to prevent archival copies, but that is not all it is designed to do. (This is not the same, obviously, as the broadcast flag on digital broadcasts.)

--
Mike

Crash Override · 10-05-2007, 03:57 PM

Well, I recorded an old ep of "the Wonder Years" as my first test of the beyondtv software. I added it to my iPhone last night and was pleased with the result. not as vibrant as a new show downloaded off itunes, but very watchable. I've just got a pair of old rabbit ears plugged into my Tv-tuner card right now, so once I split the satellite feed into the PC, image quality should be a little better.
The only issue I had was when I synced. The file showed up in iTunes under both Podcasts and TV shows. I checked the box in TV shows and synced, but got nothing on my iPhone. I added a checkbox to the listing under Podcasts and resynced, which resulted in the show appearing twice on my iPhone. not a big deal, just learning how to use the software correctly.
I even set up a recording remotely from work for 30 Rock, which was pretty cool. I'll keep testing, but so far i'm pretty pleased.
Iupgraded my PC from windows MCE to vista ultimate, so I'm pretty versed in the Windows Media Center way of doing things. It's just nice to have an all-in-one solution in BeyondTV that will schedule, record, convert, and sync to iTunes, so all I have to do is add the shows to my iPhone.

Hey tinman, you seem pretty up-to-speed on this software. I can't seem to remember where the setting is located to have BeyondTV automatically delete the source file after it's converted it for iTunes.