HP announces the availability of a new Windows Home Server add-in that allows TiVo owners to expand storage by transferring content from TiVo to an HP Windows Home Server. The free HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo add-in integrates seamlessly into the HP branded WHS console and is compatible only with the latest generation of HP home servers – the MediaSmart Server EX490/EX495 and the HP StorageWorks Data Vault series.
The HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo add-in lets users transfer shows from a TiVo DVR appliance to a HP MediaSmart Server and back to a TiVo DVR. The add-in makes managing and sharing recordings a breeze and even allows watching of TiVo recorded content stored on a HP MediaSmart Server from any PC in the home.
Consumers Can Now Manage TiVo DVR Recordings from HP MediaSmart Servers PALO ALTO, Calif., March 10, 2010 HP today made available HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo®, a new software application that lets TiVo DVR(1) owners manage video content from an HP MediaSmart Server.(2) With a high-definition (HD) DVR from TiVo,(3) consumers can record, pause and rewind live TV, and access the world’s largest on-demand video library(4) to watch hit movies, TV shows, music videos and popular web videos. With the new software application, which is offered at no charge to MediaSmart server owners, TiVo owners can: transfer shows from a TiVo DVR to a HP MediaSmart Server and back to a TiVo DVR manage TiVo recordings stored on a HP MediaSmart Server watch TiVo DVR recordings that are stored on a HP MediaSmart Server on any PC in the home Based on the Microsoft Windows® Home Server platform, the HP MediaSmart Server is a central repository for automatically backing up and accessing digital music, videos, photos and documents from multiple computers on a home network.(5) The HP MediaSmart Server automatically organizes files across all Windows and Mac computers, streams media across a home network and the Internet,(4) and publishes photos to popular social networking and photo sharing sites. “The HP MediaSmart Server is the ideal companion for TiVo users. With the HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo, consumers can record more high-definition programs and not worry about filling their DVR since they can transfer their movies and shows on the HP MediaSmart Server and watch them on their PC,” said Jason Zajac, vice president of Attach, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Plus, consumers will benefit from all of the additional features the HP MediaSmart Server provides, such as backing up all Windows and Mac computers.” Pricing and availability The free HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo application can be accessed through the Windows Home Server Console of the HP MediaSmart Server EX90/EX495 and HP Data Vault. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the HP MediaSmart Server EX490 with 1 terabyte of hard disk storage is $549, while the HP MediaSmart Server EX495 with 1.5 terabytes is $699.(6) More information is available at www.hp.com/go/mediasmartserver. About HP HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems.
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 10, 2010
With a high-definition (HD) DVR from TiVo,(3) consumers can record, pause and rewind live TV, and access the world’s largest on-demand video library(4) to watch hit movies, TV shows, music videos and popular web videos.
With the new software application, which is offered at no charge to MediaSmart server owners, TiVo owners can:
Based on the Microsoft Windows® Home Server platform, the HP MediaSmart Server is a central repository for automatically backing up and accessing digital music, videos, photos and documents from multiple computers on a home network.(5)
The HP MediaSmart Server automatically organizes files across all Windows and Mac computers, streams media across a home network and the Internet,(4) and publishes photos to popular social networking and photo sharing sites.
“The HP MediaSmart Server is the ideal companion for TiVo users. With the HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo, consumers can record more high-definition programs and not worry about filling their DVR since they can transfer their movies and shows on the HP MediaSmart Server and watch them on their PC,” said Jason Zajac, vice president of Attach, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Plus, consumers will benefit from all of the additional features the HP MediaSmart Server provides, such as backing up all Windows and Mac computers.”
Pricing and availability
The free HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo application can be accessed through the Windows Home Server Console of the HP MediaSmart Server EX90/EX495 and HP Data Vault.
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the HP MediaSmart Server EX490 with 1 terabyte of hard disk storage is $549, while the HP MediaSmart Server EX495 with 1.5 terabytes is $699.(6)
About HP
HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems.
For more information, including the scoop on yet another hidden Easter egg head over to MediaSmartServer.net
As a TiVo owner, this is exciting news. As a HP EX470 owner, I am disappointed I do not have the ability to use this add-in until I am able to upgrade to a newer model HP MediaSmart WHS.
Hey Tivo -- what about the rest of us with older or non-HP WHS's? Great idea, but why leave so many of us out of the game?
HP only supports this HP MediaSmart Expander for TiVo add-in on MediaSmart Server EX49x and the HP StorageWorks Data Vault series but I think you may be able to run it on your EX470 if you upgraded your hardware and upgraded your HP software to 3.0.
Alternatively there is the freely available TiVo Publisher for Windows Home Server add-in for non HP WHS owners:
www.homeserverland.com/.../30.aspx
Unfortunately my cable provider (Time Warner) appears to lock everything even basic SD content with heavy DRM. I do get a green dot for non HD content but attempting to transfer yields “the requested transfer cannot be completed because the show is copy protected”. This however is my cable providers doing and not the add-in faults – talk about DRM hell!
Does anyone know any way when you pull the content to your MediaSmartServer, if there is any freeware to convert the *.TIVO files to a standard definition video format? Would be great if I can transcode that video to use it on my portable media player or whatever, then it gets more interesting...maybe the HP Video Converter could do that?