Why Not Connect an iPod Directly to a DVR?
A website that encourages people to ask “Why Not?” had a submission recently that asked:
Why not allow DVRs to have a direct connection for iPods to download shows directly?
That’s a great question. Why isn’t there a simple way to transfer shows from your DVR to a portable media player, like a video iPod or Archos media player? Instead, you need to use our computer as an intermediary, which means downloading software, re-encoding then syncing it back with an iPod.
Why not make it simpler?
There’s no technological hurdle. A DVR can come with an iPod connection and software to download shows. (Someone please Tivohack this!)
One product that helps to bridge the DVR-iPod gap is the iRecord. It’s a box that you connect to the TV and an iPod. It has one big red record button. Press it while watching a TV show and it automatically records and transfers the show to your iPod. Press it again and stop recording.
The sole commenter for this question says that it’s a three part answer: 1) copyright issues from the content owners preventing this 2) CPU horsepower to transcode video and 3) closed systems like the iPod, which makes it difficult for anyone to install media.
Essentially, it’s legal issues–copyright and content owners are probably not happy with users being able to rip content from from a TV to a portable device. The layers that exist protect the content owners and discourage users from having the convenience of TV on the go.
Sure, Apple has iTunes with a few TV shows and movies, but it’s not enough.
I want a simple, easy connection on my Tivo so I can connect my video iPod. Please.
February 2nd, 2007 at 11:30 am
It’s not an iPod, but Dish DVRs will offload content directly to Archos devices. It’d be nice to see more set-top boxes offering those sorts of features.