Dang it!

Another company on the verge of non-existance ala Palm. I'll probably end up ditching mine for whatever the cable company is providing.

You didn't hear about the Tivo/Comcast deal? Tivo might survive after all!

I guess I'll never be a TiVo customer. I don't like dealing with companies that don't support my computer platform of choice.

Steveo oughta peel off a few bills and buy em up - then they'll have Mac compatibility.

Sorry,slaves, no one-button, silver iDevice that programs the Steve Jobs channel.

Don't forget that he's not saying TiVo won't do *anything* on the Mac; it just won't do TiVo2Go (downloading encoded shows from your TiVo to your computer). MacOSX works very nicely with TiVo now, streaming audio and photos, and many open-source projects work perfectly, because they are written in Java. Besides, even if it didn't connect to the Mac at all I would still have one: it's that good.

Yeah I love the rendezvous (or whatever they call it now) support for iTunes and iPhoto. That part is sweet. I think the only real issue here is that there isn't a standardized video DRM scheme for Mac. Tivo2Go is dependent upon WM9+ for DRM on Windows.

From TiVo's Web site, their TiVoToGo FAQ page:

"TiVo is working hard to enable TiVoToGo features available on TiVo Desktop for Mac. We are currently working on ways to enable playback on Apple Macintosh computers. We will let our customers know in our newsletter as soon as this feature is available."

So which is it, TiVo? Is your CFO telling the truth? Or does he have it wrong?

Tivo is sticking closer to Window's, but the ironic thing is MS is no friend of its competitors. And has a clear history of crushing it.

For one MS wants to play in the DVR market, for two Tivo is Linux open source which is against MS interests.

Apple is much more likely to extend an olive branch of cooperation.

Don't want to do Mac? I'll go with my cable company DVR for $3 less a month, recording of 2 shows simultaneously, and lifetime hardware protection!

I'm reminded of the old quote about the Palestinians: "They never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.":

Mac users are often enthusiastic embracers of new technology, and enthusiastic ambassadors of it as well. Tivo's refinement and elegance are very Mac-like, and it's a shame that a company that's still yet to turn a profit wouldn't take advantage of an OS environment that's media-friendly out-of-the-box, and a chance to partner with Apple, who I believe to be likely to enter the portable video market soon. I own 5 Tivo boxes of various models and capabilities, and have been waiting patiently for the announcement of Mac/Tivo-To-Go functionality. I love Tivo, but they won't get another nickel from me without ful Mac support.

Mac users are notable for being willing to try, support, and pay for new technology. They are early adopters, and stubbornly loyal to the technology they choose.
Tivo is making a mistake by not recognizing the distinctive benefits the Mac community provides them.
Video will migrate to the Mac, just as it will to other platforms. Choosing to ignore the Mac and Mac users will only inhibit Tivo's growth.

Too bad.

Tivo is a terrific device, but its failure to address Mac compatibility will only hurt it, not those of us using Apple computers. EyeTV and Formac make it possible to bring TV signals to our computers, whether first recorded on Tivo, on VCRs or other DVRs, or directly as the program airs. It would be preferable not to have to add another device to get this stuff on a Mac, but if Tivo won't make it easy, others do. That's Tivo's loss, not ours.