Wow! I had been playing around with a few different tools to do this without much luck. Recently I discovered the right combination and the process is so SIMPLE that I thought I'd share it.
Please read this page through once first. It may seem kind of long but the process is SIMPLE - very SIMPLE.
Software Required:
The following is what I have used. Don't worry it is FREE!
Direct Show Dump Utility (by Shahar Prish)
This nifty little utility releases the mpg file locked within the Tivo file. Basically removes the lock that Tivo placed on the program. I am using DSD ver 0.1.1424.0 and you can get it here: http://prish.com/etivo/tbr.htm
Blackberry Video Converter (by Seabyrd Technologies)
This application will take the mpg you create using Direct Show Dump and chunk it into a format that your Blackberry can play.
I'm using version 1.13 and it is available from www.seabyrdtech.com here: http://www.seabyrdtech.com/bbdl
Tivo to Go/Tivo Desktop Software (by Tivo)
I'm just going to flat out assume you have installed the Tivo Desktop software and that you are comfortable transferring files from your Tivo box to your computer. Because face it, if you have a Tivo and a Blackberry you kind of got it going on in terms of personal tech!
Other Considerations
Video files can be large - even when reduced for viewing on your Blackberry. My first test file was a 30 minute long program that weighed in at 506 MB. After processing and uploading to my Blackberry it was 55 MB. So if you plan on doing this you really need a media card for your Blackberry.
Here is what to do:
Step 1: Launch Direct Show Dump Utility. There is not much to the interface of this application but you should see a little 'Add Files' button. Click that and then locate the .tivo file you wish to convert. Note that you may need to select TIVO Files (*.tivo) in the 'Files of Type' drop-down list in order to see your Tivo files. Once you locate the file you do want to convert click it and then click 'Open'. The software will then start doing its thing. What you will have once it completes is a .mpg file instead of a .avi file. Notice at the bottom of the Direct Show Dump Utility the 'Output files to:' field. That is where you will find the resulting mpg and you can change where it goes (before you start to dump it of course).
Step 2: Launch Blackberry Video Converter. When it opens for the first time you can set these defaults:
-
which blackberry you have (8100 or 8800)
- an input folder (may as well pick the one you will have the Direct Show Dump Utility) output to
- an output folder - for this have one that you can easily access from your Blackberry Desktop Manager
The main interface has a serious of tabs - just work across from left to right:
Welcome Tab: You can pick your device (if you did not already do so) and also run a Quick Convert on a DVD file. I have not tried that yet though - just interested in my Tivo content right now.
Input Tab: Click the 'File Open' button and browse to locate the mpg file you output with the Direct Show Dump Utility.
Video Tab: I would just take what you are given here. You can play with this later. The default quality I felt was great.
Audio Tab: Allows you to boost the audio volume some. You may want to do this but I'd leave it alone the first time through.
Language Tab:
Pick your preference - or don't! Not sure what if any difference it makes.
Advanced Tab: No need to screw around here for Tivo content my friend.
Save and Encode: Click the 'Save To' button and choose where you want this blackberry friendly video to go. Then click the 'Convert my video' button and sit back and relax. The Blackberry Video Converter will open a command window while processing and you must not close that window until it stops processing. You will see that while processing it is very busy - once activity stops within it you can close it.
Note that when done you will have a .avi file. Correct - you go from a .tivo to a .mpg to a .avi file in this wonderful journey.
Step 3: Use Blackberry Desktop Manager / Media Manager to transfer your files to your Blackberry.
Results
My first file which was a 30 minute program took less than 5 minutes to convert using Direct Show Dump. To process that mpg using Blackberry Video Converter took approximately 5 minutes. Overall expect to take around 10 minutes to convert 30 minutes of video. Time to transfer it to your Blackberry may seem like the longest of all steps in the process.
Tips and Ideas
Help with the kids - Keep a kids show on your Blackberry. Comes in handy when waiting for a table at a restaurant (if you are brave enough to do that with small children), waiting at a doctor or dentists office, or quite frankly - waiting anywhere!
Auto Process Your Shows - Set your Tivo Desktop Software to auto transfer your favorites into the watched folder within Direct Show Dump Utility. This will convert them to mpg whenever a complete Tivo file is loaded onto your computer. Once done you will only need to run the Blackberry Video Converter on the files and this whole process becomes a single step.
|