Nero announces LiquidTV: PC-based version of TiVo

by Brad Linder Sep 29th 2008

Nero and TiVo are launching a new application called LiquidTV. Basically, LiquidTV is TiVo. But instead of running on a set top box, the software runs on a Windows PC.

Users get all the basic features that come with TiVo, including the abililty to watch live and recorded TV, pause live programs, and record programs for viewing later. You can also burn videos to a DVD or compress them to save space using the H.264 codec. There are preconfigured settings for saving videos for an iPod or PSP or you can choose custom compression options.

LiquidTV plays well with other TiVo boxes you may have in your house, as long as they're hooked up to your home network. You can watch programs recorded on your TiVo box on a computer running LiquidTV and vice versa. You can also schedule recordings on the go using a web interface.

There's no Mac or Linux version yet. And while you do get TiVo goodies like WishLists and KidZone, the software doesn't support some of the more advanced TiVo options like TiVoCast or TiVo HME applications.

Gallery: Nero LiquidTV

You'll need a TV tuner card in order to us LiquidTV. The software can handle up to 4 tuners for recording multiple shows simultaneously. Starting in October, Nero will be selling a $199 bundle package that comes with LiquidTV software, a Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950 USB HDTV tuner, a digital antenna, an IR blaster for controlling your cable box, and a year of service. Or for $99 you can download a copy of LiquidTV from the Nero web site. The download only version comes with a year of service, but no hardware.

Once your year is up, you will have to pay a subscription fee, which puts LiquidTV a few steps behind alternative PC DVR solutions like BeyondTV and SageTV which charge you for the software, but not for the program guide updates. Still, if you're a fan of the TiVo interface, LiquidTV is the best way to bring the same experience to your PC.

Gallery: Nero LiquidTV

Tags: dvr, liquidtv, nero, pvr, tivo

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jash Sayani said 8:58AM on 9-29-2008

Wow! I was waiting to see the screenshots. Thanks a lot Brad. !

Nate said 8:59AM on 9-29-2008

You failed to mention one very very important piece of information. Does it decrypt the digital channels that your cable company encrypts? Every day, more and more channels are being encrypted to prevent them from being viewed/recorded on ANYTHING other than the cable provider's set-top box. I spent $130 on a TV tuner card for my PC and I am unable to record any of the non-local (abc, nbc, weather) channels because my communist cable provider doesn't want it's customers recording TV.

Brad Linder said 9:02AM on 9-29-2008

It comes with an IR blaster which lets you control your cable box. In other words, you can record analog channels from your cable company. For encrypted digital cable you'll need a CableCARD tuner. I'm honestly a little unclear on whether LiquidTV will support CableCARD. During the presentation, someone asked the Nero rep about this, and he didn't seem certain.

James said 1:32PM on 9-29-2008

They honestly expect people to pay a monthly/yearly fee just because they love the interface so much? On the one hand, that's bullcrap and I hope they fail. On the other hand, the "idiot" market is plenty large enough to sustain such a product...

maco said 1:46PM on 9-29-2008

So it's MythTV for Windows?

Kev of Dundas said 4:33PM on 9-29-2008

Heys ... so does this thing have that Dee Argh Emm i hear so much about?

Josh said 4:45PM on 9-29-2008

I've been using BeyondTV for years and I love it. They keep adding new features as time goes on. Plus, it's cheaper.

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