New iLoad-v Device Records Cable & Satellite TV with an EPG to Your iPod Without a PC

Wow, this sounds neat. I wonder if it has the smarts to transfer to a PSP as well. THe PSP uses MPG-4 files and I think it needs a .THM file too for thumbnails. I have 3 iPods but none of them play movies, only my PSP does.

Still, the ability to transfer to a USB hard drive is fine enough. I wonder what the resolution and frame rate is. I wonder if the hard drive has to be formatted in FAT32, or does NTFS and a Mac OSX drive work as well. I wonder if it writes MPG2, MPG4, QuickTime, AVI, or (dare I say) Real format.

But most of all, I wonder how-in-the-world it can decode the satellite dish signals before the signal gets to the satellite receiver. I don’t see a place to insert my DirectTV card in this thing…

All good questions. Of course, none of them are addressed in the product’s FAQ :(

Yeah, sounds neat, but it looks like you have to buy the iLoad as well. at $249 that brings the entire solution to $349. They dont’ really make it clear that you need the ILoad as well as the ILoad+

The iLoad is a separate product (full product line). You can use the iLoad in addition to the iLoad-v (the video demo doesn’t show it’s required). At least that’s how I’m seeing it. But you might be right. Here’s a link to the press release.

Here is what makes me think you need the iLoad, which at first seems like a seperate device
—-
From the iLoad+ homepage

iLoad + ™ is an add-on accessory for the iLoad device that connects to your cable TV box or satellite box and records your content onto an iPod and/or external USB drive or flash disk without requiring an Internet connection or stand-alone computer.
——
Why call it an add-on accessory if it is a free standing device?
——-
From the iLoad+ FAQ

What types of connections are employed?
iLoad + connects to your television via RCA connector or S-Video, to you Cable or Satellite box by Coaxial Cable and to the external USB drive or flash disk and iPod via standard USB cable. The iLoad + connects to the iLoad device USB port. The cable between iLoad + and the iPod is the Apple iPod-provided USB to iPod cable.

:D Still not seeing it. I think the “add-on” term is just marketing speak in this case so people buy both products. Obviously, they’re focusing on the iLoad as their flagship product. Again, reference how the product works in the video demo and you’ll see that it functions as a stand-alone device. Of course, I may be wrong.

You might be right. I felt that the press release is unclear and the FAQs and Tech Specs are useless in a lot of ways. I just think that the iLoad does the heavy lifting in regards to the video compresion for the iPod and that the iLoad+ is more like el gatos eyeTV and just does the TV signal to digital info work.

I don’t think add on is marketing jargon – I think they are linked. If you are right, I will probably buy one, other wise it’s doubtful.

Be the first in line to receive your iLoad™ and iLoad +™ by ordering your iLoad products now. Order now and receive Free Priority Shipping (a $20.00 value) and a Free 3 Year Extended Warranty (a $29.95 value).

iLoad + plugs into your iLoad device and to your cable or satellite TV box. This requires that have an iLoad device as well.

When you order now, your credit card will not be charged until the product ships, although we will obtain an authorization.

We expect to begin shipping in early November.

—-

Product Name
iLoad +™

Price
US $100

Description
iLoad + ™ is an add-on accessory for the iLoad device that connects to your cable TV box or satellite box and records your content onto an iPod and/or external USB drive or flash disk without requiring an Internet connection or stand-alone computer. Why have your content limited by only what iTunes® has available? Why fill-up your computer with files destined for your iPod® in the first place ? Available November 2006. Requires an iLoad device, Suggested retail price: $100.

—

so close to an awesome product at an awesome price. . .

The iLoad+ appears to function with only the IPOD to complete the video recording puzzle.

This thing is almost perfect, all it needs is an ethernet jack so I can share the video around the house and just leave the IPOD docked for Video storage.

I saw the video demo, and it really does not show recorded video being played on the TV from the IPOD although this does appear to be a feature. Hopefully the quality of this TV DVR interface is good.

very exciting folks!
F.

Any ideas how these devices get their metadata (cover art, program guide, etc.) with no connection to the internet? This is a great concept! Wish I’d thought of it!

I think I discovered the answer to my previous post. A “Master Database” resides on the iLoad device and can be updated by a CD. It’s not mentioned on their web site, but I’ll bet the program guide is also in that database. The database is updated daily and can be accessed with a $9.95/yr subscription. Although it’s not shown in their very cool demo, connection to the iLoad is required by the iLoad+. I’m assuming the 2nd USB port on the iLoad+ is used for that connection, and the program guide is accessed by the iLoad+ from the database stored on the iLoad.

Be really careful of this product and it’s producers. Type in “iLoad Gizmodo” into Google or read what I wrote here:

An iLoad Of Drama