SnapStream Adds DVD Burning for TV

SnapStream has released a new version of its Beyond TV personal video recorder software, enabling users to easily create DVDs of their television show recordings through a burning plug-in. Version 4.5 is a free update for customers, but the plug-in will cost either $29.99 or $39.99 USD.

Beyond TV, which competes with Windows Media Center on the PC, utilizes a computer's TV tuner card to schedule recordings, pause and rewind live TV, skip commercials and utilize a detailed program guide. Unlike TiVo, which offers a set-top box rather than software-only, SnapStream charges no subscription fees.

Version 4.5 of the company's software is largely a minor update. A number of bugs have been squashed and performance improvements included. Beyond TV is no longer sluggish for users with collections of 100 or more recordings, SnapStream CEO Rakesh Agrawal told BetaNews. But the big news is the DVD burning plug-in, bringing the software up to par with competitors.

TiVo has previously offered DVD burning capabilities through its TiVoToGo program, although that feature requires a $50 software purchase from Sonic Solutions. Microsoft has built the feature into Windows Media Center, which will be included in Windows Vista Home Premium.

SnapStream's plug-in, which also uses technology from Sonic, will cost $29.99 USD for new users and those who purchased Beyond TV 4 prior.

The software supports recordings in multiple formats, including MPEG-2, Windows Media and DivX. Users can create either video DVDs or data DVDs, and Beyond TV will create chapters based on the software's "SmartSkip" technology so commercials can easily be skipped. SnapStream says the plug-in is fully licensed by Dolby for 2-channel Dolby Digital Audio.

"The final product is a great looking DVD with all of your show information intact (things like the show name, episode title and original air date) and the menus have the same polished look of the Beyond TV interface," the company wrote on its blog, which contains additional information on the 4.5 update.