TVNow – hacking it into a poor man’s video Ipod

[David K]

Target recently closed out the Hasbro-Tiger TVNow units for $25, and they will probably be turning up in remainder bins for a lot less than that.
These are the same physical units that were previously sold as the VuGo.
The TVNow software now only enables content to be added to the unit by real time recording through an analog video out connection. But by the use of the old VuGo software and some software hacking fixes, one can convert files by computer and play them on the TVNow, thus essentially returning all the VuGo functionality.

The TVNow resolution is not great. It has a 2 and a half by 2 inch color LCD screen with an approximate resolution of 160 x 240. (G-Spot reports the video file resolutions as 144 x 80.) It’s certainly better than watching video on a cell-phone. While blurry, The TVNow screen is at least relatively big. The colors are bright and it has both a built in speaker with decent quality and a head-phone jack.

Steps for creating video files on your computer to play on the TVNow:

1. Download the VuGo desktop software from http://vugo.com/downloadSoftware.php

Do this by July 31, 2007 because it may be gone by then. The VuGo website originally sold digital video downloads (a la I-tunes) but will cease to do so by July 31, 2007, since Hasbro has apparently abandoned VuGo as a product, and it is not clear whether the software will continue to be available after this time as well.

2. Hack the VuGo software

Although the VuGo software will install nicely on Windows, one cannot get it to proceed beyond the registration screen unless one has a VuGo connected via USB to the computer. One cannot do this with a TVNow because although the TVNow is physically the same unit and the USB port is still there, it has been glued shut by an add-on plug, and even if you did manage to unplug it, the TVNow software appears to have disabled the USB port connection. (I found this out the hard way by laboriously clearing out the plug, and then discovering that my computer still would not recognize it.) But because the TVNow can use a standard SD card, one can transfer files directly to the card, and thus no USB connection to the TVNow is needed. The problem is getting the VuGo software to work without connecting it to a VuGo.

The way around this is to edit the software in the registry, which on a properly installed VuGo reads as follows:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Hasbro\VuGo Desktop Application entry: (default) REG_SZ (value not set) Firmware1 REG_SZ (blank) Path REG_SZ C:\Program Files\Hasbro\VuGo Desktop Application\ VuGoID1 REG_SZ 458687537

(Many thanks to the hacker who posted these values from his VuGo!)

So, on an installed but unregistered VuGo desktop software application, the VuGoID1 REG_SZ line the data portion will be blank. Use regedit and enter 458687537 as data in that line.

(Note: if you’ve never used regedit in Windows, read up on it before proceeding with this.)

You will then be able to open the desktop application. It will ask you to go to the website but you can decline and the application will still open up.

3. Convert a video file to the .tvv formant.

The VuGo application will accept the following for conversion into the VuGo’s own proprietary .tvv video file format (which is apparently some unknown variant of mpeg 4):

.AVI: (I can confirm that it will accept both DV and Xvid avi files)
.mpeg-1: (But unfortunately not mpeg-2. I tried. DVD rips will have to be converted to some form of .avi before conversion by the VuGo software.)
WMV: (confirmed)
ASF: (haven’t tried)

The VuGo application works relatively quickly in converting. First it tests the file and then it goes into converting.

4. Change the hex values to make the VuGo .tvv file play on the TVNow

Unfortunately a .tvv file generated from the VuGo software needs a tweak before it will play on the TVNow.

Use a hex editor to change the first four bytes from TVNW to WONT and bytes 21,22,and 23 to TVR for video (.tvv) or TAR for audio (.tvm).

(Many thanks to the hackers who figured this out by comparing the hex values of VuGo and TVNow files!)

Format a SD card in the TVNow. (It formats the card in FAT 16 and creates two file folders MUSIC and VIDEO.) Connect the SD card to your computer. Then transfer the corrected file to the Video folder in the SD card. Insert the SD card into your TVNow and your video files should play.

[theewizard]

Nice idea, i like things like this..

however i think your mistaken about cell phones..

(G-Spot reports the video file resolutions as 144 x 80.) It’s certainly better than watching video on a cell-phone. While blurry, The TVNow screen is at least relatively big.

i wouldn't use a NOkia

but i have an LG 9900 enV

it has a QVGA 320*240 screen, that displays great video

here are a couple videos I converted for my phone, play them with mpc or vlc on your PC

http://rapidshare.com/files/6553220/InternetisforPorn.MP4

http://rapidshare.com/files/5119918/scrat-sample-320-240-12fps-284k.3G2

http://rapidshare.com/files/4995436/Sample-ResonantCh-25fps.3G2

http://rapidshare.com/files/4958181/HarmonicVo320-240.3G2

I have also converted TV episodes and full movies and many flash videos

[David K]

Theewizard, your point is well taken.
I should have said better than my cell phone, which is an entry-level Sony-Erickson.

Because the VuGo/TVNow was marketed as a “toy” rather than an electronic device, there are no official stats about its screen’s native resolution. One commentator describes it as having a 2.5 x 3 inch LCD viewing screen that is equatable to a QVGA photograph (320 x 240 or .1 megapixel), while another proposed a screen resolution estimate of 160 x 240, which I think is more likely.

There is greater consensus on the resolution of the .tvv video files. G-Spot reports the 144 x 80 file resolution, and another commentator says that VLC reports the same resolution when playing the file.

(144 x 80 might also be the resolution of VideoNow files.)

[theewizard]

240*160 does seem to be a possibilty

also remember 176*144 is common to many phones and compact digital cameras that do 15fps video, and other video displays

that is QCIF = 176*144, 1/4 CIF , CIF is 704*576

i suspect the display is QCIF and the files are 144*80

[David K]

Here’s an update for any members of the VuGo/TVNow nation that might be out there:

1. Although pay downloads of cartoon episodes are no longer available, Hasbro-Tiger continues to make the VuGo desktop software available at the above-mentioned website.

2. Both VuGo and TVNow have fast-forward and reverse functionality. While playing a video file depress and hold the right or left directional pad key.

3. Resize your video to a 144x80 Xvid .avi in VirtualDub (using one of its fine resizing filters like Lanczos 3) before having the VuGo desktop software convert it to a .tvv file. The VuGo desktop software has a horrible resizing filter and this contributes to degrading the video quality (which faces enough degradation already from this device’s other inherent shortcomings). Resizing before converting to .tvv causes the VuGo software to not use its resizing filter and the results are markedly better, especially for broad-color animation of the “Rocky and Bullwinkle” style. (Live action material still looks pretty bad.)

Interestingly, after converting a 144x80 Xvid avi file to a .tvv file, the player briefly displays the DivX watermark upon playback at the beginning, which leads one to believe that the VuGo software is using DivX to decode and encode. (I don’t otherwise currently have the DivX codec installed on my computer.)

The native screen resolution of the VuGo/TVNow is a said to be 240x160. Unfortunately all my attempts to get the VuGo software to pass-through a higher file resolution (240 x 160, 288 x 160, 288x80) have failed. It always resizes to 144x80.

[theewizard]

have you tried using gspot or media info on the tvv files to see what the codec is,

maybe use super or vdub to create a file to the tvv codec specs but but with the higher res, then rename as tvv and play it , rather than converting it ?

just things to try out

[David K]

G-Spot cannot identify the video codec and lists MPEG4 as the name. It only gives the resolution and the number of frames. No information on the audio codec.
I suspect the .tvv file is using a proprietary container not a standard .avi container, so Virtual Dub may not work for encoding even if one were to figure out the exact codec that was being used.
But if anyone figures it out, let me know...

[frugalbrutus]

Steps for creating video files on your computer to play on the TVNow:
.

THANK YOU!!
THis is awesome. The TVNow was relegated to "back of the closet" status last winter, too much effort to get new content on there. My kid found it today, and I decided to google for an easier way, and found this thread. Your hack makes this thing very easy to use now. WOW.
thank you very much!

[freemovielover]

i have a tvnow it says 4mat is fat 16 only support for mat is tvv tvm hop this helps u out

[lordsmurf]

i have a tv now & vugo tv now says format is fat16 format and u can find a convert of that 4mat 4 free ive uploaded it to tvv and it works great on any video u find on internet to down load it vid sound works like when u hook it up to a tv i use a sd card to put video on it then put it n player dont have to do ant thing to the name just play it music of any kind works to mp3 dot com to find music its easy to do dont have to be a computer dork to work this or u can use a small usb cable if u want to its the best way i have found to get video & sound on them i dont have the vugo software on computer works great for me bu if dont work use the vugo software to help u get it to work with ur player and computer love this way i do it hope this helps u out asnd ur mind wont be thinking about how to get vid on any more just what to put on player ive been looking for help 4 years and found this hope u try this soon as u can

English, please -- whole words required. Punctuation, too, maybe?
I can't even tell if you were making a statement, asking a question, or trying to spam the board.

[guns1inger]

i have a tvnow it says 4mat is fat 16 only support for mat is tvv tvm hop this helps u out

That isn't any better, just shorter.

And two years too late.