TimeTrax

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TimeTrax is a company that makes software products for recording stuff from radio.

Its original product was software created by Scott MacLean to time shift XM Satellite Radio programming using the XM PCR PC-connected satellite radio - doing so by recording the audio to MP3 format, and saving songs as individual MP3 files, named with the artist and song name. Now, the company says that the TimeTrax technology "de-aggregates" any radio-like broadcast and then reassembles that content, customized for the user. In plain-speak, that means it records individual songs from the radio, saves each song as individual MP3 files and allows the user to build a music library.

XM quickly caught on and discontinued the XM PCR radio after the release of TimeTrax.

[edit] September 2004 Timetrax Software Acquired

Acquired by Time Trax Technologies Corporation (a Delaware Corporation) in September of 2004, they expanded the product offering to include hardware that functioned with the XM Direct radio, as well as the Sirius Connect radio. They also included functionality to operate with the XM Online streaming audio system. The company registered numerous patents, although there is much debate today about the validity of their claims to the patentability of their system because of its simplicity. At the 2006 CES (consumer electronics show), Time Trax announced and demo'ed a new product, TraxCatcher. Traxcatcher resembled a 'clock radio' and had a dock and portable MP3 player. It functioned much like the satellite radio product, but for use with FM radio and had a ‘line in’. This demonstrated more depth to the company's claims about their technology because FM radio does not provide the data stream with song name and artist (which provides the timing for 'cuts'). According to the media that got to use the product, it seemed to function as the company claimed (today, despite a commitment from the company, it appears that the product has not been made available for sale).

While receiving extensive press and media attention for the very visible consumer software and hardware products, the company also developed an OEM business as well as an international partnership which included the sharing of technologies with a company in Sweden called PopCatcher.

After stories featuring MacLean and TimeTrax appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, and in syndicated AP articles, TimeTrax became the de facto standard in time shifting of satellite radio. Time Trax’s Elliott Frutkin was a very visible critic of the entertainment industry and provoked the RIAA by press release title such as “Will Time Trax Product Launch Rattle the RIAA, Again?”. Time Trax also was involved in the ‘Grokster’ supreme court case at least by their filing of an ‘amicus brief’ but is rumored to have had deeper involvement in some way. ^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Current Status of Time Trax is Unknown

As of July 7th, 2006 the URL for the Time Trax home page resolves to XM Radio's corporate site. This created a lot of confusion and speculation that Time Trax may have been either acquired by XM Satellite Radio or forced to shut-down. At the same time, an alleged representative from Time Trax asked the SatelliteGuys.US (hosting Time Trax's forum) to shut down the forum. After question the authenticity of the contact, the forum was restored a short time later to provide information to confused Time Trax customers as well as wait for an official confirmation from Time Trax. On July 15, 2006, SatelliteGuys.US posted details from an interview with Time Trax's Elliott Frutkin. Although he was unable to speak on details of the issue, he confirmed that Time Trax was no longer in the consumer market, although there were no current plans to disable the technology infrastructure (registration key system) to allow continued use by individual consumers. Mr. Frutkin hinted several possibilities about what to do with the software. Some of which included turning the registration servers over to a third party, release a patch that would disable Time Trax looking for the server, or distribute the software as either freeware or open source.

Currently Time Trax's website no longer redirects to XM's website and hosts the previous versions of Time Trax software. No one has heard anything more from Time Trax and it’s unclear if they are still in business. There are indications that the company is still operating, but it has not been confirmed.

On November 1st,2006 SatelliteGuys.US closed down it's TimeTrax Forum due to lack of information from TimeTrax.