Taiwan's Compro squeezes HDTV tuner into a USB stick
By Marc Perton 
posted Mar 18th 2005 5:25PM
posted Mar 18th 2005 5:25PM
We admit it: the lure of watching TV on our computer is very, very tempting, especially when we can watch HDTV programming. However, with a laptop, there haven't been too many options other than bulky external boxes, slow downloads or balky streams. Now, however, Taiwan's Compro has unveiled the VideoMateTV DVB-T, an HDTV tuner the size of the proverbial pack of gum (okay, maybe a large pack of gum) that you can plug into your USB port; they also make a non-HD version. Why settle for non-HD? Well, among other reasons, the HDTV version requires a 2.4 GHz processor, while the analog tuner will work with 866 MHz. And now, if you'll excuse us, we have to get back to the soon-to-be-cancelled Arrested Development.
This is a great concept. Now if only it had OSX drivers, it would be a perfect for all the pretty iMac G5s. Face it, the 17 and 20 inch screen versions are just begging for a tiny little dongle like this, and some good PVR software, to turn them into media centers, especially for dormdwellers, and the like. Heck, I want one for my PC, too, since my current tuner card isn't HDTV-compliant.
Phew... That article about Arrested Development is purely opionon based from that person. It's an awesome show, and I personally like how it's done (writing, filming, acting, ect) and would like to see it a lot longer. Also, I only have a 400 mhz Dell CPi from 2000 :(
If some prominent weblog would like to donate some laptop or SOMETHING to make this thing run faster a certain someone typing this would be very happy and would pay shipping!
Okay, you do know that Arrested Development commentary was sarcasm, right?
Oh, all these little Mini-ITX boxes (like Shuttles) would fit with these tiny tuners, also.
omg, thats so crazy! Is this what my mom named me after? LOL
Well, I know I can't afford this for about five years! I'll wait for a knockoff to show up on tiger direct!
www.taiwanbrown.com
btw -- Arrested DEvelopment is the best thing on TV since The Simpsons started to suck. Thank God for it.
Also -- TV Squad is a cross-network plug. That's worth noting.
Ummm... where do you plug in an antenna...
HDTV DOES require an antenna... unless you're fairly close to the tower.
From my experience with HD, antennas (typically external) are a requirement.
HDTV is free with an indoor or outdoor UHF antenna,and of course a HD tuner. And it helps if you live in or near a major city.
This is what was removed in the first generation of the Mac mini--you heard it here first. Several sites have reported on a mysterious "hole" that was rumored to be an iPod dock. Firewire connects were present but unused.
man, you people need to learn to spot sarcasm. (the arrested development thing).
Apple Macs the 17 and 20 inch screen versions are just begging for a tiny little dongle like this, and some good PVR software, to turn them into media centers, especially for formdwellers, and the like. Heck, I want one for my PC, too, since my current tuner card isn't HDTV-compliant.