Miglia's TVMini HD brings HDTV to mac via USB 2.0

Mac users in search of an HDTV solution might find some help from Miglia Technology and their TVMini HD, a USB 2.0 device to watch, pause, and record HDTV. The device requires a 500MHz G4 or greater to handle the bandwidth, and is powered by Elgato's EyeTV DVR software, which can also export iPod and PSP formats. You can run 1080i video, catch OTA ATSC broadcasts, and flip around with the included remote. The device goes for $289 and should be available now.

[Via Tech Digest]

[Finwick P @ Aug 9th 2006 11:02PM]

Well I've been strugling with this product for the past 3 weeks trying to get it to work again. I purchased it from the apple store on June 8th just in time for the worldcup (soccer), I had planned on recording some of the games and which I did. But a week after the final I stopped using it. And since it's been very problematic on getting this thing to work properly again. First, the little box run extremely hot, in which is not an issue since the room is well , I mean well air conditionned. Now my problem is that the Tuner will not get dected unless I reset either the PRAM/NVRAM. I first I thought this was some bad memory. But couldn't possibly be true since I get the same result with different memory/hardware configurations. Again this was workign fine. I've been in contact with Elgato support since 7/24 looking for a resolution to this and thus far no luck.
I would strongly reconsider before buying this product. If it's a must for you to have an OTA HDTV turner then there's no better product out there for the MAC yet, at least not to my knowledge.

I will try following with this once this issue is resolved, in the meantime I would suggest to hold on to your 300+ dollars until then.

FP

[Paul Humphrey @ Feb 5th 2007 7:19AM]

I have got a TVMini also, which I got from Apple. I have got a G5 Quad with 4 Gig of RAM. The first couple of weeks the tuner started up fine. But now it never starts up. The only way I get it to start is to restart the machine whilst wiggling wires. I do notice that the tuner is extremely hot. I am very annoyed with this product and I would consider getting my money back.
What is the point in a scheduled recording and a scheduled boot up when the TV will not start.
RUBBISH product, sold to us guinea pigs again.

[Lon seidman @ Jan 7th 2006 9:15AM]

This device is apparently the first I've seen to record unencrypted QAM HDTV broadcasts over digital cable. Bummer that you need a dual G5 to take advantage of it. Any idea of a Windows version?

[Nathan Ziarek @ Jan 7th 2006 10:44AM]

Lon - check out the DViCo Fusion 5 & the MYHD 130. They can also record unencrypted QAM over digital cable. Apparently the DViCo software sucks, and MCE won't recognize QAM channels (only OTA), so MyHD *might* be the only real option, but there are other hardware options out there that handle QAM.

[Mike @ Jan 7th 2006 5:49PM]

Folks,



Actually a step backward.



Last year, El Gato delivered their ATSC tuner box that connects via FireWire to the Mac. When first delivered last January, it was OTA ATSC only. A few months later, they released a free software upgrade that enabled viewing of in-the-clear QAM encoded HD cable programs.



One other advantage of the FireWire connection is providing power for the El Gato HDTV tuner box.



So what is the really new thing here? A smaller box that connects via USB2 for the Mac.