CompositeVideo
Latest
AverMedia rolls out AverTV box PVR, likely targeting budget-minded ad-skippers
AverMedia generally doesn't boggle us with cutting edge products, but they have their niche with those for whom money is an object. Though pricing hasn't been announced, the AverTV Box PVR announced at Computex seems to fit that mold, offering set-top recording and time-shifting, but foregoing niceties like network connectivity, HDMI output or even HD for that matter. The box can record to separate USB devices and output with analog VGA or RCA composite to a monitor or TV. While it appears to be SD-only, if your 20-year old Zenith wants to get in on some PVR time-shifting, it might have found a new best friend. Check the PR for more info. Show full PR text AVerMedia Announced the Standalone TV Recording Box Used with TV Set or PC Monitor Taipei, Taiwan-June 4 ,2012 AVerMedia Technologies, Inc., the preeminent name in digital multimedia technology, today announced the availability of the AVerTV Box PVR, a standalone TV recording box used with TV set or PC monitor. The AVerTV Box PVR features direct file recording to USB hard drives directly, scheduled recording and TimeShift, which provide consumers the most convenient way to enjoy TV programs at any time. What's more, it is equipped with 3D Y/C separation technology that ensures the superior video quality. Besides TV recording, it can also be used to preserve your favorite video from various external source devices. With the advantages of ease of operations, high video quality and multi-use capability, the AVerTV Box PVR is the ideal and cost-effective solution for TV and video enthusiasts. The hardware and function design of the AVerTV Box PVR satisfies all the demands for live TV recording. Its inputs of TV antenna and composite video allow users to capture analog cable TV, as well as TV content from satellite/cable TV set-up-box. Due to its compatibility of both TV set and PC monitor, the product stands out from general TV boxes for PCTV to bring this delightful TV experiences to the living room. With only one press, the AVerTV Box PVR records your favorite variety shows, drama series, football games, and sitcoms to an external USB hard drive. Moreover, the device provides multiple recording options to ensure your ultimate TV entertainment. Besides real-time recording while watching TV programs, it is capable of cyclic scheduled recording with auto power on and off, which means capturing the whole TV series with one-time setting to save your trouble and electricity expense when you are away from home. Even better, its TimeShift function enables pause, fast-forward and rewind live TV clips so that no prime moments will be missed because of any sudden interruption, and those breath-taken moments can be re-played. What's more valued, the AVerTV Box PVR adopts the NEC chipset with advanced 3D Y/C separation technology, which helps to present higher video quality from analog TV signal due to the powerful noise reduction and color separation capabilities.
Japan creates frankenstein pop idol, sells candy
Sure, Japan's had its fair share of holographic and robotic pop idols, but they always seem to wander a bit too far into the uncanny valley. Might an amalgam composite pop-star fare better? Nope, still creepy -- but at least its a new kind of creepy. Eguchi Aimi, a fictional idol girl created for a Glico candy ad, is comprised of the eyes, ears, nose, and other facial elements of girls from AKB48, a massive (over 50 members) all-female pop group from Tokyo. Aimi herself looks pretty convincing, but the way she never looks away from the camera makes our skin crawl ever so slightly. Check out the Telegraph link below to see her pitch Japanese sweets while staring through your soul.
Capturing iPad video on a Mac is still problematic
When TUAW blogger Erica Sadun and I found out that the iPad 2 was going to feature video mirroring through the various adapters that Apple and others sell, we were ecstatic. For Erica, this would hopefully provide a quick way to capture movies of demonstrations of some of her software solutions, while I was hoping to be able to grab iPad video on my Mac for the many app demos that I do on TUAW TV Live. Regretfully, our joy was short-lived. We've both tried with various cables and adapters, and to this point, have had no luck. Both Erica and I own inexpensive video input devices for our Macs; she has the Elgato Video Capture (US$99.95) while I have the functionally equivalent Geniatech iGrabber ($34.99). Both devices take composite video signals from a device -- usually an old VHS videocassette recorder or camcorder -- and capture the resulting video using proprietary software on the Mac. Since Apple sells a Composite AV Cable for iOS devices, we both thought that it would be possible to blast video out from the iPad 2 through that cable to the Mac composite video capture tools, which would let us achieve our respective goals for capturing iPad 2 videos. Unfortunately, neither of us was able to get this to work, and we're not exactly sure why. Apple's spec page indicates the composite output isn't supported for mirroring.
First Look: Scosche sneakPEEK II audio-video output solution for iOS
Doing a lot of presentations from an iPad or other iOS device can be problematic if you work with a lot of different video devices. One time you might be hooking your iPad up to a HDTV with a composite connection, the next to a standard definition projector using component video. Buying Apple's Component AV Cable ($49) and Composite AV Cable (also $49) can be a pricey proposition, and you have to carry around two sets of cables. Now Scosche has come out with the sneakPEEK II ($60) switchable video output solution for iPad, iPhone, and iPods with a Dock Connector. The cable provides both component and composite video connections, so it's possible to work with almost any TV or display. The sneakPEEK II comes with a USB-to-micro USB cable so you can charge your device while it's showing your Keynote presentation or blasting your Netflix rental to an HDTV. Remember, though -- the app you're using must support video out. While you may still need the Apple iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter ($29) on occasion while performing your road warrior duties, the sneakPEEK II looks like a good all-in-one solution for those other audiovisual situations you may encounter.
