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Elgato Video Capture allows Macs to record analog video

by Nilay Patel posted May 8th 2009 at 11:31AM

Sure, the MPAA won't be happy that you're not just videotaping your TV, but the Mac users out there still looking for some real-time SD recording action might want to check out Elgato's Video Capture box. Nothing too fancy here, just RCA / S-Video / SCART input and some software to trim clips and export to H.264 and MPEG-4, but it could be just the ticket if you've got a stack of VHS tapes or something. Out in Europe now for €100 ($134), we'll let you know when it comes Stateside.

[Via Electronista]

Elgato ships 1080p-friendly Turbo.264 HD video conversion dongle

by Darren Murph posted Mar 19th 2009 at 6:11PM

Remember that brilliant Turbo.264 video conversion dongle that shipped like, two whole years ago? Yeah, it's successor has just hit the streets, and it's as ready as ever for 1080p content. The predictably titled Elgato Turbo.264 HD plugs directly into one's Mac and converts files up to 1080p (from camcorders, digital cameras, etc.) into files that are perfectly formatted for iPods, PSPs or other media players. The bundled software also lets users preview and trim video clips before converting, and it saves folks the time and hassle of importing into iMovie, learning commands, rendering and exporting. Reportedly, a video that would take an hour to convert to an iPod-friendly file takes just 15 minutes with this here dongle, and if that's worth $149.95 to you, you're one click away from brightening your own day.

[Via Electricpig]

Gallery: Elgato ships 1080p-friendly Turbo.264 HD video conversion dongle

Elgato refreshes its EyeTV Hybrid tuner

by Steven Kim posted Jan 7th 2009 at 5:15AM

It's been almost a year since Elgato refreshed its EyeTV Hybrid tuner, and while the addition of better reception and a FM radio tuner aren't earth-shattering, it's awfully hard to complain about how much the company has crammed into the Cear-QAM 1080i-tuning USB stick aimed at Mac users. The $150 dongle includes a year-long subscription to TV Guide for your scheduling convenience, but you'll have to fork over $20 per year for the service after that. There will be a new 3.1 version of EyeTV available later this month, but you can pick up the fresh hardware right now.

Elgato updates EyeTV Hybrid / 250 Plus TV tuners: Clear-QAM now welcome

by Darren Murph posted Jan 17th 2008 at 3:59AM

It seems that Elgato was most proud of its totally revamped EyeTV 3 software, but we couldn't help but notice two rather substantial hardware updates that it also chose to announce (albeit quietly) at Macworld 2008. Starting today, the firm's EyeTV Hybrid USB tuner and its EyeTV 250 Plus TV receiver / video converter (shown after the break) are both available with built-in support for unencrypted digital cable (Clear-QAM) channels. 'Course, they'll both still pull in NTSC / ATSC signals, but the addition of Clear-QAM support is a real boon for OTA addicts. Pricing for the extra versatile devices remains unchanged at $149.95 and $199.95, respectively, but unfortunately, existing owners will not be able to receive the newfound functionally with a simple firmware update.

Read - Elgato EyeTV Hybrid
Read - Elgato EveTV 250 Plus

Continue reading Elgato updates EyeTV Hybrid / 250 Plus TV tuners: Clear-QAM now welcome

Elgato delivers EyeTV 3: new UI, smart guides, and network sharing

by Darren Murph posted Jan 16th 2008 at 10:14PM

For those who didn't realize that Macworld actually does keep on spinnin' once Mr. Jobs darts back to Cupertino, here's a little more proof. Elgato Systems is using the remaining spotlight in San Francisco to showcase its latest iteration of EyeTV, and we must say, we're digging the additions. Aside from the completely new user interface tweaked to match Leopard, users of EyeTV 3 will also notice an "extended program guide featuring intelligent searching and recording functionality," enhanced network sharing, Smart Playlists, bolstered AppleScript support and an integrated video editor. If that rundown has you overcome with the itch to upgrade, you can do so for $39.95 (or free for users of EyeTV 2 who obtained their license after December 1, 2007), and if you're looking to start fresh, you can snag the software right now for $79.95.

[Via PCWorld]

Elgato's Turbo 264 USB stick painlessly coverts vidz to H.264

by Darren Murph posted Apr 2nd 2007 at 8:12PM

It's taking a bit longer than expected, but sure enough, manufacturers are coming out of the woodwork to give the iPod / iPhone-to-be customers an easy way to convert videos to H.264. Following ADS Tech's lead, Elgato is on the scene with a Mac-compatible USB stick that acts as a hardware encoder to get your clips and flicks from whatever format they're currently in (within reason, we presume) into a format widely recognized by Apple-branded paraphernalia. Reportedly, the device speeds up the encoding process "by two to four times," and partially relieves your Mac's CPU of the transcoding duties by handling most of the dirty work (shown after the break) within itself. So if you're more interested in forking over your hard-earned cash for an easy solution to your file conversion needs, Elgato's Turbo 264 should be landing around the April timeframe for €99 ($132).

[Via iPhone-Scene]

Continue reading Elgato's Turbo 264 USB stick painlessly coverts vidz to H.264

Elgato unveils dual-tuner EyeTV Diversity USB stick in the UK

by Darren Murph posted Nov 7th 2006 at 4:19PM

If you didn't bite when Elgato released its pocket-friendly EyeTV Hybrid, you may be interested in its supercharged successor, the EyeTV Diversity. The USB 2.0 stick makes for easy travel, and this rendition sports dual attachable antennas and a DSP, "which uses information from both tuners to generate the best signal possible." Designed to work with DTT / DVB-T signals, the device supports dual tuner functionality, PIP, scheduled recordings via the included EveTV 2 software, and a one-year subscription to the "tvtv" program guide. It touts seamless integration with Toast 7, and even provides easy converting for use on video-playing iPods. The company also notes that 1080i and 720p viewing / recording is possible on Macs housing "dual PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo" processors, and the dual-tuner USB stick can be picked up now on the other side of the pond for €149.95 ($191).

[Via digg]

Miglia TVBook Pro, records live DTV

by Cyrus Farivar posted Sep 11th 2006 at 5:53PM

When you're not pounding away on your computer, you probably like to chill out in front of your TV. Now you can veg out on your MacBook Pro with Miglia Technology's new TVBook Pro, which was announced today. This portable digital TV receiver (it handles DVB-T) fits nicely into your ExpressCard slot (with an included amplified antenna that plugs into your USB port) and also includes Elgato's EyeTV software, which will let you watch and record your favorite shows direct to your Mac. But American TV fans, start emailing Maglia now, because for now there's no word on when we'll get it stateside, but our lucky European cousins will get the TVBook Pro will retail for €149 this October. That aside, Maglia seems to also have included time travel equipment inside this little device. As the press release says: "Reinvent your TV experience by pausing, rewinding or even skipping forward live TV, ensuring you never miss any part of what you are watching." Yes, we understand that the company means you can fast forward stuff you've already recorded, but that's not how it's written. Unless they mean to say that they've torn the flux capacitor out of Doc Brown's DeLorean, in which case Miglia needs to call us right away to explain how it works.

El Gato's EyeTV Hybrid digital/analog tuner for Macs

by Thomas Ricker posted Aug 17th 2006 at 9:25AM

You know you need it: that squishy soft gaze that comes with the kind of numb only a TV can deliver at the end of a hard day. El Gato knows this too, and delivers yet another fix to Mac owners in the form of the EyeTV Hybrid. As the name implies, this USB 2.0 stick delivers both hi-definition capable digital ATSC and traditional analog NTSC tuners to record (in MPEG-2 if your Mac has the muscle), edit, and pause live TV when combined with El Gato's bundled EyeTV 2 software. What's more, the kit works with the Apple Remote and includes a break-out cable for connecting composite and S-Video sources like your gaming rig -- for "zero latency" play on your Mac's display -- or that dusty VCR to convert the ol' VHS collection into digital media. Inputs that owners of Apple's stellar, but otherwise inflexible, 30-inch displays will certainly appreciate. Available now for $150 or €150 for our DVB-T signal lovin' brethren.

[Thanks, Doug]