Elgato
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Elgato's Turbo 264 USB stick painlessly coverts vidz to H.264
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]
Elgato announces turbo.264, USB stick H.264 encoder
According to the folks over at iPhone-Scene, Elgato, makers of Mac based TV tuners and the EyeTV PVR software, has announced the turbo.264 USB H.264 hardware encoder. When plugged into a Mac, this device will allow any application that uses QuickTime to export H.264 video two to four times faster than before. Of course, H.264 is the video codec favored by Apple for the iPod, the Apple TV, the forthcoming iPhone, as well as Sony's PSP and other video playing devices.Apparently, Elgato "hopes to release the stick at the end of April 2007 for 99 Euros" (~$132). Unfortunately, there is no mention of this product yet on Elgato's main site, but a few more detail are available at iPhone-Scene.[via Digg]
Elgato unveils dual-tuner EyeTV Diversity USB stick in the UK
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]
Elgato releases new EyeTV Diversity DTT tuner
Looks like Miglia isn't the only kid on the block with a picture-in-picture TV tuner for the Mac anymore, as Elgato has released the EyeTV Diversity, offering powerful DTT reception, picture-in-picture viewing and the ability to record one channel while you watch another. DTT, for those who might be scratching their heads, stands for Digital Terrestrial Television, a new digital broadcasting standard adopted mostly by European and Asian countries, allowing for more better channels and content to be served over traditional broadcasting systems (i.e. - from what little I know about DTT from the Wikipedia entry and Elgato's product page, this product doesn't really have North Americans in its demographic, for now). Nevertheless, judging from its size and feature list, the EyeTV Diversity is packing quite a punch, and it's available now from Elgato for 149,95 Euros.Thanks Todd
Miglia TVBook Pro, records live DTV
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 mini-ATSC tuner -- Mac's only
It was only a few weeks ago we spied the first ATSC tuner in thumbdrive form but it wasn't Mac compatible. El Gato, maker of the Eye500, has our back though and just announced the EyeTV Hybrid digital/analog tuner just for Macs. The tuner is in the form of a small thumb-drive that utilizes USB 2.0 to deliver analog or digital TV to your Mac. Just plug it and go. Well, you might have to use the antenna if you aren't in an area with generous NTSC/ATSC coverage. Or you the included break-out cables will allow you to plug in an old VCR, DVD player or game system as long as you covert the signal to coax. El Gato's EyeTV 2 software is wrote natively for OS X and will allow you to record in MPEG-2 -- that is if your Mac has enough power. The tuner is currently available for $150 on their site.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
El Gato's EyeTV Hybrid digital/analog tuner for Macs
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]
Back/Center Stage 0.6 released
CenterStage and BackStage make up a dynamic duo which gives FrontRow a run for its money. The free software suite reached version 0.6 today, bringing with it some exciting new features and Intel support. Media management app BackStage got madeover with a new unified UI, while FrontRow-esque component CenterStage now features support for the Apple remote, Elgato eyeTV, and Griffin RadioShark, as well as a new UI for photo browsing. While the programs might not be as polished and feature rich as MediaCentral, the price can't be beat, and new features are being added rapidly. Via HardMac
Video tutorial looks at eyeTV2 and eyeTV for DTT
This week's ScreenCastOnline is a video tutorial on Elgato's eyeTV2. The tutorial shows how to edit your TV recordings to remove ads, make DVDs of your TV recordings, convert recorded programs to iPod format and export to iTunes for syncing with your iPod, and more. It also offers a look at the new eyeTV for DTT device (Digital Terrestrial Television) launched by Elgato in Europe, which Scott mentioned recently.ScreenCastsOnline is also giving away an eyeTV for DTT to a lucky new subscriber to the free iTunes version of the ScreenCastsOnline video podcast.
Elgato's EveTV for DTT features Front Row-like interface/Apple Remote integration
Elgato today announced the eyetv for DTT which allows you to record and play back programming from DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television to you) on your Mac. This little USB 2.0 stick just plugs into your Mac (if you're using a MacBook it won't cover the MagSafe port) and bam your Mac is a PVR (only if you're in a country that uses DTT though). How much for this wonder of technology? €99.But wait, that's not all! The software included with the eyetv DDT (and soon coming for the rest of the eyetv line) includes a Front Row like interface for watching live TV and your recordings. Best of all, it even uses the Apple remote.
Turn that Mac mini into a media center - finally
When the mini was announced, about the only person NOT thinking "media center Mac" was Bill Gates. I immediately bought one, and I bought the then-new El Gato EyeTV with that ATI logo on it (the full name escapes me). That El Gato box is ugly, gets hot, and didn't really do what I wanted... So now El Gato has a new version of their baseline TV input device out, and this time it has a remote! So, between a big hard drive, the El Gato EyeTV EZ, and a Mac mini Core Duo, you finally have a nearly-perfect Mac-based media center. And to help you set it all up, there's Chris Hamady's excellent page on his Media Center Macintosh Project. Great. So what the heck am I going to do with my old rig?Chris sets up his EZ with the mini, and it works great, in no small part because of that nifty remote (curse you El Gato!). He adds a big honkin' hard drive for all that sweet, sweet pep. Then he rips his DVD's using Handbrake, so his collection is accessible using Front Row. To top it all off, he puts XP on there (complete with some security measures). I guess he can use his Windows boot for watching those nifty CNN videos...
Create 5.1 audio with Quicktime and EyeTV
TUAW reader Dave has posted a tutorial at his site on using Quicktime to create video files with 5.1 sound. Taking video files he captured with an Elgato EyeTV, he uses mAC3dec and Quicktime Pro to separate the sound into the six channels of 5.1 sound. It looks pretty straight forward, but I don't have an EyeTV, so I couldn't try it out. Thanks for sharing, Dave!PS-Did you really hang out with Lewis Black? We're jealous.
Elgato releases the eyeTV 250
Elgato, the makers of the popular eyeTV digital TV recording software and hardware for the Mac, today introduced the eyeTV 250. This thing is small, as in barely-bigger-than-an-mouse small (see picture at right). With it, you can watch, pause and rewind live TV, edit recorded shows and schedule recordings in advance. Plus, the included software will transfer your shows to an iPod automatically.Note that the eyeTV 250 only does analog cable/antenna recording. However, it's so compact and moderately priced ($199) that I think it looks great. It's on sale now and requires a G4, G5 or Intel Core processor, 256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended) and Mac OS 10.4 or later.[Via PVR Blog]
EyeTV 2.1 goes Universal
EyeTV reached version 2.1 today, and with the update comes a few nice improvements. EyeTV is Elgato's television playback and recording software for the Mac that makes viewing, recording and transferring shows to an iPod easy. Version 2.1 includes the following changes: Universal binary Full-resolution playback of HDTV has been extended to all Macs with Intel core duos (which means 1080i HDTV on Core Duo Mac minis and MacBook Pros!) Greater speed when transferring content to an iPod EyeTV 2.1 requires a G4 (500MHz or faster), G5 or Intel Core processor, and Mac OS X 10.4 or later.
EyeTV 2 released
As previously reported on TUAW, Elgato has released EyeTV 2. It costs $49 and includes a host of new features including playlists, a new on screen remote (pictured to the right), single click iPod export, batch export and much more.Check out all the new features here.
