eyetv
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EyeTV Hybrid
TV on a Mac is a foreign concept to most people, but EyeTV hopes to change that with the introduction of the minuscule (just a bit larger than an iPod Shuffle) EyeTV Hybrid USB TV tuner. Capable of receiving both digital (S-Video via an adapter) and analog (using the built-in coax plug or the included composite adapter) signals, the Hybrid can pick up regular run-of-the-mill standard standard definition TV, as well as up to 1080p HDTV over-the-air programming (if you have either a dual G5 or Core Duo). With that delicious combination of input options, I can hook up both my Xbox OR digital cable to my PowerBook, sit back, and relax. The EyeTV Hybrid goes for an extremely affordable $150. [via OhGizmo!]
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
EyeTV 2.3 adds Front Row-like menu
Elgato has released a fairly significant update to their EyeTV software that adds a Front Row-like menu UI for interacting with live TV, shows you've recorded and the program guide. Other sites are calling this 'Front Row integration', but I thought that was slightly misleading, as 'integration' simply means the top-level menu in this new version (pictured) has an option to start Front Row; nothing more. In fact, from glancing at the instructions in their 776 KB ReadMe file (link) about the update, it looks like this new version actually takes over the default Front Row keyboard shortcut of cmd + esc, forcing you to go through their menu if what you actually want is Front Row - though I could be wrong (btw, here's a tip Elgato: compress your PSD files to a JPEG or PNG before slapping them in a ReadMe).Other updates include support for two USB sticks from Hauppauge, exporting to Windows Media (as long as you've purchased the proper Flip4Mac QuickTime plugin), as well as a general export speed increase of 33%, and up to 500% depending on the source and exported format.This update is a Universal Binary, free to registered users of EyeTV 2.x and should be available from the app's own 'Check for Updates' menu.
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.
Rig of the Day: One more TV rig
Ok, just one more TV rig, we promise.* Flickr user beenester asks, "Is it overkill to use a 1.8GHz Powermac G5 as a TV computer?" We say, "Heck, no!" "Overkill?" posted by beenester.If you'd like to see your own rig featured here, simply upload photos into our group Flickr pool. We select one image to highlight each day, and crown a Rig of the Week on Sundays.*Probably. Most likely.
YAMMMC - Yet Another Mac Mini Media Center
That little white box from Apple sure is loved. It must be its great size but yet huge amount of power that is drawing so many people to it. TUAW caught wind of another Mac Mini Media Center project using Front Row and EyeTV. Chris, the owner and builder, also added on to the Mini's small hard drive with an encloser that clones the Minis footprint and size. From the looks of things, everything turned out just peachy. The system works great for him and although this system is not on an HDTV, the setup he describes would work on one as long as you upgrade the tuner. The Elgato EyeTV EZ does not do anything digital or high-def but the EyeTV 500 does. If any of our readers has a great setup like this one, drop us some pics at our Flickr pool!
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.
EveTV 2.1 Goes Universal
For all the HDTV Mac fans out there, the premier HD playback software is now Universal. This is especially important to all those with the Intel Mac Mini or the MacBook Pro, but there are still lots of great new features for PPC Mac's like EyeConnect which allows the HD content to be played back on any compatible UPnP AV media player. It also includes features like auto convert to iPod. The only feature that I wish they would add is some place shifting software, although I don't know who has enough bandwidth to stream HD.via [eHomeUpgrade]
USB 2.0 HDTV recorder for Macs
Want ATSC or QAM HDTV programming on your Mac you say? How about via your USB 2.0 port? Ok ok, I see you're not interested, but what if I threw in an antenna, support for up to 1080i resolution, remote and EyeTV software to manage the whole thing?Ahh, I knew you'd like that and so did Miglia, so for $250 the TVMini HD can be yours.[Via MacNN]
