PctvHdProStick
Latest
Pinnacle points out the obvious: DVR is an Olympics must-have
First off, Pinnacle's latest PCTV HD Pro Stick came out months ago, and as a matter of fact, the original actually surfaced years ago. However, it's latest ploy for press does make a valid point: USB TV tuners and / or HD DVRs are a must-have item for surviving the Olympics. Oh sure, you can do what most Americans will do and simply tune into the highlights, but this is your one shot in four years to catch planet Earth's greatest summer athletes doing their respective thangs in high-definition! Still, you've only got two eyes and one pair of ears, so now would be a very opportune time to pick up some form of recording device to make sure you don't miss a, er, too many moments.
Pinnacle unveils Clear QAM-capable PCTV HD Stick / PCTV HD Pro Stick USB tuners
Should you find the PCTV Nano Stick a bit too minuscule for your liking (or you just aren't down with DVB-T), Pinnacle's got two newcomers for you to peek. The refreshed versions of the PCTV HD Stick and PCTV HD Pro Stick both include support for unencrypted digital cable (ClearQAM) channels and a "next-generation tuner / demodulator with more sensitive reception of both analog and digital TV signals." Both units come bundled with the outfit's TVCenter Pro software for turning your PC into a PVR, and the Pro model (shown after the jump) adds stereo sound for analog / digital TV, FM reception and the ability to capture video from STBs, camcorders, etc. with the included dongle. Good enough for you? Catch the pair early next week for $69.99 and $99.99, respectively.
Pinnacle announces USB/PCI TV tuners and video editing gear
Pinnacle's already hooked up our friends in Europe with a DVB-T tuner on a stick, but now those of us on this side of the pond are getting a little over-the-air HD love with its just-announced PCTV HD Pro Stick. Bundled with a remote and telescopic antenna, the $130 USB tuner will let you tap into ATSC broadcasts from the comfort of your laptop -- if you live in an area with coverage, that is (otherwise you can still use it to pick up a regular old standard definition NTSC signal). On the desktop side of things, Pinnacle's got the PCTV MCE Companion, which'll give you a Media Center-compatible TV tuner and remote for $100 even. Either option will give you most of the functions you'd expect from a standalone PVR, as well as some PC-specific advantages, like recording directly iPod, PSP, and DivX formats, as well as direct-to-DVD recording. On a somewhat related front, Pinnacle's also announced some new video editing gear -- the Pinnacle Studio MovieBox USB ($99) and the Pinnacle Studio MovieBoard PCI ($79), both also available in "Plus" editions for $149 each. All will give you the hardware and software needed to turn your dated old home movies into cinema vérité masterpieces, with the Plus editions packing in a "professional" microphone kit and Chroma Key green screen backdrop, as well as additional effects options. The whole lot will be available next month. [Via DV Guru]
