tvtuner
Latest
equinux offers up TubeStick hybrid USB TV tuner
If neither of Elgato's latest from Macworld tickled your fancy, there's a decent shot you may like what equinux has going on instead. The TubeStick hybrid is the firm's newly announced USB TV tuner, which is housed in a diminutive chassis that won't block nearby ports and offers up OTA reception of NTSC, ATSC and digital (QAM) signals. Furthermore, the unit comes wearing the whitest of white outfits and also touts an external antenna and a one-month trial of the TubeToGo software. Yes, this critter will play nice with Windows machines as well, but we hear it tries to avoid such predicaments whenever possible. Ready to snag your own? Catch one next month for $129. [Via The Mac Observer]
Elgato updates EyeTV Hybrid / 250 Plus TV tuners: Clear-QAM now welcome
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 HybridRead - Elgato EveTV 250 Plus
Hauppauge intros WinTV-HVR-950Q USB tuner with Clear-QAM support
Been on the lookout for a USB TV tuner with NTSC, ATSC and Clear-QAM support? Look no further than Hauppauge, which has proudly introduced the WinTV-HVR-950Q to handle all of the aforementioned needs. Additionally, the stick comes bundled with a credit card-sized remote capable of controlling the action from any given sofa, and it obviously supports the firm's SoftPVR and SoftMCE software MPEG-2 encoders. We know you're eager to cram one in your laptop and hop on a jet to a land far, far away, so you'll be quite pleased to know that it ships this month for $99.
HP Pavilion Elite m9150f PC handles HD DVD, OTA TV
Not pleased with any of HP's other offerings? Fret not, as we've got yet another one coming your way. The Pavilion Elite m9150f PC comes ready to handle those HD DVD / PVR duties, and it may even withstand a e-mail or two. Here's the dirt: 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 processor Intel's G33 Express chipset 3GB of DDR2 RAM Dual 360GB (720GB total) 7,200 SATA hard drives HP's Personal / Pocket Media Drive Bays HD DVD (read-only) drive LightScribe-enabled SuperMulti DVD burner Gigabit Ethernet / 802.11b/g WiFi NTSC / ATSC / FM tuners HP Media Center remote control with IR receiver Front-mounted 15-in-1 multicard reader If you couldn't already guess, this one also packs six USB 2.0 ports, twin FireWire sockets, audio in / out, a wireless keyboard / mouse combo and HDMI / DVI outputs. As with HP's other newly announced media PCs, the m9100 series is set to ship this month and start at $1,159.
Evergreen unveils DN-MRC200T external TV tuner / media recorder
We can't say we're really feeling that design, but Evergreen's DN-MRC200T makes up for it with a good bit of functionality. This device not only features an area for a 2.5-inch hard drive of your choice along with Memory Stick Pro / SD / MMC flash card access, but it also includes a built-in TV tuner (analog, regrettably) to handle the capture, storage and transport of programming without any outside assistance. Granted, it seems a bit late to be bringing a product out without a digital tuner built-in, but hey, maybe that's why it's "only" ¥19,999 ($176).[Via AkihabaraNews]
Corega intros compact CG-1SG24TV 1seg TV
Although you're better off looking Sanyo's direction if you need one that's waterproof, Corega has a couple of new micro-TVs for those who can manage to keep their distance from the waterways. The CG-1SG24TV is set to arrive in black / white motifs and feature a 2.4-inch 320 x 240 resolution LCD, built-in 1seg TV tuner, an electronic program guide (EPG), integrated stereo speakers and a headphone jack to boot. Furthermore, this pocket-friendly unit gets all the power it needs from a pair of AAA cells, and you'll even get a set of earbuds thrown in for good measure. Expect this one to land early next month for around ¥12,800 ($119).[Via AkihabaraNews]
Envision kicks out trio of Omni-series LCD HDTVs
Envision understands that the people need choices, and just in case neither of the two LCD HDTVs that the firm unleashed last month tickled your fancy, here comes a trio of new ones to pore over. All three units sport a 1,366 x 768 resolution, eight-millisecond response time, ATSC / Clear QAM tuners, integrated speakers, a headphone jack, S/PDIF port and a glossy black finish. On the high(er)-end, we've got the 42-inch L42W761, which features a 1,200:1 contrast ratio, twin HDMI inputs and a respectable $999 pricetag. The 32-inch L32W761 differs from its big bro by offering up a 1,500:1 contrast ratio, while the 26-inch L26W761 musters an 800:1 CR. These two will ring up at $649 and $479, respectively, and are available as we speak from a number of fine retailers, but if you've got your eye on the 42-incher, you'll be waiting till the 23rd -- yeah, Black Friday -- to take one home.
Video of the Nintendo DS 1seg TV tuner in action
We've seen a couple pretty press photos of the forthcoming DS 1seg TV tuner, but nothing beats video -- and the Japanese promo video unearthed by the crew at Gamebrink delivers the goods in spades. Apart from the usual orientation and aspect ratio settings, the tuner has some neat extra features -- you can take notes on one screen while watching on the other, and it also can be set to take screenshots whenever the closed captioning changes, allowing you to flip through a show like a picture book later. Japanese DS fans can get their hands on the 1seg tuner starting on the 23rd, according to Gamebrink. Check the whole video after the break.[Thanks, J]
Nintendo dusts off their TV tuner accessory
First seen back in February of last year, the DS TV tuner accessory kind of disappeared. Now that it's back and Nintendo is actually planning to release it, the DS is a very different system. The DS Lite was being shown off at the same conference as the TV tuner, yet to become the massive cultural phenomenon that nobody expected it to be. New Super Mario Bros. had yet to be released; the first Brain Training game was out and selling well, but not ridiculously well. Maybe Nintendo just got busy and forgot about the accessory.It's back now, and it has a firm release date of November 20th. If you have access to the 1seg digital audio/video broadcast system (which means you live in Japan), you can use this device to receive programming! You can also write notes and save them, which can be useful for sports scores. Nintendo will be selling this exclusively online for 6,800 yen ($59), and preorders start November 8th.The sudden resurgence of this accessory was predicted by the Japanese magazine Gamelabo, whose predictions are usually not worth caring about. However, since this one turned out to be true, it may bode well for the other rumors they mongered in that issue: a new Square Enix RPG for DS starring Shonen Jump characters, and a PSP version of Dragon Quest IX. Or it could be that Gamelabo has a strict lies:truth ratio they have to keep up.[Via Dengeki]
AMD unveils trio of new ATI TV Wonders
Those looking for a fresh way to capture OTA signals on their computer need to look AMD's way, as the firm is kicking out three new ATI TV Wonder devices today. Up first is the TV Wonder 650 Combo USB, which includes two TV tuners to pick up OTA HDTV signals / ClearQAM programming, analog TV and FM broadcasts. For those with desktops, the TV Wonder 600 PCI or TV Wonder 600 PCI Express should fit the bill quite nicely, as they offer up the same features as their USB sibling in less portable forms. Notably, all three units come bundled with Catalyst Media Center software, which enables the devices to quickly convert (read: "with two mouse clicks") recorded programming to formats suitable for use on the iPod, Zune, PSP, iPhone, Palm Treo, etc. Price wise, the 650 Combo USB will demand $149, while the other two (pictured after the jump) will run you just $99 apiece.
Sony's iMac-ish VAIO VGC-LT19U reviewed
Sure, Sony's been kickin' out iMac-like machines for some time now, but the firm's latest all-in-one desktop made a pit-stop by the PCMag labs in order to get critiqued. The sleek, stylish VAIO VGC-LT19U fared pretty well, and the built-in Blu-ray burner, dazzling 22-inch panel and satisfactory integrated speakers were all given a thumbs-up. Granted, you won't find any drool-worthy hardware on the CPU / GPU fronts, but the machine was said to run quietly thanks to its reliance on "laptop-grade components." The only major digs revolved around the lackluster mouse / keyboard combo and the "obscene" amount of bloatware that comes loaded on, and of course, the folks were none too pleased to see an external CableCARD tuner (hard to avoid, we know) bundled with an otherwise elegant machine. All in all, the system seemed to perform quite well, and in our book, earning four out of five twinkling stars (or red dots, whateva) ain't half bad.
ReplayTV launches Personal HD tuner kit, plays nice with iPod / iPhone
We've seen a number of USB tuners that make converting files for handheld viewing a lesson in simplicity, but ReplayTV is givin' you one more alternative. The Personal HD kit includes a USB 2.0 ATSC / NTSC hybrid tuner, an antenna, wireless remote (which fits nicely in a spare PCMCIA slot), a free year of ReplayTV Electronic Program Guide (EPG), and bundled software that features native iPod, Apple TV and iPhone support. This "all-in-one" solution for getting OTA content on your device of choice is set to ship this November for $99.95.
Microsoft's Media Center to support four CableCARDs
Hot on the heels of finding out who Microsoft chose to buddy up with for its Extenders for Windows Media Center comes word that the software itself will support up to four CableCARDs in a single configuration. If you'll recall, Media Center previously supported just a pair of CableCARDs, but word on the street has Niveus Media and Exceptional Innovation as the first two HTPC vendors to offer up systems that take full advantage of the new functionality. Reportedly, Exceptional Innovation's Model 754 LifeMedia Server will have four CableCARD slots built-in right into its chassis, while Niveus is opting for four external tuners, and while hard pricing details don't look to be available just yet, go on and tell yourself that it won't be cheap.
Fujitsu's LOOX U50XN ultra-portable PC gets colored
It's been a tick since Fujitsu's LOOX ultra-portable PC lineup has garnered our attention, but there's no better way to do that than offer up the machine in four dazzling colors and bump the hardware while you're at it. The FMV-U50XN is now available in white, blue, black and red color schemes, and includes an 800MHz Intel A110 processor, up to 1GB of DDR2 RAM, between 20GB and 40GB of hard drive space, a 5.6-inch LED-backlit LCD with a 1,024 x 600 resolution, 802.11b/g, USB 2.0, VGA output, SD / CF card slots, an integrated speaker, and Windows Vista to boot. After you mull over exactly which hue to choose (take a peek after the break for closeups), you can snag your fav for around $1,600 right now.
Inkel's portable AirwayHD tuner compresses files on its own
Granted, portable OTA tuners are a dime a dozen these days, but an interesting twist has been introduced by Korea's Inkel. The AirwayHD manages to boast a diminutive size while internalizing the process of converting OTA streams into manageable files using the H.264 codec. Reportedly, the device can compress files to one-fourth of their original size without any PC software intervention, and it should make life pretty easy for those hoping to view recorded content on their portable media player. No word on a release date just yet, but it'll only run you about ???100,000 ($106) when it eventually lands. Check out a few more pics after the break.
Saber's DA-1N1-I analog / digital combo PCI TV tuner
While most of the hybrid tuners we see 'round these parts are of the USB variety, Saber's DA-1N1-I is looking out for those of us needing a new occupant in a lonely PCI slot -- but we'd be careful calling it a "hybrid." This low-profile "combo" card should be ideal for HTPCs, and offers up an analog NTSC tuner with hardware decoding as well as a QAM-capable ATSC tuner for grabbing those high-definition OTA broadcasts. Meant to operate in Windows Vista and MCE scenarios, this sucka can even be installed beside a clone of itself for freaks that would actually use a dual analog / dual digital tuner setup, and the low, low price of around $99 ought to garner quite a bit of attention.
HP not offering CableCARD on PCs due to configuration issues?
We were admittedly joyful when HP decided to unveil its media-centric m8010y and d4890y desktops soon after the stylish DEC lineup headed to an early grave, but apparently, things aren't going so well with the sophisticated machines. According to a user report, HP informed the owner of a malfunctioning m8010y that the company was "no longer selling Digital Cable Tuners due to problems with the current configuration." Sadly, we've no idea how that conversation continued nor why HP would be having so much trouble integrating CableCARD tuners into its machines, but there's certainly no shortage of vendors willing to take its place in the meantime. So, dear readers, have any of you ran into issues ordering a CableCARD-equipped HP of late?
AMD unveils TV Wonder 600 USB, 650 PCIe HD tuners
Regardless of whether you're scouting a TV tuner for your desktop or portable machine, AMD has unveiled a duo of devices that will likely fit the bill. Up first is AMD's plug 'n play ATI TV Wonder 600 USB, which should have no problem tuning OTA HD on any machine equipped with USB, and also comes bundled with an IR remote, AV input, and Catalyst Media Center software. For the desktop only crowd, the ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo PCIe (pictured after the jump) sports ClearQAM support, hybrid analog / digital tuning, a 3D comb filter, FM tuner, and like its portable sibling, works just fine with Windows Vista. No word yet on the pricing details, but both units should be shipping out next month.[Via DailyTech]
odd-i stuffs DMB, GPS into P480DN portable media player
While this iteration of the P480 looks mighty similar to the one we caught at CES, it looks like odd-i decided to just stick with the same enclosure and bump up the internals in the P480DN. The Windows CE-powered handheld sports a widescreen display, built-in e-dictionary, GPS, DMB TV tuner, an SD expansion slot, and a 30GB or 60GB hard drive to boot. Unfortunately, details surrounding price and availability for the 60GB variety are nowhere to be found, but it was noted that the 30GB edition should land sometime this month for a currently undisclosed amount.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Memup's 30GB Orizon PMP looks oh-so-sleek
Mmm, nothing like a sleek, glossy black PMP to get your juices flowin'. If you tend to agree with that sentiment, Memup's Orizon should suit your fancy quite well, as the 30GB unit comes in an ebony outfit, sports a 4.3-inch 480 x 272 resolution display, and even includes an SD / MMC card slot to watch media clips stored on your flash memory. You'll also find a text viewer and built-in FM tuner to complement the obligatory MP3, WMA, MPEG4, JPEG, BMP, and GIF file support, but the ability to play nice with Motion JPEG and XviD are welcome extras. Unfortunately, you're going to have to love the looks some kind of fierce in order to find value in the purported $378 pricetag. [Warning: PDF read link][Via AnythingButiPod]UPDATE: Looks like this creature may actually be a straight up rip of another. Check out Coby's PMP4330 to see for yourself.
