USBtuner
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Pinnacle cranks out PCTV Nano Stick USB tuner
This one's been around the block a time or two, but for you Europeans out there trying to hunt down a new OTA TV tuner that won't bog down your knapsack when traveling, Pinnacle's latest looks to be just the thing. Apparently launching across the pond, the PCTV Nano Stick handles DVB-T signals and enables users to save material in MPEG1, MPEG2 or DivX format. Interestingly, we're only told of its compatibility with Windows Media Center, so we 'spose OS X users would be pushing their luck with this one. No concrete deets on pricing, either, but word on the street pegs it at £39.99 ($78).[Via PC Advisor]
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.
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]
Pinnacle kicks out $100 PCTV HD Stick USB tuner
The Pinnacle PCTV USB Stick that you may have grown quite fond of over the past year has finally decided to get with the times, as the newest iteration throws HD capability into the minuscule tuner while still ringing up a penny under a Benjamin. The Pinnacle PCTV HD Stick steps it down a notch from its Professional sibling, but still allows users to "view live television on their PC with pause, rewind, and fast-forward timeshifting functionality." Pinnacle's latest USB 2.0 tuner is "about the size of a key," gets all the necessary juice right from the USB port, supports NTSC and ATSC broadcasts, and comes bundled with the firm's TVCenter Pro software. Best of all, this no frills portable TV tuner can get live programming on your laptop or desktop right now for a mere $99.99.
AVerMedia intros AVerTV Hybrid USB analog / digital HD tuner
AVerMedia's no stranger to taking brave new steps in the TV tuning arena, and this time around its delving into high-definition with the AVerTV Hybrid Ultra USB. This USB-based breakout tuner handles both analog (NTSC) and digital (ATSC) HD OTA broadcasts, is compatible with Windows XP, XP Media Center Edition 2005, and Windows Vista Premium, and touts its very own MPEG-2 hardware encoding solution to boot. Additionally, the device is bundled with an MCE-compatible remote to control the action from afar, and it also enables the obligatory PVR action whilst supporting resolutions up to 1080i and both 4:3 and 16:9 aspect ratios. Furthermore, users can expect to pull in FM radio transmissions when not tuning into televised programming, and while we've certainly seen more compact ways to deliver a USB 2.0 tuner before, AVerMedia's latest is available nevertheless for $129.99.
Sima Products returns with DTU-100 USB ATSC TV tuner
Since everyone else is pumpin' out USB TV tuners like they're going out of style, Sima Products -- those folks who brought us the Hitch transfer device -- is back again, and this time it's bringing the USB ATSC tuning love with the DTU-100. Aside from sporting that oh-so-portable USB stick design, this rendition touts a dedicated antenna port as well as a video input dongle to record your latest camcorder captures without a separate piece of hardware. The dongle supports stereo audio and composite / S-Video, but it's still not clear whether this all comes together as a nice, neat package, nor how much these niceties will set you back.
Greenhouse kicks out 1Seg TV tuner in USB fashion
While we've seen plenty of TV tuning love for the UK / US crowd, it's about time we saw a new rendition to pick up those delightful digital terrestrial broadcasts while cruising through Tokyo. Greenhouse has busted out a silicon-wrapped 1Seg TV tuner for the Japanese market, but upped the ante on the typical USB stick design. By offering 360-degree rotation, you shouldn't have any problems blocking up spare ports while tuning on your laptop, and it also includes a magnetic base / extension cord to place the antenna at the faraway sweet spot. Aside from pulling in ISDB-T signals, this device also touts an electronic program guide and USB 2.0 / 1.1 connectivity, but unfortunately encodes the content as it's recorded so it can only be played back on the PC in which it was brought in on. So if the inability to view your shows on any other device than the one you used to tune with (somehow) doesn't faze you, you can pick up the GH-1ST-U2K now for ¥10,800 ($94).[Via Akihabara News]
FusionHDTV5 brings DMB and HD into harmonious USB union
We know how you DMB and HDTV kids are always fighting over the spare USB ports, peddling your digital wares to confused and media-saturated Korean consumers. It's just not how things were meant to be. DViCO wants us all to get along, and has busted out the FusionHDTV Master DMB/HDTV tuner to promote just such a harmony. We're a bit low on other deets, but based on US specs of DViCO's products, we're guessing the T-DMB and HDTV unit can record one channel while you watch the other, and should include some good MPEG encoding and decoding acceleration. As for price... can you really put a pricetag on sweet, sweet DTV harmony?[Via Akihabara]
