ElGato just announced a lower-cost Mac compatible TV tuner for strictly Over-The-Air antenna reception - the Elgato EyeTV One Computer TV Tuner 10020311 - is priced just under $100. Foregoing compatibility with Analog and Digital Cable (QAM), and lacking an Analog video capture dongle -- this ATSC antenna only tuner is a better short-term value for those of us unwilling to pay high Cable costs and are content with local broadcast reception.

As with any Mac tuner - it's the software that makes the product and the EYE TV ONE comes bundled with the full version of Eye TV 3. It's also compatible with Microsoft's Windows 7 and MediaCenter making it a flexible cross-platform HD computer tuner option.

Tags: Elgato TV, ATSC tuner, TV For Mac

Nice to see a little update to The Tube for the PC and Mac compatible TV tuner - the Equinux TubeStick from Equinux at year's end. Especially welcome is the 12 hour delay for Online TV program guide updates. Earlier versions had an annoying tendency to keep popping up - wanting to temporarily interrupt viewing while it retrieved your local program guide data.

What's new in version 2.9.5 of TheTube:
• Global scanning option. Scans all frequencies, regardless of your selected country
• Support for the new aluminum Apple remote
• Improved stability under Mac OS X 10.6.2
• Restores the iMovie and Apple TV export options
• The Tube will no longer automatically 'unexpectedly' quit if you remove your TV device
• Over the air EPG updates are now delayed for 12 hours if you select "update later"
• Resolves an issue with Miglia Analog TV tuners
• The default volume setting is now louder

Tags: TubeStick, TheTube

AverMedia is shipping a new low-cost HD Mac Volar MAX Tuner Digital-Only tuner stick in the $50 range - along with their own AverTV application. The software seems pretty basic if functional - using a unique 'iPhone Like' on-screen controller interface. For casual TV watching and occasional recording - this is an affordable Apple TV option for enjoying television on your Macintosh. But without support by Elgato's EyeTV 3 or Equinux's TheTube software - this product may have little going for it other than price.

AVerTV HD Volar MAX USB Apple Compatible TV Tuner

TV For Mac or PC

System Requirements for the Volar MAX are:
- Macintosh® computer with a Intel Core® processor - 512MB RAM or above - 300MB of available hard-disk space - USB 2.0 port - CD or DVD drive - Mac OS X v10.4 or later

Tags: mac tv tuner sticks, USB digital tv tuner

Miglia has been in the Apple Mac TV tuner market for a long time - though their presence in the US North American NTSC market has somewhat dwindled as they focus more on their native European base. A year and then some back, Miglia released a small Digital only TV tuner box - The Miglia TV mini HD expresssupporting both ATSC antenna and Clear QAM Digital Cable - which is what's needed for HD on a Mac reception these days - and won't change in the foreseeable future.

Miglia once bundled EyeTV with it's tuners. After a fall-out with ElGato, they briefly shipped thier own 'MigliaTV (1.1.6 is the current version)' DVR application for Mac, but have since partnered with Equinux and now supply THETUBE software.

I recently made the switch to Digital TV retiring an older non-Qam Hauppauge WinTV HVR-950 Hybrid tuner that has long been supported in Eye TV 2.5 and remains so under Eye TV 3. Didn't really have a need for Analog video capture via it's S-Video and Composite dongle, or the now vanishing Analog television stations. Besides, I was ready for Pure Digital only.

Was quite pleased to find just much more SENSITIVE the Miglia HD Express tuner is than the 950 - picking up two more local DTV stations _using the exact same antenna and cabling_. This points to a truth everyone needs to be aware of: Whether it's a TV set tuner, a VCR's built-in television tuner or a computer tuner stick: different devices using differing components and designs can have varying degrees of signal sensitivity. And that difference may mean one or more stations you OUGHT to be getting.

The main reason for choosing the mini HD Express? FLEXIBILITY. I now have a choice in PVR recording software. I now use the Miglia Express with with both THE TUBE 2.9.3 and EyeTV 2.5 which I've owned from previous tuners. Both work great.

Tags: miglia, TheTube, EyeTV 2.5, EyeTV 3

America's DTV switchover to all-digital television is more of a progression than an 'event'. Depending on whether you receive TV signals over a UHF-VHF antenna, Analog or Digital cable service, or via Satellite reception -- your computer TV tuner, television set, or set-top converter box needs to be versatile enough to adapt to the changes.

For most Macintosh computer users, investing in an Analog + Digital HYBRID TV tuner gives the best of all worlds: The ability to watch television, capture and convert signals from older Analog sources, yet still be able to also switch to HD Digital signals over ATSC antenna or Clear QAM unencrypted digital cable service.

For some though, a Digital-ONLY TV tuner may be all you need looking forward. You may not need or want to hook up an old Analog VHS tape deck, DVD player, camcorder - or capture video from an xBox, Wii, PlayStation or other game system. Most Digital-only tuners use simpler, single-tuner chipsets and can be had well under $100.

As Apple's market-share grows - and technology evolves, Mac friendly TV tuner prices are coming down. For a long time, it was hard to justify a tiny TV tuner stick for your Macintosh that cost more than many TV sets did. But as competition heats up between various 3rd party tuner manufacturers, ElGato and their EyeTV software - and Equinux with its competing TheTube software -- there's more choices than ever, at more affordable price points.

A new generation of TV receiver and video decoder chipsets have taken the latest TV tuner hardware devices to the next level. Advanced signal processing, unencrypted Clear QAM support, and more sensitive tuners now make the most of Digital broadcast streams. And ElGato and Equinux are keeping up with frequent software updates to support an ever-growing range of Digital and Hybrid tuners.

Apple TV lovers also benefit from the explosion in competitive online price shopping opportunities: Whether it's at Amazon.com and it's 3rd party sellers, slugging it out for Mac television sticks being auctioned at eBay, or other online retailers like Buy.com or NewEgg - you can find a great tuner for your MacBook, Pro, iMac or Mini at a great price.

Tags: DTV, Digital Switch-Over, TV Gadgets, hdtv sticks

The Windows marketplace has long enjoyed a wide selection of TV tuner hardware. Not so in the Apple Macintosh television tuner scene - at least until recently. For many years, ElGato's EyeTV tuners really were the only game in town, and ElGato Hybrid tuners are still a favorite choice. And ElGato continues to grow it's suppport for many 3rd party tuner devices on the OSX platform. Equinux - suppliers of the TubeStick Hybrid Tuner for both Mac and PC are now competing with EyeTV with their TubeStick tuner and DVR software 'THE TUBE' - and their list of supported 3rd party tuners is growing as well. For cross-platform users, select models of tuner sticks - most notably from Hauppauge and Pinnacle come in bundles with BOTH Windows Media Center Drivers, PC TV software - AND a bundled version of EyeTV LITE for Macintosh OSX users. The best of both worlds.

Tags: hd tv stick, hdtv sticks, mac tv stick, Apple tv stick