In 2010, ElGato has a strong lineup of HD TV tuner products for a Macintosh owners every need:

A recently introduced EyeTV ONE strictly for Antenna users receiving ATSC Digtal over the air signals.

A revised and slimmed-down EyeTV Hybrid 2010 for both ATSC-QAM HD Digital with SD Analog capture functions.

The EyeTV 250 Plus which continues to meet the needs of those wanting both a Hybrid TV tuner and video converter for Mac with built-in Analog hardware compression. It's still a top-notch solution years after it's original release.

And of notable interest to Digital Cable and Satellite TV subscribers -- a long awaited solution to intercept and record true 1080 HD signal from their DVR receiver with the EyeTV HD DVR with IR Blaster controller. It also includes all cables needed for Component, Compsite or S-Video hookups.

Combined with endless refinements to EyeTV 3 PVR software to capture, record, export and share your content -- ElGato keeps pushing ways to share and show it across your home network and on your iPhone or iPad. Insanely Great products, Insanely Great software. 'Nuff said.

Tags: video converter, HD 1080 TV capture

It probably won't be long before we see an Apple dock connector TV Tuner for iPad. It'd really be a natural fit to take advantage of HD broadcast television programming in urban areas on that gorgeous high resolution screen with an ATSC over the air iPad TV tuner device directly connected... someday.



Until then, Apple compatible TV tuner devices from Elgato EyeTV line and the Equinux TubeStick are at least allowing remote streamingof live TV on an iPad over your local WiFi network, and incorporating iPad optimized video export settings in the latest versions of EyeTV3 and TheTube DVR software programs for OSX.

As an interim solution, any number of HD TV tuners for Mac can help you watch TV on an iPad over your local network - or with Shows-To-Go with a few extra capture, convert and export steps done on your Macintosh laptop or desktop. Check out the iTunes App Store for the latest iPad and iPhone TV remote viewing apps from ElGato and Equinux. Also make sure you have the current version of their tuners capture and recording software so you can grab your favorite shows and movies for iPad use. FYI - For the Windows tuner market, Hauppauge Digital announced it's streaming iPad TV solution - the WinTV Extend.

Tags: iPad TV, TV For iPad

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

With it's recent release of EyeTV v3.4 - ElGato plays catch-up with Equinux's LIVE TV remote television solution and introduced it's own software and iPhone app to control and remotely watch TV on an iPhone (or iPod Touch) running Apple's 3.0 OS version.


This $4.99 iTunes store app - combined with a EyeTV 3.2 compatible TV tuner stick and and a modern Mac with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor - you can stream and watch live TV - or shows you've recorded earlier - as well as perform remote TV schedule viewing, scheduling management and recording.

Tags: iPhone TV, EyeTV for iPhone, iPhone Television, iPod Touch TV, iPod TV

TheTube software from Equinux got a timely update to fix some minor issues with OS X Snow Leopard:

Version 2.9.4 (09/02/2009)
Putting your Mac to sleep after a recording now works reliably
Reordering channels no longer interrupts recordings
UI issues in TubeTalk when using Snow Leopard have been resolved
The details view scrollbar works reliably in Snow Leopard
The Tube installer no longer requires Rosetta
Snow Leopard installer problems have been solved

New Feature:
The Tube supports a Live TV feature which displays the progress of a show on your iPhone

Tags: TheTube 2.9.4

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

Here's an interesting new product for TV watching on the go: Power Q's POWERHD-100 Indoor Portable Pop-Up Digital HDTV Aplified Antenna which can be USB bus powered, run on AA batteries, or via AC power supply. Might be a viable UHF-VHD antenna option for not only mobile laptop computer TV viewing, but at your desktop as well in a compact form factor measuring only 6.5x2.2x1.5 inches, with a flip-up antenna bar. Sometimes amplification can mean the difference between not getting particular channels, or being able to receive a HD channel without breakup or signal loss.

Tags: PowerQ, laptop antenna, laptop tv, Portable tv antenna

Here’s a quick and dirty list of USB, FireWire and Ethernet compatible computer TV tuners supported by ElGato’s EyeTV version 3.x as of Spring 2009:

ElGato EyeTV USB, EyeTV 200, EyeTV 250, EyeTV 250 Plus, EyeTV 300/310, EyeTV 400/410, EyeTV 500, EyeTV 610, EyeTV Diversity, EyeTV EZ, EyeTV for DTT (Cinergy T2), EyeTV for DTT (Stick) , EyeTV Wonder USB 2.0, EyeTV Hybrid, HD HomeRun (North America) Freebox. Hauppague WinTV-HVR-900, WinTV-HVR-950, WinTV-Nova-T Stick, WinTV-Nova-TD Stick, WinTV-HVR-950Q, HD PVR, FireDTV S2, FireDTV T/CI, FireDTV C/CI, LDT-1S302U, Miglia Evolution TV, TVBook Pro, TVDuo, TVMax, TVMicro, TVMini, TVMini HD, ATI TV Wonder USB 2 TV for Mac, Pinnacle DVB-T Stick (70e), TV for Mac HD Stick (800e), TV for Mac Hybrid Stick (330e), PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick, PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick (330e), PCTV USB Stick PCTV HD Pro Stick (800e), PCTV Diversity Stick (2001e), TV for Mac DVB-T Stick (72e), PCTV nanoStick (73e), TV for Mac HD mini stick (80e), Plextor PX-402U, SiliconDust HDHomeRun (North America), Terratec Cinergy 400/450, Cinergy 800/850, Cinergy T2, Cinergy Hybrid T XS, XE Cinergy T, USB XXS Cinergy DT, USB XS Diversity Cinergy T, Express Cinergy Piranha Cinergy S, USB Cinergy Hybrid T, USB XS FM Cinergy HTC, USB XS HD DTV, Alpha Mac Networx SATV, SCM CardBus DVB-T TV tuners

Tags: EyeTV, Eye TV 3

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

Whether you're using a PC/Mac computer TV tuner, a DTV Converter Box, or new HD Digital TV set: If you're not getting the ATSC channels, signal strength or reception you expect , ponder these basic points about your antenna:

• Congresses DTV 'Extension' from Feb 17th to June 12th has muddied the clear cut-off date
• Most US stations already made the switch on Feb 17th regardless
• DTV transmitters may not be operating at Full-Power yet
• Poor selection, placement, or direction of antenna
• Unrealistic expectations from set-top indoor antennae
• Local geography, terrain, building materials causing interference
• Not knowing the direction of your local transmission towers
• Insufficient or no signal amplification
• A Signal amplifier not connected *at the antenna end*
• Low-quality wiring or damaged coax cabling
• Corroded or loose connector fittings
• Improper configuration-overuse of signal splitters to multiple TVs

Over-the-air ATSC Digital TV has very little middle-ground: Either you get a razor sharp picture, you experience intermittent visual breakup and audio glitches because of marginal reception strength, or you simply get the dreaded "NO SIGNAL". Unlike Analog TV reception, there's no 'Ghosts' 'Snow' 'Fuzziness' or 'Audio Hiss' you can sorta put up with. With Digital signals, antenna futzing can be hard to assess in real-time. There's often a several second delay with Digital that makes fine-tuning antenna position very, very difficult.

VHF-ONLY or UHF-ONLY antenna's that may have served you well for years ight not be suitable anymore. Channel Reassignments are part of this transition: Some stations that may have broadcast Analog on VHF are now Digital on UHF -- and vice-versa. A combo UHF/VHF antenna covers all your bases from Ch 2-13 (VHF) and 14-69 (UHF). Some 'outdoor' antenna designs are now actually small and compact enough to be used indoors -- and may work far, far better than any smaller set-top Loop and Rabbit Ears.

Consider adding a quality adjustable gain TV amplifier (especially if you are using a splitter to multiple TV's) to get marginal stations in clearer - or pull in an extra station or two you were missing. Rural and distant Urban-Fringe TV reception demands more: Accept the fact that you may need to upgrade or invest in an OUTDOOR antenna, a high mast, a signal amplifier, even a rotator to position the antenna best when your transmission towers are not centralized.

Remember, your Digital Television experience will only be as good as it's source...

Tags: hdtv antenna, USB TV Stick, uhf antenna, vhf antenna

WITH AN APPLE OSX COMPATIBLE HDTV TUNER STICK YOU CAN:

* Watch TV on your MacBook, Pro, iMac or Mac Mini computer
* Navigate full screen TV with a mouse, keyboard or Apple Remote
* Enjoy SD - Standard Definition or HD 720p 1080i High Definition TV
* Time-Shift Live Programs : Rewind, fast forward, pause live TV
* View program listings with a built-in EPG - Electronic Program Guide
* Schedule automatic recording of TV shows or broadcast movies
* Record your favorite television shows and edit out commercials
* Adjust televised picture quailty and enjoy full stereo sound
* Connect Analog devices to capture from VHS, DVD, Game systems
* Share recordings with multiple Macs or Windows PCs on a network
* Access recordings via Wi-Fi, iPhone or video enabled SmartPhones
* Export your recordings into various video formats in easy steps
* Store your recordings on an external drive, or burn to DVD disc

Tags: DVR software, TV Sticks, Computer TV, PVR Software

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

Equinux, makers of the TUBESTICK USB Hybrid Tuner and authors of MEDIA CENTRAL have been very aggressive with updates to their PVR software ‘THE TUBE’. As such they’re proving to be a worthy competitor to ElGato who’s long dominated the Apple Mac TV scene with EyeTV for many years.


While the full version of EyeTV - now at version 3.1 - remains the gold-standard in Mac DVR software, I’m finding it’s deep interface with multiple windows to require a bit of juggling. That’s often a problem as simplicity suffers as more and more features are tacked on with each revision. The tradeoff is worth it for many users as the abilities to schedule, record, do advanced editing, and ridiculously easy to export to iPod or burn to disc functions have been integrated. I’ve been using EyeTV since ElGato’s first USB 1.1 speed tuner hit the market. Even back in EyeTV’s version 1.x era, it was a well-written Mac app, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to see it evolve.


TheTube - now at version 2.9.2 takes a different approach - Trying to maintain a SINGLE consolidated window which I’m enjoying more and more - and merely updating the sidebar content to reveal different program modes and functions. Rather than a ‘floating’ remote that EyeTV presents, TheTube keeps channel controls in a fixed position. This manages to offer the same functionality with fewer control buttons - and relies somewhat more heavily on additional Keyboard controls instead. Sometimes less is more. When I want to JUST WATCH TV on my Mac (which is MOST of the time) - The Tube is becoming my preferred app. It still has its rough-spots, but once Equinux got core PVR features in place around version 2.5, recent updates have added stability and polish.

In tribute to Apple’s own FRONT ROW multimedia app, MediaCentral, Equinux’s other app blends and integrates both TV watching with ways to access all sorts of other media from your DVD’s to Photos to YouTube to Podcasts to Skype and beyond. And for select tuners from Hauppauge and Pinnacle Systems - a special version of EyeTV LITE provides entry-level PVR functionality without all the bells and whistles of EyeTV 3 -- while presenting a FRONTROW like interface that’s menu-driven and easily managed with the simple buttons of an Apple Remote.

Lastly, both these apps increase their support of various, select 3rd party TV tuner hardware devices with each revision. Between TheTube 2 and EyeTV 3, well over 2 dozen select models of Mac supported Analog, Digital and Hybrid TV tuners in total now enjoy support. With careful shopping, a tuner such as with the Miglia TV mini HD Express for Mac can be used with EITHER retail versions of EyeTV or TheTube if you so desire. It all adds up to MORE CHOICE, and in the smaller world of Macintosh, that’s a *good* thing.

Tags: TheTube, EyeTV, EyeTV Lite, TubeStick, Television sticks

For those interested in joining the Digital DTV revolution - without wanting a computer involved - K-World’s innovative products cost HALF of what an All-Digital television might cost, and allow you to use a spare DVI or VGA monitor you may have laying around as a razor-sharp television set. Reviewers are consistently impressed with the signal strength and quality of K-World’s tuners and their ability to pull in more channels than competitng TV tuner hardware.

For Computer monitors with a standard VGA video connector:
The WHITE model SA290-Q LE K-World Digital ATSC-QAM VGA Digital HDTV Tuner Receiver

For those with a DVI connector CRT or LCD monitor:
The Black model of the SA290-Q KWorlds Digital ATSC - QAM DVI Tuner Box HDTV Receiver

Tags: ATSC box, hdtv converter, ATSC converter

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