Elgato Debuts EyeTV HD DVR For Mac, iPhone And iPad Recordings

Elgato has produced a number of video-related accessories, primarily for Mac users, over the years. Generally speaking, they're best in class, with the Turbo H.264 USB stick helping to convert huge, huge videos to smaller H.264 files that suffer no loss in quality (and in record time, too). Today, the company is branching out somewhat with a new EyeTV HD, hailed as the "ultimate DVR for high-definition TV."


It's essentially a full-featured DVR, with full access to premium cable or satellite TV content on a Mac. The box allows users to "watch, record, edit and enjoy cable and satellite in high-definition, including all their premium channels." That's a pretty big promise, and something that Mac users have been longing for. The box even includes a dual-format capture mode that records in iPad and iPhone formats at the same time, allowing users to stream live and recorded TV to an iPhone or iPad using the optional EyeTV app. Setup is also said to be a breeze, and it supports speedy exports to iTunes from EyeTV. It's also possible to stream live TV (including HDTV channels) to an iPad or iPhone using the optional EyeTV for iPhone/iPad app.

As you'd expect, the device utilizes the H.264 file format, and it can capture video from analog and digital sources such as a VCR or a camcorder. The entire setup is available now for $199.95 from Elgato and Apple online stores.

Elgato Debuts EyeTV HD – The Ultimate DVR for High Definition TV

Full-featured DVR captures television, including premium channels, from cable or satellite receivers and delivers it live to Macs
Updated EyeTV 3.4 software will enable streaming of live or recorded TV on Apple’s® iPad

San Francisco, Calif. - May 24, 2010 – Today, Elgato debuted the world’s only DVR solution which provides full access to premium cable or satellite TV content on a Mac – EyeTV HD. Customers can now watch record, edit and enjoy cable and satellite in high-definition, including all their premium channels. EyeTV HD includes a unique dual-format capture mode that records in iPad and iPhone formats at the same time, allowing users to stream live and recorded TV to an iPhone or iPad using the optional EyeTV app.

Easy Setup
EyeTV HD is a breeze to setup and use; simply connect EyeTV HD to the outputs of the cable or satellite receiver with the included component cables, and to the computer via USB. Then position the included infrared channel changer cable nearby. The EyeTV software setup assistant takes you through a simple configuration process and in just a few minutes you’ll be enjoying all your premium content like never before.

Unique dual-format capture mode
EyeTV HD also has a unique dual-format capture mode so that you can record in iPad and iPhone formats at the same time. EyeTV HD enables super-fast exports to iTunes from EyeTV. It is also possible to stream live TV, including high definition TV, to iPad or iPhone, using the optional EyeTV for iPhone/iPad app.

Superb quality digital TV recordings
EyeTV HD records in the pristine H.264 format for a crystal clear, high-definition digital picture. The H.264 format delivers beautiful image quality and a superb compression ratio, which produces smaller file size when compared to MPEG-2 recordings. H.264 can match the best possible MPEG-2 quality at up to half the data rate.

Capture HD and SD video from a camcorder or VCR
EyeTV HD can capture video from analog and digital sources such as a VCR or a camcorder. EyeTV HD includes component inputs for HD sources, as well as S-Video and composite inputs for standard definition sources. Simply connect the video source to your computer using the included breakout cable, then watch and even record the picture on your computer as an EyeTV recording.

Archive recordings
EyeTV HD also comes with Toast Basic disc-burning software so you can archive your favorite movies and TV shows and save space on your hard drive.

Award-winning software
EyeTV HD comes with EyeTV 3, the award-winning TV software for Mac. Watch, pause, and rewind live TV – at the desk or on the couch. Search the Program Guide using multiple criteria, and record one show or create Smart Series Guides to record the entire season of a TV series. Edit recordings, and share them with other Macs on the network. EyeTV can even export TV shows to iTunes automatically for playback on iPhone or iPad.

EyeTV 3 includes one year of free data from TV Guide, with optional renewal for only US$19.95 per year. An optional EyeTV app is available to stream live or recorded TV to an iPhone or iPad. Smart Series Guide functionality requires a TV Guide subscription.
 
System Requirements
• Macintosh: 2.26 GHz Intel Core® 2 Duo processor or better, Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
• 2 GB RAM, built-in USB 2.0 port
• Cable or satellite receiver with analog video and audio outputs (component output required for HD)
• Internet connection required to download Program Guide data.
 
What’s In The Box
• EyeTV HD recorder
• EyeTV 3 TV software for Mac (CD-ROM)
• Infrared remote control with battery pack
• EyeTV infrared channel changer
• USB cable (6 ft)
• Component video cable (6 ft)
• Stereo audio cables (6 ft)
• Breakout cable for composite and S-Video inputs
• PDF product manual (CD-ROM)
• Quick start guide
 
Availability
EyeTV HD is available from the Elgato Online Store (www.elgato.com) and from the Apple Store at a price of US $199.95.

About Elgato
Elgato produces award-winning TV software together with a complete range of TV tuners and capture devices to watch, record, and edit TV and HDTV on Macs and PCs. Elgato is the home of EyeTV, the world’s leading television solution for Mac computers. Elgato also produces a variety of world-class H.264 video conversion and streaming products. Elgato is privately held with offices in Munich, Germany and San Francisco, California.