I must admit - I’ve been eyeing this device for some time now. It’s the Hauppauge HD DVR and it was just reviewed by ExtremeTech here on their website. Before I get into their review, let me just quickly go over what the HD DVR is exactly. It’s basically an external video capture device that allows you to record video via component video inputs at resolutions up to 1080i. Video is encoded in H.264 using a hardware-based encoder and audio is recorded in either AAC or Dolby Digital. The unit comes with an IR blaster that allows it to control external set-top boxes. It’s also important to note that the HD DVR requires a PC to work. The PC is used to run the HD PVR application and is also used to store the resulting recordings since the HD DVR does not come with any storage itself.  Sounds like a bit of a pain eh? Yeah.. sure seems it. This basically means you’ll need a PC near your cable box to use the Hauppauge HD DVR.

Now on the plus side - this device captures HD video (granted it’s 1080i/720p video) via component signals. This means you’ll be able to hook this device up to your cable/dish box and record HD premium channels via the component outputs. Now granted this is not necessarily the highest quality video but let’s be real here - cable video is only at most 720p these days anyhow. You do get slightly lower video quality since the device captures via an analog signal as opposed to digital - but it’s still much much better than say recording from an S-Video or Composite input.

So, what did ExtremeTech think of the unit? Here’s their verdict:

If you’ve been looking to record high def video on your PC from set top boxes, then the HD DVR works fine as a time shifting device. But expect conversion to other formats to be problematic.

Yeah.. apparently ExtremeTech found the included conversion utility to be rather buggy.. but if you have the time and patience you can probably find other workarounds for that. Another interesting notion mentioned in the article - don’t forget that you can now record HD content from other types of devices via component outputs. This means attaching say an Xbox 360 and recording your game play onto your PC for others to view.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Hauppauge HD DVR, ExtremeTech, Review

If you’re in an area that can receive free-to-air digital satellite TV (DVB-S), then you might be interested in the new Hauppauge! UK’s WinTV-NOVA-S-USB2 device. As you’ve probably guessed it, the WinTV-NOVA-S-USB2 is an external tuner for your PC and gives you the capability to watch, pause, and record digital satellite TV (don’t confuse this with satellite TV here in the US please). You can also add the Hauppauge! WinTV-CI, a compatible CAM and SmartCard into the picture to tune into subscription TV!

Key features include:

• Watch free-to-air digital satellite TV (DVB-S)
• USB 2.0 connectivity
• Pause, record TV
• Record in MPEG2
• Includes WinTV-Scheduler
• Receive Teletext data
• Listen and record DVB-S satellite radio
• DiSEqC 1.0 support
• Hauppauge IR Remote

[Check it out via Ubergizmo]

Technorati Tags: Hauppauge!, UK, WinTV-NOVA-S-USB2

One last note about Hauppauge. They announced and showed off a new USB video recording box called the “HD PVR” at CES 2008. Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to take a picture of this device while at the conference. According to Hauppauge, the HD PVR can record high definition content in H.264 format using a hardware based H.264 hardware encoder. Video sources such as high definition cable TV or satellite TV set top box receivers can connect to the HD PVR using component inputs. The HD PVR comes with an IR Blaster which allows it to control the set-top boxes. The package can also record in AVCHD recordings which is primarily used by Blu-ray players. The HD PVR will be available in Q1 of 2008 for an MSRP of $249.

Technorati Tags: Hauppauge, HD PVR, H.264, CES 2008

Let’s head on over to Hauppauge which had a fairly small booth display over at the South Hall of the LVCC. Despite the small booth, they did have a number of new product announcements including the new two new internal HDTV tuner cards, and three external HDTV TV tuner receivers.

Featured above is the new Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1500 - a single tuner NTSC/ATSC and Clear QAM ExpressCard/54 device designed for notebook systems and small form factor PCs with ExpressCard interfaces (as shown above). Features include:

• Single Tuner NTSC/ATSC and Clear QAM digital cable TV receiver
• ExpressCard/54 for 54mm slots
• Includes Hauppauge SoftPVR
• Includes portable ATSC digital TV antenna plus A/V adapter cable

Pictured above is the newly announced Hauppauge USB-based WinTV-HVR-1950. The WinTV HVR-1950 allows a PC or laptop user to watch, pause, and record NTSC, ATSC, or clear QAM digital TV right onto their hard drive - without slowing down the computer thanks to a hardware based MPEG-2 encoder. The 1950 can also use the built-in hardware based MPEG-2 encoder to record video from S-Video or Composite A/V inputs. Features include:

• Watch NTSC cable TV, ATSC and clear QAM digital cable TV
• Listen to FM radio
• Includes IR blaster to control channels on set top box
• Easy to install - just plug into USB 2.0 port
• Drivers for Windows Vista Media Center
• Comes with new Hauppage WinTV version 6

The Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1950 will be available in February of 2008 for an MSRP of $149 (includes the remote control)

Above is the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-950Q - the first TV tuner “stick” to feature Clear QAM support. The 950Q is basically a small portable HDTV tuner stick which can be plugged into a USB 2.0 port. Features include:

• Watch and record NTSC analog cable TV, and ATSC HD digital TV
• Supports Clear QAM digital TV
• Credit Card sized remote control
• Supports Hauppauge SoftPVR and SoftMCE software MPEG-2 encoders - no hardware encoders here
• Comes with certified drivers for Windows Vista Media Center
• Available in January of 2008 for an MSRP of $99 with remote control

Above is the new Hauppauge dual tuner WinTV-HVR-2250 card. The HVR-2250 has two complete on-board analog and digital TV receivers - allowing users to watch and record two NTSC, ATSC, or Clear QAM digital cable TV programs at once. The WinTV-HVR-2250 card is a half-height PCI Express Card which is ideal for small form factor home theater PC systems. To make things even sweeter for the home enthusiast, the HVR-2250 features two built-in hardware based MPEG-2 encoders which are coupled with the dual tuners - relieving encoding duties from the system processor.

Features include:

• Dual NTSC/ATSC/Clear QAM tuners
• FM radio support
• Two on board MPEG-2 hardware encoders
• Single slot PCI-Express with full and half height brackets

The WinTV-HVR-2250 will be available in February 2008 for an MSRP of $129 with a remote control.

Pictured above is the Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1250 PCI Express TV Tuner card. This is the lowest cost PCI-Express TV tuner card available today (at $49 dollars) and is certified to work with Windows Vista Media Center. The 1250 allows user to watch, pause, and record analog NTSC cable TV, ATSC digital TV and clear QAM digital cable TV on their Windows XP or Vista PC. The 1250 is a half height PCI express board which is a boon for small form factor HTPC systems. This card does not use a hardware based MPEG-2 encoder though - instead relying on a software MPEG-2 encoder.

Features include:

• Single tuner NTSC/ATSC and Clear QAM support
• Includes Hauppauge SoftPVR for Windows
• Half height PCI-Express board

The WinTV-HVR-1250 will be available in January of 2008 for an MSRP of $49 dollars.

Although not new, this is the WinTV-HVR-1800 dual tuner board from Hauppauge. This dual tuner system features a single analog cable TV tuner and a single ATSC/Clear QAM digital TV tuner. The board also comes with an on-board hardware based MPEG-2 encoder for analog cable TV recordings.

Technorati Tags: Hauppauge, TV Tuner, CES 2008, WinTV-HVR-1500, WinTV HVR-1950, WinTV-HVR-950Q, WinTV-HVR-2250, WinTV-HVR-1250, WinTV-HVR-1800