Elgato EyeTV users will be happy to hear that the company has released an EyeTV app for the Apple iPhone/iPod touch allowing users to watch live TV or recorded TV directly on their devices as well as browse the detailed program guide. Other features include:

• The ability to connect to any Mac running the latest EyeTV version (3.2)
• Automatically finds Macs on a network via Bonjour
• Remote access Macs running EyeTV using a free locator utility called “My EyeTV” also being introduced as part of EyeTV 3.2
• Support for Apple’s new HTTP streaming technology introduced with iPhone OS 3.0. Relies on Apple’s specs for adaptive streaming using H.264 video and AAC audio codecs. Also uses iPhone’s hardware acceleration for playback
• Once connected to a Mac, plays live TV, change channels, watch EyeTV recordings, browse the Program Guide, and start/schedule recordings
• Requires Wi-Fi connection (sorry no 3G support here)

EyeTV is available for a price of $4.99 at the iTunes Store. EyeTV 3.2 is a free update for EyeTV 3 users. Now if someone would only release a Windows Media Center compatible app for the iPhone…

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Elgato EyeTV, iPhone Application

Mirics announced that they’ve developed a new universal low-cost TV receiver solution for entry-level PCs based on their FlexiTV software-based receiver and utilizing CUDA-enabled NVIDIA GPUs.

The idea’s pretty straightforward – Mirics leverages NVIDIA CUDA-enabled GPUs to help execute certain video decoding algorithms – thereby freeing up CPU resources for other activities and removing any need for additional hardware. This is a boon for low-end, low-cost systems which might not normally have the necessary horsepower to decode HD video. With this solution, users will be able to enjoy global TV reception – both in SD and in HD resolutions – on low end systems – even on netbooks

The FlexiTV solution is currently sampling to select customers and will be demoed at the NVIDIA Emerging Companies Summit being held right now in San Jose.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Mirics, FlexiTV, NVIDIA CUDA

Imagine for a second if you will.. a laptop which you can take anywhere around the world that’s capable of picking up GPS signals, radio signals, and all regional analog/digital TV signals – all made possible thanks to a single programmable RF IC (and some software). Sounds pretty cool right? Well all this will soon be a reality thanks to CrestaTech’s CrestaTV Universal Broadband Receiver technology. The company announced on Tuesday that reference designs and samples of the technology were now available for PC manufacturers.

With CrestaTV Universal Broadband Receiver Technology, manufacturers can ship a single TV tuner module which they know will work no matter what country the device is located in. The integrated GPS receiver helps the system figure out which regional channel guide to pull up for the area. 

The receiver itself supports formats including DVBT, ATSC, Cable QAM, NTSC and PAL, along with FM radio and GPS capabilities. CrestaTV is made up of the CTC-200/201 programmable RF and Interface IC as well as multi-threaded signal processing software. Equipment manufacturers can implement CrestaTV on PCI Express cards, PCI mini-express cards, or USB TV modules.

Here’s hoping that the next time I travel around the world, I’ll have a device with the CrestaTV technology embedded.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: CrestaTech, CrestaTV Universal Broadband Receiver, TV tuner

Looking to watch a little digital TV on your Eee PC netbook? Check out ASUS’s new USB digital TV accessory – the MYC-U3100Mini. Features include:

• USB 2.0 interface
• ATSC/QAM digital tuner
• Watch and record digital TV programs on your PC or Netbook
• ASUS Pop-Up TV technology
• ASUS GadgetTV Technology – Vista sidebar TV
• Eee PC certified
• Support for Windows Vista, XP

Technorati Tags: ASUS, MYC-U3100Mini, CES 2009

The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 gets a small accessory in the form of the newly announced Dell USB digital TV tuner stick. Designed in conjunction with Siano Mobile Silicon and Hauppauge Computer Works, The stick will be available in region specific versions later this quarter with availability first in Europe followed by North America, Asia-Pacific, and China. Features of the stick include:

• Receive digital and high definition (HD) TV broadcasts where available
• ATSC support in the U.S., DVB-T in Western Europe, ISDB-T 1-seg in Japan, and CMMB in China
• Supported OSs including Dell customized version of Ubuntu Linux 8.04, Windows XP, and Windows Vista Basic
• Built-in telescoping and articulating antenna which retracts into the black case

Expect the Dell Digital TV Tuner for about $50 dollars.

[Check it out via NetbookTech]

Technorati Tags: Dell USB Digital TV Tuner, Inspiron Mini 9

Ever wish you could bring the TiVo user interface to the PC platform? Well soon you’ll be able to do so thanks to the upcoming Nero LiquidTV | TiVo PC package. LiquidTV | TiVo PC is essentially another DVR application for the Windows OS except this one happens to bring along the famed TiVo user interface. If you’re one to record and watch TV content on your desktop PC, then you definitely might be interested in this package.

Major features of the Nero LiquidTV | TiVo PC package include the following:

• Features TiVo’s user interface
• Watch and record shows in HD or SD format on your TV or PC
• Export shows to portable media players
• Burn shows to DVD or save them to your hard drive
• Schedule TV recordings online
• Pause Live TV on your PC
• Includes 12 month subscription
• Features TiVo KidZone, Season Pass and WishList etc

Now keep in mind – this isn’t exactly a full on replacement of Windows Media Center. The Nero app won’t manage your music or photo collection for you like Windows Media Center can. However, if you’re just interested in recording television shows and having a near endless amount of storage space for TV shows, then the LiquidTV app is certainly something you should consider (along with Media Center and any number of other competing DVR applications). Now if you MUST have the TiVo interface, then heck.. this is your only way to go on the PC platform.

As this PC Mag review notes, LiquidTV is not a replacement for the TiVo DVR device. This is a package that’s designed for folks who are ok with the notion of watching and recording TV on their PCs. Also – remember that LiquidTV supports OTA ATSC which means you won’t be able to record premium HD channels unless you hook up a cable set-top box to your PC (you’ll also record lower quality video via S-Video).

Speaking of the PC Mag review, here’s what they thought of it.

Nero’s LiquidTV brings the top-notch TiVo interface and all its talents to your PC. While it’s not a replacement for a traditional TiVo DVR, it’s a solid attempt at convergence between your computer and your living-room entertainment.

Nero LiquidTV | TiVo PC will be available in two packages. There’s a $199.99 hardware/software bundle that includes the software application, a 12 month subscription to TiVo, a TV tuner card with A/V cables and antenna, a TiVo PC remote control, and an IR blaster and receiver. If you don’t need the hardware, there’s also a $99.99 software package which includes the application and a 12 month subscription to TiVo.

[Check it out via News.com]

Technorati Tags: Nero LiquidTV | TiVo PC

Sling Media announced the new Slingbox PRO-HD flagship product is now available for purchase at www.slingmedia.com or at leading retailers nationwide for a price of $299.99. As with previous Slingbox products, the Slingbox PRO-HD “place-shifts” your home video content from where it’s at to wherever you’re at via a network connection. All you’ll need to watch the content is a computer or a mobile device and the SlingPlayer software. What sets the Slingbox PRO-HD apart is the inclusion of a digital tuner and support for high definition streaming over the network (assuming you have the necessary bandwidth). The Slingbox PRO-HD’s built-in digital tuner supports over-the-air (OTA) digital signals (ATSC), digital cable channels (Clear QAM), and content directly from an HD device via component connections. The component connections support up to 720p/1080i content.

The device features Sling Media’s new SlingStream 2.0 technology which actively adapts the audio/video stream for the best performance based on the network bandwidth available at the time. Speaking of network connections, you’ll need an upstream speed of at least 256 Kbps for standard definition and at 1.5 Mbps upstream speeds for high definition content.

Here’s what you’ll find on the back of the Slingbox PRO-HD:

• Power connector
• Ethernet connector
• USB port
• In/out stereo audio, composite video, and s-video
• In/out stereo audio, S/PDIF, component video
• Coaxial input/output with support for ATSC/NTSC/ClearQAM

Sling Media lists the following as possible devices that can connect to the Slingbox PRO-HD:

• Basic Cable TV Set-top Box or Digital Cable Set-top Box
• DVR from cable/satellite provider
• DVD player/recorder
• Satellite receiver
• Video/security camera
• Apple TV
• Windows Media Center PC
• Digital antenna
• Digital Cable (Clear QAM)
• HD component input support for 720p/1080i

Again, you’ll be able to order the new Slingbox PRO-HD directly from Sling Media or via various retailers and online e-tailers. Folks who pre-ordered the Slingbox PRO-HD should have their units shipping as of today.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Sling Media, Slingbox PRO-HD

For the Japanese market comes the new IO-DATA Mac TV external USB tuner. This small white device features a digital tuner, an internal B-CAS slot and a USB 2.0 interface. Unfortunately there isn’t much else on this device but hey – at least it matches the Mac well enough.

[Check it out via Akihabara News]

Technorati Tags: IO-DATA, Mac TV

Do you have a need to record A LOT of content? You might be interested in this video clip by Cannon PC that shows off a Windows Media Center PC recording from six CableCard-enabled HD tuners. The video clip is of course a bit promotional because it shows one of their own systems handling the recording of six HD channels simultaneously while also playing back a high definition video clip. Keep in mind of course – this is NOT an incredibly hard task to accomplish. The video clip shows that the system is built around a quad core processor – that’s plenty of horsepower for Windows Media Center.

But what about the six HD tuners recording at the same time you say? Well one would assume that the six HD tuners had hardware based encoders thus relieving the CPU of any encoding duties. So.. the only left to do is to have a wickedly fast storage system which means you’ll want a nice RAID storage array with lots of fast disks. Finally.. playing back HD – well again – you’ll want a nice graphics card with hardware based decoding.

Now what is cool is how these guys have managed to get six tuners working under Windows Media Center. If you poke around on Google, you’ll figure out ways to get Media Center to see more than the normal 2 analog and 2 digital tuner limitation (hint – check out MCE Tuner Extender as an easy way to get this working).

While it’s certainly plausible for you to create a system like the demoed Cannon system – there won’t be an easy way for you to get a hold of six CableCard capable tuners. In fact, CableCard tuner cards are not sold directly to the consumer – you’ll have to buy it as part of a new system unfortunately. In any case, kudos to Cannon PC for pushing the envelope on MCE systems.

[Check it out via Ian Dixon's Blog and eHomeUpgrade]

Technorati Tags: Cannon PC, Windows Media Center, HTPC, CableCard TV tuner HD Tuner

About a month ago, I posted a little commentary about a project I wanted to embark on at home. The goal was to turn my Apple Mac mini into a full fledged Windows Vista system for the sole purpose of running Windows Media Center. Why embark on this project? Reason 1: It was about time I upgraded my original home theater PC which I built back in 2005 and was starting to creak under Windows Vista (it’s still great for XP!). Reason 2: I wanted to move to a small form factor than my previous system. Although the previous HTPC looked great within my A/V rack, it was huge, heavy, and somewhat loud due to aging ball bearing fans (which I was too lazy to upgrade).  Yes, it was time to downsize to a smaller form factor.

It’s actually funny that I even considered this route. I felt like I was tracing back to my earlier roots with this project. When I first got into constructing Home Theater PC (HTPC) systems years ago, I toyed with several Shuttle XPC based small form factor systems. In the end, I opted for a larger box since it looked so darn sexy in my home theater rack and had plenty of room for expansion. After a few years with a large box, I was finally ready to go small again. The question was – how small did I want to get?

Now, I could have gone the Shuttle route again (and I still might – more on that later) or I could have purchased something like the HP Pavilion Slimline PC. Ultimately, I chose the Apple Mac mini primarily because I had one handy and I wanted to see what it was like transforming it into a Vista based Media Center HTPC. Would it work well under Vista? Would I be able to do all the things I envisioned?  Hopefully I’ll be able to answer these questions and then some in this writeup. The purpose of this writeup is to cover all the steps that I took to build my Apple Mac mini home theater system utilizing Windows Vista and the Windows Media Center application. Is it my final setup? Probably not but it proves it indeed is a viable, solid, and reliable solution.

Finally, I apologize ahead of time if some of you think I might have “bastardized” the Mac mini by installing Vista. I also want to give credit where credit is due – primarily to two blog postings I read before starting this prokect – one over at markwilson.it and one over at Mauricio Freitas’s website here. Let’s get started shall we?

(more…)

Technorati Tags: Apple Mac mini, Windows Vista, Windows Media Center, Xbox 360 Media Center Extender, Converting Apple Mac mini to Windows Media Center