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http://www.macnn.com/articles/07/03/06/pinnacle.unveils.tv.tuners/

Pinnacle debuts three USB TV tuner devices

updated 10:40 am EST, Tue March 6, 2007

 

Pinnacle unveils TV tuners


Avid Technology today announced that its consumer division, Pinnacle Systems, is entering the market for Mac peripherals with three new USB TV tuner devices: two for the European market and one for the US market. The new portable Pinnacle TV for Mac Sticks are designed to turn any Mac into a full-featured TV receiver/recorder with a remote control. The Pinnacle TV for Mac DVB-T Stick enables European users to watch, "TimeShift," and record digital TV and radio (DVB-T) programs, while the Pinnacle TV for Mac Hybrid Stick delivers the same functionality along with analog TV reception and the ability to act as a video capture device. The Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick offers U.S. users access to ATSC HDTV directly on Mac systems while also supporting standard analog TV. The Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick is due to ship in March in the U.S. for $130 (pricing and availability of the European models was unavailable).

The devices feature USB 2.0 connectivity for high-quality video streaming to a Mac, and the Sticks are USB powered without the need for an external power supply. Each stick comes with a remote control, and connect to an external antenna via a built-in standard antenna input alongside a mini antenna for use indoors or in buildings where no external TV antenna is available.

Pinnacle TV for Mac Sticks ship with Elgato EyeTV Lite TV viewing and recording software, and the "TimeShifting" feature supports pausing and rewinding favorite shows. Users can record shows or schedule recordings ahead of time using the integrated electronics program guide (EPG), and can save recordings on the Mac's hard drive in DVD-quality MPEG-2 format. An included A/V adapter cable also enables users to import video from external sources such as camcorders.


by MacNN Staff

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  1. TheBum

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Sep 2001

    0
    03/06, 11:29am | report spam | Reply |

    No CableCard support

    Both the Pinnacle and El Gato EyeTV tuners are lacking CableCard support, which makes them nearly useless for people with digital cable service.

  1. itguy05

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Apr 2005

    0
    03/06, 01:27pm | report spam | Reply |

    you'll never see it

    CableCARD needs to be licensed from Cablelabs. They won't certify any standalone solutions. The only thing they will certify is the whole box, complete with DRM.

    Vista users are going through this as well - you can't build a machine and install a CableCARD Slot - the whole machine needs to be certified. So you'll only see a handful (if any) with this capability.

  1. bommai

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Feb 2001

    0
    03/06, 05:12pm | report spam | Reply |

    At least QAM might help

    While cable card is a whole can of worms there is no reason why these new tuners lack QAM other than cost reasons may be. QAM tuner gives people the ability to tune to unencrypted digital cable channels including any HD channels (typically local network HD stations). While I use OTA and am happy with the eyeTV hybrid, some of my friends would really benefit from a QAM tuner. I believe there is a miglia product that can do QAM (may be). eyeTV 500 did it but that is discontinued. Also, what is eyeTV lite. What is lacking?

  1. damonlaw

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Oct 2006

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    03/06, 07:04pm | report spam | Reply |

    For Mac OS ?

    I see nowhere a citation or link to a Press Release or other information that clearly defines a Mac OS release. Is this a hoax?

  1. paulc

    Junior Member

    Joined: Aug 2000

    0
    03/07, 09:13am | report spam | Reply |

    QAM

    While CableCard support means the unit must have a QAM tuner, it also means ALL the channels one subscribes to are available. Having just the QAM tuner makes a unit like bommai says. Where I live (big urban concrete jungle) OTA isn't an option.

    I'd also be concerned about the total lack of any form of OS X support, I find that to be a sticky wicket. They don't even say "the hardware will work on a Mac but none of the software we make will ever work and we are not going to discount it so you have to pay for the winblowz software, even if you can't use it (thank you so much for supporting winblowz)"

  1. GenesisDH

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2007

    0
    03/09, 02:06am | report spam | Reply |

    What's new about this?

    If I'm thinking right, the Pinnacle stick[s], the Hauppauge HVR-900(PAL/DVB-T)/950(NTSC/ATSC) & the Elgato Hybrid stick are the EXACT SAME product. They're branded differently, and standards specific (ATSC for N. America or DVB-T for Europe).

    I know the Hauppauge & the Hybrid are the same, as I have a Hybrid and a friend has an HVR-950. We both can use EyeTV and WinTV w/ either device. Pinnacle's HD Pro Stick (or Hybrid Pro for Europe) is supported by EyeTV 2.x as well as Hauppauge's HVR-900/950.

    Honestly, buy the Elgato Hybrid instead of Pinnacle's stick and save yourself a lot of money. I doubt the extra 50$ will get you better recording/exporting software than Elgato's EyeTV (full).

  1. GenesisDH

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Mar 2007

    0
    03/09, 02:29am | report spam | Reply |

    EDIT: Prices

    EDIT: I forgot I pre-ordered the Hybrid from Elgato and got a discount.

    Still the Hybrid (with EyeTV full) sells for the same price as Pinnacle's Mac stick (with EyeTV lite). Pinnacle better have good Mac software to record (and export) from their stick. If not, you'll have to upgrade EyeTV (for probably $50).

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