One-touch video transfer device debuts

Pinnacle Systems today debuted Pinnacle Video Transfer (site not updated), a device that record analog video onto any USB 2.0 storage device without the need for a computer. With the touch of a button the company says users with little or no technical expertise can record from a TV, DVD player, iPod, or other device to a USB flash drive or USB hard drive. Users can select three different recording levels for each device, opting for varying video qualities and sizes. Pinnacle Video Transfer will ship January 15th for $130, and includes three RCA audio/video cables as well as a power supply and a quick start guide.

"Today's more mobile consumers have created an insatiable demand for a solution that lets them take their content with them wherever they go," said Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research in Tiburon, CA. "With the ability to transfer video without having to use a PC, Pinnacle's new pocket-sized device takes video transfer to a whole new level."

Pinnacle Video Transfer is designed for users who want to watch TV shows and personal videos on an iPod or other media device, providing easy transfer without the need for a computer to move files from device to device.

Videos are captured in the H.264 format which negates the need for time-consuming conversion. Also known as the Advanced Video Codec (AVC) specification or MPEG 4-Part 10, Pinnacle's H.264 encoding delivers high-quality videos with two to three times the compression efficiency of the MPEG-2 standard used in DVD video. When the 'Best' recording quality is selected videos are captured at up to 720x480/576 (NTSC/PAL) resolution.

Measuring 4.843 x 2.638 x 0.906-inches, the device supports multiple inputs including S-Video, Composite video and stereo audio analog. Purchasing additional cables also enables the Pinnacle Video Transfer to recharge an iPod or PSP battery during video transfer.

Filed under: iPod, audio
Other story tags: video, update, TV, USB, hard drive, storage, record, recording, cable, cables