MWSF: No one is talking about the EyeTV 200?? Killer app!

gmark2000 · Jan 8th, 2004, 03:05 PM

I find it curious that there's not much talk and raving about the new EyeTV 200 Firewire DVR and EyeHOME announced at MWSF. IMHO, this seems to be the most exciting thing to come out of MWSF.

	Quote:
	Macworld: EyeTV 200, EyeHome turn Mac into media center By Peter Cohen pcohen@maccentral.com January 06, 2004 3:45 pm ET Elgato Systems on Tuesday introduced two new products to Mac users that will help strengthen their abilities to turn their systems into full-blown media centers: The EyeTV 200 and the EyeHome. Both products are expected to ship this month. The EyeTV 200 is Elgato's the second-generation of the company's flagship digital video recorder. The EyeTV 200 makes it possible to watch television on your Mac, pause live television, "time-shift" by rewinding and fast forwarding, and record TV programs to your Mac's hard drive, which can then be archived to optical media using Roxio's Toast 6 Titanium software. The EyeTV 200 features FireWire 400 connectivity and MPEG-2 based video encoding, solving the two most frequent requests made by users of Elgato's original EyeTV, a USB-based MPEG-1 digital video recorder. MPEG-2 video produces much higher quality results than the original EyeTV was capable of producing, although that comes at a sacrifice to disk space -- while the original EyeTV used up 650MB per hour of recorded video, EyeTV 200 gobbles up about 2GB per hour instead. The system is crafted in a brushed metal shell that's complementary to Apple's latest pro hardware, and features a wireless remote control. And since it's FireWire based, the use of additional power supplies is unnecessary for most users who have the conventional 6-pin FireWire 400 interface that's on most Mac hardware. The EyeTV 200's backplane is also populated composite, S-Video and coaxial cable video connectors, and RCA audio inputs. The hardware has seen significant improvements, and EyeTV's software remains easy to use. Elgato continues to partner with TitanTV developer Decisionmark Corp. to provide users with program guide information, and they noted that a future software upgrade will soon provide users with the ability to remotely control and program their EyeTV boxes over the Internet. Look for EyeTV 200 for US$349. It should be released in January. It will require a G4/500MHz or faster, built-in FireWire, Mac OS X v10.2.8 or higher and 256MB RAM. Elgato told MacCentral it will continue to sell and support the original EyeTV as well. Also new from Elgato is the EyeHome, a device that provides a way to share the digital content you've already got on your Mac on the family entertainment center. Connecting to your Mac over Ethernet, the EyeHome hardware device communicates with server software that you install on your Mac. One button activates the software, which requires absolutely no configuration -- and the software can be installed on any Mac on your home network. Once the EyeHome talks with your Mac (or Macs) over the network, you can view iPhoto libraries, listen to iTunes music, or view EyeTV snippets you've recorded and movies in your Movies directory directly on your television, using an included remote control. What's more, you'll have access to playlists and slideshows you've set up in iTunes and iPhoto as well. The EyeHome works independently of the EyeTV, though it certainly gives you an effective way of watching what you've recorded on using your EyeTV, should you have one. EyeHome supports most popular video formats, including MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 and DivX, popular photo formats like JPEG and PNG, and audio including MP3 and AAC formats. The EyeHome interfaces with your television and home entertainment center using composite, component and S-Video connectors, as well as RCA audio and digital optical outputs. Look for the EyeHome to hit stores in January for $249. System requirements call for a G4/500MHz or faster, Mac OS X v10.3 or higher or Mac OS X v10.2.8 with QuickTime 6.4 and QuickTime for Java 1.4.1. You'll also need Ethernet connectivity to your Macintosh, or, if you're running a wireless network, a third-party Ethernet-to-wireless network adapter.

Mantat · Jan 8th, 2004, 03:15 PM

Ya, its a great produc but a bit too costy which is why I asked our scout at MW to investigate on it... Formac does a similar product at a lower cost if I remember right.

imactheknife · Jan 8th, 2004, 06:46 PM

is that sorta of like this idea?? just curious if it is the same type of thing?

http://www.billpalmer.net/com000097.html

gwillikers · Jan 9th, 2004, 04:59 AM

It's won an IDG "Best Of Show" award, so yes, there are those who are very impressed. Personally, I'd just love one of those babies.

-Howie

gmark2000 · Jan 9th, 2004, 12:10 PM

This is an excellent time to buy (especially shipping to an Amerifriend to save shipping/brokerage) with our strong 78 cent Loonie!

Here are the MWSF special prices as reported by dealmac.com:

Expo: EyeTV for $179
2:00 pm ET, Jan 8, 2004; expires 11:59 pm ET, Jan 9, 2004

Expo special. elgato's EyeTV USB digital video recorder costs $179, $70 off, as an expo special. Also available: the EyeHome Digital Media Player for $219, $30 off; and the EyeTV 200 FireWire Digital Video Recorder for $309, $40 off.

gmark2000 · Jan 9th, 2004, 12:33 PM

For the EyeTV 200, you need quite a system to run it though:

	Quote:
	System requirements: • A Macintosh computer with minimum PowerPC® G4 500Mhz or G5 processor and FireWire port • Mac OS X 10.2.8 or higher and 256MB of RAM (512MB recommended) • Approximately 2GB of hard disk space per hour of recorded TV • An Internet connection is required to use optional electronic program guide tvtv • A CD/DVD recorder and Roxio’s Toast 6 Titanium software (not included) are required to create DVDs or VideoCDs (optional).

mbaldwin · Jan 9th, 2004, 06:06 PM

These two new products are almost exactly what I've been looking for. We've been plugging the TiBook to my TV/Stereo to duplicate the eyeHome's functionality. It works but is ugly and a pain to use, especially for the Missus. She'd probably use it more than me.

I do get the feeling that a dedicated computer (or at least infrequently used) is still needed at the other end. I know multitasking and video capture do not mix, and I imagine it would be impossible to consistently stream video to the set top box while I'm compiling source code on the PowerMac.

It's the perfect excuse to get a G5!

- Martin.