Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/24/mac_tv_tuner_pvr_boxes/
Two companies this week launched products designed to turn Macs - the Mini in particular - into PVRs. Miglia's TVMax is the most Mini-friendly of the two, but I-O Data's GV-1394TV/M3 connects to a Firewire port - handy for folk with USB 1.1-era computers.
The TVMax, by contrast, requires a free USB 2.0 port. It's styled to match the form-factor and design of the Mac Mini. The box ships with Elgato's eyeTV PVR software, and it's capable of converting content in hardware to PSP- and iPod-friendly formats. It bundles electronic programme guides from Titan TV (US) and TVTV (Europe).
The TVMax neatly supports both PAL and NTSC video standards - handy for UK and US usage - but the integrated TV tuner is analogue, so Brits will need to hook up a set-top box if they want to watch Freeview content. That said, the TVMax sports an array of analogue ports to grab video content from DVD players, VCRs, set-top boxes and the like.
I-O Data's box offers much the same functionality, providing PVR features, analogue content capture and push-button iPod video conversion. The GV-1394TV/M3's software hooks directly into Apple's iLife 06 apps iDVD and iMovie. It offers some clever picture enhancement technology, but it too contains an analogue tuner.
The GV-1394TV/M3 is set to ship in Japan at the end of the month for around ¥27,400 (£131/$246/€191). TVMax is available now in the UK and US for around £169 and $249, respectively, and on continental Europe for €249. ®
Japan gets bath-time friendly iPod speaker set (20 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/20/suntac_waterproof_ipod_accessory/
Apple offers free, green PC disposal plan (31 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/31/apple_pc_recycle_plan/
Re-enact great Jedi, Sith battles with... an Apple MacBook (22 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/22/macbook_lightsabre_emulation/
Apple launches black, white MacBooks (16 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/16/apple_macbook_launch/
Colorware paints up MacBook Pro (8 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/08/colorware_coloured_macbook_pros/
Early MacBook Pros hit by battery glitch? (4 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/04/apple_macbook_pro_battery_issue/
Apple to boost iTunes downloads with BitTorrent? (2 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/02/apple_osx_leopard_bittorrent/
Toasty MacBook Pros cured with paste transplant (1 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/01/apple_macbook_pro_heat_fix/
Apple's MacBook gets bigger and bigger (24 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/24/apple_macbook_17/
iMac boots Windows Vista, survives to tell tale (10 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/10/windows_vista_on_imac/