I purchased this device in order to capture certain special programs from an existing HD DVR and save them as Blu-Rays. So I have no plans to use the program scheduling functions or the IR blaster.
The EyeTV is a tiny box. From the package artwork I expected something like a Mac Mini but no, it's half that size. Next surprise: it's USB-powered. I was looking for some kind of wall-wart to plug in but no, it needs no other power than the USB cable. I'm sure that was clear in the description somewhere, but I didn't notice it.
I connected the EyeTV to the Component out jacks of the DVR (the DVR is also driving the TV over an HDMI cable but the same image is coming out the Component port as well), and by USB to my Macbook Pro. Next thing worth knowing: the supplied USB cable is very short. If you want to sit more than arm's-length from the EyeTV (and you do) you need a longer USB cable or a USB extension cable.
Immediately the image and sound also appeared on the screen of my laptop. Unfortunately it was quite a crude image (540p?) I knew the DVR was pumping out 1080p HD, why wasn't I seeing that? After some exploring of the menus I found my way to EyeTV > Preferences > Devices tab > Quality pop-up menu. It was sitting on "iPad". Selecting "Best" on this pop-up caused the EyeTV to immediately switch to 1080p 30fps. Whew! Big relief! So if you care about the picture quality, start with a careful review of all Preferences.
The EyeTV app provides for "exporting" the things you capture in many different video formats. To use a captured clip in (for example) iMovie, you need to export to some other format because iMovie doesn't understand the format of the files in the EyeTV "Archive" where it keeps all captured video. However, I have found that Roxio Toast Titanium 11 is very happy to import EyeTV captures in their native form direct and add them to a DVD menu to burn. Toast's video editor is easy to use as well. So if, like me, you plan to capture and burn to DVD or Blu-Ray, just use the EyeTV to capture the material, and do everything else in Toast.
Notes after a few hours' use: when you capture at 760p/60fps, the saved file takes approximately 100MB per minute of recording. Capturing at 1080p/30fps, about 150MB/minute. As a rule of thumb, recording HD will fill 5-6 gigabytes per hour -- so a 1TB external drive is good for a couple hundred hours of HD.
The special ".eyetv" files the app creates are in fact "packages." Right-click on one and select "Show Package Contents" and you find several files including a .mpg file that is apparently the video in H.264 format. Is this a way to get the video without the lengthy "export" process? Sometimes, maybe. The VLC app will play this file as-is. Quicktime player will not. Toast, as I noted above, handles it; the Blu-Ray Creator app from the App store cannot.
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| Customer Rating | (149) | (6271) | (2652) | (4185) | (11818) |
| Price | From $99.00 | $99.99 | $29.99 | $117.19 | $142.99 |
| Shipping | — | FREE Shipping. Details | FREE Shipping. Details | FREE Shipping. Details | FREE Shipping. Details |
| Sold By | Available from these sellers | Amazon.com | UCEC | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| Item Dimensions | 2.6 x 7.9 x 9.25 inches | 1.73 x 4.49 x 1.38 inches | 6.5 x 5.5 x 2 inches | 0.47 x 3.18 x 1.22 inches | 4.41 x 2.95 x 0.75 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.40 lbs | 5.44 ounces | 7.05 ounces | 0.64 ounces | 3.73 ounces |
Product description
Product Description
EyeTV HD is the only solution that gives you full access to all your premium content by connecting your Mac directly to your cable or satellite receiver. EyeTV HD comes with an infrared remote and channel changer cable (“IR blaster”) for automatic control of the receiver. EyeTV HD also features a unique dual-format capture mode that records in the iPad and iPhone formats at the same time. This feature supports super-fast exports to iTunes from EyeTV, and facilitates the streaming of live and recorded TV to an iPhone or iPad using the optional EyeTV app.
From the Manufacturer
EyeTV HD - The Ultimate Mac DVR for Premium Cable or Satellite TV
Watch, edit and enjoy cable and satellite television in high-definition with EyeTV HD, a full-featured DVR for your Mac. EyeTV HD is the only solution that gives you full access to all your premium content by connecting your Mac directly to your cable or satellite receiver. EyeTV HD comes with an infrared remote and channel changer cable ('IR blaster') for automatic control of the receiver.
Highlights
- Captures premium television content in full HD from cable and satellite receivers
- Records in pristine H.264 format for a crystal clear digital picture
- Features a unique dual-format capture mode for fast playback on an iPhone and iPad
- Includes an infrared remote and channel changer cable (IR blaster) for automatic control of the receiver
Superb quality digital TV recordings
EyeTV HD records in the pristine H.264 format for a crystal clear, high-definition digital picture.The H.264 format delivers beautiful image quality and a superb compression ratio, which produces smaller file size when compared to MPEG-2 recordings. H.264 can match the best possible MPEG-2 quality at up to half the data rate.
Unique dual-format capture mode
EyeTV HD has a unique dual-format capture mode that enables you to record in the iPad and iPhone formats at the same time. This feature enables super-fast exports to iTunes from EyeTV, and facilitates the streaming of live and recorded TV to an iPhone or iPad using the optional EyeTV app
Easy Setup
EyeTV HD is easy to setup and use; simply connect the EyeTV HD to the outputs of your cable or satellite receiver with the included component cables, and to your Mac via USB. Then position the included infrared channel changer cable nearby. The EyeTV software setup assistant takes you through a simple configuration process and in just a few minutes you'll be enjoying all your premium content like never before.
watch
Watch, pause, and rewind live television on your Mac at your desk or from the comfort of your couch. Sit at your desk and navigate the resizable window with a mouse, or go full screen and stretch out on the couch with the included remote control. EyeTV’s gorgeous on-screen menus makes it easy to channel surf and move through the Program Guide and menus in the comfort of your living room.
record
EyeTV features a comprehensive built-in program guide, with detailed listings provided by TV Guide*.
You can easily record any show with one click. Even set up automatic schedules record your favorite series, or create Smart Schedules to record just the shows you like.
*includes one year of free service with optional renewal for only US $19.95 per year.
edit
Use EyeTV’s built-in Editor to remove unwanted content from your recording, or to crop the beginning and end of the show. The Editor also enables you to create one or more short clips from a longer recording and save the clips individually as new EyeTV recordings.
enjoy
With one click you can add your recordings to your iTunes library for syncing with your iPhone, iPad and more. Take your recordings wherever you go. Watch your recordings on your big-screen television with an Apple TV. Build up your iTunes library with all your favorites. EyeTV can even handle the exporting automatically when recordings finish, so it doesn't take any clicks at all.
EyeTV on your iPhone and iPad
The EyeTV HD also works with the optional EyeTV app for the iPhone and iPad (available at the iTunes App Store). With the EyeTV app, you can stream live or recorded TV wherever you have a WiFi or 3G connection; around the corner at the coffee shop or around the world.
How the EyeTV HD hooks up
EyeTV HD comes with
System Requirements
- Macintosh 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor or better
- Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later
- 2 GB RAM
- Built-in USB 2.0 port
- Cable or satellite receiver with analog video and audio outputs (component output required for HD)
- Internet connection required to download Program Guide data
Technical Specifications
- Input formats: 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, and 1080i video signals
- Video capture format: H.264 Main Profile, up to 15 Mbps VBR, 1920x1080 pixels at 30 fps max
- Audio capture format: AAC-LC, stereo, 160 Kbps, 48 kHz
- Video inputs: Component (YPbPr), Composite and S-Video
- Audio inputs: RCA stereo audio
- Set top box control: via included IR remote control emitter
