zeman
18-05-2008, 03:23 PM
Hi,
I've been doing some beta testing for Elgato over the last few weeks and they've just released a new version of EyeTV (http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/products/software/EyeTV-3/product1.en.html) which along with a Elgato DTT Stick (http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/products/tuner/DTT/product1.en.html) makes a great Freeview HDTV solution for the Mac.
Here's the 3.0.2 release info (http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/mainmenu/support/Update-Start/Update-EyeTV-3.en.html), including support for New Zealand Freeview.
I'm going to sound like a total Mac fan boy but switching from my crusty old windows box to a Mac Mini setup and HDTV has been an awesome experience. The EyeTV software is great and combined with Front Row and the Apple remote control you've got a slick media centre up and running in no time.
I've found the Freeview H.264 support to be fantastic. You do need a fast machine. I'd say that the latest 2.0GHz Mac Mini would be the minimum you'd want to run as decoding TV3's 1080i uses a good 160% of the dual cores. On the other hand recording only uses 2-5% of the CPU's so it great for recording in the background and watching later.
I'll post more details and screenshots later. Just wanted to say there's now a great Mac Freeview option for running a media centre.
No one seems to be bring the Elgato DTT Sticks into New Zealand yet. I picked mine up for NZ $170 through BuyMac (http://www.buymac.com.au/product/elgato-eyetv-dtt-usb-stick) in Australia but you have to get a mate to forward it on as they only ship to AU addressees. Alternatively you can pick up the EyeTV DTT Hybrid from Ascent (http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=356076) in NZ for $270.
I've been doing some beta testing for Elgato over the last few weeks and they've just released a new version of EyeTV (http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/products/software/EyeTV-3/product1.en.html) which along with a Elgato DTT Stick (http://www.elgato.com/elgato/int/mainmenu/products/tuner/DTT/product1.en.html) makes a great Freeview HDTV solution for the Mac.
Here's the 3.0.2 release info (http://www.elgato.com/elgato/na/mainmenu/support/Update-Start/Update-EyeTV-3.en.html), including support for New Zealand Freeview.
I'm going to sound like a total Mac fan boy but switching from my crusty old windows box to a Mac Mini setup and HDTV has been an awesome experience. The EyeTV software is great and combined with Front Row and the Apple remote control you've got a slick media centre up and running in no time.
I've found the Freeview H.264 support to be fantastic. You do need a fast machine. I'd say that the latest 2.0GHz Mac Mini would be the minimum you'd want to run as decoding TV3's 1080i uses a good 160% of the dual cores. On the other hand recording only uses 2-5% of the CPU's so it great for recording in the background and watching later.
I'll post more details and screenshots later. Just wanted to say there's now a great Mac Freeview option for running a media centre.
No one seems to be bring the Elgato DTT Sticks into New Zealand yet. I picked mine up for NZ $170 through BuyMac (http://www.buymac.com.au/product/elgato-eyetv-dtt-usb-stick) in Australia but you have to get a mate to forward it on as they only ship to AU addressees. Alternatively you can pick up the EyeTV DTT Hybrid from Ascent (http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=356076) in NZ for $270.