EFF Reviews HDTV PVR Solution for Mac

enrico_suave points out this "PVRBlog post about EFF's Review of Elgato's EyeTV 500, an HDTV solution for the Mac. Well, a very speedy dual-processor G5 Mac, apparently. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has been doing a lot of important work defending our online and digital rights including opposing the dreaded FCC mandated broadcast flag (cue boos and hisses) Elgato and Plextor also have a Standard Definition homebrew PVR solution with an EyeTV and ConvertX PVR bundle (Wired review)." (See also this earlier review from a Slashdot reader.)

Comments

Am I missing something here?

[thammoud]

If you intend to have your Mac handle all of your DTV duties--watching live TV, recording, and playing back recorded shows--you'll probably want a dual-G5 PowerMac

On Monday, comcast will install a $10 a month PVR with dual tuner and one that can record 15 hours of HDTV and 60 of regular TV. Why should I invest in a dual G5 power mac and an additional $350 to basically get the same functionality.

Re:Am I missing something here?

[PornMaster]

Can you archive HDTV broadcasts, though? 15 hours isn't much in the whole scheme of things.

Re:Am I missing something here?

[BJH]

Because, uh... you already own a Mac?

Come on, I'm sure whoever wrote the article wasn't expecting you to immediately run out and plunk down a couple of thousand dollars for a Mac just to use this peripheral.

Re:Am I missing something here?

[Jeremy Erwin]

Presumably, because Comcast will kowtow to the major media companies and start respecting the "broadcast flag." The hope is that this device will remain blessedly versatile after July of this year.

However, suppose that some major media properties persuade Apple to rewrite their firewire drivers, necessitating a a similar driver update from ElGato. The question then becomes: Is ElGato legally required to cripple its software in the course of this update? Could one reinstate compatibility with the old, pre broadcast flag driver by rewriting portions of the Darwin source?

Perhaps the best solution would be to build a Linux PVR server, possibly adding on a suitable mac client, a la vlc. After all, Linus Torvalds doesn't own an online media shop.

Re:Broadcast flag

[KlaymenDK]

Well, that's a fine idea ... so it's probably illegal (in the US). In fact, such a box would constitute a "circumvention device" wich is, as far as I have understood, exactly the thing you're not allowed to have. Bah.

Glad I live in Europe.

Will it be able to connect to iHome?

[WildKard]

just think about not only being able to connect your iPod or DV camcorder or digital camera or flash media reader, but third party peripherals like this HDTV tuner to it. and it all being networked!

Re:Will it be able to connect to iHome?

[node 3]

No, because the iHome does not exist (well, except as a plastic and cardboard hoax mock-up).

Something like it may debut at the Keynote next week though.

Comments

[MBCook]

OK, interesting gadget. I just have a few questions.

Why do you need such a great CPU? The article says it's because the hidef MPEG2 content is decoded in software. Huh? I though graphics cards started doing MPEG2 assist and later complete MPEG2 decoding years ago? It that feature just not in the drivers, or was it dropped due to cost and faster CPUs? Guess you should budget in some more for an MPEG2 decoder card, but they are not easy to find anymore (at least not as easy as they were), they tend to require passthrough (I've never seen pass-through DVI, and would it handle dual link for 30" screens?), etc. Seems like a big problem.

Only an antenna? If this thing can record HD and SD content (as long as it's digital), why not give it an HDMI connector so I could record off equiptment that has HDMI out? Or give it a DVI in for recording off that? Just an antenna seems.... measly.

Interesting though. The CPU problem is not as bad as it sounds considering how many people would currently want to use their computer to timeshift full glory HD content. If you have the TV and such for that and you can afford this box, you can probably afford a computer to play the file (or at least an MEPG2 decoder card).

Re:Comments

[Wesley Felter]

why not give it an HDMI connector so I could record off equiptment that has HDMI out?

And what is your Mac going to do with a >100MB/s uncompressed video stream? Oh, and HDMI is often encrypted.

Re:Dual G5 requirement should be improved

[tji]

> Getting a good signal, on the other hand, is a problem. Does anybody have reccomendations on what Antenna to buy? I live in Berkeley, so the signal I'm getting is coming from San Francisco, which is across the bay. ~20 miles...

20 miles across the bay should be pretty good for reception.. not too many obstructions.

Most stations broadcast from Mt. Sutro, and all locals but KNTV (NBC 11/12) are UHF.

I have had good results with are the Radio Shack Double Bowtie indoor antenna (it's not carried in-store anymore, but they can special order it for you. It's only ~$15)

If you can put up an outdoor antenna (even just tacked up on a balcony) the ChannelMaster 4228 four bay bowtie works great for a lot of people.

Many people like the Silver Sensor indoor antenna. It's a very directional UHF antenna. But, it didn't work well for me in Mountain View.

I have also heard that the Winegard Square Shooter is good. But, I have no direct experience with it.

Re:No G5 needed now...

[justinstreufert]

Yeah, but.. the screen on your 12" PB is only 1024x768, which is way smaller than "full frame" for HDTV. Have you tried outputting to a larger monitor or (ideally) an actual HDTV?

Aldo, Elgato's site says Dolby Digital 5.1 sound output is only possible on a dual G5. Does anyone know if any other machines (esp. an iMac G5) can simply pass the DD stream somehow?

Thanks
Justin

Re:No G5 needed now...

[skufy123]

I'm curious, how do you know he doesn't have a 17" PB?

Rick