Elgato to unleash EyeTV 3 with Smart Guides, iTunes-like interface
Drawing off feedback from existing EyeTV 2 users, Elgato has revamped nearly every aspect of the software using concepts that will be familiar to users of Apple's iTunes software, people familiar with matter say. Among the enhancements is a completely redesigned programs window that mimics the iTunes interface, placing all key functions in a customizable sidebar and offering a supplemental Cover Flow view for browsing the EyeTV Library.
Like Apple's Smart Folder technology included in Mac OS X, users of EyeTV 3 will be able to save their program guide search criteria to the sidebar as "Smart Guides" that will automatically update whenever new data appears in the program guide.
Smart Guides can further be used to create subscriptions that automatically record the contents of any Smart Guide. This will reportedly make it possible for users to not only record all episodes of a regular series, but also all content that matches a specific search criteria, such as all shows containing the actor Jerry Seinfeld that are broadcast in high-definition.
Similarly, a feature called Smart Playlists will let users create dynamic groupings of all the recordings that match a specific term, such as all movies containing the actor Kevin Spacey. Like Smart Guides, the Smart Playlists will also update automatically as new recordings are added to the EyeTV 3 Library.
According to those people familiar with EyeTV 3, the software will also introduce enhanced Wi-Fi access that will make it possible to watch low-resolution recordings in Safari on the iPhone and iPod Touch, or on a variety of other smart phones. Users will be able to password protect the Wi-Fi access feature to control who is able to review the recordings.
Another feature expected to make its debut as part of EyeTV 3 is a new iPod assistant modeled after Elgato's popular VHS Assistant. The feature will guide users through the steps needed to capture analog sources like VHS cassettes and camcorder tapes and prepare them for iPod use.
Like iTunes and iPhoto sharing, users will be able to share their library of recordings with other EyeTV 3 users over a local network. Shared libraries will appear in the application's sidebar for instant browsing.
Other features lined up for Tuesday's EyeTV 3 release include a new on-screen menu, saved channel lists, a Script Menu to trigger external AppleScripts, and improvements to the post-processing editor, full text search, and the EyeTV setup assistant.
EyeTV 3, which is designed for use alongside Elgato's line of hardware-based television tuners, supports analog and digital television signals, IPTV signals, as well as analog video signals from cable boxes, satellite receivers and video recorders.
55 Comments
Hmmm. Let me know when they include a cable-card slot. Until then it is crippleware.
Or let us know when the hardware can sit between the (cable/sat) receiver and output to the tv... and still record..... preferably in HD.
OK, someone clarify this for me...
1) Does EyeTV work with anything other than OTA? i.e. does it work with cable
2) If so, does it work with everything on cable except premium content? (e.g. HBO)
Even talking directly with Elegato folks at Macworld 07 left me confused as to how their product works with cable, which is the only game in town for me.
who decided that almost 2000k of .png files were necessary to illustrate this article? does your bandwidth grow on trees?
Great to hear.
I've been extremely happy over the past year with all aspects of my EyeTV Hybrid: the hardware, the software, and the support. I use it for antenna programming as well as for watching/ripping VHS tapes on my iMac. I suspect I'll use it to play Wii games in future.
I don't see myself ever getting cable. HD is free over the air, and there are many Internet TV options now (I use iTunes to watch some cable shows, and ABC.com to watch Lost and Pushing Daisies--both in HD for free). Not all cable shows are on iTunes, but iTunes is VASTLY cheaper than any cable package. So I can wait for the DVDs on those shows I miss.