Pinnacle Systems (http://www.pinnaclesys.com) the consumer division
of Avid Technology, has announced its new Pinnacle TV for Mac HD mini
Stick just in time for the U.S. fall TV season. The company says the
USB-powered tuner (and its Windows equivalent) is the smallest TV
sticks on the market that offer high reception sensitivity.
The tuner has been integrated withl new signal booster technology
that enables them to pick up digital TV even if the signal is weak,
according to the folks at Pinnacle. With a Pinnacle HD mini Stick,
Mac users have a solution for viewing and recording live television
on their computers at home or when traveling. It includes the latest
Personal Video Recorder (PVR) software as well as a mini remote
control, a high-gain telescopic TV antenna and a travel bag. The
Pinnacle TV for Mac HD mini Stick supports over-the-air TV (ATSC) and
unencrypted digital cable TV (ClearQAM) for SDTV and HDTV with
resolutions of up to 1080i.
The mini stick is activated by connecting it to a Mac’s USB 2.0 port
and either a cable jack, an existing TV antenna or the included
telescopic antenna. The case features a built-in protective flip-cap
that does not block other USB ports.
Once connected, the new TV tuner turns a Mac into a personal video
recorder (PVR) with timeshifting capabilities that enable users to
record, pause or rewind live TV. Users can also schedule recordings
from TitanTV.com, a free Internet-based Electronic Programming Guide
(EPG). Live and recorded programs can be viewed in full-screen mode
or in a scalable window while using other computer applications.
Compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 or higher, the Pinnacle TV for Mac HD
mini Stick comes bundled with the latest version of Elgato’s EyeTV
Lite software for a range of recording and playback controls,
including timeshifting and EPG or manual recording capabilities.
The Pinnacle TV for Mac HD mini Stick will be available in the U.S.
from the Pinnacle Systems estore as well as leading retailers and
online resellers by Sept. 21. The suggested retail price for mini
Stick is US$129.99. It’s also available in selected Apple Stores.
