Television on your Mac just got even better with Elgator Eye TV 3 just announced at Macworld 2008, San Francisco. One of the biggest improvements is the interface which looks and feels like the Leopard OS.
Here’s the huge list of features of the Elgato Eye TV3:
New, Intuitive Programs Window:
If you’ve used iTunes or the new Finder in Leopard, you’ll feel right at home with EyeTV 3’s enhanced Programs Window. It groups all the key functions in a customizable sidebar, giving you instant access to all your recordings, schedules, program guides, playlists and shared libraries. The new Cover Flow mode makes it easier than ever to find just what you’re looking for, and handy toolbar makes short work of common tasks.
Intelligent Program Guide Search:
EyeTV features full-text search of the program guide, with results displayed in realtime as you type your search term. But that’s just the beginning. With EyeTV 3’s advanced search, you can combine multiple search criteria to quickly find whatever you’re looking for. Search for actors, directors, year of release, description, and much more.
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Smart Guides:
Your program guide search criteria can be saved, similar to the Smart Folders search functionality in Mac OS X. Smart Guides are added to the EyeTV 3 sidebar, for one-click access. Their contents update automatically, so you always get the most current results.
Automatic Recording of TV Series:
With EyeTV 3, you can create subscription to automatically record the contents of any Smart Guide. This is very useful for recording all the episodes in a regular series, but it goes far beyond that, making it possible to automatically record the shows that meet your exact criteria. Interested in documentaries narrated by a specific actor, but only if they are broadcast in HD? It’s simple to set up a subscription to automatically find and record them. You also get complete control over how many episodes are retained, automatic export after recording, and automatic creation of playlists to contain the subscription recordings.
Smart Playlists:
Even large libraries are easy to navigate with EyeTV 3’s new Smart Playlists. Smart Playlists are dynamic groupings of all the recordings that match any search rules you choose. They update in realtime and are instantly accessible in the sidebar.
EyeTV Sharing:
Your archive of recordings can now be shared with other EyeTV 3 users on your local network (similar to the sharing functionality in iPhoto and iTunes). Shared libraries show up in the sidebar, and you can browse and play them, in standard or HD, just the same as if they were on your own Mac.
On Screen Menu:
Whether you’re watching at your desk or from the sofa, EyeTV 3’s new On Screen menu makes it easier than ever to select, watch, and record TV. Mouse or remote control, you choose; either way you get instant access to EyeTV 3’s powerful features. The easy-to-understand menus ‘float’ tastefully over the video, making it a pleasure to channel-surf.
Enhanced Wi-Fi Access:
Wi-Fi Access makes it possible to watch your recordings in Safari on your iPhone, iPod Touch, or on your Windows PC or Mac. EyeTV 3 also adds support for playback on a variety of smart phones. You can now choose low resolution formats designed for cellular use, as well as the standard iPod/iPhone formats. EyeTV 3 makes your recordings available in more ways and in more places than ever before.
Wi-Fi Access Password Protection:
EyeTV 3 adds a password protection option to the Wi-Fi Access feature to control to who is able to view your shared recordings.
Enhanced Editor for Recordings:
EyeTV 3 has a built-in editor for trimming your recordings and removing unwanted sections. The new layout and improved timeline makes precise editing even easier. Once you made your edits, you can ‘compact’ the recording to free up disc space, and export to a wide variety of formats.
Timeline Overlay:
The video timeline (scrub-bar) is now integrated into the EyeTV player window. Easily pause, rewind and fast forward, or effortlessly ‘scrub’ through the entire program (or timeshift buffer) with a click of the mouse. When using a remote control, you’ll see precisely where you are in the current program.
iPod Assistant:
Modeled after our popular VHS Assistant, the new iPod Assistant in EyeTV 3 guides users through the steps needed to capture analog sources like VHS cassettes and camcorder tapes and prepare them for iPod use. The Assistant guides you at every step so even beginners can get the best possible quality the first time (requires hardware with hardware encoding).
Automatic Episode Management:
When using Smart Guides or repeating schedules to create subscription recordings, you can limit the number of episodes that will be retained on your hard drive. Specify the maximum number of shows to keep, and EyeTV 3 does the rest.
Saved Channel Lists:
If you travel frequently, you can save your channel list configuration for each location and easily switch between them with a click. No more re-auto tuning, renaming, or sorting channels if you use your tuner in multiple places.
Script Menu:
EyeTV 3 now offers an integrated AppleScript menu. Combined with more robust script support, EyeTV 3 gives advanced users even more control and flexibility to create custom applications.
Read more on the Elgato Eye TV3 at the Elgato Website.
