EyeTV 3 – New User Interface, Smart Guides, and Network Sharing of Your
Recordings Archive
San Francisco, 15 January 2008 – Elgato Systems announces EyeTV 3, an
extensive update to its multiple award-winning EyeTV television software.
In addition to a new, intuitive user interface, the software offers an
extended program guide featuring intelligent searching and recording
functionality, numerous new network features, and additional highlights. A
full version of EyeTV 3 is available for $79.95, owners of EyeTV 2 can
obtain the upgrade at a reduced price of $39.95.
Also new from Elgato at Macworld 2008 are updates to the EyeTV Hybrid and
EyeTV 250 Plus television receivers, which now extend reception of
over-the-air HDTV (ATSC) and analogue cable channels with reception of
unencrypted digital cable (Clear QAM) channels.
New User Interface
The completely redesigned user interface offers a new programs window in
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard look and feel: The sidebar on the left presents all
functions and elements in hierarchical order. Recordings can be viewed in
list view or in the Cover Flow mode made popular by iTunes. The player
window now integrates a timeline display with basic playback controls. The
semi-transparent On-Screen Menu has been redesigned entirely, inspired by
user interfaces from modern set-top boxes. This allows comfortable control
of EyeTV via a remote control or keyboard and mouse.
Smart Guides
Automated recordings using the built-in electronic program guide (EPG) have
been extended exhaustively: A new, intelligent search function lets EyeTV 3
users combine multiple search criteria for refined EPG searches. Searches
can be saved as Smart Guides. These show up in the programs window sidebar
and update on-the-fly, like a Saved Search in Mac OS X 10.5. Search results
can optionally be recorded automatically. Users can also specify how many
of these recordings they want to keep in their EyeTV Archives, similar to
Podcast subscriptions in iTunes.
New Options for Streaming and Sharing
EyeTV 3 network features have also been improved and extended: EyeTV
Archives can now be shared with other users in your local network just like
iTunes and iPhoto libraries. Wi-Fi Access, which enables watching recorded
TV shows via wireless network on iPhone or iPod Touch, now supports
additional smart-phones from several vendors. It also offers the option of
lower resolution for lower-bandwidth video connections. Password protection
has been added too.
Additional Highlights
Further additions to EyeTV 3’s feature set include Smart Playlists, which
group recorded TV shows using flexible search criteria. Smart Playlists also
appear the sidebar. The video editor has been integrated into the player
window as an overlay, no longer requiring users to exit the player window to
cut and crop recordings. The results of channel scans can now be saved and
restored, a boon for users who frequently travel between multiple locations.
EyeTV 3’s support for AppleScript has been substantially improved, adding
an integrated script menu and more robust script support.
Price & Availability
EyeTV 3 is available immediately from Elgato’s Online Shop (www.elgato.com)
at a price of $79.95. Users of EyeTV 2 who obtained their software license
separately or in combination with a hardware product on or after December
1st, 2007, are eligible for a free update. Users of EyeTV 2 who obtained
their license before this time can upgrade to EyeTV 3 at the reduced price
of $39.95.
Clear QAM Compatibility for EyeTV Hybrid and EyeTV 250 Plus
New for Macworld 2008, Elgato is introducing updated versions of the EyeTV
Hybrid and EyeTV 250 Plus television receivers. In addition to over-the-air
HDTV (ATSC) and analog cable channels, the new models can also receive
unencrypted digital cable (Clear QAM) channels. Pricing remains unchanged
at $149.95 and $199.95 respectively.
About EyeTV
EyeTV 3 is the latest version of Elgato’s multiple award-winning one-stop
solution for television on the Mac.