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LG Time Machine Dvr/HDTV Concept: Hdtivo

Lambert Varias — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:45:26 +0000

Shortlisted at the 2010 Australian International Design Awards, you can probably guess the special feature of the LG Time Machine Plasma TV concept. It can record TV shows – even while you’re watching something else – and pause and rewind live TV. In other words, it has a built-in DVR.

Just to be clear, the image above is by yours truly; surely you know by now that not even the best of LG’s designers could match my photomagicking skills. The TV has a USB port, so you can save more shows and presumably watch them on another media device (although the profile didn’t describe the format that this conceptual TV uses to save video) . For someone who’s never used a DVR before, I think it’s a neat concept, although if this TV ever sees the light of day I’ll probably never be able to afford it. Check out the link below for more info.

[via AIDA]

Hdbaset Technology Challenges Hdmi, Features New Old Cable

Lambert Varias — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:51:53 +0000

I have no problems with HDMI technology – it transfers uncompressed digital audio and video smoothly while using just one cable. Isn’t that great? But LG, Samsung and Sony think we could do better. The three companies and the rest of the founders of the HDBaseT Alliance will be pushing for HDBaseT technology, the specifications of which have already been finalized last June 29. HDBaseT allows for “a single LAN cable to replace multiple cables and connectors in the home entertainment environment, HDBaseT is optimized for video application.”

What are some of the advantages of HDBaseT? Well for one, it uses Ethernet cables, which are dirt cheap. The cost of a 5 ft. HDMI cable could probably buy you 80 to 120 ft of Ethernet cable. Also, as you can see in the banner above – it’s from the HDBaseT website – HDBaseT not only transmits uncompressed audio and video, it can also be used to link devices in your home network, as well as transmit power, kinda like a USB cable. Here’s a more detailed comparison between HDMI and HDBaseT, along with DisplayPort:

I’m really interested in seeing the new A/V devices that use HDBaseT; the ability to use long cables and transmit power and data over one cable sounds sweet. Check out the link below for more info.

[via Digital Trends]

Elgato Eyetv Sat: Watch 1080p Satellite Tv on Your Computer… if You have a Satellite Dish

Lambert Varias — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:00:56 +0000

Elgato’s EyeTV Sat captures DVB-S and DVB-S2 satellite transmissions and enables playback on a computer, allowing you to record, export and even share recorded broadcasts over a network of computers. As long as you have a satellite dish. Aside from receiving free satellite transmissions, the EyeTV Sat also has a CI card slot for Pay TV subscribers and can also be used with Pay TV smartcards that support third-party CI receivers. If none of this makes sense to you, well we’re on the same boat; I think the EyeTV Sat is primarily for European customers.

The EyeTV Sat records in lossless MPEG-2/H.264, regardless if the original broadcast was in HD or in standard definition. Recorded broadcasts can be exported to iTunes and then loaded into iPods.

The EyeTV has both Mac and Windows versions and is available at Elgato’s website for £180 ($300 USD). Weirdly enough, the price of the EyeTV Sat in euros is €200, which is a bit cheaper when converted to dollars – $282. Either that or Google is wrong.

[via Pocket-lint]