For the past four eld , Elgato ’s EyeTV line of products , and hardware partners like Plextor that license the software , have been the aureate standard of TV catch and transcription for Macs . With the release of EyeTV 2.1 ( which runs on both PowerPC and Intel Macs ) , Elgato adds a phone number of useful features , such as a built - in programing template , that make the update worthwhile for most EyeTV users . EyeTV 2 is free to users who buy an EyeTV product on or after Dec. 1 , 2005 , and otherwise costs $ 79 to buy or upgrade .
The EyeTV 2 software can be used with all EyeTV models as well as a fistful of third - party hardware product , such as Miglia Evolution TV ( ) , and the Plextor ConvertX ( ) . I prove the software by recording analogue cable using the ConvertX , on an iMac G5 move OS X 10.4.4 .
Interface makeover
The most obvious modification EyeTV 2 brings to users is its redesigned user interface . The raw independent window is clean and iTunes - like in its layout , realise the program piloting quite intuitive – with one notable elision : the Edit button has been slay .
By contrast , glow DVDs with Toast and exporting picture to iPod Video are a simple black eye click aside via toolbar buttons . The on - screen door remote has also been update . esthetically , the overall look of EyeTV 2 is quite slick , but at the same time it looks less typical than its late incarnation : it now looks like an Apple iApp .
EyeTV 2 has an integrate programing agenda , which expend local TV information downloaded fromTitanTV . This make searching for and scheduling transcription very wanton . One problem I had with the integrated schedule is that it does n’t always state the programs that are currently playing on a channel , particularly if a computer program has already been broadcasting for 30 minute or more . As a result , if you are looking at the schedule to choose what you require to watch live , you ’ll find dozens of channels blank . Elgato representatives say this will be addressed in a future update .
Editing routine within EyeTV 2 have been improved , but finding the redaction push required me to start the manual to bring out that a little non - descript gray button on the top right of the View window was the magical door to the editing panel . Once I divulge where the editing dominance were , it was simple to remove commercial from recordings . I was also able to export sections from a longer transcription as QuickTime or even iPod - compatible moving-picture show — a very useful addition .
EyeTV 2 now save TV recording as single files that can be easily rename or indorse up to international depot . While this might seem fiddling , the last variant of EyeTV spare each recording as a folder of indecipherable files , make it unimaginable to break up one recording from another .
The essence strength of EyeTV — reliably recording TV show when schedule — remains unchanged . That ’s a good affair .
Macworld’s buying advice
EyeTV 2.1 is a solid upgrade for all users who already own EyeTV and other compatible Personal Video Recorder hardware . The integrated programming templet and new editing pick make this ugrade peculiarly worthwhile .
[ Anton Linecker is a technological video advisor and author based in Los Angeles . ]
