freeview-related stories
Posted Jul 8th 2008 1:28PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: HDTV, PVR Wire, Hardware
So you want one of those newfangled TV tuner dongles that will let you watch HDTV on your laptop, but you've got a Macbook Air with a funny USB port that makes it tough to plug in most standard USB devices? No problem. Elgato's new
EyeTV DTT Deluxe tuner sports a new ultra-thin design and fits into the low profile Macbook Air USB port.
The EyeTV DTT Deluxe is a digital-only tuner, which means you cannot use it to pick up analog signals. At the moment it's only available in Europe, which means you can grab DVB-T or Freeview signals. No word on a US launch date. The European version will set you back about €79.95 or £69.95.
[via
Gizmodo]
Posted Oct 26th 2007 3:31PM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, Hardware
BabelTV is a new company offering an all-in-one set top box in the UK The box acts as a FreeView tuner, personal video recorder, and web browser. In other words, you can watch web video, live, or recorded TV.
Basically, there's a PC under the hood, which means you can also run applications for word processing, e-mail, and media playback.
The BabelTV doesn't need a huge hard drive, because all of your files are actually stored on a central server. When you need to access a file, a temporary copy is made on your set top box. This makes it easy to recover your files if your box is broken or stolen.
While you can put together a full fledged media center PC for under $1000, at £295 ($602), the BabelTV looks like an appealing option for UK customers.
[via
Engadget]
Posted Apr 22nd 2007 9:21AM by Brad Linder
Filed under: PVR Wire, TiVo

Former TiVo CEO (and current board member) Mike Ramsey
tells the Sunday Herald that TiVo could be returning tot he UK, but not with its own set-top-boxes.
Ramsey says manufacturing and distribution problems have kept the company from launching a new box in Britain, but the same technology that will allow TiVo software to run on cable boxes distributed by Comcast and Cox Cable in the US could be used to add TiVo software to Freeview boxes in the UK.
TiVo would work with a Freeview device maker to distribute the boxes, while TiVo would be responsible for providing service. The company has been talking with companies, but Ramsey says TiVo's not ready to announce any partnerships yet.
[via
HDTiVo Blog]