EyeTV 2.3 adds Front Row-like menu
Elgato has released a fairly significant update to their EyeTV software that adds a Front Row-like menu UI for interacting with live TV, shows you've recorded and the program guide. Other sites are calling this 'Front Row integration', but I thought that was slightly misleading, as 'integration' simply means the top-level menu in this new version (pictured) has an option to start Front Row; nothing more. In fact, from glancing at the instructions in their 776 KB ReadMe file (link) about the update, it looks like this new version actually takes over the default Front Row keyboard shortcut of cmd + esc, forcing you to go through their menu if what you actually want is Front Row - though I could be wrong (btw, here's a tip Elgato: compress your PSD files to a JPEG or PNG before slapping them in a ReadMe).
Other updates include support for two USB sticks from Hauppauge, exporting to Windows Media (as long as you've purchased the proper Flip4Mac QuickTime plugin), as well as a general export speed increase of 33%, and up to 500% depending on the source and exported format.
This update is a Universal Binary, free to registered users of EyeTV 2.x and should be available from the app's own 'Check for Updates' menu.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Matthias said 7:29AM on 7-27-2006
EyeTV really uses the standard Cmd-Esc shortcut, but it does not use it as a system-wide shortcut. So, when EyeTV is active, the EyeTV menu will appear, but the normal FrontRow menu will appear when another application is active.
This seemt so be a pretty bad solution for somebody who really uses EyeTV and FrontRow without having access to mouse or keyboard. And I did not find a way to switch to the FrontRow menu from the EyeTV menu.
We only can hope that Apple will integrate the EyeTV menu into FrontRow.
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Scott said 8:07AM on 7-27-2006
I tried this briefly last night, the full screen menu is a welcome change, I haven't had chance to try the new export yet, but anything has to be better than the truly terrible export from v2.2
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XIII said 8:16AM on 7-27-2006
Compress a psd? riight. You mean convert. And with 6 screenshots in there... no way those are psds. Most likely they already were png. So I don't think your 'tip' to Elgato will do any good. ;)
With regard to EyeTV; is the program guide functional for non-US people?
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Sherpa said 8:39AM on 7-27-2006
This update is great. In my computer room, we have the treadmill behind my wifes desk (20" G5 imac). I have been using front row to listen to music and watch movies while running. This update lets me change channels and see the titan tv guide, although they should have made the text bigger it is hard to read from 8 feet away. I am sure that Elgato will have the bugs worked out in v.2.3.2
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Mitchell said 9:00AM on 7-27-2006
Anyone use this with an emac or mac with screen spanning? I love the "frontrow" look however, it opens up on my main screen. Is there a way to make it load the "frontrow" screen on the secondary monitor?
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Marc said 9:02AM on 7-27-2006
#3, please check your facts before posting!
From the readme:
full screen menu top 2.psd
1080i preview.psd
Picture 4.psd
FSM EPG English Details Watch-Rec.psd
FSM EPG English Details.psd
FSM EPG English Top.psd
I can't believe I bothered to do this, but the PSDs are 1.1, as opposed to 340k as PNGs. So David Chartier is correct. Also, I don't think using the term "compress to PNGs" is wrong in this case.
I love the EyeTV 2.3 update. It's not as amazing as it could be, but I'm sure 3.0 *will* be. Well done Elgato. Nice update.
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Scott said 9:07AM on 7-27-2006
@XIII
I suggest you take a look in that zip file, they are indeed .psd files
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LeeB said 9:22AM on 7-27-2006
@ #5
I believe if you go to your System Preferances for your displays (where you choose which display is on the left/right) - you should have the option of dragging the Menu bar (along the top of Display1 - your main one) to the second screen. I believe This will allow Front Row to open on the second screen... but I'm not sure how this will affect your other day to day workings - i.e. window placement etc.
Apologies if this doesn't work, but I'm sure I read it over at macosxhints a while back...
Lee
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Anonymous said 9:35AM on 7-27-2006
When I first went to elgato.com they said "Another seat has been added to the front row" i thought this ment there was a TV icon in front row.
Apple should realy add another icon to the FrontRow menu other wise it's not true FrontRow integration.
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SubGenius said 10:10AM on 7-27-2006
This is a huge improvement and continues to make EyeTV even more of a "killer app".
My only complaint is that you can't control the size of the text in the on screen program guide. This should be a pref you can set for your needs.
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David Chartier said 10:50AM on 7-27-2006
#3: Besides, where else do you think I got the screenshots to make the pic that accompanies this post?
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mr. O said 11:14AM on 7-27-2006
How about letting users order their recordings in chronological order instead of only alphabetically? This is a major flaw in 2.3...every PVR I've ever used has this as the default display option except EyeTV (including EyeTV 1.8). Alphabetical is a reckless decision that totally disqualifies any EyeTV owner with more than a dozen or so recordings from easy navigation to new recordings.
But, having used a beta version of the software for a couple of weeks, anyone complaining about Front Row integration is asking a bit much.
It's true that EyeTV isn't actually integrated into the Front Row app...but did anyone seriously expect El Gato to be able to do this? Hack into an Apple application?!?!?!?!? Come on!
It's VERY easy to switch between the two and wonder exactly how people are running into problems or "can't figure out how to do it." It's an actual menu option!!!
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Ruegen said 4:51PM on 7-27-2006
I would like to see an Australian TV guide built in...
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sjk said 7:43PM on 7-27-2006
Yawn. Wake me up when overdue features like saved searches and automatic scheduling of favorite programs are implemented.
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mrtotes said 9:01PM on 7-29-2006
@XII
Yep program guide work fine in UK at least. They try and get you to sign up for a tvtv.com acount - whuich provides an on-line guide... but who needs an online guide when you can select DVB guide and it gets loaded in to EyeTV like it would on any Freeview box.
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Guillaume Boudreau said 8:53PM on 8-07-2006
Using EyeTV for some time now. I was tired of waiting for Elgato to add EPG data for Canada, so I did it myself.
I detailed how I achieved it here: http://www.pommepause.com/online.html
If anyone wants to try it, email me and I should be able to get you EPG data for your TV provider in Canada. Address: epg att abuserz dot com
- Guillaume
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