Filed under: Multimedia, Peripherals, Video
ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo for Mac
Until recently turning your Mac into a PVR has generally meant using Elgato's EyeTV (our coverage) with hardware from Elgato or a related vendor. Now, however, AMD is getting in the Mac PVR game with the ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo USB for Mac (say that three times fast!). The Wonder 650 has dual tuner that can receive free over-the-air ATSC high-definition content as well as standard definition NTSC content from cable or antenna. With the two tuners you can "watch analog TV while recording digital TV at the same time" (I take it that this means you can't record one HD stream while watching a different one).In addition to the 650 itself (which includes hardware based MPEG-2 compression) the package includes ATI's tvPORTAL for Mac software. Much like EyeTV this allows you to watch and pause live video as well as set up timed recordings with a programming guide.
The ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo should be available by the end of the month for $149.
[via 123Macmini]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Andre said 11:29PM on 11-14-2007
I'd consider it, if not only because my EyeTV Hybrid broke the day I got it and Elgato wouldn't do anything about it.
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Alex Poterek said 11:29PM on 11-14-2007
So this wouldn't work with my macbook pro would it? I assume you need to have an external display with component cables? Anybody know?
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Andre said 11:31PM on 11-14-2007
@2: The product page shows it with a MacBook Pro, and says it works with both desktops and laptops, so it shouldn't be an issue.
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dagamer34 said 11:48PM on 11-14-2007
Is this hardware compatible with Windows MCE? Not that I'd really use it, but MCE is probably the only good thing Microsoft has done lately.
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Fritz Laurel said 12:16AM on 11-15-2007
@2 - It doesn't say anything about having any output connectors, so I would assume this is only an input device. That would imply that you can view the content on whatever device that can play the clips with whatever codec is used (or to which you convert).
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Wilder K. Wight said 12:56AM on 11-15-2007
Here's what I want, and why I want it:
I have a 24" iMac. Frankly, it's mothereffin' gorgeous. I love the screen. I watch movies on it and use it as an entertainment center in my room.
But it could be so much MORE. . .
I don't understand how Apple could make such a gorgeous screen on a nice computer like this, and then give me ZERO capability of using it as a monitor for other devices. I'd love to watch my DirecTV HD on this thing. I'd love to use it as a monitor for my XBox 360. I could make this 24" screen the CENTER of my entertainment if only I could input HD signals to the screen-- Or at least plain old RGB signals would be SOMEthing!
But no. Apple didn't allow that. I guess they intended for me to get a Mac Pro and one of their monitors instead of using the iMac's screen, but that's out of my budget, and way too much computer for what I do.
To add insult to injury, a lot of the Windows computers that basically clone the iMac's design DO have video input! Argh!
EyeTV doesn't help. Sure, it tunes in ATSC, but it doesn't allow me to input the high-definition signal from my DirecTV or XBox 360. Other people who use other HD sources (Cable, Dish, PS3, etc.) are also barred from using the iMac as a true entertainment hub via EyeTV.
And this thing-- the ATI TV Wonder-- It's basically the same damn thing as the EyeTV. An ATSC tuner, with composite AV connectors. Red/White/Yellow AV?!? As in "cruddy, almost obsolete" AV? What the hell, ATI?
WHAT. THE. HELL?
Would SOMEBODY please step up and give me an alternative for faithfully inputting a high definition DVI, RGB, HDMI, or Component signal to my iMac's screen? That's ALL I WANT, guys. Can't you do that?
Make it HDCP compliant if you need to. Hell, you could limit it to 720p if you want! Just MAKE IT HAPPEN!
The first company to do this gets my money and my support.
ATI's offering is just more weak sauce. A band-aid, not a cure.
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Alex said 1:18AM on 11-15-2007
i don't understand, over the air hd, oh woopee. integrate a cable card slot in there and give me a real hi def cable tuner. let me guess, copy protection. yea whatever. PASS.
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Sam said 3:35AM on 11-15-2007
@ Wilder K Wight
I completely agree, you took the words out of my mouth.
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Anthony said 3:58AM on 11-15-2007
That is one fine looking air conditioner!
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Brandan said 7:26AM on 11-15-2007
Wilder, the problem is that the iMac's screen is embedded into the computer and Apple would have to move mountains and still probably fail in getting a license for HDMI input due to the intense DRM restrictions enforced by the industry. Basically, it's the movie studios and other content providers that are stopping Apple from doing this as they are paranoid that the media could be copied (due to the integration).
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krye said 8:23AM on 11-15-2007
$149!. Buy a tivo
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dan bowden said 11:01AM on 11-15-2007
@Brandan
Who said ANYTHING about HDMI??? Component HD, VGA or HDMI would do! Just not terrible AV old school crappy connectors. Why is it so hard for this to be released. Like Wilder I have a 24" imac sitting on my wall just waiting for my xbox360 and wii to be connected to it over some for of HD!
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loki said 12:04PM on 11-15-2007
I agree, apple should add this function to the iMac. I have a 24" Dell, that allows multiple inputs and it rocks, I've thinking of adding a mac mini or macbook to the list of things that connect to it. Like my xbox, wii, pc, vcr (witch I use to watch tv with). But if I could use the iMac...
SO make some noise.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/
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j.holtslander said 12:06PM on 11-15-2007
I will buy it in a heartbeat if this tvPortal program can get Canadian TV Guide listings.
I tried to find the info on ATI's site but I'm not allowed to phone them with pre-sales questions until I've registered my product (?!) or I sign up for their spam. Yay!
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j.holtslander said 12:14PM on 11-15-2007
>That is one fine looking air conditioner!
Looks more like a white Sony console.
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Wilder K. Wight said 12:41PM on 11-15-2007
I have a 26" HDTV, and my 24" iMac screen looks BETTER, and it's almost the same size. I'd LOVE to be able to hook up my XBox 360 to it!
I don't see a copy protection problem here. I'm not asking for a HD tuner on the Mac. I'm asking to use the iMac as an HD *screen* and that's all. No recording, no interaction with my Mac's CPU whatsoever. Just an input of some sort that allows me to go straight to the iMac's screen, and take full advantage of the 1080p of which it's capable... But like I said- At this point I'd settle for 720p as a limit.
There has to be a solution that could use the Firewire port... Even if I have to "reboot" to a "TV Mode" or something that isn't in Mac OS X.
It's pathetic that the mid-priced Windows Media PCs have this capability, but the highest-end iMac doesn't. It's an awesome screen. Why can't I use it for everything else?
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Anthony said 2:15PM on 11-15-2007
@16 - the HybridTV from elgato systems does what you want.
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Steve said 3:10PM on 11-15-2007
Does this thing enable me to hook up my old VHS-C camcorder using composite connectors to convert my tapes into a digital video recording?
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Joshua said 4:29PM on 11-15-2007
This is pretty much useless for most enthusiasts without any sort of iR compatability. Most of the people willing to shell out for a $150 accessory to watch television on their computer also will very likely have satelite or digital cable television service that requires a set top box. Unless you can iR blast the box through the provided software, all of the scheduling for recording programs is irrelevant.
There are two companies making ir blasters that are compatible with elgato's package now. That makes it a true fully functional pvr. It looks to me like ATI still has some catching up to do.
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Sh said 5:33PM on 11-15-2007
I'm with you on this Wilder. Just a simple input to all you to use your iMac as an HD screen for your consoles. Miglia is a competitor to El Gato and I have been on their forums trying to reason with the company to give us such a solution. Maybe you should join the crusade.
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