On Thursday, I met with AverMedia to check out their latest product additions.
SnugTV
First on the list is their SnugTV application. What follows is their official announcement.
AVERMEDIA® DELIVERS ON-THE-GO ENTERTAINMENT WITH SNUGTV
AVerMedia’s Latest Innovation Lets Your Watch and Share TV Content from a PC or Windows Mobile Device No Matter Where You Are
LAS VEGAS, NV – January 7, 2009 – 2010 CES (Hilton Hospitality Suite #1950) - AVerMedia® Information, Inc. USA, a leading provider of Digital Multimedia Technology, today announced the launch of SnugTV, a new way to feel at home while away and the perfect complement to AVerMedia’s collection of TV tuner products. With this new service, users can watch live TV programs including games, hometown news and more directly through their personal computer, even when overseas. You can also watch international TV programming regardless of where you are.
“SnugTV brings TV entertainment to a whole new level,” stated Stephen Dix, vice president of sales, Multimedia Division at AVerMedia Information, Inc. USA “By eliminating the physical restrictions of location, SnugTV lets you enjoy and share your favorite TV programs at home or across the globe.”
SnugTV works on any PC with an AVerMedia TV tuner card and an available Internet connection. Simply visit the SnugTV website at www.snugtv.com to create an account, watch your SnugTV or a friend’s; establish your own SnugTV station or watch SungTV with SnugTV Mobile Player on a Windows Mobile device (6.0 and above). Not only will you enjoy a multitude of program selections, your friends can too. By designating your personal computer as a SnugTV Station, it can be transformed into a private Internet TV broadcasting station. When you’re not watching the latest episode of your favorite sitcom, your friends can by granting access to stream programs from your Station, even if they don’t have a TV tuner device installed on their PC. Whether you’re away on business or pleasure, you can stay up to date on your favorite shows or local news and feel right at home in your hotel room by logging into your SnugTV account and watching the programs on your SnugTV Station.
It is PC compatible and can be used on a Mac when paired with the AVerTV HD Volar Max does. SnugTV can also be used with your iPhone. Other features include the scheduled recording option, which allows you to capture your favorite programs and play them back at your convenience. The built-in electronic program guide enables you to see what is being broadcast on every channel. SnugTV’s simple user interface and variety of options make it the ideal solution for enjoying your favorite televised content from anywhere around the world.
Pricing and Availability:
SnugTV is available through three types of memberships – Standard, Advance, and VIP – each offering different levels of service. Beginning in 2010, the SnugTV application will be bundled with all AVerMedia TV tuner cards. Existing users of AVerMedia TV tuner cards can download SnugTV beta from www.avermedia-usa.com/AVerTV. For more information on SnugTV, visit www.snugtv.com. To learn more about AVerMedia and its products, visit www.avermedia-usa.com.
The plans are to have 3 pricing structures setup per the following chart.
It just so happens that I own a SnugTV compatible AverMedia tuner that is installed in my workstation. I downloaded, installed, and configured the free version of this service. It does not seem to like my Linksys router, and trying to setup an internet connection directly did not seem to work either. Regardless, this might be a problem for some, as it tries to make use of port 80, a port that WHS likes to make use of also.
This does not seem to really matter, as my cable analog channels come through over the SnugTV portal. Just analog, no digital. I guess one does not get much for free. Also, here I am downloading from my cable provider, uploading to SnugTV and re-downloading back to my computer. Far too often, I get either still screens with audio
or re-buffering.
Of course, this is not exactly the theory behind SnugTV.
I think we may have potential with SnugTV as a sharing application with your friends in the world. Hey Terry, I already get Chuck, so unless the UK has some cool content that I am missing, and you just so happen to have an AverMedia tuner also, this software is currently a solution looking for a problem to solve. Also, when watching a friend’s programming, you watch what he watches. If he changes channels, you go with him. Translation: no control over that type of content, unless your friend likes exactly the same show as you.
Finally, EPG? During the time I was writing this up, not a single Electronic Programming Guide entry showed up.
It really does have some potential, but just give me Internet TV. Sorry, AverMedia.
Next, we have the
AVERTV HD DVR
Per the following announcement., this item is available now for a suggested MSRP of $99.99.
AVERMEDIA® INTRODUCES THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL AVERTV HD DVR
The New All-in-One Device Brings the Ultimate in High-Definition Entertainment Directly To Your PC
MILPITAS, CA – November 10, 2009 - AVerMedia® Information, Inc. USA, a leading provider of Digital Multimedia Technology, today announced the latest addition to its line of laptop and desktop entertainment devices, AVerTV HD DVR. This Digital Video Recorder allows users to connect a Cable/Satellite Set-Top-Box, HD Gaming Console or an HD Video recorder and capture High Definition video content to their PC.
The AVerTV HD DVR is a PCI Express x1 internal High Definition video capture card with HDMI and Component Video input interface. It offers real-time H.264 recording so you can record your favorite programs in 320 x 240 resolution with advanced H.264 encoding technology. Users can also upload and play back HD content on their iPod, iPhone, PSP or any other portable player device. For gamers, the AVerTV HD DVR can record game play in HD while playing, without delay. Gamers can post their game online so others can see their progress in any given game.
“As more and more digital content is being viewed and accessed from a PC or laptop computer, consumers demand an all-in-one solution that gives them the ability to enjoy that content in the best video quality available on the market today,” said Stephen Dix, vice president of sales, Multimedia Division at AVerMedia Information, Inc. USA. “With the ability to capture, record and play back any multimedia content in high definition, the new AVerTV HD DVR provides the ultimate in TV-to-PC entertainment.”
The AVerTV HD DVR includes AVer MediaCenter software program, which offers a built-in schedule recording feature so users can program a start and end time of a TV show from an HD Cable/Satellite Set-Top-Box. It comes equipped with an advanced video decoder chipset controller for best in class digital video signal processing. It can handle up to 1080i RAW HD video data transfer in real-time.
Pricing and Availability:
The AVerTV HD DVR will be available November 6, 2009 for $99.99 MSRP. For more information about this product or any of AVerMedia’s other Digital Multimedia products, please visit us at: http://www.avermedia-usa.com/AVerTV/
I saw a demo of the software in action on this card and on it’s big brother. Quite cool for some applications, but we do have Windows Media Center. It just depends upon what you plan to record and what you plan to do with the recorded content. Also, I am sure the astute reader sees that 1080i vs. 1080p limitation. Does it really matter? You tell me. Which reminds me, what does WMC record TV in? Me thinks I need to do some checking!
In the end, I like the potential of this device. Combine the game recording features and the mobile playback features (and include an Internet TV portal), I would really like this! In case you have not guessed, I (along with 99.99% of all users) really hate my cable company. I hope the Internet kills them sooner than later.
Finally, we have the
AVERTV USB HD DVR
Per the following announcement., this item will be available in March for a suggested MSRP of $199.99.
AVERMEDIA® UNVEILS THE LATEST IN MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY WITH THE AVERTV USB HD DVR
Capture, Record and Enjoy High Definition Content Directly on Your PC
LAS VEGAS, NV – January 7, 2009 – 2010 CES (Hilton Hospitality Suite #1950) - AVerMedia® Information, Inc. USA, a leading provider of Digital Multimedia Technology, today unveiled the latest addition to its line of PC digital entertainment devices for the PC, the AVerTV USB HD DVR. It is a self-powered USB High Definition video capture device that allows users to connect to a Cable/Satellite Set-Top-Box or HD gaming console and capture High Definition video content to their PC.
The AVerTV USB HD DVR contains an added bonus by allowing users to play back recorded content saved on their PC or laptop directly to a TV at HD 1080i resolution with HDMI connection. So, whether you’re on the go or at home you’ll never have to miss your favorite TV program. In addition to its recording features, the AVerTV USB HD DVR can also be used to convert content from old VCR video tapes into Digital format from S-Video/Composite. With advanced hardware transcoding technology, the AVerTV USB HD DVR saves CPU processing time and hard drive space by transcoding large MPRG-2 video files into H.264 format, which will maintain video quality at a smaller size.
“We continue to see an increase in the use of laptops, netbooks and desktops as all-around entertainment devices,” said Dix, vice president of sales, Multimedia Division at AVerMedia Information, Inc. USA. “AVerMedia is embracing this trend by delivering solutions that enhance the uses for and enjoyment of personal computers.”
The AVerTV USB HD DVR includes the Arcsoft® TotalMedia Theatre software program, which offers a built-in recording feature so you can schedule the start and end time of a TV show from an HD Cable/Satellite Set-Top-Box. It can handle High Definition Input up to 1080i and Standard Definition Input up to 480p and is Windows 7 compatible.
Pricing and Availability:
The AVerTV USB HD DVR will be available in March for $199.99 MSRP. For more information about this product or any of AVerMedia’s other Digital Multimedia products, please visit us at: http://www.avermedia-usa.com/AVerTV/
This device delivers essentially the features as the AVERTV HD DVR in a USB format. Whether you consider it useful once again depends upon what features you would use. I really would like to check out what it can do, however. And not do.
