EyeTV Hybrid Mac TV tuner stick that receives free over the air OTA HDTV Clear QAM and analog TV 10020630
May 10, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
The EyeTV Hybrid is the ideal solution for someone who wants both an analog and digital TV solution for the Mac in one small USB stick. With its classic matte aluminum finish and surprisingly small size for such a versatile product, the EyeTV Hybrid is a perfect complement to the Mac. It features a USB 2.0 interface for the streaming of superior quality, uncompressed TV content to your Mac. It is USB powered and therefore requires no external power supply, and contains a full-size coaxial plug. EyeTV Hybrid works with an Apple Remote. The EyeTV hardware delivers free over-the-air digital TV to your Mac via antenna, as well as analog TV via antenna and standard cable. EyeTV Hybrid also comes with a breakout cable for composite video and S-Video, enabling you to connect a set top box for premium channels, digital cable or satellite.
Connect your game console and enjoy an excellent live play experience. EyeTV Hybrid’s uncompressed analog video signals appear on the screen with zero latency. EyeTV Hybrid records digital TV in one quality setting, Lossless. The digital stream is recorded unaltered and so you’re getting full quality digital content as encoded by the broadcaster. EyeTV supports multilingual programming and Dolby Digital sound. Analog TV can be recorded via EyeTV 2’s software encoder, and the quality depends on the Mac’s processor power. Find TV shows using the built-in program guide (USA only) Export clips and entire episodes to your video-capable iPod Connect game consoles - enjoy zero latency game play EyeTV Hybrid System Requirements - Macintosh with a PowerPC G4, G5 or Intel Core processor, 256 MB of physical RAM (512 MB recommended), a built-in USB 2.0 port, Mac OS X v10.4 or later, Internet connection required to download Program Guide data
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Excellent picture quality with HD
decided to replace an older elgato tv tunter for my imac with a new one. besides the fact that the hybrid is sooo small, the picture quality with HD channels (i use time warner cable) is AMAZING! my 20″ imac immediately became a fantastic LCD tv! recording HD also worked fine (only recorded shorter programs though).
also like the fact that one gets free tv guide programming info….
all in all, i can recommend this product..
1 Star Buyer Beware!
This company has a sneaky upgrade policy, you must keep ALL of the original packaging to get software upgrades (the activation key alone is not enough you need another code printed on the box). Also, if you try to call them expect a rude reception!
5 Stars A rather clunky USB stick that delivers fantastic HDTV and DVR functions to your Intel-based Mac
My MacBook Pro, combined with the EyeTV Hybrid and an over-the-air HDTV antenna, has been my first introduction into the beautiful quality of broadcast HDTV. While the USB stick is a little big and clunky looking hanging off the side of the laptop, the picture and DVR functionality it delivers has been top-notch! I’m certainly buying another one for the new desktop Mac I’m picking up.
I’ve had this product since version 2 of the software, and El Gato has been great about issuing software updates, bug fixes and interface improvements in the 6+ months I’ve owned it. Version 3 of the software is very polished and functioning well. Upgrades for software have so far been free and delivered in just a minute or two over my broadband Internet connection. The EyeTV software always checks for any new versions that might be out and notifies you on-screen that a new version is available.
The only thing I don’t enjoy about the product is the remote control. It’s a bit cheap looking and has some bad ergonomics in regards to controlling the software. Plus it does not take advantage of the Mac’s own built-in infra-red remote receiver, but instead uses one on the USB stick. That can make for some awkward aiming to get the stick to see the remote’s commands.
Other than that, I’d recommend this product to any Mac user wanting an HDTV connection. I’d imagine this would be a great space-saving device for kids in dorms too! Eliminate space taken by a TV. Your Mac will make an excellent HDTV and DVR with this inexpensive device!
5 Stars EyeTV Hybrid-Mac Tuner
This is the greatest little TV you could ever have. Best used with a straight basic cable connection. It is just perfect. All the channels of basic cable right in your computer as you work.
Samsung LN22A451 22 Inch 720p LCD HDTV White
April 7, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Samsung LN22A451 22 Inch 720p LCD HDTV White
You really don’t have to make room for this go-anywhere TV! The SAMSUNG LN22A451 is clearly a smart choice for an LCD HDTV. Add some style to your kitchen or any other room in your home with its unique white frame. Stylishly concealed speakers add to the modern look. You’ll also watch movies and shows come to life with remarkable color and detailed images. It’s easy and affordable to add high-definition entertainment to your home with this widescreen TV. nit brightness 8ms response time for smooth video and videogame display Two 3-Watt hidden bottom stereo speakers SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers a virtual surround field Built-in ATSC / Clear QAM tuners V-chip for parental control of children’s viewing Variable sleep timer Trilingual onscreen displays 1 HDMI input Component video input S-video input Composite A/V input PC input RF antenna input Headphone jack Approximate unit measurements - Without stand 22W x 16H x 3D, weighs 13 lbs; With stand 22W x 17-3/4H x 8-1/2D, weighs 16.1 lbs
User Ratings and Reviews
2 Stars Picture is okay, Sound is terrible!
A little harder to setup than our LG 26″ but a good picture nonetheless.
Where this set loses points is in sound quality. For some reason Samsung can’t get sound right in their sets. The speakers sound about as powerful as an alarm clock. They are absolutely awful!
We decided to get the LG26LG30 instead, and we’re not disappointed. Sound is powerful and picture is vibrant, with great detail. With the Samsung I found I was straining just to hear it!
4 Stars Samsung LN22A450
I have had this TV for two weeks. The picture using the AV connections is good. The TV also looks good. The only
complaint is the sound. The speakers sound like those on a small portable radio. Fortunately for me I have been able to use a spare Yamaha speaker connected to my receiver for sound. Despite the speaker problem, I got a good deal by buying a refurbished set saving $100+.
3 Stars It’s Okay
This TV is okay. The design is nice. The picture is good but the blacks can be to dark and over bearing. No amount of adjusting helped. For the price you can get a better TV. I’m okay with it, but wish I had bought a 26-inch instead. One thing that does bother me a little is the top of the screen all the way across has a slight white glow that you can notice on certain pictures on the screen esp if they are darker or not full screen scenes.
2 Stars disappointed
I bought the 22″ because I loved the white case and it was recommended to me by a salesman I trusted. I hate it and am trying to sell the thing for $100.00 less than I paid just 3 months ago. I am unable to read the channel numbers because they are so tiny and do not stay on the screen long enough for my eyes to focus on them. I was told by the “help line” and the store salesman that the font size can not be changed. Also,the picture quality is not as good as I received from my 10 year old TV.
3 Stars Just OK
I read on Consumersearch.com that Samsung had the BEST small screen LCD TV (19″) and a couple of best buys in the larger LCD TV’s. So I figured that Samsung would be the best way to go for the size I wanted, 22″.
I read the reviews on Amazon.com and was a little concerned, but went ahead an bought it anyway as my old 20″ tube TV was on the fritz and I needed to upgrade to a digital tuner before Feb of next year anyway due to the change over to digital transmission.
I would have to say I agree with most of the other posts on this forum. The sound from the little speakers pointing straight down is not great. I will probably eventually get some better speakers to plug in. Also as noted in other posts, if you sit below eye level of the screen the picture gets darker, if you sit above eye level of the screen it gets lighter. Viewing from extreme angles to the right or left is not great either.
As I don’t watch that much TV and I have tilted the screen so that it is ‘eye level’ when I am sitting on my couch it will fill my modest needs, but I am not thrilled with the product. Makes me want to go back to a CRT TV in the future, if any are still made.
The Amazon price was great, much cheaper than anything I could find in my local big box retailer stores and it arrived a day earlier than predicted and in excellent shape.
It would be nice if Samsung made the mounting stand adjustable so you could tilt the screen up/down/right/left to adjust for optimal viewing pleasure.
Samsung LN22A451 22 Inch 720p LCD HDTV White
March 27, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Samsung LN22A451 22 Inch 720p LCD HDTV White
You really don’t have to make room for this go-anywhere TV! The SAMSUNG LN22A451 is clearly a smart choice for an LCD HDTV. Add some style to your kitchen or any other room in your home with its unique white frame. Stylishly concealed speakers add to the modern look. You’ll also watch movies and shows come to life with remarkable color and detailed images. It’s easy and affordable to add high-definition entertainment to your home with this widescreen TV. nit brightness 8ms response time for smooth video and videogame display Two 3-Watt hidden bottom stereo speakers SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers a virtual surround field Built-in ATSC / Clear QAM tuners V-chip for parental control of children’s viewing Variable sleep timer Trilingual onscreen displays 1 HDMI input Component video input S-video input Composite A/V input PC input RF antenna input Headphone jack Approximate unit measurements - Without stand 22W x 16H x 3D, weighs 13 lbs; With stand 22W x 17-3/4H x 8-1/2D, weighs 16.1 lbs
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Close viewing of TV
The Samsung 22A450 22-inch 720 P LCD HDTV,Black:
I wanted a quality TV to watch while on the treadmill. This to me was the perfect choice. It’s the perfect size for close viewing since my treadmill is in the laundry room . The sound it produces is a little on the “tinny” side but you get used to it in no time at all, then it’s fine.
4 Stars Great combo TV and computer monitor
I bought this as a gift to replace both a CRT TV and CRT computer monitor. It works great as both. The resolution is only 768 (720p for TV) but it supports higher output from your PC if you need it. The setup could not have been easier, just connected the cables, turned it on and it found all the TV channels. We are using it with basic cable and the picture looks great. The only disappointment was that this beautiful white TV (the 451 model) came with a black power cord. Fortunately it’s a standard PC/monitor power cable and we were able to use the old beige cord from the CRT we were replacing to make it blend in better. Samsung should inlude a white power cord with the white model of this TV.
4 Stars Nice TV but weak speakers
Very nice image, no problem at all. The response to remote control is very fast. The base needs to be firmly attached with fasteners or else it would come off when the TV is lifted. I have it wall-mounted with a $60 Peerless articulating mount. The VESA mounting spec made sure that the Peerless mount would have its holes aligned perfectly with the mounting holes on the TV.
I see no weakness except the tiny speakers.
5 Stars Samsung 22″ LCD T.V.
This glossy black T.V. is not only attractive but has a great picture. I use this unit for over the air broadcasts and I think Samsung has the best tuners out there. This is the second Samsung set I have purchased. The only criticism I have is the sleep timer on the remote. One button operation would be an improvement. Overall, a great T.V.
2 Stars Poor Sound Quality
Good: Shipping, Sleek Design
Fair: Picture quality
Poor: Sound
The sound quality was so poor that it over ruled anything good about this product.
Samsung LN22A451 22 Inch 720p LCD HDTV White
January 25, 2009 by admin · Leave a Comment
Samsung LN22A451 22 Inch 720p LCD HDTV White
You really don’t have to make room for this go-anywhere TV! The SAMSUNG LN22A451 is clearly a smart choice for an LCD HDTV. Add some style to your kitchen or any other room in your home with its unique white frame. Stylishly concealed speakers add to the modern look. You’ll also watch movies and shows come to life with remarkable color and detailed images. It’s easy and affordable to add high-definition entertainment to your home with this widescreen TV. nit brightness 8ms response time for smooth video and videogame display Two 3-Watt hidden bottom stereo speakers SRS TruSurround XT technology delivers a virtual surround field Built-in ATSC / Clear QAM tuners V-chip for parental control of children’s viewing Variable sleep timer Trilingual onscreen displays 1 HDMI input Component video input S-video input Composite A/V input PC input RF antenna input Headphone jack Approximate unit measurements - Without stand 22W x 16H x 3D, weighs 13 lbs; With stand 22W x 17-3/4H x 8-1/2D, weighs 16.1 lbs
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Close viewing of TV
The Samsung 22A450 22-inch 720 P LCD HDTV,Black:
I wanted a quality TV to watch while on the treadmill. This to me was the perfect choice. It’s the perfect size for close viewing since my treadmill is in the laundry room . The sound it produces is a little on the “tinny” side but you get used to it in no time at all, then it’s fine.
5 Stars Samsung 22″ LCD T.V.
This glossy black T.V. is not only attractive but has a great picture. I use this unit for over the air broadcasts and I think Samsung has the best tuners out there. This is the second Samsung set I have purchased. The only criticism I have is the sleep timer on the remote. One button operation would be an improvement. Overall, a great T.V.
4 Stars Nice TV but weak speakers
Very nice image, no problem at all. The response to remote control is very fast. The base needs to be firmly attached with fasteners or else it would come off when the TV is lifted. I have it wall-mounted with a $60 Peerless articulating mount. The VESA mounting spec made sure that the Peerless mount would have its holes aligned perfectly with the mounting holes on the TV.
I see no weakness except the tiny speakers.
2 Stars Poor Sound Quality
Good: Shipping, Sleek Design
Fair: Picture quality
Poor: Sound
The sound quality was so poor that it over ruled anything good about this product.
4 Stars Great combo TV and computer monitor
I bought this as a gift to replace both a CRT TV and CRT computer monitor. It works great as both. The resolution is only 768 (720p for TV) but it supports higher output from your PC if you need it. The setup could not have been easier, just connected the cables, turned it on and it found all the TV channels. We are using it with basic cable and the picture looks great. The only disappointment was that this beautiful white TV (the 451 model) came with a black power cord. Fortunately it’s a standard PC/monitor power cable and we were able to use the old beige cord from the CRT we were replacing to make it blend in better. Samsung should inlude a white power cord with the white model of this TV.
Samsung HP S5053 50 Inch Plasma HDTV
December 26, 2008 by admin · Leave a Comment
Samsung HP S5053 50 Inch Plasma HDTV
The Samsung HP-S5053 is a revolutionary 50″ Plasma TV that boasts Samsung’s new exclusive FilterBright (MRT Technology) - a patented daylight filter, which absorbs external light as it approaches the plasma panel and transmits internal light increasing the contrast levels and preventing unwanted reflection. In bright surroundings the FilterBright daylight filter creates high contrast (10.000:1 contrast ratio) with pure black to show clearer image details and generate superb industry-leading dark area representation. This innovative plasma TV also features a true 16:9 cabinet to match the picture and convenient side A/V jack (S-video Composite headphone) for easy connection of A/V external devices. It also features a harmonious design with stylish black and silver design integration between the display and remote control. The TV features two HDMI inputs, two composite inputs, a built-in ATSC/NTSC tuner with PC input, two 15-watt speakers with SRS TRUSurround XP. By integrating Samsung’s revolutionary FilterBright technology the HP-S5053 50″ Plasma TV is poised to make noise in the marketplace because it solves a major problem encountered by many consumers - unwanted reflection from daylight.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Outstanding!!!
I love this plasma tv! I have had it for about 9 months, and I have it wall mounted in my basement with all the cables hidden in the wall. It is sleek looking and has an awesome picture! No cons that I can think of.
5 Stars Excellent quality HD picture, but no HD cable
Excellent quality TV. OTA (Over The Air) HD picture looks great. Also has two RF (coax) inputs - one for OTA and one for cable TV. The only downside is the lack of Clear QAM (unscrambled cable HD) signals.
1 Star Company Complaint - LOVE the TV - Please read.
I love this TV! I own two 50″, and one 42″…I was trying to order another 42″. What I absolutely HATE is this company. Amazon claims there’s a glitch in their system which won’t allow me to leave feedback for this company, so this is my only means of doing so. Here’s the story:
First, understand that my wife and I have been Amazon customers for over 2 years.
After 15 days of waiting, 9 phone calls to LCDMART, and 3 phone calls to Amazon, I finally cancelled the order for my plasma screen through Amazon.
The SAME day I cancelled the order, I FINALLY received a call from LCDMART and the representative told me that I’d receive my TV within 3 business days, and that he was emailing me a tracking number. He claimed that Amazon takes 10 business days to submit orders to his company…from experience, I find that very hard to believe. I waited until the following day, and not having received my tracking number, I called yet again, and was told by John at LCDMART that he was emailing me a tracking number immediately. I did not receive it, so I called YET AGAIN, and was told that I would not receive a tracking number until the following day. I asked “How can I receive the TV by tomorrow if you don’t have a tracking number today?” I then asked when I would receive the TV. I was told, “I don’t know.”
I asked to cancel my order, and the representative for LCDMART said, “No. I can’t cancel your order.” I repeat, he said, “NO!”
After a few choice words, and my persistent demand that my order be cancelled, he put me on hold, then told me my order was cancelled.
This company is doing Amazon a great disservice, and is damaging its reputation. LCDMART did not return a single phone message, or email inquiry.
I’m sure LCDMART will find some reason to make me look like an unreasonable customer, but read the reviews…I’m not the first to experience this, and this “feedback bug” appears to have been in effect since 5/2007, so NO feedback, negative or positive, has been submitted to this company since then.
Buy the product, you’ll be happy. Just don’t use LCDMART.
1 Star Shame on Samsung
I purchased this TV from amazon in Oct. of ‘06. As others have reported I was very pleased with the picture and other elements of this product.
The other day the TV just died. No problem, I thought. It’s still under warranty. I can call them, and they’ll send out someone to repair it. I called Samsung support, and they created a repair ticket. They said they would call me back when their service locator was available. That took two days….a little irritating that it took that long to get me the name of a service center in my area that could perform the work, but it was nothing compared to the frustration to follow.
I called the service center to setup an appointment for the technician to come out, but they said “sorry, you are out of our service area. We can’t come out.” I called Samsung support back and asked for a service center in my area. They stated there weren’t any. HUH??? I live 25 miles outside of the 8th largest city in the U.S. (San Diego) and the only service center in my area is 60 miles outside of San Diego proper? That didn’t seem right, so I called again and had another support person check. No….that is the closest one, and did I mention they don’t service my area!!! The only recourse Samsung was able to offer was they would have to submit paperwork to get “executive approval” to have someone from the service center sent out for the repair. This would take 7 to 10 BUSINESS DAYS. Are you f@!*%$$& kidding me!!!??? That is completely unacceptable. I can’t imagine any company having the arrogance to suggest such a thing to a customer…”sure, we’ll get back to you in a couple of weeks.” No thanks, I think I’ll take my business elsewhere. I immediately asked to speak with someone higher up to get this problem escalated. The support person connected me with Executive level support, but they were just as ineffectual, saying the best they could do was to mark the request as urgent. I think we know how much that is going to change things.
Obviously, Samsung has a process that is almost completely broken. To make a customer wait up to two weeks to have a repair ticket approved is mind numbingly ridiculous. Add to that the time it may take to complete the repair, and it could conceivably add up to three weeks or more. This is what I spent $2,400 for? Samsung will never see another penny from this consumer, and I’ll do my best to steer other potential customers away from such egregious customer service.
1 Star Bad product, not durable
I bought this TV after much research. It looks great, has a great picture and features. HOWEVER, after seven months it is starting to exhibit extreme problems. Plasmas are known to ghost. Typically this memory is not intrusive if you limit your time on channels like ESPN or other channels with tickers or graphics. After seven months this TV ghosts so bad that it has a lingering burn image after watching the loacal TV news. That’s right, the trasitory graphics from local news leaves a ghost image. Even worse the pixels do not release the image and the TV displays red and green noise after the image is gone or in dark scenes DURING A MOVIE. If the movie cuts from bright to dark the pixels don’t release and there is red and green “snow” in all the dark areas. This is after seven months of careful and light use. The money you save for Plasma over LCD is not worth it with this set. I would love to go back and undue this buy. I have a lot of experience with plasmas at work as well as at home. This is the least durable I have ever seen. DO NOT BUY. look at the other reviews that list this same problem. THIS IS A BAD SET.
