Review: Elgato eyeTV Hybrid
If you’re a frequent TV watcher and enjoy spending time on your Mac, why not combine two “hobbies” into one with the eyeTV Hybrid, a simple device which plugs into a free USB port on your Mac allowing you to watch, pause, and record live TV.
Included in the box is a remote control to operate the device from across the room. It also comes with a break-out cable for composite video and S-Video, enabling you to connect a set-top box directly to your Mac.
Depending on where you plug in the device, the remote might not operate correctly as the IR sensor is on the front of the Hybrid. If you’ve got it plugged into the back of a Mac Pro or iMac, don’t expect to be able to control it using the remote.
Setup Process
Initial setup wasn’t a breeze - which was entirely my fault. I opted to use the included aerial instead of plugging directly into a television port. Because of this, the signal was rather weak and wouldn’t pick up many channels. After plugging directly into the wall and doing another exhaustive scan it picked up ten channels, far more impressive.
After the unit picked up ten local channels. I dragged them into their correct order and named them appropriately. I could have left the settings as is, however decided to configure things correctly to make the recording and scheduling process easier.
Live TV Features
The main concept of the eyeTV Hybrid is to watch live TV - this feature is executed perfectly (as it should be). You can watch multiple channels at once - handy if you want to record a channel while watching another.
You can pause, rewind, and fast forward live TV. This is handy if you’re called away while watching a show you don’t want to record, just hit the pause button and click play when you’re back - you’ll even be able to fast forward through the ads.
I have had some frequent crashes while leaving eyeTV playing in the background, muted and hidden. When I go to open it, it has often crashed and the only way to force quit it completely is to..not. I have to restart the whole machine. I have run a few maintenance scripts on my Mac Pro and reinstalled the eyeTV software, however this still could be an isolated incident. It’s a minor issue for me given it’s such a great product.
Recording
My favorite feature of the Elgato eyeTV Hybrid is the ability to record live TV. With the click of a button, or the press of a button on the included remote recording of a show will begin. You can also set up an automatic schedule to record specific shows at specific times of the day.
You can set specific parameters including which channel, what time, how long before/after the show to record, and how often to repeat the recording - daily, all week days, weekends, weekly, or on set days. You can also choose to have recordings auto exported to iTunes after the show is finished.
Recorded files end up in a playlist in the main eyeTV window. From here, you can export with one click to iTunes using the iPod or Apple TV buttons, play them from directly within the eyeTV application, or delete them.
One feature I’d love to see added to the application is the ability to allow eyeTV to wake up your machine from sleep when a recording is due to start. As is, if your machine is on sleep it will skip the scheduled recording.
I was disappointed with the lack of a program guide for New Zealand. For those in the United States and many other countries, you’re able to see a full program guide which provides an overview of shows - letting you record a show with one simple click.
Conclusion
It’s fair to say I have a new favorite accessory for the Mac - the eyeTV Hybrid. It’s wonderful to be able to record the shows I like to watch and catch up with them all, completely ad free on the weekend. It’ll become even better when I pick up an Apple TV and can have recordings automatically exported into iTunes to watch on the big screen.
I highly recommend this product to anyone who enjoys watching TV. At $150 USD, you can’t go wrong.
As I’m away from home at the moment, I’d like to take a second to thank Paul Stamatiou for allowing me to use his screenshots of the eyeTV Hybrid software.
#1
Kiro → kirosblog.com
I love the ability to quickly export for Apple TV and iPod use. If I were ever to watch TV on a Mac. This would be it. The programing guide is definitely a plus and the interface doesn’t look to bad either. Nice product. I’ll have to test it out some time.
#2
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Very good review. Make me want to watch TV. My only real disappointment with it was as you said, the lack of programing for Canada. It sounded like a great idea to be able to click a button, and see all the programming in your country, and then click another button and choose a program to record.
Another thing you mention about the aerial included. How far of a range does it have? If I hooked it up to a MacBook Pro (as opposed to the back of a Mac Pro), how close would I have to be to get a decent signal.
Finally, have you tried the streaming to the iPod Touch? I’m really curious to see how that works.
#3
Ondra SoukupIs there any option to stream and re-encode your TV on the fly ? So I could watch live TV on my iPhone :) (yeah, geeks can play with Darwin Streaming Server and QuickTime Broadcaster ;)
Also - do you receive analog or DVB-T/ATSC ?
#4
Nick Danforth → nickdanforth.blogspot.com
This looks like a very tempting product, and I’m seriously considering it now. Great review!
#5
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
My question is, besides the obvious morality issue, whats the advantage of this over bittorrent?
Edit: The programming guide does look rather awesome though.
#6
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
It won’t let me edit my post: The programming guide does look rather awesome though.
#7
EDIT-XTREEM → iappblog.com
Nice, This seems like a great device. Nice review
#8
Ondra SoukupMichael Mistretta: The whole programming is being aired over DVB-T here in czech. At least it works on my Mascom set-top box. Click a button, select a show, click and all is scheduled.
#9
Umair AtaLooks like a very nice product. Nice review, you have made me to think about buying it. Although I am not a TV person :)
#10
Andre → winnopeg.com
I bought an EyeTV Hybrid earlier this year, and I must say I was rather disappointed. You see, the unit worked for all of 10 minutes, before dying. What’s more, Elgato won’t replace it because I bought it off eBay, even though it was factory sealed. Buying the Hybrid was a great way to burn $200.
#11
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Ondra: But you probably have digital TV. I have analog, and I don’t believe it works with analog programming in Canada. From my understanding at least.
#12
Hector A. Henry Sjogreen → www.blinkyit.com
Hey its a great hardware, and the picture that you take of Juan Pablo Montoya makes it grater. Lol
#13
Gordon Swaby → gordonswaby.com
Recording live tv is godly…
#14
Ondra SoukupDustin: You get the shows 2 years later if you don’t live in the US :P
#15
Summer Ordoñez → www.summerjuice.net
Wow! I want this now. Awesome review as always, Glenn :-)
#16
Tim CollierThe advantage is that you never have to download anything and simply watch and record on-the-go. I like the product, I don’t have one but I have seen it in a few stores and the clarity is quite impressive ;)
#17
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
I don’t see how not downloading things is an advantage. You’re still taking up space on your HD, and (for me) downloading shows is pretty much real-time.
#18
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Dustin: Depends on your internet connection though. I’m paying out of the nose for my Rogers internet right now, but I am getting maybe a 1/7th of the speed i should be getting. I don’t have enough bandwidth for torrents, however, if there was a show I was really into, I would probably just get a season’s pass from iTunes (when they offer that in Canada)
#19
Alex MacLean → alexmacleanblog.com
It looks pretty cool! I’ve been wanting to pick one up for a while. It seems real easy to send recording over to itunes. I’m sure y’ll really enjoy syncing it with your ipod touch, and eventually Apple TV. This will just be another one of the many things to get when I get my macpro.
#20
DemetreyIt looks alright, but I wouldn’t pay that much for it. I like my DVR and it does everything that I would like it to. If they combined the two, where I could record either from the TV or from my MacBook, that’d be fantastic. Interchangeability would be required, have it all sync together. That would be a must have. I enjoyed the review, keep up the good work.
#21
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
Yea I know it all depends on your connection which is the main reason it doesn’t appeal to me. I’m also on Rogers in Canada, weird that yours would be so much slower…Are you in a rural area?
#22
Chris Vick → vickslife.com
Great review, Glenn. The only thing I see missing is how it works when you use the breakout cables. I am thinking of purchasing one to play my PS2 on my 20″ ACD. I’ve read on Elgato’s site that you can do this with zero latency, but I’ve never seen a reviewer mention this aspect.
#23
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Dustin: Actually I’m in Toronto. :P I should be getting 8mbps down, but most of the time I am getting about 1mbps which is really s l o o o w….I think it’s because I’m on one of Rogers older plans, and they just want to rip me off. I don’t know. I called them today, and the phone rang and rang and rang for 30 minutes until they finally just hung up on me.
*sigh*
Bell isn’t much better, so it looks like I’m stuck with Rogers
#24
Indraneel → indraneel.thepurohits.net
Cool. I wanted to pick one up for my MacBook, as I have a coax tv hookup under my bed, but then I figured the MacBook would be too slow for it. And 150 bucks is a lot for a device that won’t work to its full potential.
#25
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
That really sucks..Damn ISPs. I’m in Ottawa, I switched to Rogers from Bell because Bell was simply awful. Slow and down at least once a month for a day or so.
Go Sens by the way!
#26
Elgato EyeTV Hybrid » IAMWW → iamww.com/2007/10/elgato-eyetv-hybrid
[...] I just got an Elgato EyeTV Hybrid to go with my recently purchased Apple TV and I love it. Glenn Wolsey has posted his review of my new time saver. [...]
#27
RavenNice review, I use the Elgato 310 and I really like it. But I think you have to have a look at your preferences, coz there is an option to wake your mac from sleep to record (mine did even start the mac after it was powerd-down).
#28
Ted Winder → www.tedwinder.org
I have the TVMini: whats the difference?
#29
rmaspero → www.rmaspero.com
Thats sound like a wicked product i would love to get one i would just need a bigger bag to carry all my stuff around in
#30
Jon → www.theappleofmyi.com/blog
It is a great product - very easy to use and set up with great features.
Here in the UK though, it was HOPELESS without using a decent external aerial on the roof. I now get 30+ channels and excellent quality. Export to iPod and Apple TV work very well but my one gripe is the Eye TV wireless streaming with the new version they have just released. It does not work on my iPod Touch. Works fine on the MacPro when I type in the local URL, but not the Touch.
If anyone can help and mail me at reachjm at googlemail.com
I would be very grateful!
Jon
#31
Alex → alexgti.uk.to
I looked at buying this product a while ago, but I heard some good reviews and some bad reviews. But I think if I can hook it up to a normal aerial I should be ok? (I’m in the UK)
By the way, nice review, well set out and easy to understand.
#32
Craigeth → craigeth.wordpress.com
I’m still not sure if I would spend the money on this. I don’t personally watch enough TV to warrant the product. I especially don’t watch TV or movies on my Mac.
However I do like the idea of having a digital filed version of my favorite TV shows. It would save me buying dvd box sets.
Is it possible to use the EyeTV to record dvds that you already own into your computer? If that is possible it would certainly boost the chances of me buying it.
#33
JustinI was waiting for someone to give a more accurate review of this program. It seems to be a good program if it is set up correctly.
#34
Chris Thomson → christhomsonblog.com
I would feel guilty watching The Office on my Mac after NBC and Apple’s fight… I’m not much of a TV person, I just watch “Corner Gas”, “The Office”, and “24″. This would be a different thing to try, even though I wouldn’t get a lot of use out of it.
#35
JustinI can’t believe Apple dropped “the office”! Now that you say it, I would feel guilty if I were to watch it on my mac also.
#36
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
I can’t get the streaming to work on my iPod touch either. I’ll have to give my contact at Elgato a buzz to see what the story is with the situation.
#37
Sumesh → www.techzilo.com
Slick, but $150 makes the deal even sweeter. However, lack of remote control for Macs is a bit concerning.
PS: Stammy’s shots, eh? Good ;)
#38
Sumesh → www.techzilo.com
Huh, what’s the deal with smileys not turning to pics?
#39
Chris Thomson → christhomsonblog.com
I feel really guilty right now… I’m at the cottage, on the cottage computer, on stolen internet, watching the office on DVD… I feel extremely guilty… :/
#40
Peter Norris → peternorris.net
Great review. I’ve been considering one for a while but I don’t have cable in my room so it really wouldn’t be worth it. I’m also thinking about a Slingbox since that can stream my cable over my home network and the internet.
#41
DionI’m the owner of a Hybrid for a couple of months now. I love it since the new update. Streaming recorded programs through Wi-Fi to my iPhone is great!
#42
Jonathan → www.jonathandavies.org.uk
I would love to get one, but from the sound of things the reception isn’t to great in the UK and I would have to use the external arial because I don’t have a socket for it in my room. Still though - it looks very tempting, great review Glenn!
Jonathan
#43
Steven Owens → www.scientifics.net
I’ve actually tried one of these before and I wasn’t too impressed with the quality. I just ended up going with a DVD recorder since my monitor has component inputs.
#44
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Can you use the Apple remote with it?
#45
Katie → soundslikekatie.com
I’m really intrigued by this. I definitely want to look into it! Thanks for posting about it, Glenn.
#46
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
It comes with its own remote - I don’t believe the Apple remote can be used with it.
#47
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
Just had work from Elgato regarding this. You can use the Apple remote to control the 10-foot menu. There you have access to all functions. Very swish!
#48
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
What is the 10-foot menu?
#49
Glenn Wolsey → www.glennwolsey.com
The full menu system of the eyeTV.
#50
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
While the current version of Frontrow is quite annoying, the Leopard version looks quite promising. Is there any way to “trick” iTunes into believing that content received from eyeTV should go into the TV Shows menu? That would be quite cool.
#51
Blair BeckwithIt’s a nice review, but I honestly don’t watch, or plan on watching, enough TV for this to be very helpful to me. I pretty much watch one show a week.
#52
Dustin → www.dustincook.ca
The full menu system of the eyeTV.
Ah ok. Odd name…
#53
Blair BeckwithAh ok. Odd name…
I would expect because of it’s insane length?
#54
SamIve got the Elagato 400! its absolutly awesome!!!!!!! especially with appletv
#55
Samesvbv
#56
Blair BeckwithSpam much? Anyways, I actually went out to the store yesterday and tried this out (they have a demo at my local computing store). It seems cooler then I imagined, and am considering getting one.
#57
Michael Mistretta → michaelmistretta.com
Trying to save bandwidth… :P
#58
Blair BeckwithHaha, if he needs the cash that bad, he doesn’t have to be giving cash out to the top commenters :P
#59
dstaleyAs having done this same thing on a Windows PC, I find the best way is just to save as .mp4 files, and then tell iTunes they are TV Shows. I believe this would be a great feature for Elgato to add to the eyeTV.
#60
EDIT-XTREEM → iappblog.com
Thats a great suggestion. It would be a lot cleaner with the iPhone/iPod Touch/Apple TV
#61
Kenneth → flickr.com/photos/59435402N00
I thought about getting one last week. Meanwhile, looks like NTSC/American version of eyeTV Hybrid doesn’t come with a HDTV antenna.
#62
PaulI don’t think your EyeTV crashes are isolated incidents. On my Mac Pro with 7 GB RAM, the very same thing happens about three times per week. After leaving EyeTV on and recording the whole night, the program is completely non-responsive (not responsive even to Force Quit) and a full reboot is required. Initially, I thought this was an issue with the EyeTV software, but more and more, I believe the issue is a USB hardware problem arising from the EyeTV, the Mac Pro’s USB controller, or both.
If you find a solution to your problems, please let me know… I will do the same!