Elgato announces new EyeTV Hybrid USB TV Tuner

Elgato has announced the release of its EyeTV Hybrid USB TV Tuner Stick for North America, along with updated software, EyeTV version 3.1, which allows users to watch and record TV. The new software brings with it an electronic TV Guide and a feature called Smart Series Guides that allows the recording of a series of episodes of a user's favorite show. Users can also search the guide by genre and lock out certain programs or channels via the integrated parental controls. Maximum video resolution support is limited to 1080i.

Unlike its predecessor, the updated USB tuner sports improvements in reception, a new enclosure and a built-in FM radio tuner. Made to work with Mac computers, the EyeTV USB TV Tuner can export its recordings to iTunes and can sync recordings via Wi-Fi to iPods, iPhones and certain other smartphones. The product includes a one-year subscription to TV Guide, which costs $20 per year after that.

The EyeTV Hybrid USB TV Tuner Stick is available for purchase now, priced at $150. Owners of the current EyeTV tuner will be able to download the EyeTV 3.1 software later this month.