Elgato Systems has introduced EyeTV 250, an ultra-compact, low priced TV receiver/recorder for analog TV. The EyeTV 250, about the size of the original iPod, contains a hardware encoder that converts analog television signals into MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 formats.

In addition to the television features, EyeTV 250 can also digitize VHS video tapes and connect video game consoles to the Macintosh.

EyeTV 250 ships with EyeTV 2 TV recording software, which enables users to watch, record, pause, and replay television on the Macintosh. Recorded programs can be exported to 5th generation video iPods with one click, burned to DVDs with Toast 7 Titanium, and exported to many video formats such as H.264 or Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP). The formats required by the Apple iLife, Final Cut Pro, and DVD Studio Pro suite of applications are also supported.
EyeTV 2 is a Universal application and runs on Macs with both PowerPC and Intel Core processors. EyeTV 2 has received numerous awards since its introduction in January, including “Best of Show” awards during Macworld 2006 from both Macworld and iLounge, as well as 5/5 Mice from MacUser.

The recorder comes with an adapter cable which accepts Composite and S-Video connections from video sources such as video tape recorders, cable and satellite boxes, or game consoles. The EyeTV 2 software included with EyeTV 250 includes a user-friendly assistant which guides you through the steps required to turn your video cassettes into DVDs.To turn EyeTV and your Mac into a monitor for a game console, Elgato provides a switchable “Game Mode” option for EyeTV 250. This option disables the hardware encoder, instead routing the uncompressed video signal directly to the Mac screen for zero latency game play.

Pricing and Availability

EyeTV 250 will be available at the end of April for $199 or EUR 199 (including VAT) in the Apple Store as well as through retail channels. It comes with EyeTV 2 software, PDF product manual, infrared remote control, USB cable, breakout video cable and power supply with adapter.

System Requirements:

• Macintosh® computer with a PowerPC® G4, G5 or Intel Core processor
• 256 MB of physical RAM (512 MB recommended)
• Built-in USB port (USB 2.0 required for highest capture quality setting and Game Mode)
• Mac OS X v10.4 or later.
• 600 MB of disk space required for one hour of recorded TV (Video CD setting)
• An Internet connection is required to use the optional Electronic Program Guide (EPG). The EPG is powered by tvtv in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Spain, Belgium and France, and by TitanTV in the USA.
• A CD/DVD recorder and Toast 7 Titanium software (not included) are required to create DVDs, SVCDs or Video CDs (optional)

Details are available at the Elgato site.