The versatile Pinnacle PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick stands out not only for its price, elegant design, and compact dimensions, but also for its ease of use. It connects to a PC through a USB port and immediately delivers sharply defined digital television reception. The PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick provides analog TV reception and terrestrial HDTV, making it a mobile solution for notebook users, travelers, and students who want television reception at any time and equipment ready for the next generation of digital broadcasting technology.
Worldwide Revenue for TV Tuners Is Growing
The number of people interested in TV tuners that let them watch television on a laptop or computer continues to rise. Both the number of digital television stations and the market for powerful TV tuners that enable computer viewing are growing. Market researchers at InStat/MDR predict that worldwide PC-TV revenue will grow by US$35 million over the next five years, reaching US$50.8 million in 2011.
“Terrestrial broadcasters in Europe are currently switching from analog TV to new digital standards,” said Tanguy Leborgne, Vice President of Worldwide Marketing at Pinnacle Systems. “During this transition, we want viewers to enjoy the best possible TV experience in their respective countries directly on their laptop or PC. The PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick combines DVB-T reception with MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 support in both standard and high definition, analog stereo television via cable and antenna, and stereo FM radio.”
Easy Television with TVCenter Pro Software and DistanTV
The included TVCenter Pro software covers everything from basic viewing and time-shifted television to recording programs. Users can watch programs full-screen or in a reduced window while using other applications. An integrated electronic program guide makes it easier to find programs and schedule video recordings. Television programs can be stored on the computer’s hard drive or directly on DVDs for later playback in a DVD player. All functions can be controlled conveniently with the included miniature remote.
The Pinnacle PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick also includes a free trial version of Pinnacle’s DistanTV application. DistanTV can transmit live programs without delay from a PC equipped with the PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick to other PCs on a wireless or wired network, in high quality and with low bandwidth requirements. The stick also provides stereo sound for digital and analog television, stereo FM radio reception, and, through the included A/V adapter cable, connectivity to a cable or satellite digital receiver or camcorder.
The Pinnacle PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick is fully compatible with Windows Vista and Windows Media Center, supports space-saving DivX TV recordings, and includes a trial version for recording MPEG-4 files for playback on a PSP or iPod. All recordings can be edited with the included Pinnacle VideoSpin editing program and uploaded to the internet.
Price and Availability
The Pinnacle PCTV Hybrid Pro Stick will be available at retail from the end of April at a recommended price of €79.90.
