PRODUCTS: Mac Meets HDTV

If your computer isn't already the hub of your home, Elgato's latest product could be the technology that makes it the center of your domestic life—especially if you're a TV lover. The Elgato EyeTV 500 digital video recorder for digital terrestrial television (DTT) lets you watch free over-the-air HDTV and digital Standard Definition TV (SDTV) on your Mac via an antenna.

EyeTV includes a built-in editor that lets you record, edit, archive, pause, rewind, and fast-forward live TV. You can also edit recorded TV and save only the parts you want to see again. The editor's intuitive, graphical timeline identifies where programs or scenes start and stop so you can delete material you don't want. You can use EyeTV's Electronic Program Guide (EPG) to catch all the programs that interest you—use keyword searches to enter the name of a favorite actor, show title, or type of show to find material you want EyeTV to record. You can save your collection of favorite shows by creating CDs or DVDs, and you can program EyeTV from anywhere through the Internet. The EyeTV 500 retail price is $349. Due to high demand, Elgato has put the item on backorder until last week of August.