Hauppauge’s HTPC HD-PVR device, originally scheduled for March availability and then later this spring, has been delayed and “should hit the market toward the end of May, early June.” Another tidbit I’ve picked up is that the HD-PVR, which will record digital television straight from any component video output, won’t initially be compatible with Microsoft Media Center - though support is planned for sometime this summer. MC integration may be more difficult because Vista doesn’t currently offer native H.264 playback. My guess is that we’ll see H.264 support within the upcoming “Fiji” Vista Media Center update, recruiting beta testers, as they roll out DirectTV tuning functionality. Additionally, I expect both SageTV and BeyondTV to support Hauppauge’s device; Company representatives have both mentioned the HD-PVR and seem to understand the extra capability it would bring to their software.
Check out more of Brent?s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Brent Evans Geek Tonic.
