Gizmodo: pinnacle

Pinnacle Video Transfer, Analog to Digital in Your Pocket

Mark Wilson — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:00:35 EST

The Pinnacle Video Transfer is one of the best-looking solutions for analog to digital file conversion we've seen in a long time. A pocketable 4.8" x 2.6" x 0.9" device, the Video Transfer converts video from analog composite and S-Video through the H.264 codec to MPEG4...wait for it...through USB to iPods, PSPs or flash drives.

The device supports three quality settings to simplify the conversion process a la TiVo (good, better, best) with the top resolution hitting 720x480. And while the Video Transfer (the name is killing us) doesn't have a battery of its own, it can recharge iPods and PSPs with the purchase of addition cables.

The fact of the matter is: analog to digital video conversion is a bitch. And for $129.99, we're seriously digging the automated nature of the Video Transfer, and its direct PMP interface.

Pinnacle PCTV To Go: Slingbox Fighter?

Brian Lam — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:07:15 EST

Slingbox and Sony's Location Free TV have a Placeshifting competitor on their hands. And let's face it, Location Free TV isn't really competition to Slingbox, so really the question is, will Pinnacle have the balls to bring it to Sling?

This media streamer isn't HD, like the Slingbox Pro. It is wireless, and sends MPEG-2 over the home network, and MPEG-4 over the internet. For now, it seems as if it only works with PCs, while the Slingbox works with Macs, Windows Mobile devices like the Moto Q, and soon, Nokia devices running Symbian.

Let's see: Pinnacle has tons of experience in processing video, but very little in the networking game. Both are important when it comes to building a solid placeshifting gadget. But given the sometimes shoddy consumer equipment that I've seen out of Pinnacle, I doubt this will be a worry free setup.

So, the odds are in Sling's favor, but we shall see when the reviews roll through. Jump for another picture.

–Brian Lam

Pinnacle PCTV To Go [Pinnacle]

Exclusive Grope: Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick Transforms Laptops into HDTVs

Louis Ramirez — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 20:51:14 EDT

We love us some HDTV, so when Pinnacle gave us a first-hand look at their new PCTV HD Pro Stick we were all over it. A smidgen thicker than your average thumb drive, the Pro Stick delivers free over-the-air HD programming straight to your PC via a USB connection. It comes with a portable antenna so you can use it with your laptop when you're on the road and it also comes with an A/V adapter that'll let you hook up a cable/satellite set-top box straight to the Pro Stick. If the thought of being able to watch over-the-air HDTV from your laptop gets your juices flowing like it does ours, click on and ogle at our first-hand pics. – Louis Ramirez

Installation is easy though it does take awhile (a good 10-15 minutes). Once we had the player running, our only gripe was with lip synching. Oftentimes what was spoken on screen wouldn't match up with the actors' lips, giving everything we watched an old Japanese karate movie feel. Otherwise, reception and quality was excellent.
Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick

Package contents (all nice and fluffy)

PCTV HD Pro Stick (sexy in black)

PC Pro Stick, meet your master (remote control).

A/V adapter meet PC Pro Stick meet remote

USB extender, antenna, A/V adapter (up top) PC Pro Stick, remote (left to right)

A/V adapter connects to Stick via mini USB port

Remote control with PC Pro Stick (BFFs forever)

Each button has a different shape and they're spaced just right for our manly-man hands.

Sexy Stick-on-laptop action

Install screen

Channel scan takes awhile, but not so bad.

Player with interface (Looks like rain for NY)

Success! (name the video for bonus points)