Microsoft invited us, with a few others, to tour the eHome team office and lab's and of all the great things we saw -- pictured in the gallery -- the one that got us the most excited was to see the rumored DirecTV HDPC-20 USB tuner in action. Our dreams were a little dashed though, as we were reminded on numerous occasions that although Microsoft tests lots of hardware, not everything makes it to market. So in other words, the presence of any hardware in the lab is no way an announcement of future products. But this here tuner wasn't the only thing we saw, as there were even a few indications that DISH Network was being tested as well, and while we did see DISH multi-switches and a DISH TV screen up on a Media Center PC, we didn't see any specific DISH equipment connected to Media Center. This could mean the tuners are internal or maybe the tuners were just cleared out before we came through. More pictures of the HDPC-20 in action after the jump.

Announced today, the Pinnacle PCTV line will soon be property of Hauppauge Digital, not Avid Technology. After laying off 410 employees and divesting its Softimage 3-D game animation software business last Friday, the company has announced yet another major move in its restructuring efforts. According to Avid CEO Gary Greenfield, he's hoping to transform Avid's business into one that "focuses on software applications that not only meet consumer demand, but also complement our broader portfolio of video and audio solutions." Even he confessed that "PCTV [was] a compelling standalone hardware product and a better fit for Hauppauge, a recognized leader in the TV-viewing hardware market." While financial terms weren't disclosed, the deal is slated to close before the end of 2008, and the happy new owner has already announced its intentions to continue supporting and developing both the hardware and software components of the PCTV line.

Mac users, PC users -- come one and all, as Pinnacle Systems is introducing not one, but two new USB HDTV tuners today to suit both of those crowds. The PCTV HD mini Stick (for PC) and TV for Mac HD mini Stick both get all the juice they need from a spare USB port and provide OTA HDTV reception, bundled software (Pinnacle TVCenter Pro 5) for recording, pausing and watching television, and support for ATSC / ClearQAM signals. Both options should be available before September ends for $119.99 and $129.99 (in order of mention).

[Via Macworld]

First off, Pinnacle's latest PCTV HD Pro Stick came out months ago, and as a matter of fact, the original actually surfaced years ago. However, it's latest ploy for press does make a valid point: USB TV tuners and / or HD DVRs are a must-have item for surviving the Olympics. Oh sure, you can do what most Americans will do and simply tune into the highlights, but this is your one shot in four years to catch planet Earth's greatest summer athletes doing their respective thangs in high-definition! Still, you've only got two eyes and one pair of ears, so now would be a very opportune time to pick up some form of recording device to make sure you don't miss a, er, too many moments.

There are HD junkies, and then there are HD junkies. You know, those folks who can't leave on a business trip without packing in a USB HD tuner to catch some OTA goodness once they arrive. Here's to you, latter guy / gal:

"I travel quite frequently on business, and while some hotels I end up in have HD programming, many still do not. I'm considering picking up an OTA TV tuner that I can just plug into my laptop's USB port, but there are just so many options. Any help out there on which performs the best and which comes with the nicest PVR software?"

We're going to assume this fellow is in search of a TV tuner that works here in the US (ATSC), but feel free to chime in with DVB-T, etc. options as well. Oh, and be sure to signify whether your recommendation only works on Mac or PC if that is indeed the case.

Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.

Folks traveling to DVB-T / Freeview land (that would be across the pond for you Yankees) should certainly give thought to how they're going to receive their much needed dose of OTA programming while there. If you're still living without a USB tuner, have a gander at Elgato's latest. The EyeTV DTT Deluxe snaps right into any spare USB port (on a Mac, that is) and picks up DVB-T / Freeview signals within range. Bundled in, you'll find the recently released EyeTV 3 software, two types of aerial antennas and an EyeTV remote. Folks in Europe can snatch the unit right now for €79.95 ($126), and while we're hoping for an ATSC version to surface shortly, there's nothing to signify that our dreams are close to coming true.

[Via 123MacMini]

We heard that Legend Silicon and Intel were teaming up to push HDTV dongles in China, and push they have. aigo has just announced that it has used technology from the former to build USB TV tuners for catching OTA HD signals on laptops, PCs or any other manner of devices capable of watching video. In China, it's estimated that many of the devices will be used to watch the upcoming Olympics in Beijing in glorious high-definition, while DVB-T users in Europe will have yet another choice for snagging HD on-the-run. Reportedly, the tuners will demand around $100 a pop, but there's no word on where or when they'll show up.

With the 2008 Olympic Games right around the corner, Intel is tag-teaming it with Legend Silicon in order to promote HDTV viewing on portable devices -- laptops, most notably. The pair has seemingly convinced Lenovo, HP, ASUS, Sony, Samsung and Toshiba (among others) to offer up their machines with a DTTB USB dongle in the coming days, enabling Chinese citizens to watch HD on-the-go right out of the box. If you couldn't surmise, DTTB is yet another Chinese broadcast standard, and while we wouldn't bet the farm on it, the nation's government is hoping to offer up multiple high-def programs via DTTB by 2010. Who would've guessed -- the Olympics catapulting HD programming in China?

Should you find the PCTV Nano Stick a bit too minuscule for your liking (or you just aren't down with DVB-T), Pinnacle's got two newcomers for you to peek. The refreshed versions of the PCTV HD Stick and PCTV HD Pro Stick both include support for unencrypted digital cable (ClearQAM) channels and a "next-generation tuner / demodulator with more sensitive reception of both analog and digital TV signals." Both units come bundled with the outfit's TVCenter Pro software for turning your PC into a PVR, and the Pro model (shown after the jump) adds stereo sound for analog / digital TV, FM reception and the ability to capture video from STBs, camcorders, etc. with the included dongle. Good enough for you? Catch the pair early next week for $69.99 and $99.99, respectively.

AVerMedia's already pacified you desktop owners this year, but folks looking to stuff a new hybrid TV tuner in their laptop bag can finally stop pouting. The AVerTV Hybrid Volar MAX, which originally debuted at CES, is finally shipping. As expected, this minuscule device enables XP / Vista-equipped rigs to receive OTA HDTV (Clear QAM support included) along with AM / FM radio signals and NTSC analog content. The bundled AVer MediaCenter software even includes H.264 compression capabilities and a 320 x 240 resolution choice for those exporting directly to an iPod. Ready to dive in? It's all yours for $79.99.

This one's been around the block a time or two, but for you Europeans out there trying to hunt down a new OTA TV tuner that won't bog down your knapsack when traveling, Pinnacle's latest looks to be just the thing. Apparently launching across the pond, the PCTV Nano Stick handles DVB-T signals and enables users to save material in MPEG1, MPEG2 or DivX format. Interestingly, we're only told of its compatibility with Windows Media Center, so we 'spose OS X users would be pushing their luck with this one. No concrete deets on pricing, either, but word on the street pegs it at £39.99 ($78).

[Via PC Advisor]

If neither of Elgato's latest from Macworld tickled your fancy, there's a decent shot you may like what equinux has going on instead. The TubeStick hybrid is the firm's newly announced USB TV tuner, which is housed in a diminutive chassis that won't block nearby ports and offers up OTA reception of NTSC, ATSC and digital (QAM) signals. Furthermore, the unit comes wearing the whitest of white outfits and also touts an external antenna and a one-month trial of the TubeToGo software. Yes, this critter will play nice with Windows machines as well, but we hear it tries to avoid such predicaments whenever possible. Ready to snag your own? Catch one next month for $129.

[Via The Mac Observer]

It seems that Elgato was most proud of its totally revamped EyeTV 3 software, but we couldn't help but notice two rather substantial hardware updates that it also chose to announce (albeit quietly) at Macworld 2008. Starting today, the firm's EyeTV Hybrid USB tuner and its EyeTV 250 Plus TV receiver / video converter (shown after the break) are both available with built-in support for unencrypted digital cable (Clear-QAM) channels. 'Course, they'll both still pull in NTSC / ATSC signals, but the addition of Clear-QAM support is a real boon for OTA addicts. Pricing for the extra versatile devices remains unchanged at $149.95 and $199.95, respectively, but unfortunately, existing owners will not be able to receive the newfound functionally with a simple firmware update.

Read - Elgato EyeTV Hybrid
Read - Elgato EveTV 250 Plus

Been on the lookout for a USB TV tuner with NTSC, ATSC and Clear-QAM support? Look no further than Hauppauge, which has proudly introduced the WinTV-HVR-950Q to handle all of the aforementioned needs. Additionally, the stick comes bundled with a credit card-sized remote capable of controlling the action from any given sofa, and it obviously supports the firm's SoftPVR and SoftMCE software MPEG-2 encoders. We know you're eager to cram one in your laptop and hop on a jet to a land far, far away, so you'll be quite pleased to know that it ships this month for $99.

Regardless of whether you're scouting a TV tuner for your desktop or portable machine, AMD has unveiled a duo of devices that will likely fit the bill. Up first is AMD's plug 'n play ATI TV Wonder 600 USB, which should have no problem tuning OTA HD on any machine equipped with USB, and also comes bundled with an IR remote, AV input, and Catalyst Media Center software. For the desktop only crowd, the ATI TV Wonder 650 Combo PCIe (pictured after the jump) sports ClearQAM support, hybrid analog / digital tuning, a 3D comb filter, FM tuner, and like its portable sibling, works just fine with Windows Vista. No word yet on the pricing details, but both units should be shipping out next month.

[Via DailyTech]