iPhone owners, who find themselves away from their TV at the time of that all-important game or latest episode of their favorite soap, already have the choice of a number of live streaming apps to get their live TV fix. Now Elgato, the maker of the popular EyeTV tuners and software for Macs has joined the fray with its EyeTV app for iPhone and iPod touch.
In the same way that Sony’s Remote Play feature allows users to access media content stored on a PS3, PSP or Aino mobile phone, Elgato’s EyeTV app lets iPhone and iPod touch owners watch live TV and recorded programs stored on a Mac while out and about. The app also enables an iPhone or iPod touch to change channels, browse the program guide, start recording a show at home on a Mac immediately, or schedule a recording for later on.
The EyeTV app connects to any Mac running version 3.2 of Elgato’s EyeTV software, and can automatically find a Mac on a local Wi-Fi network using Bonjour. The software uses Apple’s new HTTP streaming technology that was introduced with iPhone OS 3.0 and relies on Apple’s specifications for adaptive streaming using H.264 video and AAC audio codecs. It also uses the iPhone’s hardware acceleration for playback to deliver the best possible streaming quality.
The EyeTV app is able to find an owner’s Mac via the computer’s IP address and can automatically find a Mac connected via a router that supports UPnP or NAT-PMP protocols. Alternatively, you can manually configure your router and/or use a dynamic DNS service.
Live streaming requires a Mac sporting an Intel Core 2 Duo processor or better, Wi-Fi connection, and a compatible TV tuner. The app is available from the iTunes Store for US$4.99, while the EyeTV 3.2 update is available as a free download from Elgato for EyeTV 3 users.