Thomson previews USB digital TV tuner
April 28th, 2006Thomson unveiled a prototype HDTV tuner this week that slides into a USB slot. The Jensen MPC4000 has an over-the-air tuner for the U.S. market. USB tuners that can receive TV broadcasts in the American digital-TV standard, known as ATSC, have been rare—partly because, in some areas, ATSC reception can be tricky, requiring a good (possibly outdoor) antenna.
Has ATSC tuner technology improved enough to make a laptop tuner practical?
“The MPC4000 is only one example of what we expect to be a line of terrestrial reception products,” said Dave Arland, vice president of marketing for Thomson’s audio/video and accessories business, which owns the Jensen brand….
“The market for this type of product is potentially quite large, not only for business travelers with laptops but also a growing cadre of computer users who would also like to watch TV programs on their computer, rather than on the traditional TV,” Arland added.
The digital tuner will probably go for less than $400, Arland says. The MPC4000, demonstrated at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show this week, should hit the market this fall.
• Link: PC Magazine