The Tube 2.7 DVR app adds 'placeshifting' via iChat

equinux has released The Tube 2.7, a free update to its Mac TV software that adds live-streaming of content via iChat. Users now can share the show they're currently watching with others via iChat, tell friends about their TubeToGo web gallery and subscribe to a podcast of their latest recordings, e.g. on the Apple TV in the living room. The Tube, described as a modern TV solution that brings digital TV to the Mac, timeshifting features (pause, rewind, etc.) as well as information about the show via the electronic program guide (EPG). In addition, the integrated TubeToGo web service, free-of-charge, allows users to publish recordings in a web gallery and watch them via mobileSafari on an iPhone or iPod touch whilst on the go; users can also remotely manage and schedule recordings.

Version 2.7 introduces "placeshifting," allowing users to share the current digital TV show via iChat. Leopard users can simply drag a The Tube icon into an active video chat to enjoy the show with friends via iChat Theater (and the iChat recipient can even record a video clip of the show being shared).
In addition, users, from within iTunes, can now subscribe to an RSS format podcast of their TV shows that have been recorded and published to a TubeToGo web gallery. The podcast can then accessed directly by an Apple TV device, which can download any new recordings automatically. The company also said users can also share their web galleries via email.

To help keep track of TV shows, The Tube can now also add individual entries from the electronic programming guide (EPG) to iCal and automatically be reminded when a show is about to start.

For Mac OS X Leopard, The Tube 2.7 can now add a stack of a user's recordings to the Dock as well as preview recordings using the Finder's QuickLook. The Tube utilizes Core Graphics animations throughout its interface and has an option to exclude The Tube-recordings from Time Machine-Backups, in order to save valuable backup space for other files.

The Tube 2.7 software, which requires Mac OS X 10.4, works with its TubeStick Hybrid device ($130), a USB 2.0-based TV receiver that includes two receivers for watching digital over-the-air HDTV or digital (Clear QAM) and analog cable TV.

Filed under: software
Other story tags: TubeStick, TV/DVR software, placeshifting, timeshifting