Tuners and digital recorders incoming from Avermedia

A new digital video recorder that will allow games players to capture the action in high definition is among a line-up of new products from Avermedia.

The C874 Dark Crystal HD Capture Station can connect to any standard or high-definition (HD) video source through its component video input, including DVD players, Blu-ray players and games consoles.

The device, which was on show at Cebit, must also be connected to a computer and allows it to record the incoming video. It has a hardware graphics processor so that it can compress the incoming video for easy recording on the computer. It will be on sale in the UK in July, although pricing was not available at the time of writing.

The Homefree Duet is a networked TV tuner - it has two built-in tuners so that two people on a home network can use it to watch two different channels on their computers at the same time. It can also stream live television broadcasts to Apple iPad devices, using the Homefree Player app. It costs £99.

A second version, the Homefree Combo, also includes inputs for other devices so they can be streamed for viewing on a computer as well. It will be available in May.

A pair of 3D television tuners is also on the way: the H727 3D is a PCI Express add-on card that will receive and record standard (Freeview) digital television broadcasts as well as those in 3D. It can also convert a standard video stream into a version that can be viewed in 3D, using appropriate eyewear. It will cost £149.

The Aver3D Volar Mini is a small USB tuner that also receives digital television broadcasts in 2D and 3D. Available in May, it will cost £50. Both the H727 and the Volar Mini can receive some HD television broadcasts, though not in the DVB-T2 standard used in the UK, where they will be limited to non-HD channels.

Satellite TV viewers are also catered-for: the R889 satellite TV tuner is a PCI Express card that can receive broadcasts in the DVB-S and DVB-S2 high-definition formats used in the UK. IT can also be used to view 3D programmes.