• PC World
• »Tech Industry

Pinnacle Systems Inc. today unveiled Pinnacle Transfer Video, a mobile device capable of recording analog video onto iPods and other USB 2.0 storage devices without using PCs to copy files.

Pinnacle Transfer Video will be available later this month for $130. The hardware will be bundled with three RCA audio/video cables and power supply, said officials of Pinnacle, a subsidiary of Avid Technology Inc.

The diminutive device measures approximately 4.843 inches by 2.638 inches by 0.906 inches and supports S-Video, Composite video and stereo audio analog inputs. The Pinnacle Transfer Video product will be on display next week at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2008 show in Las Vegas.

Pinnacle said the hardware can record and send digital content from a TV, DVD player, personal video recorder or camcorder directly onto Apple's iPod Video, iPod Nano and iPod Classic; Sony's PlayStation Player and PSP Slim; a USB hard drive; or a USB flash drive.

Extra cables can be purchased from Pinnacle to re-charge iPod or PSP power during a video transfer session, the company said.

Because a PC is not required to copy recorded files for transference from the device, hard drive consumption is reduced and data transfer speeds to the preferred storage media can occur much quicker, noted Pinnacle.

The technology captures all video files in the H.264 video compression format, which is supported by iPod and PSP machines.

The pocket-size technology can also be used to archive personal and home videos stored on older VHS, Hi8 or VHS-C tapes on USB 2.0 hard drives for long-term retention without the use of any additional software.