TakeTV PC-to-video recording device

Most of us watch video content, movies and TV shows from the Internet via our PC or laptops screens but it’s not always the best avenue for viewing quality visuals. In response to this, SanDisk has released a new device that aims to simplify the process of taking videos from your PC and watching them on your TV.

The Sansa TakeTV is a straightforward solution for watching downloaded personal video content and other shows in the comfort of your own living room. Daniel Schreiber, senior vice president and general manager for SanDisk’s audio/video business unit said the system has “no confusing wireless network set-up, no wires running across the living room and no cumbersome burning of DVDs.”

The small device looks like any other USB storage unit and works in much the same way. The user simply drags video files to the TakeTV player and then slips the player into its TV cradle. The cradle plugs into the standard television A/V or S-Video sockets. Next, consumers are shown a simple, on-screen guide where they can quickly select the content they’ve stored on the Sansa TakeTV player, using the included remote control.

Sansa TakeTV supports a variety of video formats, including DivX, XVID and MPEG-43 and works with Windows Vista, Windows XP and the latest versions of Mac and Linux.

This technology was first announced by SanDisk as USBTV in January 2007 and has now been re-branded as “Sansa TakeTV”. Two devices are on offer, a 4GB size for storing up to five hours of video (USD$99.99) and an 8GB size for storing up to 10 hours (USD$149.99). Both are available for sale now in the US with more regions to follow in 2008.