Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2 Digital Video Recorder

The Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder is a digital VCR for the portable video age. If you own a Video iPod or Sony PSP, the Recorder 2 is a must-have. Instead of buying proprietary UMD discs at 20 each or downloading TV shows for a fee from a limited catalog, you can now create open digital video files from all the content you already own. You can watch content whenever and wherever you want on your Video iPod or Sony PSP. The MPEG-4 Recorder is like an easy-to-use, free-standing VCR that records onto digital memory cards instead of VHS tapes so that the video is playable directly on the PSP , other handheld devices or ready for easy transfer to the new Video iPod.

Amazon.com Review Video is no longer limited to TV screens, but has made its way onto a myriad of handheld devices. Using everything from an iPod to a Sony PSP, from a smartphone to a PDA, people of the 21st century are going mobile with their video. If you're already a part of this mobile revolution, the Neuros MPEG-4 Video Recorder 2 could be the one device you need to simplify and control the process of getting the video you want onto your handheld. If your fear of complex technology has kept you away from the video on the small screen, take heart, the Neuros has you covered.

Download the Neuros demo video (Quicktime or Windows Media).

View a comparison of the Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2 to other solutions.

Watch your video on a broad range of video-capable devices.

What It Does
As the name suggests, the Neuros Recorder 2 replaces the original Neuros Recorder. Improvements include better video quality, easier to use menus, and a slot for Sony Memory Stick Pro. The job of this device is simply to help you record and move video content from your TV, DVR, or DVD player onto your handheld. Acting like a small digital VCR, it can record all of your favorite TV shows and encode them into the format of your choice in real time. It does the same thing with DVDs, storing the recordings on whatever memory card you have in place. All you have to do is pop the memory card into your PDA, Sony PSP, or smartphone and enjoy your show or movie on the go. It works beautifully with iPods also, requiring only that you load the video into iTunes on your computer, sync, and go.

Design
With its shiny silver and black finish, and small and sleek design (4.6 inches x 3.42 x .71 inches; 4.9 oz.) the Neuros will blend in with any entertainment system. The front holds the memory card slots, along with power and recording indicator lights. A/V connections are made from the back. Note that the Neuros has no harddrive, but relies on whatever memory cards you want to use for recording, which you must supply yourself.

Setup and Operation
Getting the Neuros up and running requires almost no learning curve. All you need to do is connect one of the included A/V cables to your Cable Box, DVR, or DVD player and the other to your TV. The Neuros then uses your TV screen for all menu controls. With its credit card-sized remote it's a cinch to move through the menus needed to set up the device. Within ten minutes we were capturing TV programs in iPod format. And here the user-friendliness of the Neuros really shines. All you have to do is scroll through a list of choices based on what handheld device you want to use for viewing--smartphone, iPod, or PSP, for example--and the Neuros encodes it properly for you. You don't have worry your little head about things like framerates, bitrates, or codec types, which leaves you more time at the gym to watch the latest episode of "Lost" while you get fit on the treadmill. It even includes programmable and timed recording, so that you don't have to be there when the device is doing its stuff.

Video Quality
Although you can use the Neuros to watch captured video on a TV or desktop computer, it is not designed for this purpose and will appear grainy and pixilated on a large screen. On a small screen, however, video looks great. And the range of choices for encoding video it provides is ideal. Note also that the Neuros cannot handle High Definition video, and because high quality, big screen viewable video is not in its job description, it uses a normal A/V cable only. Forget about S-video, component, or better connections.

Do It Yourself and Save
If you buy media for your PSP on expensive UMD disks, or download video from the iTunes store, this device can save you money. You're already paying for cable TV and DVD rentals, so why spend more money every time you want to watch on the go? If quick and easy handheld analog video is what you are after, this little device may just fit the bill.

Pros

• Easy to setup and operate.
• Wide range of pre-set formats make encoding a snap.
• Can be programmed to record while you're away.

Cons

• No hard drive. Must supply your own memory cards for recording.
• Compressed video suitable for small screen viewing only.

What's in the Box
Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2, standard A/V RCA interface cables, 110-240V AC/DC power supply, remote control, user manual driver, and bundle software pack.

So you thought you'd found the ultimate in entertainment freedom with your video iPod? How great is it to be able to catch your favorite television show on your way to work, or check out the latest music video before your big meeting? It's great, all right, if you don't mind shelling out a few bucks for shows that you can watch for free on TV.

Don't fret! The days of having to pay to watch shows on your iPod or other handhelds are over, thanks to the Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2. With the Neuros, you can record live TV, your favorite movies, and even sporting events for playback on your Sony PSP, iPod, PDA, smartphone, notebook or other portable device. No conversion hassles, no fees, no problems!

As Easy as a VCR
If you've ever used a VCR, you'll quickly see that the Neuros is a snap to use. Using the standard A/V RCA interface cables, which are included, you simply connect the Neuros into the source you want to record from--such as a cable box, satellite dish, DVD player, camcorder or VHS player--and press record. The Neuros will begin digitizing your show. The Neuros works just like a free-standing VCR, but instead of recording onto VHS tapes, it records directly onto digital memory cards (MS Duo/ProDuo, CF, and Microdrives) so that you can then play your video directly on your PSP, laptop or other handheld devices.

For iPod playback, it's a cinch. After recording your show to a memory card, you insert the card into your computer's card reader and then load the video into your iTunes iPod playlist. You don't have to convert, transcode, compress or do anything else. Just load the video onto your iPod, and away you go. It's that simple. Really.

The Neuros also offers many of the conveniences of a VCR, such as the ability to program up to five recording schedules (once, daily, weekly, or monthly), and a one-click recording feature from the remote. But unlike a VCR, the five-ounce Neuros fits into the palm of your hand, so it can blend unobtrusively in with your home theater system, ready to record at a moment's notice.

Video Wherever You Please
With the Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2 and almost any handheld, you'll never have to miss your favorite late-night television show or news program again. Just set the Neuros to record at a certain time, go to bed, and when you wake up you simply insert the card into your handheld, and you're ready to go. Ideal for the morning commuter or cross-country traveler, the Neuros lets you watch your favorite programs on the way to work or on your next flight.

But the Neuros lets you do a lot more than watch television shows with your handheld. Because you can plug the Neuros into just about any video source, you can use it to digitize your home movies, show off your kids' baseball games or dance recitals to your colleagues, and even capture last night's video game highlights for playback. You can even use the Neuros to transfer a slide show of your vacation shots for playback on your television. The possibilities are endless. But regardless of how you use the Neuros, the bottom line is that there will never be any fees or conversion hassles when you want to hit the road with your favorite video.

What's in the Box
Neuros MPEG-4 Recorder 2, standard A/V RCA interface cables, 110-240V AC/DC power supply, remote control and user manual driver and bundle software pack.