2005 HDTV Report, Part 10: HDTV Tuners & Tuning DVR's

[Rodolfo]

This part is dedicated to HDTV tuners and tuning DVR's. Early this year CES Dish Network announced the future release of a new HD DVR STB DVR942, and also confirmed the discontinuation of the famous PVR-921 and the company plans for IEEE1394 connections, a key feature announced over the past 3 years, and a reason many consumers endured the long waiting. After the PVR921 introduction in 2004, the IEEE1394 feature was never activated as promised; the feature would have permitted D-VHS tape archival and Firewire Networking of the HD-DVR's stored or tuned satellite content. The omission of IEEE1394 situates Dish Network on the ranks of DirecTV regarding that capability, giving an edge to Cable and OTA HD-STBs, which do have IEEE1394 outputs for the archiving of permitted content (under DTCP protection rules). Scientific Atlanta also showed a prototype of a new STB server DVR model, a networking centerpiece that can connect with other STB's from the company via coaxial cable. The DVR has a planned release of late 2005, and will be capable of archiving HD content as a file copy format within a Hi Def DVD disc using an internal recorder. The disc would also be playable on similar models, but not on other players of Hi Def DVD formats (such as Blu-ray or HD DVD). Check out the many other HD-STBs and tuning DVR's on this part (tuneless HD-DVR's will be covered shortly on another article), and review the same section of the 2004 report for a broader view of what is available in the market. Keep in mind that the MSRP and TTM (time to market) information is as of 1Q05 from the CES 2005 report; it is usual with CE prices and availability to change until products are actually released; additionally, street sale prices should be expected to be lower than the MSRP data used throughout the report, especially on several old models that have lowered the price considerably, enough to make you believe that HD-STBs are finally cheap (until you see the newer DVR models).

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