Samsung has just launched it’s DirecTV DVR with TiVo recorder, the SIR-S4120R, capable of storing up to 100 hours of programming. The 120GB hard drive in the Samsung SIR-S4120R DirecTV DVR has 50% more storage capacity than most DVRs currently available on the market. This large hard drive is able to store up to 100 hours of DIRECTV programming with TiVo Service. Samsung’s SIR-S4120R DirecTV DVR simultaneously record programming onto the hard drive as you watch. While recording is taking place, any show – even a live game – can be paused for an unexpected break for up to 30 minutes without missing any of the action. The rewind, instant replay and slow motion playback features put consumers in control and the Dual TV tuners allow users to record two shows at the same time or watch one show while recording another.

DISH Network has just announced the introduction of the DISH Player - DVR 510, the newest combination satellite TV receiver and digital video recorder. DISH Network is offering this new DVR for free to new customers as part of its latest "Free DISH" promotion, including its DISH Video On Demand service for the new DVRs. The DISH Player - DVR 510 features a seven-day on-screen program guide, a 120-gigabyte hard drive capable of up to 100 hours of tapeless recording, parental locks and more. With the new Free DISH promotion, new customers will receive a free DISH Player - DVR 510, satellite dish, remote control and free standard professional installation, a retail value of $299. This promotion ends January 31, 2004.

Panasonic introduces the DMR-E100H DVD recorder with built-in 120 GB hard disk drive as the newest member of its "DIGA" line. The DMR-E100H gives consumers the option of recording on either a DVD-RAM or DVD-R disc or storing up to 160 hours of video on its internal hard disk drive. The DMR-E100H is ideal for compiling personal movie libraries or for archiving, preserving, cataloging and enjoying family videos. The new model can be used for storing and playing back digital video (MPEG2/MPEG4 files) and photos (JPEG/TIFF files) from a compatible digital video camcorder/camera with an SD Memory Card slot or PCMCIA slot.

Pioneer Electronics has just introduced two new DVD recorders that features TiVo service. These new recorders offer consumers the control provided by the easy-to-use TiVo service integrated with advanced DVD recording for the option of short-term storage on a hard drive or long-term archival of broadcast programming on DVD-R/RW discs. The Pioneer Elite DVR-57H includes a 120-gigabyte hard disc drive while the Pioneer DVR-810H has 80 gigabytes of storage space. Both models are powered by the TiVo service and offer the ability to schedule and record programs while playing a DVD, play programs from the hard drive while recording from the hard drive onto a DVD, watch a program from the beginning while the recorder simultaneously finishes the recording and transfers content at high speeds from the hard drive to a DVD for long-term storage.

According to The New York Times, AOL Time-Warner is going to launch a TiVo competitor, called Mystro TV, for its vast cable service. The AOL Time-Warner service reportedly allows TV networks to insert ads while TiVo let viewers skip spots with the simple click of a fast-forward button. With Mystro, TV companies would have far more power to decide which programs are recordable and which ones are not. With TiVo and ReplayTV, the service has no say (nor do they really care) what you record. An AudioRevolution.com study in the fall of 2002 showed that of over 16,500 participants, only two percent had TiVo or another variety of PVR (personal video recorder). However, those who did have TiVo loved it and couldn’t imagine living without it. Cable systems have recently been delivering cable boxes with PVRs built in that are a small part of a customer’s monthly bill, which allows the providers control over your ...