Gadgets and Gizmos

Panasonic & Comcast unveils new portable DVR

Panasonic and Comcast have announced a series of new products powered by Cable Labs’ Tru2way technology, including AnyPlay, the first portable DVR which will become available in early 2009.

The Tru2way technology is a standard which eliminates the need to rent a set-top box from a cable company and also enables two-way communication over the cable network for access to the full range of digital cable services. The two companies also announced other products using the Cable Labs technology, which is called tru2way, a reference to the fact that it enables interactive communications.

Panasonic expects to be marketing later this year some models of its Viera HDTV with tru2way. In conjunction with cable systems that also use tru2way, they will allow their owners to access such interactive services as video on demand without a set-top box.

The Comcast AnyPlay Portable DVR (P-DVR) is actually a two-piece device: a docking station and the AnyPlay P-DVR Model TZ-LC100 which incorporates digital video recording functionality into a Panasonic portable DVD player platform.

Much smaller than the typical set-top boxes used by most people to see Comcast programming on their TV, the AnyPlay P-DVR features 60GB of digital video recording capacity, an 8.5” folding LCD display screen, and integrated stereo speakers. Dual audio headphone jacks are included to support personal viewing.

The AnyPlay P-DVR Model TZ-LC100 incorporates digital video recording functionality into a Panasonic portable DVD player. The AnyPlay P-DVR features 60GB of digital video recording capacity, an 8.5″ folding LCD display screen and integrated speakers. Dual audio headphone jacks are also included for personal (i.e. “get the heck away from me and let me watch TV in silence") viewing.

The device will function as a standard DVR set-top by being placed in a companion docking station, which connects to a TV and is outfitted with a Cable CARD port to control access to premium programming. When removed from the docking station, AnyPlay will allow recorded programs to be watched anywhere.

The device – which can be powered by the docking station, an internal battery or a 12-volt DC automotive adapter – will also play back DVDs and audio CDs. The P-DVR is expected to be available in early 2009.