The electronics maker is combining digital video recording capabilities to its line of DVD recorders in its latest attempt to jumpstart the DVR market. [CNET News.com]
Pioneer’s new DVR-810H DVD recorder comes with an 80GB drive and costs $1,199, while the DVR-57H has a 120GB drive and is priced at $1,800. Both will include the TiVo basic service, which does not require a monthly fee for the DVR service but does allow consumers to upgrade to the full TiVo service so they can access a 14-day program guide among other features. The devices come with a 181-channel cable TV tuner, and consumers will be able to transfer content on VCR tapes to DVD-R or DVD-RW discs by connecting a VCR via analog inputs to the recorder.
“At these prices, they aren’t making a play for the mass market,” said Greg Ireland, an analyst with research firm IDC. “However, this is an indication of a trend where DVR can be added to other products to distinguish one company’s product from another’s.”
Pioneer rivals Toshiba and Sony Electronics also have licensed TiVo’s service and technology and have been developing products that use the DVR service.