Jon Iverson

Hard-disc&ndash;based digital video recorder (DVR) products (aka PVRs or personal digital recorders) such as those sold by TiVo and ReplayTV have been getting a lot of press lately, but only a modest share of consumer dollars. In the few short months since DVRs hit the shelves, ReplayTV has already <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?876">bailed out</A> of the manufacturing business, and the ultimate fate of TiVo is still unkown. In spite of its shaky start, the DVR category is slated to take off in the next five years, according to a new report from the <A HREF="http://www.yankeegroup.com">Yankee Group</A>.

Last week, TiVo found itself the focus flurry of unwanted media attention as a new <A HREF="http://www.privacyfoundation.org/privacywatch/report.asp?id=62&action=0"... was released by the <A HREF="http://www.privacyfoundation.org/">Privacy Foundation</A> detailing at length how the TiVo system collects personal data. The report also reveals what the Privacy Foundation found while comparing a TiVo PVR's actual behavior under test with the company's stated privacy policy. The Foundation says that it and University of Denver Privacy Center have recently completed a fourth independent investigation of the TiVo device.

Flat screen fans will be pleased to hear that, last week, <A HREF="http://www.plasmavision.com">Fujitsu</A> announced that it is lowering the suggested retail prices on its PDS-4222 and PDS-4214 Plasmavision Slimscreen 42-inch widescreen plasma display monitors. Effective immediately, the suggested retail price for the PDS-4222 has been reduced from $13,999 to $9999, while the PDS-4214's suggested retail price has been reduced from $9999 to $7999.

Both <A HREF="http://www.blockbuster.com">Blockbuster</A> and <A HREF="http://www.enron.net">Enron Broadband Services</A> announced last week that they have terminated the exclusive services agreement the companies launched only three months ago (see <A HREF="http://www.guidetohometheater.com/shownews.cgi?894">previous story</A>). In spite of the setback, both companies claim that they will continue to develop "entertainment-on-demand" (EOD) services independently.