From TiVo, the company that first introduced the PVR (personal video recorder) comes an innovative new service which introduces live internet search to complement live TV broadcast.

The idea is actually based on the familiar PVR framework which presents a programme schedule along with the option to record programmes or add series links etc. The big difference is inclusion of what TiVo describe as a 'Discovery' bar at the top of the screen.

Highlight a particular programme, click the 'Discovery' bar and TiVo Premier will seamlessly present a whole wealth of on line material associated with that programme from the web.

The beauty of the new system is that it presents web videos (and a whole lot more) just like live TV. Add behind the scenes documentaries, character profiles which are all seamlessly integrated to the programme planner interface and ready to be added to your favourites.

Premiere operates via a dedicated set-top box wired to a broadband connection and a remote with flip-out Qwerty keypad.

In the same way that Google made sense of the web as a whole, TiVo Premiere could well prove to create order from the confusion that is an ever increasing amount of on line TV services and material.

TiVo Premiere will become available later this year in the UK as part of Virgin Media cable services. No exact date or price structure has been announced.

RELATED ARTICLES

  Sony EX503 Freeview HD enabled LCD TV's arrive in the UK