What is a PVR?

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What is a PVR?
PVR or personal video recorders are devices that enable a person to record videos in digital format. These devices may come in the form of handheld media player units or “stand-alone” devices. And since the video format saved is digital, these devices may also be called DVRs or digital video recorders.

PVRs are an upgrade or a replacement to the older VCRs or video cassette recorders of the analog era. VCRs record data or video by using analog devices such as cassette tapes. PVRs meanwhile use digital data usually in the form of MPEG files. PVRs still retain the basic functionalities of the VCR which include basic recording, rewinding, fast forwarding, and pausing features. The main difference is that the digital format of PVR files allow for more ease of use especially in transferring files from one digital device to another.

The first PVRs were released to the market at around the year 1999. Products such as TiVO and ReplayTV featured more enhanced features than generic and analog video recorders of the past. These devices had hard drives for data storage and a software system that provides user a graphic interphase for use in choosing functions such as video streaming, pausing while recording, and even advertisement skipping. These enhanced features were an instant hit for consumers, especially for TiVO, which led the way to the development and enhancements of various other digital recording products.

PVRs of today may be used with either standard and high-definition television sets. Users are also given options in terms of audio and video quality for recording. And with the advent of advanced digital technology, video storage capacity of PVRs has significantly increased over the years. And since these devices are now made in digital formats, they can easily be inter-connected with other external storage devices. These devices are now also equipped with networking capabilities.

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