Electronista: Japan’s Sanyo recently announced it would bring a DVR device to market that relies on slot-in hard drives that comply with the iVR (Information Versatile Disk) standard shared with Hitachi.

The Repoch will include an integrated tuner for receiving digital terrestrial TV broadcasts to enable viewing recordings on analog broadcast-compatible TVs.

This will allow users to keep their outdated analog TVs even though these broadcasts have been discontinued.

Connections on the Repoch include an Ethernet connection, HDMI output, component audio and video inputs as well as two antenna posts. The Repoch, bundled with a 160GB iVR disk, will cost the equivalent of $668 (€477) when it launches in Japan on September 1st. Pricing of additional iVRs, also available in 320GB capacities, is unknown.

DVR repoch Sanyo

EngadgetHD: Sharp’s back again with four more Blu-ray DVRs…  in Japan.

The main upgrade from last year is improved compression, going up to 7x, squeezing HD down to 3.4Mbps MPEG-4 AVC to fit up to 30 hours of HD on each disc.

The top of the line BD-HDW40 features 1TB of hardware storage, dual digital TV tuners, 1080p/60 output, BD-Live, and all the oxygen-free copper cabling and anti-vibration tech one would expect, with the other three spec sheets causing predictably lowered paroxysms of pleasure for slightly lower prices.

aquos Blu ray DVR sharp

NaviGadget: KarKorder is what you may call an in-vehicle DVR. We checked this out CES 2009 and decided it would be worth mentioning.

KarKorder constantly records what’s going on in your car which may later be viewed for surveillance or investigative purposes. It comes with 4GB SD card memory which can record up to 8 hours in single lens mode.

This would be MPEG4 video at 10 to 20 fps VGA at 640×480 pixels.

It uses a CMOS sensor with 140 degree viewing angle and IR enhanced internal camera too so you can keep an eye passengers too.

KarKorder is also equipped with a GPS data logger.

DVR gps KarKorder

Electronista: Toshiba recently introduced two new Vardia-series DVRs, including the 500GB-capacity RD-G503 and the 300GB RD-E303. Both sport also sport a DVD burner and are capable of recording video in MPEG-2 TS and in H.264/MPEG-4 AVC formats.

The Vardia DVRs are capable of upscaling standard DVDs to near-HD quality, while a built-in ground and BS/110 degree CS digital tuner are built-in to receive TV programming. The delete function can be set to erase partially recorded TV programs that get cut when the power goes out to prevent wasting hard drive space. Dual-layer and rewritable DVDs are compatible with the Vardia DVRs.

The integrated video DAC is a 10-bit/148.5MHz unit capable of supporting 1080i or 720p resolutions, while the simpler 10-bit/108MHz supports 480i/480p resolutions.

The G503 is available in both white and black, while the smaller capacity E303 will only be offered in black.

DVR RD E303 RD G503 Toshiba vardia

Engadget: Those used to recording dozens of hours worth of SD video on DVRs with just a few gigs of storage often have a bit of a surprise when they move into the HD realm.

Sony is doing its part with a larger, 320GB version of its BRAVIA BRX-series DVR, the BRX-320.

It can tackle about 90 hours of HD content yet is small and light enough to be mountable directly on the back of many Sony displays.

No word on what price tag will be affixed when this releases in about a month.

bravia BRX 320 BRX series DVR Sony

Broadbandtvnews.com: In a short space of time the digital video recorder has become the second most essential household technology item, beaten only by the mobile phone.

Seven out of ten owners say they cannot live without a DVR (often referred to as the PVR and occasionally DTR), according to the NDS DVR Report.

The survey carried out on behalf of the technology company by Consumer Analysis Group interviewed 1,012 people aged 18-70 years old who have a DVR at home.

Consumers were interviewed in the UK (256), US (252), Italy (251) and Australia (253); all markets where the NDS XTV technology has been deployed.

Nigel Smith, chief marketing officer, NDS: “The survey results show just how fast the DVR has become an indispensable part of people’s lives in the UK, US, Italy and Australia. It’s one of those technologies that, once tried, has you wondering how you coped before.”

Digital Video Recorder DVR NDS study