And in the future the solution could be TiVo on a HD TV tuner card as opposed to a separate device. According to a new report from TDG, game consoles such as Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PS3 are evolving into multimedia gateways with legitimate non-gaming media arsenals.
Armed with the growing video libraries of Xbox LIVE and in the future the Playstation Network, these consoles can deliver on-demand video services with content similar to what TiVo is currently rolling out.
In recent weeks SmartHouse has been told that both Sony and Microsoft are looking at incorporating new electronic program guide software into their interfaces.
This will allow users to record their favourite TV programs. Already Xbox 360 users can access the Microsoft Media Centre software which currently includes an EPG. The new models will also be designed to integrate better with additional network storage devices. Next year TiVo are also set to roll out a 1TB storage unit and two networked TiVo devices in an effort to deliver a home network wrapped around the TiVo software.
However analysts are saying that this could be an expensive solution. Recently TiVo and Nero AG of Germany the makers of TV tuner cards announced a package that turns a Windows PC into a TV recorder, just like a TiVo set-top box currently being sold by Seven Media.
