Conceptronics has recently released details of a new twin tuner PVR heading for DTT countries across Europe. Its already been given an impressive model name by Conceptronics: the ‘Media Titan’; so we spoke to the manufacturer this week to find out more. We are not supposed to reveal pricing details just yet but until we get the go ahead here is the low down on the forthcoming PVR.

Conceptronic are presenting the Media Titan as a wireless 300 Mbps 11n HD media player and hard disk recorder with twin DVB-T tuners inside. With this Media Titan Conceptronic anticipates on the growing market of free to air DVB-T with media player in several countries. The dual digital tuner allows consumers to record a movie or TV program on one channel and watch a different program on another channel at the same time. The media Titan supports movie format up to HD 1080p.

For Conceptronics usability is key. The Media Titan distinguishes itself by a simple design and a unique remote control with scroll wheel and 11 buttons only, to make navigation fast and simple. The Electronic Program Guide (EPG) offers a clear overview of what programs are on or scheduled on different channels. Just scroll over the program you would like to record and it’s listed for recording.

Compatibility has certainly been optimised. Besides recording, it plays XviD, WMV9, MPEG 1/2/4, AVI, ISO & VOB movies files, but also 1080p HD movies like H.264 MKV. For photo and music files it supports i.e. BMP, GIFF, JPEG, PNG, MP3, OGG, WAV & WMA (VBR). The content can be played locally from the hard disk or from the network. The Media Titan is DLNA 1.5 compliant and features a UPnP AV client. This means that any user can stream and copy photos, music or movies from a PC or NAS storage device with UPnP AV server over the network; wired or wireless!

The tech specs are as follows:
· TV format: PAL/NTSC
· Built-in twin DVB-T tuners with signal pass-through
· HDMI and Composite video outputs
· Analog and Optical digital audio output (SPDIF)
· 10/100 Mbps ethernet port
· Built in wireless 300 Mbps 11n wireless network adapter with integrated antennas
· Supported formats: H.264 MKV, XviD, WMV9, MOV, M2TS, TS, ISO, MPEG 1/2/4, AVI, SVCD, VCD, BMP, GIFF, JPEG, PNG, MP3, OGG, WAV, WMA, (VBR)
· USB 2.0 port (to connect directly to your computer)
· 3x USB 2.0 host port (to connect your USB sticks/drives/dongles)
· DLNA 1.5 and UPnP AV compliant
· Measurements: 27,5 x 24 x 4,5 cm (WxLxH)
· Compatible with Windows 2000/XP & Vista™

The latest series of Friday Night with Jonathan Ross is the first high definition production to be recorded at BBC Studios’ new HD Studio, Studio Four. The show is returning for an autumn run starting on Friday 5th September 2008 and will go out in standard definition on BBC One and in high definition on BBC HD, the UK’s first free-to-air high definition channel. BBC Studios, part of BBC Resources Ltd, a wholly-owned commercial subsidiary of the BBC, has invested nearly 2 million pounds in HD cameras, lenses, vision and monitoring equipment for Studio Four.

It is the third studio to be upgraded to HD, following the successful conversion of Studio One and Studio Eight. BBC Studios works with a wide variety of production companies and broadcasters. With an increasing demand for HD content, both for transmission and archive purposes, the investment will ensure BBC Studios continues to fulfil the requirements of its customers, whose creative and editorial visions are increasingly in HD. It will also help the BBC achieve its HD aspirations, with all production intended to be HD by 2012.

BBC Studios has installed a Sony MVS-8000 series vision mixer and 8 Sony HDC-1500 cameras. It has also replaced Studio Four’s gallery and lighting gallery monitor stacks and laid new HD fibre links to the central control area. Future BBC Studios’ equipment upgrades will also be to high definition, with an additional focus on 1080p/50. Danielle Nagler, Head of BBC HD says: “BBC HD strives to showcase the best of BBC content and to give audiences a range of the programmes they already love in standard definition. I am delighted that from now on the growing numbers of people able to access BBC HD can watch Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on the channel. Having a third HD studio available at Television Centre I hope will support our ambition to work with both independent and in-house producers to increase the amount of BBC programming we can bring to audiences in HD quality.”