HDPVR

The upcoming Hauppauge HD-PVR is probably the most anticipated piece of PVR hardware since... well, I don't know. But it's certainly a sexy piece of hardware that a lot of folks have been hoping to get their hands on. The HD-PVR can record HDTV video from analog component sources. In other words, you don't need a CableCard tuner, HDMI, or other fancy tricks to record HDTV on your computer. You just need to run some cables from this set top box to your cable or satellite box. The HD-PVR will then do all the heavy lifting and compress your video using the H.264 codec.

But there does appear to be at least one downside (aside from the fact that analog recordings are inherently lower quality than digital recordings). Chris Lanier points out that Hauppauge will not officially support dual tuner setups for now. That means, if you were hoping to pick up two boxes and record two HDTV shows as the same time, you may be out of luck.

Apparently the drivers for the HD-PVR do support multiple tuner setups. But Hauppauge has not yet tested this configuration, so the company won't officially support this option. That would seem to indicate that Hauppauge could add support when the product is a bit more mature and the company's had more time to kick the tires. On the other hand, it's wholly possible that third party software PVR applications like BeyondTV, SageTV, and GB-PVR could add multi-tuner support before Hauppauge gets around to it.

Engadget snagged a photo of Motorola's forthcoming DCH3416 set-top-box. This little guy includes a 160GB hard drive, multistream CableCard support for recording two programs at once, or for picture in picture.

The DCH3416 also supports Motorola's new "follow me TV" platform, meaning you can watch shows recorded on one box on another box. It has HDMI, component, Firewire, SATA, USB 2.0 and ethernet jacks. Of course you won't be able to pick one of these up and plug it in, but it could be coming soon to a cable provider near you. Or not.