Bye-bye videotape...

Europe will get its first taste of hard-disc-based Personal Video Recording
next month. The first 20-hour PVR, made by Thomson of France for TiVo of
California, costs £400 and hits shops on 1 October. Schedules provided by
broadcasters are delivered by phone, letting the gadget automatically record a
viewer’s favourite type of programme. You can watch while recording, and pause
playback if someone interrupts.