Netflix, the formerly US-only movie and TV streaming service that has just launched in the UK, will be available to users of Sony's upcoming handheld console the Playstation Vita.

Film lovers will have to wait until after the PS Vita's launch on 22 February to enjoy the service on its 960 x 544px 5-inch OLED screen. Meanwhile PS3 users are eagerly waiting news of when the recently-appeared Netflix appwill go fully live in their XMB.

War games

Since Netflix launched in the UK yesterday, a price war has started with UK-based service Lovefilm. Netflix first undercut Lovefilm with a £5.99 a month unlimited streaming deal, then Lovefilm returned with a new price of just £4.99.

Where Netflix goes Lovefilm will surely follow, and vice-versa. So expect to see Lovefilm appear on the PS Vita soon after launch as well.

It's all great news for movie lovers, and the competition between the two should see them work harder to launch quickly on new platforms.

Lovefilm is already available on PS3, Xbox 360, iPad and other devices, and both Lovefilm and Netflix are offering one month free trials of their unlimited streaming services.

Best Freeview HD recorders: Overview

In the rush to bring out Freeview+ HD recorders in time for the World Cup in 2010, one or two manufacturers – including Pace and Sagemcom – quite obviously rushed out their products before they were finished.

Cue EPGs that didn't work, stalling operating systems and snarling consumers.

Happily, virtually all of those teething problems have since been fixed via over-the-air software updates, and there have been some new additions to the range as well.

There are 500GB hard disks with options to double that capacity, one-touch series link recording, wireless streaming of media around your home, recording to a USB device and even the occasional built-in Blu-ray player.

Oh, and pin-sharp high definition recordings.

One thing no manufacturer has offered thus far is a Freeview HD PVR with three DVB-T2 tuners, something that leaves Virgin V+ users, in particular, shackled to their monthly fees.

Sky users will already be familiar with the inflexibility of two tuners, though it's something we expect these brands to address in the new batch of Freeview HD PVRs in 2012.

What makes the best Freeview HD PVR?

When buying a Freeview HD recorder, do bear in mind the size of the hard disk. As a rough guide, 500GB will give you around 220 hours of recordings from standard definition channels and around 70 hours of high definition – although obviously you need to think of the mix you'll actually use.

Typically only one in four – or less – recordings are from hi-def channels, in our experience.

The user interface – always crucial on any AV product – only gets more important when you add recording functions, so choose carefully and, as always, try before you buy.

10 best Freeview HD recorders: The list

Icecrypt T2400

The UK's first 1TB Freeview+ HD recorder/PVR

With a huge hard disk, playback, streaming and even exporting of a host of digital files, this Turbosat-made Icecrypt box is a versatile and fully-featured Freeview+ HD recorder with some nice extras.

Now with a massive price drop, this 1TB Western Digital Green Drive-endowed PVR can store an impressive 250 hours of HD or 500 hours of SD TV shows and movies - and there's a 2TB version available, too. Easy to use and nicely designed, the Icecrypt T2400 goes beyond most of its competitors.

Read: Icecrypt T2400 review

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TVonics DTR-Z500HD

This Freeview+ HD recorder with HDMI switching is as slick as they come

Another unusual offering comes from Wales; TVonics' PVR boasts not only two Freeview HD tuners and a 500GB hard disk, but also two HDMI inputs.

That boundary-breaking brace makes the TVonics DTR-Z500HD capable of acting as an HDMI switcher - just plug in a games console and a Blu-ray player and trail one cable to your wall-mounted TV, using the TVonics remote to switch between inputs rather than the TV remote.

There's no media streaming, although digital files can be played from USB sticks and the slick, quick user interface is to die for.

Read: TVonics DTR-Z500HD review

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Panasonic DMR-BWT700

Sparkling HD pictures make this this Freeview HD, 3D-compatible Blu-ray playing Skype box a treat

Hugely ambitious and capable, this superb catch-all HD and 3D Blu-ray box does have a few rough edges; Panasonic's engineers and designers have thought of everything, but the sheer amount of choices involved in the 320GB hard disk's housekeeping could confuse a rocket scientist.

No matter, because making a video call to the other side of the Earth is a cinch and the picture quality is outstanding; this is a slice of AV heaven with geek features galore (though sadly no Viera Connect, which means no BBC iPlayer).

Read: Panasonic DMR-BWT700 review

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Samsung BD-DT7800

This networkable PVR has taken its cue from the brand's Blu-ray players and is feature-rich

Samsung's first stab at a standalone HD PVR is a twin-tuner affair that's got a 500GB hard disk in tow, as well as some editing tools. But it's the inclusion of the brand's impressive Smart Hub online dimension that's its main draw.

Its glamorous brushed silver fascia and touch-sensitive controls hide a capable machine that's as at home with DLNA networking of the likes of MKV, WMV, DivX HD, MP3, WMA and JPEG files as it is with displaying goodies from BBC iPlayer, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, LOVEFiLM and BBC News.

The eight-day Freeview HD EPG is awesome too, although despite its dual tuners this deck can't record two channels simultaneously. It's the one misfire on an otherwise awesome stab at Freeview HD.

Read: Samsung BD-DT7800 review

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Toshiba HDR5010

Toshiba's well-mannered hi-def PVR shares some DNA with its TVonics rival

Promised for so long, the arrival of this twin tuner FreeviewHD+ PVR brings a sense of déjà vu - and it's the TVonics DTR-Z500HD, one of our other favourites of the genre, that it recalls most closely.

That's solely down to its two HDMI inputs, which enables the Toshiba HDR5010 to also act as an HDMI switcher. But just as useful is its ability to record two HD channels at once to a 500GB hard disk.

With a neat user interface, easy archiving and a roster of convenient features - such as an audio delay option - Toshiba's debut Freeview+HD PVR has everyman appeal in spades.

Read: Toshiba HDR5010 review

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Samsung BD-D8900

With its 1TB hard drive and Smart TV functionality, this Freeview+ HD/Blu-ray combi promises to tick all the boxes

The last word in home entertainment? The Samsung BD-D8900 is able to convert regular broadcast TV in 3D - albeit in a fairly rudimentary, hit-and-miss manner.

This cool combi also adds 3D and 2D Blu-ray disc playback to two Freeview+HD tuners, a generous 1TB hard disk and Samsung's own deliciously well populated Smart TV dashboard of apps whose number includes the likes of BBC iPlayer, YouTube and Facebook.

It's a shame it can't archive HD recordings to blank Blu-ray discs, and nor does it always behave while streaming digital files, but this good value, ambitious deck has it where it counts.

Read: Samsung BD-D8900 review

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Humax HDR-Fox T2

The Freeview+ HD PVR that everyone was waiting for

Humax sensibly avoided trying to cash in on the World Cup with a prematurely early release of its debut PVR.

Building on a very good reputation in the Freeview PVR market, the HDR-FOX T2 further boosts Humax' reputation in the fledgling HD sector.

The sensibly-designed remote control, attractive menu system, fascia information and slickness of navigation are major positives. Freeview HD and standard-def images and sound are as good as we've seen while multi-media functionality is a good bonus, especially the ease with which files can be copied on to the hard disk from USB.

Other non-Freeview talents include multimedia file playback from USB or DLNA compliant devices connected over a wired network.

A software update will soon make Sky Player available on the interface – now that we like. BBC iPlayer is on the way too.

Read: Humax HDR-FOX T2 review

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3View 3VHD

Extensive search features, VoD and internet access set this hybrid 500GB Freeview HD PVR apart from the crowd

3view may not be the first manufacturer to release a hybrid VoD and Freeview HD PVR but this UK-based company's inaugural 3VHD product has lots of features on offer if you want a media server as well as a recorder.

The pun-tastic term '3view' is defined as 'watch, search and interact', alluding not just to TV but the networking and online features on offer.

Its 500GB 2.5in SATA hard drive is accompanied by a Z-Wave chip, which will enable you to control lighting and heating systems at a later date. Blimey.

The seven-day EPG goes above and beyond the average Freeview PVR, while recordings can be scheduled using a manual timer as well as the EPG with the ability to specify duration and repeat options.

Media streaming is possible from DLNA/uPnP-compatible USB drives or networked devices and all manner of files can be copied to the hard drive. And that's the icing on the reliable, multi-functional and great value recorder.

Read: 3view 3VHD review

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TVOnics DTR-HD500

This Freeview+ HD 500GB PVR has HDMI switching

This laid back and pricey 500GB pairs Freeview+ HD with HDMI switching, but is it doing enough?

Curvy and tilted like some Samsung Blu-ray players, the DTR-HD500 is all about easy recording to its 500GB hard disk, and some unique HDMI switching skills – it's able to take feeds from a games console and a Blu-ray player, cutting down on remotes in your living room.

Recording functionality is relatively advanced, with dual DVB-T2 tuners allowing you to record two channels at once, as well as pause live TV, though there's scant USB functionality aside from JPEG slideshows.

Its interface is slightly too slow and largely identical to its rivals' efforts, and though there's a lot to like about TVonics' debut Freeview+HD recorder, it's a few features short of greatness.

Read: TVonics DTR-HD500 review

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Philips HDT8520

A difficult birth, but this Pace/Philips Freeview HD PVR is now as able bodied as any

Like Capello's men, it seems this Pace-produced Freeview HD recorder – the first of its kind at the time – wasn't well prepared ahead of the World Cup.

Bugs a-plenty pretty much stalled its progress, but happily the arrival of some new software – version 4.22, to be exact – has helped the HDT8520 become the Freeview HD recorder par excellence we'd always hoped it would be.

The HDT8520 has two Freeview HD tuners, which makes it possible to record two channels simultaneously to its 500GB hard disk while watching a recording. That equates to around 220 hours of SD channels and 110 hours of HD.

Highly detailed broadcasts from BBC HD were presented crisply and with plenty of life, while SD channels hold up well. Sure, there's the odd wobbly edge and a touch of picture noise in backgrounds, but there's some decent upscaling going on.

If you're after fairly advanced Freeview HD recording functionality it's a good option.

Read: Philips HDT8520 review

Best Freeview HD box: Overview

While most new HD TVs now come with Freeview HD tuners inside, there are thousands of big HD tellies out there with no means of watching HD content.

However, with free HD broadcasts available on both Freeview and Freesat, HD TV from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 is just a Freeview HD box away.

For all the excitement, Freeview HD won't be broadcast to absolutelyeveryoneuntil the end of 2011 and, due to bandwidth restrictions, consists of only four HD channels.

The whole of Britain will receive subscription-free access to BBC One HD, the BBC HD Channel and ITV 1 HD, while Scotland gets STV HD, Wales has S4C Clirlan and England also sees Channel 4 HD.

Of course that's on top of the other 50 or so standard-def Freeview channels.

What's more, the BBC will soon be replacing the BBC HD channel with the simulcast BBC Two HD.

So what makes the best Freeview HD box?

Although there have been some real winners in the Freeview HD box market, there's also the usual dross to trawl through. Boxes that freeze and with poor remote controls have been cast far from our top ten, though what suits you exactly will depend on your priorities.

In this round-up, we're dealing exclusively with standard Freeview HD boxes, rather than the HDD-encapsulatingFreeview HD PVR species. While many were hurried onto the market in order to cater for the increased appetite for HD before the 2010 World Cup, plenty have since gone end-of-line, and so here we have the current 7 best Freeview HD boxes.

• See also: 10 best Freeview HD PVRs in the UK today

Virtually all Freeview HD boxes indulge in some upscaling of SD channels to HD, though how successful they are varies wildy.

The electronic programme guide (EPG) is crucial, with speed and responsiveness a critical skill. Don't underestimate the importance of that, though you can treat the Dolby Digital Plus logo on the front of many boxes with a touch of cynicism; it means that the box could decode 7.1-channel soundtracks that could eventually be broadcast on Freeview HD channels.

Sadly, this is merely a future-proofing footnote for now, because although it's technically possible to broadcast Dolby Digital Plus across the new Freeview HD framework, it's not actually being used by any TV channels yet.

Dolby Digital Plus is basically a compressed version of Dolby Digital; Freeview HD currently uses a brand new audio format called HE-AAC, which can only provide stereo – some Freeview HD boxes can transcode HE-AAC to Dolby Digital, but this is often subject to a software upgrade.

Other features to look for in the best Freeview HD boxes include a Common Interface slot (for adding Top-Up TV viewing cards), DivX and MP3 playback from a USB stick, access to IPTV services like BBC iPlayer and Sky Player, and USB recording (to an attached USB pen drive or external hard drive), though finding exciting extras on this first generation of Freeview HD set-top boxes is hard work.

7 best Freeview HD boxes in the UK today

Humax HD-FOX T2

The first Freeview HD box is still one of the best

The Humax HD-FOX T2 was the first ever Freeview HD receiver, but it's more 'home hub' than set-top box.

As well as receiving sparkling HD broadcasts, this Humax also acts as a half-decent media streamer – it's capable of playing DivX, XviD, MP3 and JPEG files stored remotely on USB or over a network.

Sadly, there's no Wi-Fi and its file-compatibility list could be written on the back of an ant, but for those only just getting into the world of DLNA, it's a doddle to set up and provides a happy, user-friendly experience.

Much like the box as a whole; upscaling (to 1080p), the graphical user interface and general ease of operation are a genuine highlights. What's more, in early October, this box will get a firmware update that will turn it into a PVR using USB storage. BBC iPlayer and Sky Player access is also on the way.

Review and price check: Humax HD-FOX T2 review

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TechniSat HDFV

Lightning fast EPG and menu system offers dreamy performance

With a generally polished interface and only minor rough edges, this is one of the best – and certainly the best value – pieces of Freeview HD kit on the market; plug in an external USB hard disk and this competent receiver grows into a competent (though very basic) recorder that's mostly a joy to use.

It may lack the flourishes of others, but the HDFV's interface is the quickest and easiest we've seen on any Freeview HD receiver or recorder.

It's almost impossible to get confused. Picture quality is impressive from SD and HD channels – either live or recorded – and playback of digital media from USB or streamed from a PC is slick, though limited.

Video file playback is restricted to MPEG files, though that does mean all recordings can be manually transferred to a PC and accessed on the HDFV.

Review and price check: Technisat HDFV review

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Linsar FHD1

Cracking hi-def pictures, but lacks versatility or extra features

If the interface on this basic box from British company Linsar is generally user-friendly, the pictures are something of a love-in.

It's not just HD channels that impress – standard-def programmes are upscaled well, with little blocking or feathered edges.

The BBC HD channel, meanwhile, is pin-sharp with enticing smooth motion and comfortable camera pans. Nicely coloured in shades of purple and red, the EPG's graphics are a touch too soft – we spotted some feathered edges and text that's not quite as sharp as it could be – but it's the EPG's responsiveness that's of most concern; cue overlapping commands and the occasional freeze-up.

A good, if not great Freeview HD box that will bring you a basic Freeview HD upgrade – and in great quality – though little else.

Review and price check: Linsar FHD1 review

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Icecrypt T2200

There's more to this Freeview HD box than HD TV

Icecrypt's maker Turbosat has gone out of its way to give its diminutive, yet powerful, digital box some tempting attributes to extend its appeal.

Forget high definition – this is one of the fastest and finest Freeview set-top boxes we've seen. Boasting DivX and even DivX HD playback from its USB slot, the T2200 will, we're promised, soon be able to record programmes to an external hard drive or USB stick.

Its Freeview HD/DVB-T2 tuner is highly sensitive and built around an excellent user interface, delivering good levels of close-up detail with a cinematic feel. The T2200 is future-proofing defined.

Review and price check: Icecrypt T2200 review

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ABD i-CAN Easy HD 2851T

The first Freeview HD box to offer BBC iPlayer access

Most new brands dip a foot in the UK consumer market, but Advanced Digital Broadcast's (ADB) debut product is full-throttle Freeview HD – and with BBC iPlayer in HD, to boot, the i-CAN is a mighty tempting piece of kit on paper.

Smaller and lighter than other Freeview HD boxes we've tested, the i-CAN's picture from iPlayer is not a patch on the live hi-def TV channels from the Freeview HD tuner.

The smooth interface is class leading, with an excellent eight-day EPG and Freeview HD channels that are sumptuously detailed, though the regular standard-def channels do disappoint – the i-CAN seems bereft of upscaling tech, which leaves the likes of BBC One sprinkled with blocking. A terrific product, but there are cracks.

Review and price check: ABD i-CAN Easy HD 2851T review

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Philips DTR5520

Does the Freeview HD basics well, but this Pace-y box lacks features

Philips has enlisted the help of renowned set-top box maker Pace to deliver its entry-level receiver, the DTR5520.

Dressed in a reflective though fingerprint-hungry gloss black fascia, the diminutive box sports a classy blue LED display and the option to convert Freeview's audio to Dolby Digital if you connect it to an amplifier using the coaxial digital audio output.

Now that is rare. Broadcasts on BBC HD feature a vivid image with well saturated and nuanced colours, though skin tones can seem a little peachy.

Upscaling – a crucial skill for any Freeview HD box – the DTR5520 gives the many standard-def channels an pristine polish. That same rich colour and deep contrast (and ripe skin tones) continue on Pirates of the Caribbean on BBC3, with the slight drop in detail the only clue that you're watching SD – the DTR5520 is as clever an upscaler as any Freeview HD box we've seen.

Review and price check: Philips DTR5520 review

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Sharp TU-T2

Fast and furious Freeview HD, but lacks versatility

A basic, but very small and easy to house, black box is what you get, but its glossy fascia is interrupted by a rather brave lightbox studded with eight blue LEDs that twinkle and refresh every time a command is issued from the remote control.

The BBC HD channel looks simply awesome through the TU-T2, with loads of close-up detail and some stunning, pristine colours; the TU-T2 puts in a faultless performance with high definition.

A blast of ITV in SD reveals that the TU-T2 doesn't have bad quality 1080p upscaling – but we've seen much better. An excellent EPG takes the guesswork out of high definition; it displays a 'HD' logo next to anything that's broadcast in hi-def.

Review and price check: Sharp TU-T2 review

Seagate's GoFlex Cinema drive has made its debut today, with the high capacity drives offering plenty of room for all your digital files.

You'll be able to store more than a couple of Hollywood blockbusters on the devices, which come in 1TB, 2TB and 3TB capacities, then enjoy them in 1080p HD quality playback on your TV (provided the original was good enough quality).

The GoFlex Cinema Drives support MKV, H.264 and MP4, as well as being able to handle still images by connecting your digital camera direct to the box.

GoFlex your muscles

If you're living in a multi-OS household, never fear: the drives are compatible with both Windows and Mac OSX, and you can flip back and forth between the two.

It might not be quite as convenient as streaming - the GoFlex Cinema Drive doesn't come with any kind of internet connection, wired or not - but at least you can keep your media library in one handy place right by the TV.

No word on an official UK release date yet, but the GoFlex Cinema Drive will be coming to Europe. Pricing has been announced in Euros - €99 (£87) for 1TB, €129 (£113) for 2TB and €179 (£157) for 3TB.

YouTube has finally brought its film streaming service to the UK, with over a thousand films available to rent on the Google owned video site.

The service, which was previously available in the US and Canada, includes classics such as Reservoir Dogs, Casablanca and Mongolian Death Worm. It also lets you stream more recent titles like Hanna, Red Riding Hood and Mega Piranha.

The films cost between £2.49 and £3.29 to rent, with some older titles - such as Nosferatu and Orson Welles' Touch of Evil - available for free.

30 Days of Knight

Once you've paid for the film, you receive a 48 hour pass, which gives you 30 days to begin watching, and 48 hours to finish the film - although we're not sure if this applies if you buy Eddie Murphy vehicle Another 48 Hrs.

Free films are available to watch indefinitely, but they are supported by (unskippable) ads. The titles we looked at don't come in HD formats, either, with most being DVD-equivalent 480p.

However, the films are compatible with Android devices such as phones and Google TV.

In addition to the films, viewers can also access extras like behind-the-scenes videos, interviews, parodies, clips and remixes - though most of this content is on YouTube anyway.

YouTube's biggest rival in the UK is likely to be LoveFilm, which has a similarly-sized catalogue of pay-per-view films at around the same prices, but offers almost five thousand titles to its monthly package customers.

Best cheap video editing app for OS X

Apple has always had a knack for turning a market on its head and video editing is a prime example. When the very first version of iMovie was released back in 1999, bundled with all iMac DV models, it introduced the idea that making home movies shouldn't be an intimidating or expensive process.

Before Apple ventured into the world of video editing, making a short film was out of the reach of most people since you'd have had to budget thousands of pounds to get even the cheapest software.

A lot has changed in just over a decade and video has become a much bigger part of our lives thanks to faster computers, better software packages and, in particular, social video sharing sites such as YouTube and Vimeo taking off.

Thanks to these websites, you can upload any raw footage you've taken straight onto the internet. That's okay as far as it goes, but if you want to fine-tune your work, add a few effects or even include titles and transitions, then you need to make use of a video editing program.

Despite the fact that iMovie has practically cornered the market for Mac users since it comes bundled with every new Mac, there are a few alternatives available. These applications offer basic to advanced editing features but each one usually gives something else unique to the budding filmmaker that sets it apart from iMovie.

Most of the applications we've tested here can be downloaded straight off the Mac App Store if you're running Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) - namely, Moso, iMovie, MediaEdit and BoinxTV Home. YouTube Video Editor is obviously an online service. Only Adobe Premiere Elements comes in a physical box. How times have changed…

Video editing software on test

BoinxTV Home - £30
iMovie - £9
MediaEdit 3 - £18
Moso - Free
Premiere Elements - £79
YouTube Editor - Free

Test one: Importing clips

The process of importing media into the program is crucial, but it may surprise you to learn that some don't do a very good job of it.

iMovie and Premiere Elements are masters of this step, being able to get footage from multiple types of recording devices, along with photos and music. Others take the more lazy approach of relying solely on your webcam or on footage already present on your Mac, which could force you to find a second program to get media out of some devices.

MediaEdit appears to be stuck in an age when FireWire cameras were all the rage, being unable to see any modern camera connected to your Mac.

BoinxTV Home is a different animal altogether as it attempts to emulate a live television studio: it can work with your webcam, a FireWire camera or any QuickTime-compatible video file you can throw at it, but everything is done in real-time - captured on the fly - which can be a great timesaver.

Test results

Test two: Editing your film

Trimming footage and making precise edit points is the meat and potatoes of any video editing software. iMovie '11 sets the bar extremely high, as it offers numerous ways of achieving the same result - you end up using the method that feels most comfortable to you.

Although you're restricted by only being able to work with a single layer of video, it makes cutting a movie very easy for beginners. Premiere isn't too far behind in terms of usability, but its increased versatility (being able to work with multiple layers is a huge boon to creativity as you can easily experiment with different ideas) is only hampered by a very un-Mac-like interface.

BoinxTV Home relies on you clicking on the right layer at the right time for it to appear when expected during your recording, but it works extremely well once you're used to the process.

Moso brings up the rear with a convoluted editing process that will frustrate the most patient of editors.

Test results

Applying effects and sharing your movies

Test three: Applying effects

Adding titles, transitions and effects helps you put the final touches to your project. YouTube Editor is severely lacking in that department, offering you just a handful of transitions and barely any effects to speak of.

Moso isn't far behind, despite the fact that the available effects are quite original and fun to use.

What lets MediaEdit down is the fact that you have to render every single effect that you apply to your clip. It's like using a program from a decade ago.

Boinx's effects are very versatile and fun to use, and considering the fact that they all happen live, they're very impressive.

iMovie's effects suffer from a lack of customisation and by the fact that you can only add a single video effect to each clip. Its titles and transitions however are very slick.

For sheer versatility and quantity, Premiere goes to the top of the class (you can also download free additional content from Adobe's website should you find the default bundle lacking).

Test results

Test four - Sharing your work

When it comes to sharing your project, YouTube Editor can't get much easier: you're already on YouTube, so save your work and it's available instantly. You also have the unique advantage of being able to work on the same project with any computer since everything's done online. The major drawback however is its inability to offer other exporting options.

All other programs let you upload your work to YouTube, but you can also save your project to your hard drive either at full resolution or compressed. You can then export it at your leisure to any number of online sharing sites.

iMovie comes with a plethora of additional online sharing options, like being able to upload your project straight to Vimeo, CNN iReport, Facebook or even MobileMe. But again, Premiere Elements tops this by also letting you create a basic DVD or Blu-ray disc, making it a one-stop shop for your project, from capture to burning to disc.

Test results

The best cheap Mac video editing software is: Premiere Elements

If you're after great versatility when editing, don't look any further than Adobe Premiere Elements.

Even though it's the most expensive program tested, it's still an excellent low-budget application that offers many advantages over its competition. For one, it's versatile enough to let you work with multiple layers. You can apply as many effects as you like to each clip. but most important of all, it's the only program on the list that works natively with the most popular HD format, namely AVCHD.

Its closest rival, iMovie - and even Final Cut Express, a program nearly twice its price - has to convert clips into a format it can work with, leading to lost time waiting for the process to finish and less disk space as the files are larger.

Final results

With the arrival of Sky+ back in 2001, the satellite broadcaster managed to bring the PVR to the British consciousness in a way that others had not managed to do.

The technology (and a hefty marketing campaign) got people talking, and no doubt attracted many to the service, and a Sky+ box under the television became a familiar site.

Let's take a look back at a decade of Sky+ boxes...

2001/2 Pace box

2003 Pace box

2004 Kath Kidson design - the first 'designer' Sky+ Box

2005 - Football team-branded boxes

2005 - LuLu Guiness designer box

2009 Amstrad box

2009 HD box

2011 Sky+HD 1TB box

The Virgin Media TiVo box has been given a key update, with the BBC iPlayer app coming out of beta and now apparently offering HD catch-up of Auntie's programmes.

The iPlayer app is already on the boxes, but was a beta offering with several bugs which have, presumably, now been ironed out.

The BBC catch-up service has proven to be phenomenally popular on Virgin Media, and the extension of a full app onto the Virgin Media TiVo box will be good news for many who have got their hands on the eagerly anticipated kit.

Taking advantage

"Taking advantage of the power to run dedicated 'connected' applications on the TiVo powered set-top box, a new BBC iPlayer app can be found in the growing 'Apps and Games' section and offers the full library of BBC iPlayer content, including catch-up shows in HD as well as radio shows for the first time ever," a Virgin Media spokesperson told TechRadar.

"With around 900 hours available - previously 350 hours - to watch from the last seven days and other new features such as subtitling and signing, the new service will also gain new functionality over time and supersedes the existing BBC iPlayer serviceon Virgin Media to provide the most complete TV on Demand service possible."

As TechRadar's Virgin Media TiVo review discovered, the latest PVR on offer is a powerful beast but in need of a bit of a polish – and a refreshed BBC iPlayer app is certainly a step in the right direction.

Echostar has announced the arrival of its latest digital TV recorder – the HDS-600RS.

The recorder comes complete with Freesat and SlingPlayer capabilities, which means that you can view content from the recorder on you iPad, iPhone or Android devices and you get HD channels to boot.

According to Echostar, the HDS-600RS is a fully-featured media entertainment centre. This is because it is equipped with a 500GB hard disk drive, two TV tuners, the ability to upscale SD content (from 576i to 720p & 1080i) and a HD EPG guide.

For the SlingPlayer functionality to work on mobile devices, however, you do need the SlingPlayer mobile app – something that is sold separately.

Feature focus

Other features include a USB2.0 port, 2x RF inputs, Ethernet, Scart and HDMI. Alongside the full integrated SlingLoaded TV Anywhere functionality, there is also the BBC iPlayer app on board.

The Echostar HDS-600RS UK release date and pricing is still to be confirmed, but Echostar has announced that a new website will also be launched (www.myechostar.com) to provide consumers with product information, support and details of where to buy the HDS-600RS.

Sony has announced a double helping of PVR goodness this week, with the launch of the SVR-HDT1000 and SVR-HDT500 personal video recorders.

The PVRs have twin Freeview HD tuners built-in so you can record two programmes at once and watch another at either 576p, 720p, 1080i or 1080p picture quality.

Price details

When it comes to hard-drive size, the clue is in the name. The Sony HDT1000 has a massive 1TB at its disposal, while the HDT500 is a still-impressive 500GB.

There are also two USB 2.0 ports so you can use one to view photos, watch movies and listen to music – as long as it's in the JPEG, MPEG or JPEG format – and the other to expand the capacity of the PVRs with an external hard drive.

There's no UK release date for the HDT1000 and HDT500 PVRs as of yet (Play says they will be out in May) but price-wise you are looking at £330 for the HDT500 and £400 for the HDT1000.

ACRyan, one of the fastest growing names in media streaming devices, is planning to launch its first Intel-based streamer in March this year.

We had a sneak peek at the FLUXX box and a very impressive looking bit of connected kit it is too. Packing the 1.2GHz Atom CE4150, 1GB DDR3 and built in storage ranging all the way up to the 2TB mark, the FLUXX is a powerful little streamer.

As well as the usual, almost limitless format support, the FLUXX includes its own application store, and will have a host of names ready at launch offering downloadable and/or streamed content at the touch of a button.

These will include the video-on-demand services as well as casual games, weather and news reports and a full, Flash-capable web browser to access all the goodies that don't necessarilly come with a widget.

The dual-core Intel Atom processor also brings its own DRM to the table, making the FLUXX a more attractive proposition to content providers. ACRyan's team believe that this year could see movies being available on the FLUXX as soon as they're out at the cinema.

Making it just as easy for the consumer to pick up legitimate versions of new media as it is to pick up the pirated, illegal versions can only be healthy for the movie industry. Though, obviously, the cinema companies don't share that view...

The FLUXX remote is very button-happy, with a full QWERTY keyboard on one side and a host of shortcut and navigation buttons on the other.

Compared to the simplistic Boxee remote, this is a very different take on things. Though ACRyan maintains that the important, oft-used buttons on the front of the remote are all within reach of the average thumb, making that less of an issue.

The remote pictured here is just a prototype, but the basic design will remain, though the buttons' colour scheme will be reversed so as to have black buttons with white text on them. These remotes will also be available as an optional upgrade for the existing PlayOn media boxes too.

Look out for a full review of the ACRyan FLUXX in the next couple of months.

Apple has announced that its Apple TV will hit its millionth sale this week – despite lukewarm reviews for the company's media streaming offering.

The new Apple TV was announced on 1 September by Steve Jobs, but the UK offering was let down by a lack of content and the pricing of shows available.

However, that has not hampered global sales – with one million units sold according to the Cupertino-based company.

1 million units

"Apple today announced that it expects sales of its new Apple TV to top one million units later this week, stated Apple's press release.

"The new Apple TV offers the simplest way to watch your favorite HD movies and TV shows, stream content from Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and MobileMe, all on your HD TV for the breakthrough price of just $99.

"iTunes users are now renting and purchasing over 400,000 TV episodes and over 150,000 movies per day."

The $99 price tag translated to £99 in the UK – a significant hike considering the service on offer was considerably less rounded.

TechRadar's Apple TV review gave the product just three stars – criticising the lack of a 1080p Full HD output, but praising the reduced size of the set top box.

Video rental service Blockbuster has announced it has filed for voluntary bankruptcy in the US, after admitting debts of $1.46 billion (£932 million).

It's no secret that the US-based company has been struggling to keep up with a constantly changing entertainment climate, trying to maintain a high-street presence while building up its online business, but it is still a shock to see such a high-profile company file for Chapter 11.

While it has been adapting to life on the web, the likes of Netflix in the US and LoveFilm in the UK were already established in the online market.

Although it has voluntarily gone to the courts because of its debts, non-US Blockbuster outlets are said to be not affected as they are separate entities.

Optimal path

In the bankruptcy filing, Blockbuster revealed it has $102 billion in assets, compared to $1.46 billion of debt but it is hopeful that it can still do business, with Chief Executive Officer Jim Keyes explaining: "This provides the optimal path for recapitalising our balance sheet and positioning Blockbuster for the future, as we continue to transform our business model to meet the evolving preferences of our customers."

As the company has secured a $125 million loan to finance current operations, BlockBuster is hoping to come out of the bankruptcy with no debts, except for this loan.

TechRadar received its Humax HDR-FOX T2 Freeview+ HD PVR review sample this morning, and the box has let slip a little secret – that the much-mooted forthcoming firmware update will bring VOD features including Sky Player in October.

Until now, Humax would only confirm that there would be a firmware update for its Freeview HD offerings "sometime in the Autumn". However, the HDR-FOX T2 box clearly states October as a launch date.

So what exactly can we expect from this firmware refresh? For a start, the box specifically mentions Sky Player – and Humax has already confirmed that Sky Player will definitely be landing on its boxes sometime in the Autumn. So that's a nailed-on certainty.

With this in mind, it's not much of a leap to expect that the Humax HD-FOX T2 Freeview HD receiver, which launched back in February, will receive the same features via a similar firmware update at the same time.

The VOD features will be delivered to the Humax boxes through the ethernet cable on the back - so you'll need to have it connected to your modem or router in order for it to work.

BBC iPlayer?

But there is also some speculation that the BBC iPlayer service might also land on Humax boxes with this firmware update. Rumours to this effect have been doing the rounds for quite a while, but Humax has refused to be drawn on whether or not iPlayer inclusion is on the cards.

We spoke to Humax this afternoon to at least get confirmation of the October launch date, but we were told simply that the firmware update would land 'in the Autumn' and that other features are yet to be comfirmed.

In other words, they don't want to talk about it yet.

Naturally we also asked Humax about the inclusion of BBC iPlayer, but it said merely that "the only VOD service currently confirmed is Sky Player". Could negotiations between the BBC and Humax be ongoing? Could next year's Project Canvas launch have any impact on iPlayer's inclusion? For the moment nothing is clear.

We'll update you with any news on Sky Player and BBC iPlayer on Humax boxes if and when we receive it, and in the meantime, why not take the time to enter our competition to win one of two Humax HDR-FOX T2 boxes for yourself?

And finally... tune in later this week to read our full review of the Humax HDR-FOX T2 box itself.

Tesco is to launch a Digital Locker initiative which is set to take on iTunes in the UK.

Announced at the Futuresource Entertainment Summit in London, Home Cinema Choice – part of the TechRadar network – has exclusively revealed that the supermarket giant is to bring the digital service in the UK, which allows you to consume the media you buy on any device.

Play anywhere

Richard Bron, CEO of Blueprint Digital, who is working on the project with Tesco, said about the service: "The way it would work practically is that when you buy a disc in store or online, that title would be put up into your Digital Locker which would immediately be accessible from device registered to that locker."

It is this "buy the title not the format" mentality that he hopes consumers and industry alike will respond to.

The idea of a Digital Locker is not new. Disney is planning to do a similar thing but, in its own saccharine way, is calling it a Keychest.

The service would also urge more people to buy their music and movies from Tesco.

Although the logistics of the scheme are yet to be finalised, Bron did note that "devices would need to be registered, so that the device can be authenticated by a clearing house to prove that it is that person, and is content they own.

"The content could then be either streamed or downloaded to that device, whenever or wherever they are."

October launch?

The Digital Locker would be tied up to Tesco's Clubcard database and is looking to launch as early as October, with Bron explaining: "I think we will see over the 15 months thereafter, retailers working together to make life easier for consumers.

"Retailers realise that while they compete on price, it doesn't make sense for them to be selling titles digitally that don't work on devices that other retailers may sell."

As for the Locker having DRM, it seems that Tesco wants it to be open, with Bron suggesting: "There are lots of retailers selling discs. We don't want to have a situation where a customer can buy a disc at HMV, Play and Tesco and only be able to access that content centrally on one title."

TiVo has pointed the finger firmly at its ill-fated relationship with Sky as the reason for its failure to break into the UK market, but is confident that the same mistakes will be avoided in its forthcoming collaboration with Virgin Media.

Speaking to TechRadar at the launch of TiVo's new set-top boxes in New York, Vice President and General Manager Joshua Danovitz explained that the reason TiVo withdrew from the UK in 2003 was down to the creation of Sky+ rather than any lack of enthusiasm from the nation for personal video recorders.

"I would say it's less a tech failure and more a partnership failure," explained Danovitz when asked about the company's exit.

"We partnered with a company [BSkyB] that wasn't 100 per cent dedicated to promoting TiVo and soon after working with us and coming to market started promoting their own technology.

"I think that that can be related much more to a corporate policy and strategy discussion than it is to a market readiness or market acceptance.

"Additionally, at the time TiVo was incredibly young – we went public in 1999 and launched our first product, and we were in the UK by 2001.

"I would say we had not conquered the US enough to send out large mature teams to other key markets and we were depending on partners to do so and the situation with [BSkyB] was 'well if this is the way it's going to work then we're not going to be able to support that'."

Virgin Media partnership

Danovitz explained that TiVo's partnership with Virgin Media – announced back in November and likely to see the first products by the end of the year – was based on a much more solid model than its previous foray into the UK.

"Since [the last attempt to come into the UK] in the US we have retail products – we partnered with DirecTV, with Comcast etc and we've now launched in Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Austrialia and New Zealand.

"The way we are doing all of these partnerships are similar to the Comcast and DirecTV models. They own the consumer – there is some commitment to deploy and distribute – they do the marketing and we provide the service.

"So the model of working with Virgin is very close to what we are doing domestically in the US with the largest operators and what we are doing all of those international deployments."

DivX has announced DivX TV – an IPTV technology platform to deliver a wide range of internet media and content and services without the need for a PC, and LG Blu-ray players will be among the first to support it.

DivX TV can apparently be embedded or implemented through a firmware update on any connected consumer electronics device at the chip level.

The platform offers things like premium Hollywood movies, Web videos, digital music services, popular social networking sites as well as enabling users to stream their own personal digital media content over a home network and offers full playback of a variety of video formats, including all DivX videos.

DivX TV will be implemented on LG Blu-ray players and home cinema systems later this year using NetCast Entertainment Access.

The DivX TV content lineup currently includes more than 70 channels including free Internet content as well as the likes of Associated Press, CNET, Dailymotion, Picasa, Revision 3, Rhapsody, TED and Twitter.

"The DivX logo has become synonymous with the ability to playback high-quality Internet video on devices, and the addition of DivX TV technology to our product line enhances the value of our NetCast feature in our Blu-ray products for consumers," said Dr. Woo Paik, President and Chief Technology Officer, LG Electronics, Inc.

"DivX TV offers consumers a scalable, easy-to-use and high-performance solution that brings great Internet content and services directly in their home."

DivX excited

"We are excited that LG has chosen to pioneer the roll-out of DivX TV on NetCast Blu-ray players and help usher in a new era of digital entertainment," said Kevin Hell, Chief Executive Officer, DivX, Inc.

"Now, consumers can experience a wide variety of Internet media and content by simply changing channels on a remote control.

" LG Electronics has long been an early adopter of DivX technology across multiple categories, and our new alliance allows LG to adopt DivX TV for additional categories including HDTVs."

The eternal question for Google of how to make money from YouTube could be about to get an answer after it emerged that talks are underway to bring movie streaming to the site.

Although any such move wouldn't be a great surprise, it is news to hear of the discussions between YouTube, Lions Gate, Sony Pictures and Warner Brothers.

Competitive cost

According to Reuters, sources close to the talks say the new venture will introduce a premium YouTube service offering video on demand at a fee likely to be between the equivalent of £2 to £3.

There's no word on when the new service will arrive, but it's sure to happen quickly if Google wishes to catch up with front-running competitors like iTunes, Amazon and Netflix.

Amateur to professional shift

When film rental does hit YouTube, we'll all be able to pay to make the move from watching tedious amateur productions like Numa Numa to equally tedious professional efforts like the upcoming Rambo 5.

Summer's here and with the recession forcing more of us to holiday within these shores, you'll need some entertainment for those long road trips or train journeys.

Portable DVD players provide the ideal solution, and if you're feeling the pinch you'll be pleased to hear that you needn't pay through the nose for a decent deck, as demonstrated by these five slick takeaway disc spinners.

Toshiba SD-P73S

Toshiba SD-P73S

Does the Toshiba SD-P73S offer a good portable deal?

Read: Toshiba SD-P73S review

With its eye-catching black and white finish, the SD-P73S looks as pretty as a picture. It uses the traditional flip-top design, with a 7in, 16:9 screen set into the top section

It doesn't swivel like some of the other Toshiba models so shared viewing isn't easy, although there are two headphone sockets specifically for that purpose.

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Panasonic DVD-LS84

Panasonic DVD-LS84

The portable DVD player with a super-versatile 8-inch screen

Read: Panasonic DVD-LS84 review

The Panasonic DVD-LS84 is equipped with an 8in widescreen, but thanks to the 'Free Style Viewing' feature, you can choose how to watch it. The screen unclips from the back support and slides forward onto the base, turning it into a tablet-style device, or you can opt for the traditional flip-top design

Either way, this slim, compact unit is comfortable to hold and pleasingly light, even with the battery pack attached. But its dull grey finish doesn't do it any favours.

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LG DP391B

LG DP391B

We're swayed by the functionality of LG's portable offering

Read: LG DP391B review

BEST BUY: For such a slim and sleek piece of kit, the LG DP391B certainly packs a healthy variety of socketry around its rim.

Picture quality, via its 8in TFT screen, is very good indeed. There's decent colour fidelity and motion control is tight. Audio via the headphone port is beefy, bassy and bold.

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Philips PET712

Philips PET712

Philips' PET712 offers two screens for a reasonable price

Read: Philips PET712 review

This is the answer to parents' prayers: the PET712 has a pair of 7in screens, so kids can watch the same movie on separate screens.

Pictures are supplied to both via a compact square-shaped player, cutely styled in white and silver. It feels a little flimsy, but its shock-proof construction means it should withstand a few knocks

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Panasonic DMP-B15

Panasonic DMP-B15

Too chunky to be truly portable, but a brilliant Blu-ray player

Read: Panasonic DMP-B15 review

Why would anyone want a portable Blu-ray player? Answer: when it's as good as Panasonic's one-of-a-kind DMP-B15.

Those looking to exploit the hi-def format with a huge plasma or projector will doubtless balk at the idea of its tiny 8.9in LCD screen, but that view rather misses the point. What Panasonic has produced is a fully featured player that just happens to be portable.

A multi-million pound DVD counterfeiting operation in London has been shut down by police, with 10 people arrested awaiting trial.

The bust happened in June but the Met police have only just made details of the operation public.

According to a statement, released by the Met police, residential and business premises in North Chingford, Harlow and Walthamstow were raided, using intelligence garnered from a number of sources, including FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft).

The gang's copying capers were so big that the police are treating the case as 'international'.

Major impact

While the arrests happened in June, the operation stemmed from an investigation that started back in 2006, when a parcel containing pre-master discs were intercepted.

"Today's verdict is the result of three years' hard work and investigation into the activity of an extensive criminal network," said Detective Superintendent Russell Day, Film Piracy Unit, Met Police.

"Their crimes not only had an impact on the major motion picture houses but also the consumers and in particular the vulnerable Chinese people who became victims of the 'slave labourforce'."