Good luck convincing Grandma to pack a DVR-250 next to the same telly that's been avoiding TV detectors for years, but how about a "match box-sized" addition that gives all the benefits of the digital switchover and without taking up a lot of space? TVonics MFR-300 improves on previous versions with support for Audio Description allowing people with sight problems to hear subtle on screen changes described, plus interactive TV features, EPG and parental controls. The 70mm x 27mm x 54mm box is available for £59.99 and can actually mount behind the TV, so all that's left is teaching your family how to use it -- good luck with that.

It seems that U.K. PC manufacturer Elonex's new management has, at the very least, encouraged some out-of-the-box thinking since purchasing the firm last year, with the result being some new products that only a Brit could love -- literally: like the Cube Play boombox we recently saw, the new LNXpf7 digital picture frame sports a Freeview tuner for OTA TV goodness. Besides impromptu viewing sessions on your night stand, the 7-inch, 720 x 480 frame can also lets you enjoy MP3, MPEG-1/2/4, and DivX files, and even tosses in an alarm clock and calendar to boot. This £99 ($206) wonder is available immediately.

[Via Stuff]

We've never been much for using one's television as their primary web surfing display -- after all, how do you expect to get any work done with last week's episode of The Office drawing your attention away from that oh-so-critical PowerPoint -- but for those who'd enjoy access every now and then without having to attach a dedicated computer, Babel TV could be just the thing. Available solely in the UK, this multifaceted set-top-box enables users to tune into and record Freeview broadcasts, stream video clips / programming from the web and even make VoIP calls. Furthermore, the box is "managed remotely by Babel TV's technical team," and copies of all your files can be automatically stored at a secure location (for a price, we presume). Reportedly, the unit should be available early next month for £295 ($602), and yes, that does include a wireless keyboard and pointer to keep you firmly planted on the sofa.

[Via TechDigest]

It wasn't too long ago that the Aussies got special treatment with the Australia-centric Beyonwiz DP-S1, and now the Brits in attendance can stop pouting and perk up a bit thanks to the sleek TVonics DVR-250. The UK-friendly digital video recorder sports a stylish black enclosure, a 250GB hard drive, built-in Freeview tuner, one-touch recording, an additional tuner for watching one program whilst recording another, eight-day EPG, and a universal remote to control your AV setup from the comforts of your sofa. Additionally, this device boasts "reduced power consumption" in comparison to its competitors, and claims to be "environmentally friendly" due to the carefully selected components used in construction. Nevertheless, the DVR-250 can be snapped up now for £189.99 ($376) by those looking for OTA recording abilities across the pond.

[Via TechDigest]

What with Sony announcing two new Bravia series LCDs for the European market to go with the new PlayStation 3s, Toshiba had to jump in with two new lines of their own -- for connecting to HD DVD players, naturally. The X-series will start off at 40- or 46-inch sizes, and have three HDMI and two SCART interfaces. Moving up to the higher-end Z-series will add 100Hz Active Vision M100 refresh rates, and a wider range of sizes, from 37 to 57 inches. Both model lines support 1080p and built-in Freeview tuning. As with Sony's sets, prices and exact release dates are forthcoming.

Hauppauge has busted out a new TV tuner in PCI card form for those who prefer to keep such things out of sight, this one packing three separate tuners to meet your compulsive viewing needs -- although just how many of those you'll be able to take advantage of will depend on where you live. Running an even £100 (or a not-so-even $195), the WinTV HVR-3000 will let you snag DVB-S digital satellite, DVB-T digital terrestrial (à la Freeview), and plain old analog cable TV signals, working the usual PVR magic on each. To sweeten the deal, Hauppauge has also managed to squeeze an FM tuner onto the card and, of course, will throw in the requisite remote control so you can get your couch potato on.

[Via Tech Digest]

While Evesham's 47-inch LCD TV may have a long list of niceties that would surely bring a smile to any HD addict's face, the rather hefty pricetag might just scare a few folks away. Apparently making sure that its got the low and mid-range customers covered as well, Evesham is busting out a bevy of new displays at much lower price points. The Alqemi lineups boasts 32-, 37-, and 42-inch panels, with all five sporting WXGA resolutions, 8-millisecond response time, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio (save for the bottom-end's curiously high 1200:1 spec), and integrated stereo speakers. Evesham further segregates the models by offering a low-end 32-inch version (peep a pic after the jump) with the bare necessities (HDMI, component / S-Video / composite, VGA, and an analog tuner) for £499 ($970), while offering mid-range units with DVB-T / analog hybrid tuners (with Digital Tick support), and a 42-inch flagship (Alqemi SX; pictured after the break) that boasts PIP and Virtual Dolby surround sound. Evesham's budget lineup tops at £1,399 ($2,718), with the mid-range units ranging from £599 ($1,164) to £899 ($1,747), and can be picked up now on the other side of the pond.

Read - Evesham 32-inch Alqemi LCD TV
Read - Evesham 32-inch Alqemi SX LCD TV
Read - Evesham 37-inch Alqemi S LCD TV
Read - Evesham 37-inch Alqemi SX LCD TV
Read - Evesham 42-inch Alqemi SX LCD TV

If you didn't bite when Elgato released its pocket-friendly EyeTV Hybrid, you may be interested in its supercharged successor, the EyeTV Diversity. The USB 2.0 stick makes for easy travel, and this rendition sports dual attachable antennas and a DSP, "which uses information from both tuners to generate the best signal possible." Designed to work with DTT / DVB-T signals, the device supports dual tuner functionality, PIP, scheduled recordings via the included EveTV 2 software, and a one-year subscription to the "tvtv" program guide. It touts seamless integration with Toast 7, and even provides easy converting for use on video-playing iPods. The company also notes that 1080i and 720p viewing / recording is possible on Macs housing "dual PowerPC G5 or Intel Core Duo" processors, and the dual-tuner USB stick can be picked up now on the other side of the pond for €149.95 ($191).

[Via digg]

Humax is expanding its IDTV lineup once again, offering a less expensive alternative to its fairly similar LP32-TDR1 and LGB-40TPVR options, except this flavor loses the built-in PVR functionality. This HD-ready LU32-TD1 boasts a sleek, black finish, 32-inch panel, 1,024 x 768 resolution, 1200:1 contrast ratio, 450cd/m2 brightness, integrated Freeview tuner for catching those gratis UK terrestrial broadcasts, and an eight-day electronic program guide to boot. While details are far and few between concerning the port assortment, we do know the LCD TV sports one HDMI port, a VGA connector, audio in / out, composite, S-Video, and component AV inputs. The LP32-TDR1 should satisfy those ultrathin DVT-B (sans PVR) desires for £749 ($1,429) when it hits the European market real soon.

Evesham -- best known for its fleshed-out lineup of notebooks -- is delving into the TV realm by dropping a bit (47 inches, to be exact) of 1080p love to the blokes across the pond. Sporting an ultrathin 5.43-inch enclosure, the plainly-named 47INCHLCD sports a 16:9 aspect ratio, 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 1600:1 contrast ratio, 550 cd/m2 brightness, 8-millisecond response time, and a built-in analog / Freeview (DVB-T) hybrid tuner. The panel also touts a pair of 10-watt stereo speakers along with a bevy of inputs, including VGA, HDMI, component, S-Video, and audio in / out. Those lucky enough to live in the good ole UK can pick up the 47INCHLCD right now for £1,899 ($3,592).

[Via Pocket-Lint]

Humax continues to rock the all-in-one bizness with its latest 32-inch LCD TV, the LP32-TDR1, which manages to cram a 160GB PVR with twin Freeview tuners into its otherwise unassuming set. The usual specs like resolution, contrast ratio, and response time are a bit hard to come by, but it is apparently equipped with a CI slot for subscription content, component, composite , s-video, and "PC" ports, (not sure if that means VGA or DVI), two RGB SCART jacks and, most importantly, an HDMI connector, something Humax's earlier TVs lacked. Price is £900, or about $1,700 for those of us this side of the pond.

[Via Slashgear]

After taking a bit of a respite from the market, price-slashing TV maker Grundig is getting back into the swing of things in the UK, and is out to provide a bit of Freeview DVB-T recording on the cheap. Even as Sky+ HDTV makes its way slowly across the UK, DVB-T is still a decent digital TV alternative for those without access, with 30 digital channels and 20 digital radio stations. Grundig's GUDVDR0IV lets you schedule up to a week of recordings in advance, and burns onto DVD+R/RW discs for easy archivin'. If stowing the shows isn't your thing, Grundig is also offering a HDD version with 160GB of recording space, the GUDVDRHDD160V. There's actually no word on price yet, but it's a pretty a safe bet that Grundig will be aiming to undercut the current Panasonic and Sony offerings on the market. Both players should be out next month.

Because you can never have convenient enough access to all that great BBC programming, Sling Media has just released a version of their popular Slingbox for British TV junkies. The UK model has been tweaked a bit for European viewing, with PAL tuners replacing the NTSC versions found in US boxes, and a DVB-T tuner thrown in for placeshifting that sweet, sweet OTA Freeview content. In conjunction with the UK rollout, the folks at Sling also announced an updated version of the SlingPlayer PC software, whose main upgrades include widescreen 16:9 support and a skinnable client. Slingbox: UK will initially be available exclusively at PC World's website and retail locations -- and at Currys stores in four to six weeks -- for £180, VAT included.

We know there are a ton of Brits anxiously waiting to hear whether Acer's 32-inch AT3205-DTV LCD, at only $1,888 dollars, is really such a bargain, so we won't keep you in suspense: according to Trusted Reviews, it most certainly is. Truth be told, the picture actually sounds like it leaves something to be desired -- black levels and fine detail aren't the best -- but they seem to fall in the acceptable range, and the 1366 x 768 screen apparently delivers vibrant colors and good brightness levels. Other plusses include the built-in Freeview tuner (no CI slot for adding subscription content, though), powerful-for-a-flat-panel sound system, and a plethora of connection options, including HDMI and DVI, component, three SCART ports, and digital audio out. So, if you can deal with some slightly gray blacks and a bit of a, um, bold design, then fear not, British friends, because your quid will be well spent on the Acer.

We've seen quite a few portable media players with built in digital receivers. Unfortunately (for those of us on this side of the Pacific, that is), most are DMB models designed for use in Korea. However, MSI is now rolling out the D310, a PMP with a Freeview receiver, which means that it'll work anywhere that uses DVB-T for digital broadcasting. That covers much of Europe, Australia and parts of Asia and South America. As usual, North Americans will have to sit this one out. In addition to a DVB-T receiver, the D310 includes a 4.2-inch display, SD card slot, and compatibility with MPEG-4 video and MP3 audio files.