Tivo have today announced that they are releasing what they call the 'Next Generation' of PVR to market later this year in the US and UK.

Unlike last time when the PVR giants tried the UK market and got crushed by Sky they are joining forces with Virgin Media ands their set top boxes.

So what's all the fuss about Next Generation? It all boils down to the new boxes being more user centric and they will be able to, not only show broadcast programmes from standard TV channels but also show internet based video from the likes of YouTube and iPlayer.

Making this even more powerful is the ability to use one search for all the internet channels and broadcast channels, so you could search for Eastenders and it would not only return results for iPlayed but any other outlet broadcasting Eastenders related material.

Tivo are also claiming that it will learn while you watch and start suggesting what programmes you may like based on what you have watched in the past, this is also a continual learning process.

The new boxes will be higher specked than the current boxes with larger hard drives and wireless internet connections that will be able to broadcast in full 1080p.

We're not sure this is the future of PVR's or simply a natural evolution but it's good to see Tivo trying the UK market again even if it is through a partnership with Virgin Media.

Check out more information on the Tivo website.

A new trailer for the upcoming film star Trek has hit the web today, and finally this is the trailer I've been wanting to see, I'm now convinced that this is going to be a great film.

It's been worrying me ever since I heard that JJ Abrams was going to re-image Star Trek that he was somehow going to change things, a little tweak is OK, but change things, Star Trek has a rich history behind it and you just have to respect that history.

I'm a big Star Trek fan, The Next Generation is my personal favourite but the Original Series is great and if it hadn't been for that we'd never have had the afore mentioned series, so I love it for the history. The first trailer for the new film did nothing to convince me that this was going to be a good Star Trek film, a good sci-fi film maybe, but this is Star Trek.

Now things have changed, the new trailer has hit the web and I'm convinced now that this is not only a film to look forward to, but it will be a good Star Trek film. If Abrams can inject the same pasion into the full film as spills over in this trailer then we've got a good addition to the Star Trek franchise on our hands, and who knows it may even revive the virtually dead series.

I won't go on any long head over to Apple for the full HD glory.

To coin a phrase from a much loved movie, 'There Can Be Only One', this was true back in the midsts of time when Betamax had a fight with VHS and the same is true now, but unlike back then it looks like the better format this time has won.

So what's all this about, it's about the next generation DVD high definition format wars that has been taking place over the last year or so, two competing camps headed by Sony and Toshiba have been trying to bring a high definition successor to the DVD to market and both have been rallying to get the support of the studios to release their films on the two formats.

The various studios have been one by one taking sides, Sony of course have a large catalogue of film, from themselves and their buy out of Columbia pictures, also with large catalogues are Disney (along with Buena Vista) who have taken the Blu-Ray route and Paramount and Universal. Paramount and Universal pledged their support for HD-DVD back last year to much controversy and large amounts of money allegedly changing hands.

Warner have been on the fence about this and have been releasing films on both HD-DVD and Blu-ray, until now, Warner have now announced that they are to go Blu-ray exclusive on all their films, starting in May.

Clearly this has sent a huge shudder through the HD-DVD ranks as Paramount/Universal are now the only major studio to be backing HD-DVD, and my money is on them making a u-turn sometime this year.

To add salt to the wound New Line have also announced their allegiance to Blue-ray which means that a certain fantasy trilogy by Peter Jackson* won't be long before it's making it's way to high-def.

In figures just released Blu-ray is now outselling HD-DVD by 70% so the writing was on the wall before Warner made the announcement and in truth they have just made a good business decision to go with the stronger format.

This looks to have resolved the format was once and for all, this time next year HD-DVD should be a thing of the past and go in the Betamax hall of fame.

Tonight I attended the UK premiere of the new Star Trek movie at the Empire Leicester Square in the heart of the West End in London, and what a night it was.

Although there was a wait of over an hour once I took my seat in the theatre and got chatting to a very nice couple sitting behind me, the wait was well worth it as JJ. Abrams and the full cast of the movie came in to introduce the film.

Simon Pegg who plays Scotty in the movie came dressed in a kilt, honouring the Scottish heritage of his character Scotty, and took to the mike and gave a speech to his fellow Brits on how honoured he was to be in the movie.

As for the film itself, WOW, what a film, action from start to finish, this is what so many other Star Trek movies have lacked in the past but this film piles on the action right from the word go.

Despite enjoying this film to the full I do still have some reservations, the story, although good and honours the Star Trek 40 year legacy it does take some liberties, the opening is really well done and I think true Trek Fans will love it, but, and I hope this isn't too much of a spoiler, the time travel aspect of the film can be a little difficult to swallow.

I don't think I'm giving too much away by saying that original Spock Leonard Nimoy make an extended cameo in the film, but after the initial appearance I found his presence a little uncomfortable, and the final scene in the film although fascinating I found a little odd.

That said the new cast a just superb and Abrams has stayed true to the legend while giving non hard core fans enough reasons to go, there are some in joke which the true fans will roll around on the floor at, but they are well placed and are additions to the film and don't drive it.

Let's hope this film can reignite the series and in 4 or 5 films time we can explore the origins of The Next Generation crew.