Archos hatches dual tuner PVR

A question often posed of Archos when it appears on Question Time is why its PVRs don’t include a TV tuner for live watching. Well, the French outfit has just answered it with this newbie – a recorder with two digital tuners.

Based on the old widescreen AV700, the new TV version will let you simultaneously watch and record programmes on-the-fly. Worried about those dual 5pm World Cup kick off times? You’ll be able to watch one on the train home, while recording the other in MPEG-2 TS for hooking up to your telly later.

The reception should be good too – Archos has crafted a new system using two antennas, tuners and processors, which apparently ensures much better picture quality when travelling at high speeds than single antenna jobs.

Aside from the new tuners, the AV700 is much the same wideboy PVR, with its 7in screen, PlaysforSure support and 40GB hard-drive, which will store around 160 hours of MP4 video.

The only caveat is that it isn’t definitely UK-bound. A mainland Europe bow and a €700 (£485) price tag are pencilled in for May, but we’re still waiting for confirmation of a release here.

Keep checking this article for an update; we’re expecting it to make it across the channel but, if the worst happens, there’s always eBay.