UK retailer Evesham today introduced iPlayer, an 80GB DVR that can not only pump out HD resolution pictures but can be connected to the internet ready for IPTV-based video-on-demand services.

The £300 set-top box incorporates an HDMI port for hi-def flat-panel screens. It's got a Freeview digital TV tuner on board, and while there's no HD broadcasts on free-to-air as standard, the iPlayer conveniently upscales standard-definition programming to HD resolution.

For those of us with old-style tellies, the iPlayer has a pair of SCART connectors. The unit's digital TV tuner is HD capable, so it's ready for free-to-air HD broadcasts. And for pay-to-view programming too, thanks to an integrated smartcard slot.

It's even got a six-pin Firewire port so you can connect digital camcorders and the like.

iPlayer has a 3.5mm earphone socket and a digital optical output to connect it up to a hi-fi, and there's an Ethernet port for internet connectivity. Evesham said the unit can talk to Media Center PCs to grab content, and it will be able to take it from online sources too.

iPlayer is available now from Evesham's lowestontheweb website. ®

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