From LQWiki
A Personal Video Recorder (PVR) is a hard disk based TV recorder which records programs digitally to a hard drive instead of video tape.
Most PVRs have the ability to 'pause' live TV. The PVR records the live TV, allowing you to watch it later. You can also 'rewind' live TV in a similar fashion. They can also have very advanced EPGs (electronic program guides) to organize your TV viewing. However, the main use for PVRs is 'time-shifting'. This means recording live TV shows for watching later at the viewer's convenience. Tivo also predicts what shows a viewer might wish to view, based on previously recorded shows, and records them automatically. Other PVRs may have this capability.
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