Let’s all have a disgo
A device that both records TV programmes and stores your computer data is surely too much to ask for
But now a clever piece of kit has hit the shelves offering to do all that and more, writes Andrew Stucken.
A one-size-fits all solution for organising your digital life has up to now been the preserve of the elite technology user. If you are like me you will have sets of disks of varying descriptions stashed all over the place.
The launch this of the disgo Media Bank from Clever Stuff aims to change that – enabling the user to store all their digital media in one easy-to-use portable case.
It is described on the disgo website as “a multi-media player, a digital storage device, recorder and player”.
The plug-and-play mass storage device is being marketed as an easy-to-use Personal Video Recorder (PVR). With a whopping 500 Gigabytes (GB) of storage space, it has room for all your films, TV programmes, music and photos as well.
This gizmo packs in a whole lot of features for around £170 RRP. Apart from the PVR function it can store and play back films, serve as a photo album, and store and play back music.
Functionality is impressive too. The Media Bank can not only record directly from a TV/digital TV box, but also produce instant playback. Moreover, it offers a choice between manual and scheduled recording. It also contains a bookmark function to allow the user to resume a movie from the point it was stopped on the previous viewing.
It comes packaged in a sleek and compact black box that will challenge the image of storage as the dullest thing on planet gadget.
Its capacity equates to 142,000 digital photos or hundreds of hours of films. The data is written to a hard disk and as such is rewritable. It can meanwhile serve as a portable mass storage device for your computer.
“Irrespective of age, gender or technology know-how, everyone can use the disgo Media Bank without the constraints of a monthly subscription,” explained Luke Noonan, business development director of Clever Stuff.
“The disgo Media Bank’s price, huge 500GB capacity and simplicity make it the ideal product to sit at the heart of everyone’s media life both now and in the future.”
disgo Media Bank 500GB
disgo Media Bank’s plug-and-play set-up allows simple storage of music, videos and photos, playing them back on your TV. There are media card slots for easy transfer, and although there’s no internal tuner it can also connect to your set-top box and moonlight as a PVR, recording TV at a resolution of 640×480.
The most affordable Media Storage Device with PVR hits the high street.
Launched on 12th of May 2008, the disgo Media Bank from Clever-Stuff, is a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) and digital storage device that offers cutting edge technology at amazing value.
To date the market for home digital media storage devices has been mainly for the elite technology user, but the new disgo Media Bank changes this completely. Thanks to simple plug and play functionality, this device doesn’t require any complicated installation processes. The disgo Media Bank allows you to your media collection of photos, videos and music files in a sleek black unit and makes recording from your set-top box or TV simple.
Along with the storage capability of the disgo Media Bank, users also have the option to record directly from their TV or set-top box and can choose either the manual or scheduled recording option. A digital movie library can easily be created and played back instantly on your TV.
“Irrespective of Age, Gender or technology know-how, everyone can use the disgo Media Bank without the constraints of a monthly subscription” says Luke Noonan, Business Development Director, Clever-Stuff. “The disgo Media Banks’ price, huge 500GB capacity and simplicity make it the ideal product to sit at the heart of everyone’s media life both now and in the future.”
Create some new memories
It’s been about 5 years since I received a disgo memory dongle in the post with what was then a whopping 128MB of storage on board.
How things have changed eh! Nowadays, sticks start at 1GB and as we can see here, the firm has turned its hand to desktop devices.
The MEDIA BANK is a Personal Video recorder (PVR) that connects to your set-top box or your telly to save all your favourite shows on the massive 500GB Hard Drive.
But it’s got far more uses than that. Save a load of films on it and create your own video library, add all your digital photos for instant slideshows, or keep all you precious music collection on there.
As for the TV recording, it’s sophisticated enough to allow scheduled taping as well as manual and the £169.99 price-tag makes it a pretty decent buy.
The disgo Media Bank PVR… clever stuff
The disgo Media Bank from Clever-Stuff is a plug and play Personal Video Recorder (PVR) and mass storage device. Unlike other digital media storage devices, which are aimed more at the elite and enthusiastic tech-user, this one has simple plug-n-play functionality, and therefore does not have a complicated installation. It is because of this that the disgo Media Bank is being marketed as an easy to use, everyday PVR.
Store up to 500GB of media with this unit, including photos, music and video files or recordings from your set-top box or your TV – simple. You can potentially record up to 200hours of DVD quality video. Just think of all the great programming you could store and re-watch over and over again. Why not create your own digital movie library and instantly playback what you have recorded?
PVR offers 500GB of media storage
Here’s another manufacturer that’s new to us, this time delivering a media storage device that aims to make recording and storing all your, TV, music and movies that much easier.
The Media Bank from disgo has a 500GB hard disk and calls itself a PVR digital storage device, though there’s no internal tuner.
Making much of its simple set-up, the Media Bank is a strictly plug and play affair, and once up and running communicates with your TV or set-top box directly. With both manual and scheduled recording, you could be filling that whopping hard disk in no time.
There are various features for photo viewing – slide shows, zoom and rotate your pics – as well as a music player for organising and playing your library of digital tunes.
The Media Bank supports SD/MMC/CF cards, has a USB 2.0 connection and is restricted to a recording resolution of 640 x 480.
Available from PC World and the disgo website, the Media Bank is scheduled for release on the 19th May and will retail at £170.
Gadget of the day – disgo Media Bank
We’re forever telling ourselves that storage is the least sexy thing on planet gadget. And to be fair, we’re not far wrong. But, like laying cable, having a place to stash your media is unavoidable.
disgo’s Media Bank has really caught our eye. Cramming in more than ample 500GB of storage, you’ll find space for music videos and snaps.
So far, so average. But add to that it’s PVR powers, letting you record shows straight from your set-top box, either manually or scheduled, and your looking at a winner.
Our favourite part though? The £169 price tag. No more burning resentment for paying over the odds for a place to store last weeks Richard and Judy, your questionable Carry on… collection and good ‘ol Phil Collins. Glory days.
