Panasonic DMR-BWT800

Panasonic DMR-BWT800 review

What does the Panasonic DMR-BWT800 Blu-ray recorder / Freeview+ HDD box do?What doesn't it do, more like.At its core is an optical drive that can not only play, but also record to Blu-ray, as well as dealing with both 2D and 3D discs. Record what, you say? The answer comes in the form of two built-in Freeview HD tuners that, together with a 500GB hard disk, make this a Freeview+HD PVR that's as well specified as any on the market. Naturally it also indulges in perhaps the most useful Freeview+HD feature of all – the pausing and rewinding of live digital TV. But before you ask, no, it can't record in 3D from the Sky 3D channel. There are extras, too, in the form of Skype video calling, an SD Card slot (which plays AVCHD video and JPEG photos only), two USB slots (supporting AVI, MKV (DivXHD) and MPEG video files), DLNA streaming (for AVCHD video files) and a novel link to other gear in Panasonic's Diga range of recorders that allows the contents of their HDDs to be shared over a home network. The same can be done from any PC or laptop packing Windows 7, while online excitement – supplied through Ethernet LAN unless you buy a USB dongle for £80 – culminates in access to Viera Cast, Panasonic's online hub of entertainment.