TiVo has announced a major new initiative to let TiVo subscribers convert and transfer broadband video from their PC to their television sets.

Through an expansion of its Desktop PC software later this year, TiVo subscribers will be able to view videos from the Web on their TVs, even if they are not originally in a format that televisions can display. This is in addition to the broadband programming delivered via TiVo’s TiVoCast direct delivery feature.

“Broadband video is growing rapidly on the Web, but the television will continue to be the key way viewers want to watch video. It’s not TV until it’s on TV and now TiVo is the only DVR available today that makes watching Web video on TV easy,” said Tom Rogers, President and CEO of TiVo. “There is an explosion in video on the Web that is not intended to be rights-protected and now the consumer can decide which of that video he or she would like to view on the TV set.”

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PlayStation Portables are getting video podcast support with the latest update to the PSP’s firmware.

The update takes the PSP firmware to version 2.8. It allows the PSP to receive video clips through RSS (really simple syndication) feeds from blogs and other websites. Sony added PSP podcast support using streaming in November 2005 and added support for PSP podcast downloads in April.

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TiVo today announced the launch of TiVoCast, a new service which will deliver broadband video directly to the television sets of TiVo subscribers.

“The range and quality of broadband video is exploding on the Web, but it’s not TV until it is on the TV,” said Tom Rogers, CEO of TiVo. “With the TiVoCast service, we are once again transforming the television experience by bringing the rapidly expanding array of video content on the Internet into the living room.”

The service provides a new platform for video podcasts and video blogs. RocketBoom, one of the most popular video blogs, is part of TiVo’s initial roll-out.

Earlier in the year, a survey found that people want to watch Internet video on their televisions.

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Sony announced today plans to accelerate further penetration with the PSP, possibly the naughtiest-sounding phrase we’ve seen in a press release.

“To accelerate further penetration throughout the world, a new Base Model in black color will become available in Europe from March 22, 2006, and 199 Euro/199 US$ respectively in North America end of March 2006. SCEI will also introduce Ceramic White for the base model of PSP (PSP-1000 CW) at a recommended retail price of 19,800 yen excluding tax (20,790 yen including tax) for the Japanese market.”

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Apple has updated its iPod photo lineup by introducing a new 30GB model, holding up to 7,500 songs, for just $349 and a new 60GB model, holding up to 15,000 songs, for $449.

Both iPod photo models feature a high-resolution color screen for displaying photos and enhancing the entire iPod music experience. Both models hold up to 25,000 digital photos and will feature the ability to import photos from your digital camera via the new iPod Camera Connector for instant viewing and slide show playback on iPod photo.

“The new slim 30GB iPod photo at just $349 lets music lovers enjoy their iPod in full color, including album artwork along with their personal photo library,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “And now you can import photos from your digital camera directly into iPod photo with the optional iPod Camera Connector.”

The new iPod Camera Connector is an optional accessory that enables customers to connect their digital camera to iPod photo and import their photos into the iPod. By simply connecting the iPod Camera Connector and a digital camera*, customers can easily transfer digital images to their iPod photo, providing tremendous storage space so they can take more pictures. Imported photos are immediately viewable on iPod photo’s crisp color screen, and can also be brought back to iPhoto on the Mac or various photo applications on the PC. The iPod Camera Connector is expected to be available in late March for $29.

Pricing & Availability The 30GB and 60GB models of iPod photo for Mac or Windows are available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of $349 (US) and $449 (US) respectively, through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. iPod photo includes earbud headphones, a USB 2.0 cable, a USB power adapter and a CD with iTunes 4.7.1 for Mac and Windows computers.

Optional accessories with the following suggested retail prices include the iPod Dock for $39 (US), in-ear headphones for $39 (US), the iPod Camera Connector for $29 (US) and FireWire cable for $19 (US). Laser engraving is available for iPod for free from the Apple Store (www.apple.com) and can include two lines of text with up to 27 characters per line.

iPod photo requires a Mac with a USB 2.0 port or FireWire, Mac OS X version 10.2.8 or 10.3.4 or later and iPhoto 4.0.3 or later; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 or FireWire port or USB 2.0 or FireWire card and Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 or later, or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later, and Adobe Photoshop Album 2.0 or Elements 3.0 or later.