Personal
Related: person - personality - private
Personal computer [...]
The IBM PC (Personal Computer), is a trade mark of IBM. It is the predecessor of the current personal computers first introduced in 1981.The phrase "personal computer" was common currency before 1981, and was used as early as 1972 to characterize the Xerox PARC Alto. However, due to the success of the IBM PC, what had been a generic term came to mean specifically a microcomputer compatible with IBM's specification (see IBM PC compatible). (The term "personal computer" is still occasionally used to the wider generic sense). --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC [Mar 2004]
Personal care products
Unilever
Unilever is an Anglo-Dutch company which owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products. Unilever employs more than 247,000 people and had a worldwide turnover of €48 760 million in 2002. Unilever has two parent companies: Unilever NV in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Unilever PLC in London, United Kingdom. This arrangement is similar to that of Royal Dutch/Shell. Both Unilever companies have the same directors and effectively operate as a single business. The current chairman for Unilever NV is Antony Burgmans while Patrick Cescau is the head of Unilever PLC. Unilever's major competitors include Nestlé and Procter & Gamble. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unilever [Jan 2005]
The personal video recorder (or PVR)
The personal video recorder (or PVR) is a consumer electronics device that records television shows to a hard disk in digital format.
This makes the "time shifting" feature (traditionally done by a VCR) much more convenient, and also allows for "trick modes" such as pausing live TV, instant replay of interesting scenes, and skipping advertising. Most PVR recorders use the MPEG format for encoding analog video signals.
The most popular PVRs on the market are TiVo's TiVo and DNNA's ReplayTV. Many satellite and cable companies are incorporating PVR functions into their set-top box, such as with DirecTivo. In this case there is no encoding necessary in the PVR, as the satellite signal is already a digitally encoded MPEG stream. The PVR simply stores the digital stream directly to disk.
Upcoming entrants into the market include products such as Digeo's Moxi, and Microsoft's Media Center.
In 2003, the Yakima, Washington Police Department began using PVRs in their patrol cars to record the activities of officers and suspects. Since then, many other police departments have followed suit, due to the increased reliability and decreased cost compared to analog video systems.
There are ways to make one's own PVR using software and hardware available for Microsoft Windows, Linux and Macintosh operating systems. There are even people working on turning the Xbox into a PVR with a modchip. --http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_video_recorder [Jul 2004]
Portable Media Center [...]
Portable Media Centers put all of your favorite video, music, and pictures at your fingertips wherever you are. Take digital entertainment from your computer with you on the go, including recorded TV shows, downloaded videos, home movies, music, and photos. With Windows Mobile software that features an easy-to-use, familiar Windows XP Media Center Edition interface, Portable Media Centers let you enjoy immediate access to all of your favorite entertainment — anytime, anywhere. --http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devices/portablemediacenter/overview.mspx [2004]
Personal Media Portal
Orb Networks, Inc., a developer of streaming media software and services, today introduced a breakthrough service that provides a simple way for consumers to view, hear and control all kinds of their digital content from virtually any Internet- enabled device, from anywhere in the world. Today's connected population is demanding media mobility and convenience to meet its fast-paced lifestyle. Orb's solution provides spontaneous access to a person's music, live television, videos, photos and other digital content from any device that can connect to the Internet, such as a cell phone, PDA, or notebook, allowing users to create their own "personal media portal." --Bill Landon on Mon, Oct 11, 2004, http://www.pdatoday.com/more/A2190_0_1_0_M/ [Oct 2004]
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