Sonic Solutions has announced that SnapStream Media which develops digital entertainment software, has selected the Sonic AuthorScript-PVR software development kit (SDK) as the MPEG encoding and time-shifting engine for their PC-based TV recording software, Personal Video Station 3.

Complementing the Windows Media format supported in earlier versions of Personal Video Station, AuthorScript-PVR greatly extends the functionality and compatibility of Personal Video Station, adding support for MPEG compression -- the most popular video recording and playback standard.

SnapStream Media has stated that the Sonic AuthorScript-PVR SDK has allowed it to meet market objectives of giving users the ability to pause and rewind live television. Additionally, Personal Video Station 3's use of the AuthorScript-PVR MPEG-compression engine means users can take their favorite TV recordings made with SnapStream and burn them to DVD using third-party software.

SnapStream Media aims at creating entertainment applications for consumers that embrace PC and PC technology as well as traditional consumer electronics devices. SnapStream Media's goal to improve its customers' home entertainment experience. By incorporating Sonic's software it is able to provide customers with a complete solution for personal video recording and time-shifting using the MPEG format.

An official release informs that the SnapStream Personal Video Station 3 gives users complete control of their TV recording experience. SnapStream's new programme guide, SnapStream.NET, lets users record every episode of a favorite TV show with a single click. A comprehensive search engine allows the user to quickly find and record their favorite programmes while a new "trick-play" function allows users to pause, rewind and fast forward live television. SnapStream offers an ideal solution for existing PCs owners who want a powerful yet simple way to record programmes on their PC.

SDK is a media publishing engine. A modular set of media conversion, formatting, burning, and playback tools controlled through a simple and intuitive application programming interface (API), Sonic AuthorScript enables third parties to rapidly add support for CD and DVD technologies to their applications, including DVD-Video and Video CD authoring, data mastering, music CD ripping and burning, PVR recording and timeshifting, and DVD-Video and Video CD playback.

Personal Video Station 3 is a software for TV recording on the PC. The software is optimised for ease of installation and ease of use and enables consumers to intelligently record every episode of their favorite television show. At the product's core is an electronic programme guide, SnapStream.Net, which is included as a part of the software license and does not require any monthly or yearly subscription fees.

In addition to providing basic TV recording capabilities, Personal Video Station also turns the consumer PC into a media server, allowing TV shows to be distributed over the home network to multiple devices inside the home including Pocket PC handheld devices, Tablet PC devices.