According to Bloomberg, Amazon is working on a "new type of digital recorder for the streaming era"-- essentially a TiVo rival able to work around cable providers.

Reportedly dubbed "Frank," the device includes physical storage and paires with Fire TV boxes through the same wireless technology used by Echo devices. The story adds users will be able to record live TV and stream the video to smartphones for later viewing, functionality already offered by TiVo and Dish Network's Slingbox.

Working on the DVR is Lab 126, the Amazon R&D division responsible for the Echo speaker and, in more Amazon-related rumours, a home robot known as "Project Vesta." Bloomberg also reports the company is working on a Fire TV stick update, as well as deals to put Fire TV software in more TVs made by other vendors.

Currently Toshiba and Westinghouse already make TVs with built-in Fire TV, but Amazon wants to compete further with Roku, whose software resides in many TV models.

Go Amazon is Planning Live TV Recorder, Challenging TiVo (Bloomberg)