LG Electronics has introduced a combination DVD recorder and 160GB hard disk drive (HDD) convergence product with PC connectivity and support for USB devices using technology from Microsoft. “With support for wired or wireless in-home networking and PC connectivity, the LG LRM-519 is a true example of digital convergence,” says Hee-Gook Lee, CTO at LG.

The LG LRM-519 provides new digital video recording functionality as well as playback of music, pictures and video in a variety of file formats with computers running Windows XP and Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2005.

Further support from Microsoft is in the form of an electronic program guide for multiple sources such as satellite and terrestrial TV, and the PlaysForSure logo program designed to help Windows users find devices and online music or video stores that work together.

The 160GB HDD offers up to160 hours of conventional TV programming storage that can be transferred to a variety of DVD formats for permanent storage. Recorded TV programming can also be viewed on PC or portable media devices.

LG says the LRM-519 will be available to consumers in SA in the third quarter of 2005.