IT-Review

RCA LYRA Audio/Video Jukebox

RCA Lyra audio/video personal media player allows recording of TV directly onto the unit for $449.

The RCA LYRA Audio/Video Jukebox records TV programs directly onto a pocket-sized device — without the need to use a PC. The 20 GB RCA RD2780 is a "virtual VCR" in a pocket, featuring a 3.5" screen that connects to a TV set via an analog composite video output and can record up to 50 hours of video content directly from an analog video source. The RD2780 also plays back digital audio files and JPEG photos.

To directly record a TV show, the consumer has to connect the RD2780 to a television set via the enclosed line-in / line-out cables, highlight the "video" mode and press the "record" and "select" button to begin recording. A recording menu lets consumers automatically select recording times ranging from 30 minutes to three hours, and automatically shuts off the unit when the recording is completed. When in record mode, the RD2780 displays status, recording time, elapsed time, recording quality and file name.

Featuring a 3.5-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) LCD screen, the versatile RD2780 is compatible with multiple audio and video codecs including MPEG-4, MPEG-1, mp3 and Windows Media Audio. The RD2780 doubles as a portable (or desktop) pocket photo album, since JPEG images can be displayed and stored by directly transferring them from the PC or by inserting a CompactFlash memory card. The robust 20GB hard drive in the RCA LYRA Audio/Video Jukebox accommodates up to 100,000 JPEG photo images which can be easily displayed with a convenient, built-in leg stand.

The RD2780 has a suggested retail price of $449.

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