HDTV owners looking to add some recording functionality to their sets without forking out for a DStv PVR decoder, will soon have another option in Western Digital’s My Book AV-TV.

WD is introducing the device to the South African market, allowing customers to store and playback hundreds of hours of TV content simply by connecting the My Book AV-TV drive directly to their TV. As with the the latest DStv PVR devices, users will be able to pause or rewind live TV via the My Book AV-TV.

How does it work?

My Book AV-TV connects directly to compatible TV sets that sports a built-in USB port and recording capability. A full list of compatibile TV sets and other AV devices (such as the PlayStation 3) from the likes of Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Samsung can be viewed here.

The device boasts 1 terabyte (TB or 1000 GB) worth of internal storage to deliver enough storage capacity for a plethora of standard- or high-definition programming content. WD added that users who have a TV set with dual-tuner capability will be able to record content whilst watching another program.

To the point

WD stated that its My Book AV-TV will be available at select local retailers during Q3, with the 1 TB version to retail for around R1 300 including of VAT.

Anamika Budree, WD Branded sales manager for South Africa said: “The South African market now has access to an affordable solution to record their favourite TV programs and movies without a monthly subscription. Furthermore, the My Book AV-TV delivers the convenience of playback at a suitable time and is compatible with TV’s with a USB port.”

In other storage related news, Sony and Panasonic have signed a basic agreement that will see the two companies jointly developing a new standard for professional use next-generation optical discs. Both companies aim to deliver an optical disc with the recording capacity of at least 300 GB by the end of 2015.