We got a glimpse of two portable entertainment devices at last year's CES: the Archos Jukebox Multimedia and Panasonic's SV-AV10. This year's offerings build on those devices significantly, offering smaller size and performance that's still nowhere near that of a full-fledged digital camcorder or camera but that comes much closer. From here, it looks like 2003 could be the year that portable video releases the domestic couch potato into the wild.

Panasonic SV-AV20

Yes, you can take it all with you
At its opening day press conference, Panasonic announced two updates to its groundbreaking SV-AV10, which was the first wearable device to combine voice recording, digital audio playback, video recording, and digital still photography in one wearable device. The new units (the SV-AV20 and the SV-AV30) capture 320x240 MPEG-4 video at 15 frames per second, take digital pictures at 680x480 resolution, play MP3 and AAC audio files, and include a 2-inch color LCD, 2X digital zoom, and a built-in speaker and flash. Files are stored on a single SD card, which holds between 32MB and 512MB (though the latter adds a full $400 to the price of either model).

Buyer's alert Forget portable digital music; get ready for digital video recording and playback on the go. Product alerts: sign up to be notified when these products are available Panasonic E-wear SV-AV20 Panasonic E-wear SV-AV30 RCA Lyra Audio/Video Jukebox RD2780

The SV-AV30 ($400 with 64MB SD Card) includes a significant enhancement over the SV-AV20 ($300 with 32MB SD Card): the ability to connect to a television using a small docking station. Once connected, the tiny device can play back video or record television shows for portable viewing. Unfortunately, the file-transfer software for dealing with MP3s includes some degree of copyright protection, but since Panasonic has been the only manufacturer to implement this protection in a noninvasive way, perhaps DRM will not be a deal breaker when both models are released in April of this year.

RCA Lyra Audio/Video Jukebox RD2780

RCA takes your shows on the road
If you prefer watching recorded video to filming your own, RCA's Lyra Audio/Video Jukebox RD2780 offers a more luxurious portable viewing option on its 3.5-inch screen (the device itself measures a svelte 5.2 inches by 3.14 inches by 0.98 inches). Connect it to your TV using standard composite cables and record up to 80 hours of video onto the player's 20GB hard drive for later viewing. Video downloaders will be pleased to note that the RD2780 accepts many formats of digital video downloaded over USB 2.0 from your PC for viewing on the RD2780's screen or on just about any television.

While the video capabilities are the main attraction, it's no slouch as a straight digital music player, handling MP3s, WMAs, and RCA's next-generation MP3Pro format and recording audio in the MP3 format. Still not enough for you? The RD2780 also holds up to 10,000 JPEG files, so you can give slide shows on the go or on any TV. Plus, it doubles as a portable USB 2.0 hard drive. This hot little number will be available just in time for summer for $400.

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Eliot Van Buskirk is a senior editor covering MP3 and portable audio at CNET. Got a question for him? Let us know.