LaCie introduces 500GB LaCinema Rugged HD external drive

LaCie has upgraded its LaCinema Rugged external hard drive/multimedia player with 1080p output, thus claiming a new "HD" in its product name.

The LaCinema Rugged HD is intended for users to access and play multimedia files on any HDTV -- television shows, movies, music, photo slideshows, and so on.

[ZDNet Image Gallery: LaCie 500GB LaCinema Rugged HD]

It offers HDMI and composite output, USB 2.0 transfer, and several supported codecs (MPEG-1, MPEG-2 [AVI, VOB, IFO, ISO], MPEG-4 [AVI, XviD], H.264, WMV9, and VC-1).  Outside, you'll find a scratch-resistant aluminum shell and shock-resistant rubber sleeve, plus a handy remote (as if you didn't have enough).

It's available in a 500GB model for $349.