DVD recorders may take off with new multiformat products entering the market.

Byline: Tamara Chuang

In recent years, consumers could buy a DVD recorder that worked like a VCR.

You could record better-looking video to a longer-lasting disc and still use the recorder to play your collection of DVD movies.

The only caveat was that the recorded discs couldn't be played on someone else's DVD player, which caused consumers to pass on the device, thus thwarting the growth of DVD recorders.

But coming in June to living rooms near you: a DVD recorder that just may trigger the end of the VCR.

Sony Corp. plans to start selling the industry's first DVD player for the living room that will record, and re-record in the two most popular formats available. Sony says the …