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| Sony introduces five new feature-packed, confusingly-named Blu-ray DVRs |
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Now that Toshiba's getting in on the Blu-ray train, Sony needs to up its game. Enter a quintet of new players, each packing TV recording tech, overlapping feature sets, and seemingly nonsensical names. Starting at the low end is the BDZ-RS10, which sports a measly single digital tuner and 320GB worth of storage. Next up is the BDZ-EX30, adding a second digital tuner and a Blu-ray recorder into the action. Then the BDZ-EX50 moves up to 500GB of storage and adds PSP support, the BDZ-RX100 goes up to a full 1TB, and the BDZ-EX200 2TB. All but the lowest two support DLNA and can spin an hours worth of video to a PSP or X-1000 in under two minutes, meaning you could sync the entire Battlestar Galactica series in just over two hours and get your Cylon fix wherever you like.Filed under: Home EntertainmentSony introduces five new feature-packed, confusingly-named Blu-ray DVRs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/27/2009 5:12 PM (203d 56m ago) |
| Toshiba applies for BDA admission, Blu-ray players and laptops coming soon |
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We'd already heard that Toshiba -- the outfit best known for solidly backing HD DVD during the two-year format war of the early 21st century -- was preparing to swallow its pride and kick out a Blu-ray player by the year's end, but now it's official. The outfit just announced moments ago that it has "applied for membership of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) and plans to introduce products that support the Blu-ray format." Sadly, Tosh doesn't bother to mention exactly what kinds of BD-capable wares it hopes to produce, nor is it ready to disclose product launch time frames. We'd tell you exactly how it wants us to just be patient and all, but you're probably better off hearing it directly from the horse's trap:"In light of recent growth in digital devices supporting the Blu-ray format, combined with market demand from consumers and retailers alike, Toshiba has decided to join the BDA. Toshiba aims to introduce digital products that support the Blu-ray format, including BD players and notebook PCs integrating BD drives, in the course of this year. Details of the products, including the timing of regional launches, are now under consideration. We will make announcements in due course."Filed under: Home EntertainmentToshiba applies for BDA admission, Blu-ray players and laptops coming soon originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 03:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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| | 8/10/2009 12:41 PM (220d 5h 26m ago) |
| Electronics innovation on track, despite the recession? |
| | The Wall Street Journal is out this morning with an analysis showing that, as major U.S. companies are cutting jobs and wages, many (including many consumer electronics companies) are still spending on innovation. Big U.S. companies spent nearly as much on research and development in the dismal last quarter of 2008 as they did a year earlier, even as their revenue fell 7.7%, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. (Registration and a subscription is required to read the Wall Street Journal article online.) The sampling looked at 28 of the largest U.S. R&D spenders, excluding deeply troubled auto makers and the drug industry, where R&D spending is dictated by government requirements. The takeaway: On the one hand, the study suggests the flow of innovative new electronics products may not diminished by the recession as much as feared back in January, when electronics editor Paul Reynolds posted that "it's hard to imagine that the many job cuts announced by electronics sector, and the rumors of more to come from the likes of Sony, won't in some way affect development of new products." The WSJ analysis, which begins on page one of today's paper and turns to a full inside page, points out that many companies have “learned from past downturns that they must invest through tough times if they hope to compete when the economy improves.” It includes a cautionary comparison from the last major recession, when Apple boosted R&D spending even as their sales dropped while Motorola cut theirs by 13 per cent. The result: Apple launched the first iPods in the midst of the recession, and later saw its sales soar, while Motorola lost ground in developing sequel products to its hit RAZR cellphone, eventually losing ground. However, the piece also cautions that "the robust R&D spending may be temporary," and may in part reflect how long it can take to cut corporate budgets, including those for innovation. Also, the WSJ notes that some R&D is being retooled to deliver safer, short-term... |
| | 4/06/2009 4:03 PM (346d 2h 5m ago) |
| More people renting DVD and Blu-ray Discs? |
| | (Credit: AVSForum.com)
I just noticed a New York Times blog post about the sales trends of DVD and Blu-ray discs. While numbers for DVD and Blu-ray weren't broken out, overall sales for discs were down big in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Here's the key quote from ... |
| | 3/15/2009 9:30 PM (367d 20h 38m ago) |
| Has Blu-ray moved from early-adopter to early-majority phase? |
| | (Credit: Futuresource)Just got a press release from UK-based Futuresource Consulting that claims, "Consumers are on target to buy in excess of 100 million Blu-ray discs (BD) across the USA, Western Europe and Japan this year, with sales of High Definition capable LCD and plasma TVs and continued dramatic reductions ... |
| | 3/02/2009 12:57 AM (381d 17h 10m ago) |
| TechForward - future proof your gadget’s value |
| | As we all know, every high-tech piece of equipment you buy will decrease in value as it gets further out of date. Well TechForward reckon that one person’s used gadget is another person’s treasure and they’re doing something about it. When you purchase your new gadget (MP3 player, notebook, TV, GPS etc) you can sign [...]
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| | 9/03/2008 9:16 PM (560d 20h 52m ago) |
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| Review: Panasonic DMP-BD35 Blu-ray player nabs Editors' Choice award |
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We've been hard on standalone Blu-ray players from the start. At first, they were astronomically priced, while HD DVD was able to deliver much of the same performance for less. Then HD DVD dropped out, but the PlayStation 3 was able to offer great Blu-ray playback, plus media streaming ... |
| | 10/27/2008 7:40 PM (506d 22h 28m ago) |
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| Holiday season reminder: Buy cheap HDMI cables |
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In the bustle of holiday shopping, it's easy to be persuaded by the salesperson at your local retailer that you need to buy a $50 HDMI cable to make your new gear work. They might say the expensive cable "supports faster speeds," "has better video quality," or that "cheap ... |
| | 12/15/2008 5:01 PM (458d 1h 6m ago) |
| Buying Blu-ray? Check out player's 'profile' |
| | High-def DVD players not yet at 2.0 standard, but should be by fall. Blu-ray is a work in progress; players have different “profiles” that determine the playback features that are available. If you bought a machine in 2006 when Blu-Ray first came out, it will be what is known as a Profile 1.0 player. Profile 1.1 hardware, a.k.a “Bonus View,” is now available, allowing for picture-in-picture special features. “BD-Live” 2.0 players, equipped to access online content, hit store shelves later this year. read more |
| | 3/29/2008 12:16 AM (719d 17h 52m ago) |
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