Blu-Ray Players at IFA 2007
The companies behind Blu-ray took centre stage at IFA 2007 with
announcements of new Blu-Ray disc players.
Samsung
Samsung, the manufacturer of the world's first Blu-ray Disc(BD) player has introduced its 3rd generation Blu-ray player, the BD-P1400.
The BD-P2400 supports Full HD 1080p, up-scales conventional DVD content to 1080p through the single cable HDMI 1.3 interface; Dolby Digital +, Dolby True HD, and DTS-HD. DVD and CD playback is enhanced to near HD quality, according to Samsung.
The Korean company also unveiled details of its first dual-format player details, the BD-UP5000 model. The device will play both Blu-ray and HD DVD disc formats at up to 1080p and either 24fps or up to 60fps. It also features HQV video selectable up-conversion processing. On the audio front, it has both stereo and 7.1-channel outputs, coaxial and optical digital audio out, and supports Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS HD. The BD-UP5000 fully supports both Blu-ray and HD DVD interactive technologies, HDi and BD-Java. It will be launched this year in the U.S. market first.
Pioneer Pioneer will introduce its latest Blu-ray disc player, the BDP-LX70A, throughout Europe in October this year. The new player now features bitstream output for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio high definition audio codecs.
The BDP-LX70A will supersede the company's BDP-LX70 model of earlier this year.
The BDP-LX70A delivers audio and video exactly as the film-makers intended, played back at 1080p and 24Hz.
Owners of the players will be also able to stream compressed audio, movie and image files across your home IP network, too. As with it?s predecessor, the BDP-LX70A is DNLA-compatible (by Ethernet), which means that content such as MPEG and WMA movie files, MP3, WMA and WAV music files and JPEG, PNG and GIF image files can be transferred from home computer to the player.
For all those who do not have a home network the BDP-LX70A?s Disc Navigator function enables playback, from DVD disc, of the same content formats.
The BDP-LX70A also sports HDMI control ? based on HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) technology, allowing operation of, for example, one our our KURO flat-screen TV's and the player with a single remote control.
Sony
Sony has launched two new Blu-ray Disc players in Europe ? the 'wide appeal' BDP-S300 (?600) and the high-end BDP-S500 model (?900).
Both models can output HD1080p via a single-cable HDMI interface and support 7.1 channel Linear PCM and Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound. The BDP-S500 goes further, with Dolby TrueHD decoding and Bit Stream Output for DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD audio signals via HDMI ver 1.3.
Either model incorporates a 1080p upscaling feature that works with HDMI-equipped 1080p-capable HDTVs.
24p True Cinema is provided as well which means that when the BDP-S300 or BDP-S500 is connected to a TV with 24p capability, the original 24 frames per second are played just as the camera first recorded them.
Both models support the new x.v.Colour standard, an international standard defining a colour range for moving images approximately twice that of standard RGB. This means the players can handle AVC-HD discs recorded by new-generation camcorders that use x.v.Colour and reproduce the more natural and lifelike colours in full.
Both models handle CD, BD-ROM, DVD, and DVD video playback from DVD/DVD±R/±RW encoded discs, as well as MP3 audio files and JPEG images stored on DVD±R/±RW discs.
The BDP-S300 ? which hit the retailers? shelves in the US in June, priced at $499 ? will be available in Europe mid-September and the BDP-S500 from the end of October. No price given.
Philips
Philips has announced the introduction this autumn of a new player ? the BDP-7100. The new model will offer 1080p picture resolution and audio support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD High Resolution Audio.
The Philips BDP7100 supports native 24fps cinematic resolution input via HDMI, which is the same format used in movies. In addition, the player will feature HDMI CEC that allows the control of other devices with one remote.
The BDP7100 Blu-ray Disc player is available across Europe this autumn.
Daewoo
Daewoo has unveiled its first BD player, the DBP-1000. The player supports the full BD specification, including the ability to access BD Live online content, to present picture-in-picture material and deliver BD's interactivity features. Thedevice also upscales DVD and JPEG photos to full HD resolution, and supports DivX content too.
The DBP-1000 can handle all the recordable and rewriteable DVD and CD formats, along with BD-R and BD-RE discs. Daewoo didn't say when the DBP-1000 will go on sale.
Sharp
Sharp revealed its first Blu-ray disc player, the BD-HP20S. The player supports 1080/24p video output, 7.1ch output Dolby Digital plus and Dolby NR TrueHD audio and has an HDMI Ver.1.3 interface. Sales in Europe are scheduled in Q4 of 2007.
BenQ
BenQ announced the BR1000, a $199 Blu-ray BD-ROM PC drive. It is expected to launch in September. Also announced, is the BR1001 Blu-ray Disc Writer, which will support burning of BD, DVD, and CD media. Also available in September for $599.
Samsung, the manufacturer of the world's first Blu-ray Disc(BD) player has introduced its 3rd generation Blu-ray player, the BD-P1400.
The BD-P2400 supports Full HD 1080p, up-scales conventional DVD content to 1080p through the single cable HDMI 1.3 interface; Dolby Digital +, Dolby True HD, and DTS-HD. DVD and CD playback is enhanced to near HD quality, according to Samsung.
The Korean company also unveiled details of its first dual-format player details, the BD-UP5000 model. The device will play both Blu-ray and HD DVD disc formats at up to 1080p and either 24fps or up to 60fps. It also features HQV video selectable up-conversion processing. On the audio front, it has both stereo and 7.1-channel outputs, coaxial and optical digital audio out, and supports Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS HD. The BD-UP5000 fully supports both Blu-ray and HD DVD interactive technologies, HDi and BD-Java. It will be launched this year in the U.S. market first.
Pioneer Pioneer will introduce its latest Blu-ray disc player, the BDP-LX70A, throughout Europe in October this year. The new player now features bitstream output for both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio high definition audio codecs.
The BDP-LX70A will supersede the company's BDP-LX70 model of earlier this year.
The BDP-LX70A delivers audio and video exactly as the film-makers intended, played back at 1080p and 24Hz.
Owners of the players will be also able to stream compressed audio, movie and image files across your home IP network, too. As with it?s predecessor, the BDP-LX70A is DNLA-compatible (by Ethernet), which means that content such as MPEG and WMA movie files, MP3, WMA and WAV music files and JPEG, PNG and GIF image files can be transferred from home computer to the player.
For all those who do not have a home network the BDP-LX70A?s Disc Navigator function enables playback, from DVD disc, of the same content formats.
The BDP-LX70A also sports HDMI control ? based on HDMI Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) technology, allowing operation of, for example, one our our KURO flat-screen TV's and the player with a single remote control.
Sony
Sony has launched two new Blu-ray Disc players in Europe ? the 'wide appeal' BDP-S300 (?600) and the high-end BDP-S500 model (?900).
Both models can output HD1080p via a single-cable HDMI interface and support 7.1 channel Linear PCM and Dolby Digital Plus Surround Sound. The BDP-S500 goes further, with Dolby TrueHD decoding and Bit Stream Output for DTS-HD, Dolby TrueHD audio signals via HDMI ver 1.3.
Either model incorporates a 1080p upscaling feature that works with HDMI-equipped 1080p-capable HDTVs.
24p True Cinema is provided as well which means that when the BDP-S300 or BDP-S500 is connected to a TV with 24p capability, the original 24 frames per second are played just as the camera first recorded them.
Both models support the new x.v.Colour standard, an international standard defining a colour range for moving images approximately twice that of standard RGB. This means the players can handle AVC-HD discs recorded by new-generation camcorders that use x.v.Colour and reproduce the more natural and lifelike colours in full.
Both models handle CD, BD-ROM, DVD, and DVD video playback from DVD/DVD±R/±RW encoded discs, as well as MP3 audio files and JPEG images stored on DVD±R/±RW discs.
The BDP-S300 ? which hit the retailers? shelves in the US in June, priced at $499 ? will be available in Europe mid-September and the BDP-S500 from the end of October. No price given.
Philips
Philips has announced the introduction this autumn of a new player ? the BDP-7100. The new model will offer 1080p picture resolution and audio support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD High Resolution Audio.
The Philips BDP7100 supports native 24fps cinematic resolution input via HDMI, which is the same format used in movies. In addition, the player will feature HDMI CEC that allows the control of other devices with one remote.
The BDP7100 Blu-ray Disc player is available across Europe this autumn.
Daewoo
Daewoo has unveiled its first BD player, the DBP-1000. The player supports the full BD specification, including the ability to access BD Live online content, to present picture-in-picture material and deliver BD's interactivity features. Thedevice also upscales DVD and JPEG photos to full HD resolution, and supports DivX content too.
The DBP-1000 can handle all the recordable and rewriteable DVD and CD formats, along with BD-R and BD-RE discs. Daewoo didn't say when the DBP-1000 will go on sale.
Sharp
Sharp revealed its first Blu-ray disc player, the BD-HP20S. The player supports 1080/24p video output, 7.1ch output Dolby Digital plus and Dolby NR TrueHD audio and has an HDMI Ver.1.3 interface. Sales in Europe are scheduled in Q4 of 2007.
BenQ
BenQ announced the BR1000, a $199 Blu-ray BD-ROM PC drive. It is expected to launch in September. Also announced, is the BR1001 Blu-ray Disc Writer, which will support burning of BD, DVD, and CD media. Also available in September for $599.
