Sony Electronics today announced its second generation internal Blu-ray Disc writer drive for the computer aftermarket, which boasts 4X BD-R and 16X DVD+R recording speeds. The new BWU-200S model cuts BD-R burning time by half compared to the first generation model, allowing for a full 50GB BD-R disc to be recorded in about 45 minutes. It also features improved DVD burning speeds, making it a multi-format combo burner that eliminates the need for more than one drive in a system.

The drive comes with CyberLink BD Solution software that provides a comprehensive application for capturing, authoring, editing, burning and viewing high-definition personal content captured in the native HDV 1080i format from an HDV camcorder. In addition, the software supports recording on DVDs and CDs, as well as playback of DVDs recorded in the AVCHD format.

The BWU-200S drive can record up to 50GB of data for random access storage and backup on BD-R (write once) or BD-RE (rewritable) discs, or up to 230 minutes of high-definition HDV 1080i video on a BD-R/RE 50GB disc. It also supports recording on standard single layer 4.7GB DVD+R/+RW/RAM discs, 8.5GB DVD+R double/dual layer discs, and CDs.

The internal drive features a Serial ATA (SATA) interface and standard 5.25-inch form-factor for easy installation inside a desktop PC with Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista software.

The BWU-200S drive will be available directly from Sony at sonystyle.com next month for about $600. Pre-orders are now being accepted.

via: sony

Toshiba America Consumer Products announced its impressive third generation of HD DVD players for the U.S. market. The sleek and stylish Toshiba HD-A30 gives an ultimate HD home movie experience. It includes improved video performance with 1080p/24 frames per second (24p) support letting the users to watch movies at their native frame rates. The CE-Link (HDMI-CEC), allows a two- way control between the HD DVD player and a TV through an HDMI connection. With new cosmetic designs using black acrylic plates and a slim chassis the DVD Player will be available in the nearest store by the mid of September at an expected price of $399.99.

Source: Press

LG is expected to unveil its latest Second Generation GGW-H20LI Multi Blue Ray HD DVD soon. Priced at $499 GGW-H20LI writes at 6x dual-layer BD-R/RE discs, this implies the disc takes only 16 minutes to burn a full single layer BD-R disc (25GB), relatively time when compared with 23-24 minutes for 4x recording and 46-47 minutes for 2x recording. It also has the capacity to write DVD±RW at doubled speed of 16x recording. GGW-H20LI optical drive can record up to 50GB of data, equivalent to 4-1/2 hours of high-definition video or 22 hours of standard definition video (on a dual layer 50GB BD-R/BD-RE recordable media).

Via: Recordere

Here is another multi drive by our famous LG brand LG GGC-H20LI Multi Blue Ray Optical HD DVD with Serial ATA Interface. It is lesser in price as compared to its brother GGW-H20LI. It can read both Blu-Ray and HD format but has the capacity to write only DVD±RW and CD-R/RW. It will be available at a price of $399. It can record 50 GB disc at 32 minutes. The GGC-H20LI is designed to deliver 16x recording speed of DVD+RW/-RW and 32x recording speed of CD-R/RW.

Via: Recordere

Buffalo a forerunner in the manufacturing of electronic devices has recently launched the first HD DVD player for PCs “HDV-ROM2.4FB”. Even if it has turned out that you can get this external Xbox player to work with a regular PC, Buffalo HDV-ROM2.4FB is the first commercial HD DVD player to be sold independently using an ATAPI interface. The player will be shipped with Power DVD HD DVD Edition for playing HD DVD movies.

This smart looking DVD edition seems to be designed keeping in mind the style conscious customers and maybe that’s why it is sleek in shape and comes in dashing silver grey color. This is just one out of many HD DVD players that will arrive for PCs in the market and we’re eagerly waiting to see a comparison between the models particularly how they compare to the Blu-ray models on the same market. This cool HD DVD player would arrive in the market at a pricing of $338 sometime in the next year, so for those who want to buy one it would be a long wait.

Via: Buffalo

Digital Cowboy recently announced HDMI on-board 3.5 inch HDD player DC-MC35UL3, a successor to DC-MC35UL2. It will be available at an expected price of 24,800 Yen from late July. The HDD corresponds to Serial ATA. It equips the Ethernet terminal for network connection. It comes with a remote control. USB terminal equipped in media player for PC connection provides 2 ports for 1 port and the one for USB host function. It supports multiple music and image formats including MP3, MPEG-1/2/4, DivX, XviD, WMV9 WMA, WAVE, AAC file, JPEG, PNG and BMP.

Via: Digital Cowboy

Roku unveiled its latest Reliable BrightSign HD2000 solid state Media Player at the InfoComm 2007. This low-cost display targets at POP Display, Museum, Kiosk, and Digital Sign Markets. It will begin to ship during July for $499.99 through the Roku web site at www.rokulabs.com. But if you order 1,000 units, you will get low price of just $375. The new player connects to both standard VGA and XVGA LCD monitors and high-definition displays via component video or HDMI. For enhanced connectivity the BrightSign HD2000 comes equipped with component video, trackballs, HDMI, two USB ports (for touch screens, keyboards, mice, speakers, and more), three stereo analog audio outs, SPDIF audio out, GPIO port for button or switch inputs and LED or other outputs, IR remote control, Ethernet, and two serial ports.

Via: Businesswire

Tvix has recently announced its latest M-5100SH HD Player in the shape of a trash can. What??????? A TRASH CAN…But it looks pretty cool. Hey! yu need to take care no one throws garbage in it. The Player features 3.5-inch hard drive is just like previous model M-4100SH. Latest model will be sold at more affordable price $439. M-5100SH will deliver exactly the same H.264 decoding and DVD .iso image playback, with its Sigma EM8623 processor, the same HDMI output and the same Full HD 1080p ouput as was ion previous model. M-5100SH comes equipped with USB 2.0 host ports, Ethernet, one USB 2.0 target port, Multi I/O port, composite, S-Video, component and digital audio output via S/PDIF and coaxial.

Via: Gizmodo