Panasonic will launch its first BD Live player, the DMP-BD50. Described as the ultimate playback source for high definition 1080p content, the machine will launch in Europe later this year. Blu-ray media offers a wide range of functions that foster the transition to HD - including 1080p image quality, lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and versatile Picture-in-Picture applications.
The BD50 BD-Live function ‘opens up a myriad of interactive possibilities for the consumer,’ says the company. In the future BD-Live will allow users to connect the DMP-BD50 to the internet to download such data as images and subtitles, and to join in multi-player interactive games that are linked to bonus movie content contained on Blu-ray discs.For optimum image quality the DMP-BD50 features the PHL Reference Chroma processor and P4HD i/p conversion processor, which combine to create Uniphier, a precise digital video processor that produces sharp, crisp, natural colors that are extremely faithful to the original movie. Uniphier reflects the advance encoding and authoring technologies developed by Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory.
It will be joined in Europe by the cheaper DMP-BD30, the UK’s first profile 1.1 Blue-ray player. The company will announce its pricing plans at a European press conference in Valencia, Spain in a matter of weeks. For more details click here.
Medion has unveiled a super-cheap PC equipped with both Blu-ray and HD DVD drives. What’s more the Medion Akoya MD8828 will sell forfor less than £630. Available now at Aldi, the MD8828 offers a comprehensive specification making it a tempting digital entertainment centre for the modern home. For more details click here.
Pioneer took best display in show honours at the recent CES with its Extreme Black Concept Kuro plasma. The company says that its extreme contrast concept will challenge the contrast ratio debate by producing the industry’s first plasma that is absolute black with no measurable light emitting from the television. For more than a year, Project KURO has been a brand mantra within Pioneer that represents our commitment to deliver the most passionate and emotional entertainment experience possible,” said Russ Johnston, executive vice president of marketing and product planning for the Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group at Pioneer Electronics US.
“The KURO technology concepts demonstrate how we are continuing to challenge the industry and stay above the commoditized flat panel television market – by literally ending the conversation about contrast ratio, a debate that has been in existence since television was first introduced, and creating a flat panel display so thin it becomes a canvas for entertainment.” Pioneer’s Extreme black prototype is so black that even when it is on with no image displayed, the television is invisible when you walk into a completely dark room. “It has a contrast ratio that is literally beyond measurement, rendering the debate of contrast ratio irrelevant and providing the consumer a rich picture filled with vibrant penetrating color.
Said Yoichi Sato, senior executive officer and chief technology executive at Pioneer Cooperation: “Pioneer technology has advanced to the point where we have achieved virtually zero idling luminance in more than six million cells, previously thought to be impossible. The result is, in essence, absolute black with no measurable light coming from the television. For consumers, this creates the experience that the image is floating in space, with a picture that has exceptional detail and vivid color.Pioneer also used the CEs to preview an advanced design concept for the world’s thinnest 50-inch display just 9mm thin. For more details click here.
Despite sluggish growth in many other retail sectors last month, sales of video game hardware and software grew 28 per cent in December, compared with a year ago, according to market research firm NPD Group, which said Thursday that shoppers grabbed hot items such as Nintendo’s Wii console. But NPD warns that the overall 43 per cent growth rate of 2007 will be hard to sustain this year when the emphasis will change from introducing new hardware to selling games.
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Panasonic has announced the first home theater in a box (HTiB) system with an integrated Blu-ray Disc player. The new model, SC-BT100, is the perfect complement to a flat panel, large screen TV. The new model epitomizes Panasonic’s emphasis on media friendly capabilities.
It is made for iPod and features an advanced integrated dock which not only recharges an iPod but plays music or video through the home theater system, displays audio tracks and menus on the TV screen and operates with the supplied remote control. Its SD Memory Card slot offers simple playback of digital images or original video footage in either standard or High Definition AVCHD format. The optical input offers simple digital audio connection for set-top box, digital video recorder and game system.
The Panasonic SC-BT100 home theater system is the best of both worlds,” says Paul Sabo, national marketing manager for Panasonic Home Audio. “It combines the installation ease and user-friendly operation of an HTiB plus the features and performance of high-end audio/video components, including full High Definition 1080p resolution Blu-ray video, wireless rear speakers and 7.1channel or multi-room/multi-source upgradeability.” For more click here
