Now that Toshiba has embraced Blu-ray it makes sense for the high definition disc format to be added into some of its notebook computers.
The Satellite P500 is Toshiba’s first notebook PC with a built-in Blu-ray rewriter drive for creation and playback of high definition discs.
Now that Toshiba has embraced Blu-ray and joined the Blu-ray Disc Association, it has announced its first standalone Blu-ray player, the BDX2000.
As you’d expect from any modern Blu-ray player, it incorporates all the latest features including BD-Live Profile 2.0 support, for full interactivity on compatible discs, full 1080p output including upscaling of standard definition content, support for advanced HD audio including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and Deep Colour.
Toshiba has also put its own REGZA-LINK functionality into the player, meaning that it’s possible to control it and other compatible equipment from a single remote control unit.
We already know that the Sony-created Blu-ray format is to go 3D sometime soon, and now Sony has committed to 3DTV development in the coming year.
Speaking at this year’s IFA conference, Sony announced that it would launch a 3D-compatible BRAVIA LCD HDTV next year, based on a frame sequential display and active-shutter glass system (a method of 3D display where the TV set alternates the image for the left and right eye, and glasses open and shut in sync with the image on the screen).
Ahead of IFA this week, where 3D TV is going to be a big tech topic, the Blu-ray Disc Association has announced that it’s right behind the concept.
Unlike the movieIQ system (covered in yesterday’s Take Ten article) which is already a part of the specification, a 3D standard hasn’t yet been devised for Blu-ray.
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Apparently it’s been happening for some time, but Sony has been preloading some of its US-destined VAIO laptops with Google’s Chrome web browser.
That’s a great result for Google, even thought VAIO’s aren’t necessarily the most popular laptops going and that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and Mozilla’s Firefox have a huge market share in comparison (~70%/20%).
Is this a sign that Sony might be keen to get Google’s forthcoming Chrome OS on board? It would be interesting to know, though hard to measure, how much damage PC manufacturers have suffered as a result of sticking Windows Vista on their computers. Windows 7 might be better, but perhaps Chrome OS will join Linux as a credible alternative OS — even as a build option rather than by default — for hardware vendors wanting to distance themselves from Microsoft.
Chrome might only have about two percent of the browser market share at present, but I just get the feeling that share will grow as more deals are done and the word gets out to Joe Public.
That slimmer PS3 rumor from a couple of months ago has finally come to pass, with Sony announcing that a new PlayStation 3 will be released in September.
The new PS3 will feature a 120GB hard drive, Blu-ray drive, new system software (version 3.00) and BRAVIA Sync (for tying up to your Sony TV). It’ll cost $299.
Sony’s making a big thing of the re-branding, changing the name from PLAYSTATION 3 to PlayStation 3 (note the capitals — I’ve obviously been getting it wrong all these years as I’ve often referred to it the “new” way) and introducing a “PS3” logo to be engraved on the surface of the new console.
Sony is claiming a “unique co-operation between manufacturer and retailer” as it announces a new line of home audio products to be sold exclusively in Best Buy stores throughout the US.
Products in the ALTUS range will include iPod docking stations, wireless PC audio systems, plug and play speakers and Blu-ray disc players.
Apparently, Best Buy customers are a special breed, which is why it took two years of collaboration to come up with the brand.
Sony has today announced seven new Blu-ray based home cinema packages. These are “all-in-one” solutions designed to satisfy consumers who don’t want to get involved with the complexities of matching and installing individual components, with the packages ranging in features and power to suit most budgets and requirements.
The BDV-E300 and BDV-E800W (pictured) systems offer a kicking S-Master digital amplifier with 1000W of power, Blu-ray disc player with all the features you’d expect (24p, x.v.Color, upscaling) a range of HD audio decoders and auto setup.
Do you remember the “war” between rival high definition disc formats HD DVD and Blu-ray?
Toshiba backed HD DVD, then effectively pulled the plug on the format early last year, handing a rather strange victory to Sony-backed Blu-ray.
For a long time it seemed that Toshiba would go its own way, developing new forms of upscaling technology for its DVD players and shunning high definition optical discs altogether.
With the announcement of the Sony BDP-CX960 400 disc Blu-ray multicharger Sony seems to have made a great move. The device capable of storing 400 Blu-ray/DVD/CD discs comes with all the expected features for only $800.