Sony MSVR-A10 Memory Stick video player and recorder

Sony just announced the MSVR-A10 Memory Stick reader/recorder. That's it, nothing fancy here, just a $215 device which records MPEG-4/H.264 video at 320x240 directly to Memory Stick. Good enough for about 4 hours of PSP video from a 1GB Stick. Does this mean Sony's throwing in the towel on UMD? We doubt it, and for our money, we'd rather get the Neuros Recorder II, which does the same thing and more for about $60 less. But at least Sony's finally acknowledging that some people might actually prefer to put their own videos on the PSP, rather than going with the meager and overpriced collection of UMDs now available.

[DJ @ Mar 13th 2006 10:38AM]

Only S-video and Composite... ewww. Regardless of how small the PSP screen is, thats a low resolution.

Or does that resolution look good for the PSP? I don't have one... so I don't really know. But past experience with S-video and composite tells me it will be a fuzzy picture.

[falcom @ Mar 13th 2006 10:45AM]

Now, if only sony would aknoledge that people would rather use SD then memory sticks, it might actually sell.

[derek @ Mar 13th 2006 10:46AM]

Yeah, this is just a PSP version of the PEGA-VRK100

[nysecocoa @ Mar 13th 2006 10:52AM]

Hey there - Actually heard there's a new Sony Memory Stick coming out in a couple of months. Not SD. SIGH.Double sigh, even.

But, is is breakthrough no doubt. No fuzzy pictures. Promise.

Check it out on http://www.dealsdaq.com, and get a laugh. Thanks Engadget. We love your tech ways.

[Reggie @ Mar 13th 2006 10:53AM]

Here's a review of the VRK100:

http://www.1src.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=34087

[Michael @ Mar 13th 2006 11:01AM]

I had planned on buying the VRK100 but was waiting for the price to drop. It never did and Sony exited the Palm market. More about the PEGA-VRK100 can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/nb9xd

[Moonshine @ Mar 13th 2006 11:16AM]

I don't get it. What kinda devices exactly are you meant to attach to this thing? DVD-players???

[Desert @ Mar 13th 2006 11:41AM]

They should give up on UMD. The PSP would be the perfect device if they would have went with a different storage method. It would have made the device smaller and load times shorter. They should have stuck in a 4gb solid state memory like the ipod and put games on SD cards.

[Lorne hanks @ Mar 13th 2006 11:56AM]

This seems quite significant. Sony's big problem the last few years is the DRM crowd from Sony Music and Sony Pictures have been clamping down too much on the gadget division. The result has been a significant deterioration of Sony's brand as an electronics leader.
Looking at a box like this, I have to conclude that the Music and Picture crews lost a big internal battle, which could mean Sony will get back in the game of producing sweet juicy electronic goodies. It may actually be fun to visit the Sony Store again. A huge step forward would be if the new PSP announced this morning drops the UMD format entirely in favour of Memory Sticks.
Now all I need to know is if the videos produced on the MSVR will play on my old Clie PEG-T50 (I'm guessing: not...).

[derek @ Mar 13th 2006 12:39PM]

They can be with TCPMP
http://tcpmp.corecodec.org/about

[Liam McNulty @ Mar 13th 2006 2:18PM]

I think it's important to point out that this particular recorder supports Japan's new "Copy Once" DRM protection scheme. Digital broadcasts in Japan are protected with Copy Once, so as far as I know, only devices that are compatible with Copy Once can effectively record these broadcasts. I believe trying to record them with something that doesn't support Copy Once will cause problems with the video.

This means you're able to connect this device directly to something like a digital receiver and record TV shows. I don't think the Neuros offers this feature (at least not in Japan).

Also, #1, this device outputs into 320 x 240 video encoded in H.264. The combination of those are more of a bottleneck than S-video as far as quality is concerned, so I don't see why this device should offer anything more as it would probably drive up the price.

[ThePete @ Mar 13th 2006 3:34PM]

I've heard that the Neuros II sucks, though. In fact, I haven't heard of a single reliable device that records directly to MP4 or H.264. And what is Sony thinking with constantly pushing their stupid memory sticks?? Get a clue folks! At least add support for SD, CF and/or SM...

[K_G @ Mar 13th 2006 4:39PM]

I have a Neuros II and while I'm happy with it, it is far from perfection.

1) The Neuros only takes compsite, so the S-Video is a nice touch
2) It's designed for PSP, so why would it support other mem card formats (the neuros II takes MS pro duo or CF only)
3) It looks like the compression levels might be a bit tighter on this than the Neuros
4) It is nice that they have controls on the unit...lose or break the remote on the Neuros II and you're screwed....you can't even turn it on without the remote.
5) the Neuros interface is a bit wonky but works OK once you figure it out. While UI of sonicstage still scars my mind, I hope Sony's machine would be a tad bit easier to use.

[Olivier Li @ Mar 13th 2006 6:14PM]

Atteention all PSP users! Sony is intentionally keeping you from watching better quality vids on your PSP.(From any source not just the MSVR-A10) 320x240! The screen has a 480x272 resolution! Speek up! Let them know this is unfair!

[Unsal @ Mar 14th 2006 1:37PM]

The one thing about the PEGA VR100-K is that with a
compatible Clie, you can set it to record like most
VCRs. I also use the digital camera (M1) which can
record directly to Mpeg4, and the output looks
gorgeous on a PSP screen.

[PSPlay @ Mar 14th 2006 7:08PM]

Probable Theories for Design:
- 320x240 Res: Its only resolution that can be downscaled from NTSC without causing annoying artifacts.
- Memory Stick: PSP units do not have SD, stupid.
- Composite + S-video: Most reasonable connectors to use. Satellite and Digital Cable receivers use this for output.

PSP2 apparently WILL have 8GB flash integrated. Only Rumored... Only Rumored... Just in case you don't read Engadget regularly.