Is this Sony's Blu-ray recorder with hard disk?

Pictured above is what appears to be a new Sony Blu-ray Disc recorder which touts an internal HDD -- as in hard disk drive -- on show somewhere in Japan. Now, according to our Japanese bureau, Sony either "isn't decided yet" or there "aren't any details yet" as to whether this shadowy mockup will ever see the light of day. With all the next-gen optical format boys struggling to find blue lasers and Sony still struggling to get their own PS3 console and BDP-S1 player to market, well let's just say we're not holding our breath for this to drop anytime soon. Still, it feels good to share, right?

Update: Reuters is now telling us that Sony plans to release the recorder in Japan before the end of the year. No pricing, non-Nippon launch date, or mention of any internal disk for now. Another Blu-ray device on show after the break.

[Kamalot @ Sep 13th 2006 9:20AM]

Sony likes to hype things first, figure out how to build/manufacture/market/sell them later.

I'm done with these shenanigans. Gimmie the Apple method of building stuff in secret THEN hyping it when I can actually buy it.

[Sony, I love you, but you guy don't know what the people want @ Sep 13th 2006 10:20AM]

They need to forego all of their current "this year" blu-ray player plans and use those blue diodes in something that matters. Like the PS3.

[Dortiis @ Sep 13th 2006 10:16AM]

Like they did with iTV yesterday right?!?!?!?

Lawls, read the news before commenting chief

[Dave @ Sep 13th 2006 10:29AM]

Yes this is it :)

(HD DVD fanboys -> what to do? , what to do now???) :D

[Jason @ Sep 13th 2006 11:45AM]

Kamalot:

Do you actually believe that the Apple "leaked" information is not at least in part coming from them? They have the greatest system of test marketing an idea by "leaked" information and seeing if the community goes for it or not. If all the "leaked" information is making it out of Apple facilities without their consent then there are a number of people in security over there who need immediate firing. Apple facilities are like a colander for corporate secrets. The only problem I see with using the term “leaked” regarding the information coming from Apple is the inaccurate scale of the word. It would be more appropriate if the word “flooded” was substituted in each article referring to this information.

Jason

[BklynKid @ Sep 13th 2006 12:26PM]

Am I missing something? Is there something in that pic thats supposed to imply a HD inclusion?

[Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Sep 13th 2006 3:39PM]

Is it me, or do both pictures depict the same device, just with the top picture showing the glass front lowered to give access to the controls and the disc drive?

In that case, the bottom picture says "HDD" in the display, so it would indicate the device uses an HDD in some capacity.

[Taro Takamine @ Sep 13th 2006 11:24PM]

There's a video of Sony's new Blu-Ray machine on show in Tokyo this week over here:

http://www.digitalworldtokyo.com/