Panasonic showcases in-dash Blu-ray head unit

Car AV enthusiasts, listen up. Panasonic has a new in-dash head unit that just might be worth waiting for -- if you'd enjoy Blu-ray in your dash, that is. At the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan, Panny was busy showing off a new single-DIN unit that played back Blu-ray discs, sported an HDMI output and is even set to support full surround sound / BD-Java. Unfortunately, that pretty much sums up the details: no price, no release date and no model number, but be sure to check out two more looks posted after the break.

[Via Blu-ray]

[Levi McCallum @ Oct 26th 2007 10:53AM]

What I don't understand is that HD really won't look that different on 10" of real-estate. From the above shots, I do notice a difference in color quality, but really? I don't think I would spend the "no price" price tag on that kind of head unit.

[John B @ Oct 26th 2007 11:25AM]

*sigh* Why can't articles that are shared between Engadget and EngadgetHD be linked?

Anyway, as I said in the EngadgetHD version of this article...

In general I agree with you; however, if someone is going on a long road trip and has the BR version of a movie, do you expect them to go out and buy the regular DVD just for the trip? What if the movie is in moratorium on regular DVD? So, I can see some instances where this might come in handy.

[rockintom @ Oct 26th 2007 1:34PM]

I'd much rather buy the dvd version for the trip than the BR player for the car.

[edgore @ Oct 26th 2007 1:54PM]

I'd much rather exercise my well documented fair use rights and format shift my Blu-Ray copy to something that can be watched in the car, whether that is DVD or a digital file.

[Shahryar @ Oct 26th 2007 4:44PM]

I feel your pain John B.. I wish these cross weblogs posts could have their comments linked. And I too wouldn't mind a BD player in my car as I plan to buy nothing but BDs now. But I won't be buying something like this til it's much cheaper.

[Yubastard @ Oct 26th 2007 11:09PM]

I'd love to have a BR disc chock full of MP3 on my car... I think one 50GB disc could host all of my MP3's and a little bit more, like videos pics and stuff...

or one could get real crafty and add a PS3 and use this BR drive instead of the PS3's.

[DaLa @ Oct 26th 2007 10:55AM]

Pimp my Ride HD edition... "We got your BluRay in dash player, and where the engine was is your new flip out 50inch plasma."

[Patrick @ Oct 26th 2007 11:14AM]

As long it's impossible to view the screen while driving, or you know, in any imaginable situation, it's all good.

[rv @ Oct 26th 2007 12:48PM]

"And we installed an xbox IN YOUR FUEL TANK!!! AND we put in the worlds largest speaker on the top of your car just for the hell of it even though you will go deaf!"

That show is so dumb. It would be so much better if they put useful things on the INSIDE of the car...

[Chuckles McGee @ Oct 26th 2007 11:05AM]

The 7 inch television's high-definition rendering clearly is going to be the main determining factor in whether or not my kids will shut up when I'm driving.

[dparisoe @ Oct 26th 2007 11:08AM]

This is ridiculous, what is the point of HD on a screen that 10" or less. Come on lets do something useful, like work on building HD DVD players...lol

[arthur barnhouse @ Oct 26th 2007 11:07AM]

Thank God! I have this pile of money just sitting here, and nothing to do with it. I was afraid I was going to have to buy something useful for a second there.

[Rususeruru @ Oct 26th 2007 11:16AM]

You can always burn it!

As for the color change for all you can tell in the photo it could be different calibrations

[Shibathedog @ Oct 26th 2007 12:36PM]

Is that an ethernet port on the back?!

Hell I'd take one without a screen even, I burn alot of MP3 CDs, I could fit a TON of MP3s on a Blu-Ray disc. Probably way too expensive for me though.

[atomicknuckles @ Oct 26th 2007 2:06PM]

the ethernet port is for updating the firmware over the internet. bluray isnt fully pinned down as a technical format yet.

[pxpaulx @ Oct 26th 2007 1:36PM]

file under WTF.

[rockintom @ Oct 26th 2007 1:40PM]

I can't imagine why someone would spend the (likely) huge price tag on this thing when you could get a laptop with a BR drive for a lot cheaper.

[madgamer @ Oct 26th 2007 1:47PM]

This clearly isn't aimed at the mainstream market yet (based on what I will assume to be a really high price tag), but people shouldn't trash on it. It's just for 'ballers' and show cars and stuff in which it's not uncommon to have 20+ inch LCD screens. In such cases, the person financing said vehicle is just burning money anyway, so why not go blu-ray. They should have released it a month sooner so all of the SEMA vehicles could sport this thing. They could have probably sold enough to make it worth it for panny just in one shot.

[Diceburna @ Oct 29th 2007 3:27PM]

Yep I agree, when I saw this article the first thought that came into my mind was "wow right when the masses get up to speed w/ BR in their homes, (if I had the money) I could be killin the scene by having a BR player in my ride...:-D LOL, But honestly I in love w/ the HDMI connection. This is a sign that soon we will have 4 ch. and mono amps w/ hdmi inputs..no longer dealing w/ freggin rca connections and all the disadvantages analog inputs bring into car audio.

[Blake @ Oct 26th 2007 1:53PM]

What a joke.. Only retards that buy this are competition car customizers who have at least a 32" LCD in their car to even notice ANY difference in clarity. I'm sure the price will be about 2 grand.

[Dustin Solis @ Oct 26th 2007 2:25PM]

I want an in-car 1080p display! LOL. What a joke...

[Rick @ Oct 26th 2007 4:50PM]

Seriously, who's the target audience? It isn't videophiles and seems over the head and possibly budget of the car modder type. BRD or HDDVD on anything smaller than 50" HDTV is a waste, or at least unnecessary.

[none @ Oct 26th 2007 6:17PM]

The target audience is not only car customizers but customers who realize that the age of the DVD is coming to an end. At some point in the near future DVD will be replaced, the people who buy this will not have to replace their equipment to watch the latest movies when that time comes. Granted this is going to be for the early adopters, limousines, and high end show cars at first but as prices come down and all displays become 720P or better by 2009 this will become the new in car standard (HD level video in car not saying that it has anything to do with the blue-ray/hd-dvd debate). It is refreshing to see a car company keep up with the times rather then making products for in car entertainment that are 5 years behind the in home times.

FYI a majority of customers that buy in car video systems are not the hardcore customizers but are families who want to keep their kids entertained for car trips. A few Disney movies can make the difference between a great cruise with the family or a miserable drive to grandmas house.

I also want to say that though current in car displays (7"-26" avg.)may not be of a quality level to discern major differences between DVD and a HD signal, as they get better you will be able to tell a difference. I see the time of this change coming about once analog TV goes off line in the next two years.

[Jon @ Oct 26th 2007 6:01PM]

It does not have to be high def to be useful. Jeez people. I understand that many here seem not to appreciate hi-def on an 8" display (though I do).

But BluRay specs also happens to support 11 hours of standard def video on a single layer disc. Imagine burning in plenty of episodes of kids video onto a single BD disc. You never have to change the bloody disc.

[CruJones @ Oct 27th 2007 5:24PM]

Apparently nobody here has ever heard of RV's, Trailers and Toy Haulers that regularly sport 42" and above flat panel, HD TV's.