Marshal's new media drive is no laughing matter, plays Blu-ray and DVD ISOs

Yes, it's just a hard drive that plays 1080p content, but this one can connect to your PS3; according to some machine translated Japanese, Marshal's new "Media Joker" can also act as an external hard drive for your Sony game console or a Toshiba REGZA TV. While you won't be able to install games on the up-to-2TB hard drive that you'll provide yourself, the black box can notably play Blu-ray ISOs -- though that, the company carefully cautions, will surely void your warranty. The case admirably provides most all ports you could want, including component, composite, both flavors of S/PDIF, HDMI 1.3, LAN, an SD card slot and a pair of USB sockets, and supports a host of audiovisual formats, the full list available at the more coverage link. Find it retailing for ¥16,800 (about $184) this Saturday in some neon-lit corner of Japan.

[uckApple Posted Jun 22nd 2010 4:48AM]

You know Engadget is planning something BIG (iPhone 4 coverage) when you start to see unknown authors writing articles.

Who the hell is Sean Hollister? lol

[hero785 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:08AM]

@uckApple
Someone sounds bitter. Want some sugar, buddy?

[Ducman69 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:10AM]

@uckApple uhh what? and even if sean were new, asking such questions invites more "delicious cup of coffee and quality new york bagel dwarf" intros. downrank! *clickclickclickclick*

[MrFluffyThing Posted Jun 22nd 2010 5:45AM]

@Ducman69 Way ahead of you buddy. downrank away! Oh and back on topic: PS3 compatibility win. Can't wait to play Blu-Ray ISOs

[Stoichiometry Posted Jun 22nd 2010 6:50AM]

@uckApple

PLEASE. GET OUTTA HERE. Most of us do not want our comments disabled yet again. We do not need your comment about the author, we need your comment about the gadget.

[E71 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 9:13AM]

@uckApple
... and thankfully I won't be seeing it (thank you tag excluder!)

Oh, and don't belittle Sean, he ain't nothin' to ya...

[E71 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 9:15AM]

@E71

Uh oh, I better get out of here before the typo, grammar and missing words police arrive!

[parisv Posted Jun 22nd 2010 6:19AM]

would be handy if ps3 could see files larger than 4gb!

[lowtolerance Posted Jun 22nd 2010 10:26AM]

@Indefinite Implosion It looks like its a standalone player that can hook up to the PS3 somehow(and for some reason). It's probably just a DLNA server, which mean it could stream blu-ray isos to the PS3, getting around the filesystem restraints.

[simbr Posted Jun 23rd 2010 12:19PM]

@lowtolerance
Article says it can "act as an external hard drive for your Sony game console" which suggests it can function as a USB mass storage device.

[limki Posted Jun 22nd 2010 6:25AM]

Xtreamer is supposed to be able to play BD ISOs (since v2.0), with 'simple navigation'(whatever it means ... since v2.2)
dunno bout PS3 compatibility
btw. what happened to the hide all crapple content option?

[pickleJar Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:01AM]

Adios warranty!

[Shastakidd6 Posted Jun 22nd 2010 9:35AM]

Nice!!!!

[Noobe Posted Jun 22nd 2010 10:26AM]

Does anyone know where i can buy this?

[TheAngryIntern Posted Jun 22nd 2010 10:43AM]

I'm confused, perhaps someone can enlighten me. How can just playing a BluRay .iso possibly void the warranty of a hardware device?

[Noobe Posted Jun 22nd 2010 12:26PM]

@TheAngryIntern

Yes someone please let me in on this because i dont see how this can possibly void the warranty

[irfan Posted Jun 22nd 2010 12:29PM]

@TheAngryIntern

sounds like it will only void the media players warranty, and only if you use it to store copyrighted discs. shouldnt affect PS3 warranty at all.

"Common file formats, up to a special form, can play most formats.
Flash and video sites, DVD and Blu-ray can play an ISO image files directly.
It also incorporates features that can play video resume from where it left off.

Copyright protected DVD, Blu-ray Disc will void the warranty work."

[beralmar Posted Jun 22nd 2010 10:51AM]

you can see it in http://www.o2media.es/nexus500

[Caprice Dates Posted Jun 22nd 2010 11:15AM]

Saw this on Akihabara News a few days ago, pretty sweet device.

[Noobe Posted Jun 22nd 2010 12:29PM]

@Caprice Dates

Do you have a link to the site?

[Caprice Dates Posted Jun 22nd 2010 12:41PM]

@Noobe

http://en.akihabaranews.com/51001/home-entertainment/mal-mp01hdb-marshal-to-launch-new-multimedia-player-in-japan

[simbr Posted Jun 23rd 2010 12:21PM]

@Noobe
See where it says "Source: Akihabara News" at the bottom of the article.. ;)

[irfan Posted Jun 22nd 2010 12:28PM]

sounds like it will only void the media players warranty, and only if you use it to store copyrighted discs. shouldnt affect PS3 warranty at all.

[engadgetcomexcludeengadget Posted Jun 22nd 2010 12:31PM]

If this is for Japan than why are all words on it in English?

[simbr Posted Jun 23rd 2010 12:23PM]

@engadgetcomexcludeengadget
..because this is the US Engadget site?

[sirhcss Posted Jun 22nd 2010 8:24PM]

This looks to be the same as a Playtronics unit listed on Australian eBay

[chilipalm Posted Jun 29th 2010 9:50AM]

It doesn't say it bitstreams dolby hd or dts-hd from the blu-ray iso.