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BenQ reveals price, release window for BW1000 Blu-ray burner
So we finally got some solid release deets on BenQ's anticipated BW1000 3-in-1 Blu-ray burner (also known as the "Trio): it'll be coming out in late August, and set you back 799 euros, or a little over $1,000. As you'll recall, that grand is buying you an internal drive that writes to BD-R discs at 2x speed, to DVDs between 4x and 12x, and to CDs at 32x speed, while obviously playing back Blu-ray content at full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution as well. You're also getting the usual suite of features designed to dampen vibration and ensure data integrity, which will come in especially handy for folks who can't afford to be wasting those initially-expensive next-gen discs. Keep in mind, though, that this model won't be the only option available to you by the time it hits stores, so make sure to check out the supported formats and features on competing units from Pioneer, Samsung, Panasonic and Philips before you lay down all that cash.[Via Yahoo]
Primera intros first Blu-ray pirating, er... duplication system
Primera has started shipping the world's first Blu-ray disc duplication system, the Bravo XR-Blu Disc Publisher, able to burn up to 50 discs in one session. The core of the unit is actually Pioneer's recently announced BDR-101A Blu-ray burner, but it's backed up by some sweet built-in robotics to keep the discs moving (we hope -- we've heard this things are a little buggy) and full-color direct-to-disc inkjet printing to ensure a professional-looking job. This being the first unit of its kind, however, it should come as no surprise that it only uses single-layer discs, able to store a measly 25 GB, but Primera says an upgrade will be available "shortly" to allow for dual-layer burning. And if you thought regular, single-disc Blu-ray burners were expensive, you better look away now, 'cause this beast will set you back a whopping $5295.[Via CDRinfo]
Toshiba's RD-A1 standalone HD DVD burner: $3500
We've seen HD DVD-R and HD DVD-RW media announced repeatedly over the last few weeks, now we can see the -- huge -- box you can put it in. While standalone recorders aren't the biggest market here in the US, we've heard they are very much in demand in Japan and this should definitely satisfy. The RD-A1 will debut in Japan on July 14, for a cool 398,000 yen ($3466 US). Reuters reminds us that Sony has had Blu-ray recorders available in Japan since 2003, although at a starting price of 450,000 yen ($3916 US). Interestingly, this device will output 1080p via HDMI, unlike Toshiba's HD-A1 and HD-XA1 HD DVD players. The RD-A1 also uses Toshiba's existing "RD Engine" hard disk drive recording system to record content from 1 analog and 1 digital tuner (simultaneous recording is supported) to the 1TB hard drive, edit to your liking, then burn to either a 15GB single-layer or 30GB dual-layer HD DVD-R (no -RW) disc. Interestingly, it does not support recording in newer codecs like VC-1 or MPEG-4, only MPEG-2. As early Blu-ray releases suggest, even a dual layer HD DVD may not have the space to provide ideal video quality, although there will be no PCM soundtrack to take up additional space. You can also stream content to DLNA equipped devices like Toshiba's Qosmio laptop. An undocumented feature is the ability to drop it on any small children or Wicked Witches of the East you want to get rid of , because the thing is enormous. No word on US availability yet.
Philips preps for Blu-ray: BDP9000 player and SPD7000 burner
We knew they were coming but Philips went ahead and made things official, just so we don't forget their two major Blu-ray products scheduled for the third quarter of this year. No really specific details about the features but the BDP9000 Blu-ray player will retail for $999 just like the Samsung and Sony units. The SPD7000 TripleWriter burner (what is with all the big numbers? Would it not sound as powerful if it were the SP7?) is also slated for fall release, although they are already shipping 25GB single-layer BD-R media.[Via Engadget]
HD DVD-R/RW media available July 5 in Japan
Hitachi and Mitsubishi have both announced today that (in Japan at least), they will be releasing single layer HD DVD-Rs, with RW and dual layer blanks to come later this summer. Still no recorders announced, but with their importance in the Japanese market and media now scheduled, they can't be very far off. Impress approximates the price at about 2,000 yen ($17.75 US), which is about the same price as single layer Blu-ray media. What the press releases don't seem to say is whether this media is 1X or 2X speed rated; because of the difference in the specifications 1X (36.55mbps) media could still play HD DVD content, but would be a slower burner than the Blu-ray drives that are coming out rated at 2X (72mbps) or higher. Impress only mentions the Hitachi as being 1X. [Via Impress Watch]Read - Hitachi HD DVD-R/RWRead - Mitsubishi HD DVD-R/RW
Philips announces 50GB PC Blu-ray burner
Pioneer beat 'em to the punch, and has subsequently managed to be rebadged by most everyone else, but now Philips is on the scene at Computex with a PC Blu-ray burner that boasts support for 50GB discs -- once they're available. The drive still doesn't have anything as silly as a model number (though we're thinking it's the SPD7000 that they've been talking about for a while), but it does include CD burning support along with the DVD and Blu-ray burning, which is something Pioneer omitted from their BRD-101A. Philips can burn a 25GB disc in around 70 minutes at its 2x speed, and will support the 50GB discs when they're released near Christmas. It can also handle BD-RE re-writable media, which should be out in September. The drive will come with Nero 7, solving the noted lack of Blu-ray burning software reviewers have been noting for the Pioneer offering. Philips should be dropping the drive in August for around 849 Euros ($1,090 USD).[Image via Blu-ray.com]
LG's 4x Blu-ray burner: GBW-H10N
Just when we were getting used to Pioneer's Blu-ray recording drive, LG has announced one that, on paper at least, blows it away. Like Pioneer's drive, it only supports burning to single-layer (25GB) Blu-ray discs, but it ups the speed from 2x to 4x for burning and playback. Also unlike the Pioneer, it will read and write to CDs. Only BD-R discs get the extra speed however, with rewritable BD-REs still limited to 2x recording. This drive is slated to hit in the summer at a cost of €799 ($1020 USD). With dual-layer (50GB) Blu-ray media slated to become available this summer, we have to wonder when we sill see a burner that can use it.
Pioneer shipping BDR-101A Blu-ray drives
One step closer to store shelves near you, the Pioneer BDR-101A recorder is now shipping enabling you to save 25GB at a time on your handy BD-R or BD-RE disc. It comes with Roxio burning software and a few TDK blanks (it should for $1000). PC World had good impressions of the drive when they reviewed it recently, having no problem burning Blu-ray discs, albeit with the tradeoffs of no CD read/write, managed copy support and a lack of included video editing software. These are interesting strategies by the Blu-ray and HD DVD camps, while HD DVD is seen as having support from PC companies like Microsoft and HP; they have pushed a standalone box out first, while Blu-ray is pushing PC-compatible drives in advance of the standalone player launch.[Corrected manufacturer]
Pioneer's Blu-ray burner reviewed, comes out looking good
We can complain all we want about the price or the delays or the format war in general, but it all comes down performance for people who are actually going to be picking up Blu-ray burners like Pioneer's BDR-101A, which seems to come out a champ in PC Word's tests at least. Write speeds are at 45 minutes to fill a single 25GB BD-R disc at the 2X max burring speed, and while you could get that much data onto multiple single-layer DVD R discs with an 18x burner, it gives 10X double-layer DVD R burning a run for its money. The actual throughput for the burner clocks in at 67mbps, compared to the theoretical maximum of 72mbps for 2X BD-R. It actually took a bit longer to copy the data back off the disc. While the BDR-101A can manage a bit of DVD burning, at less than optimum speeds, there's no room left for a third laser for CD reading or writing. PC World also found the software package a bit thin, as this product is definitely targeted at professionals who have their own authoring solutions. Luckily, third party support isn't far behind, and an upgrade should be available to purchasers of the BDR-101A in order to author you own discs. The burner will also play Blu-ray movies, whenever they arrive on shelves, but it won't support the forthcoming managed content spec.
