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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]
Philips announces Blu-ray lineup
No surprises here, but Philips is finally getting official on their BDP9000 Blu-ray player, along with that SPD7000 TripleWriter Blu-ray burner and their 25GB Blu-ray media. We saw the Philips player back at CES, but haven't heard much since. Available in the third quarter of 2006, the unit has a suggested retail price of $999, and, well, it plays Blu-ray discs. The burner is slater for Q3 as well, and we had heard of an August launch previously, so we're guessing we'll see both of these devices around then. Philips is prepping Blu-ray media as well, and they're planning on releasing their 25GB discs this month, with 50GB to follow "soon." No word on media pricing, but Philips doesn't seem to willing to break with the pack on their other products, so we're guessing $20 might do the trick.
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]
