Blu-ray

Panasonic’s new DMP-BD30 High Definition 1080p Blu-ray Disc player is the first Blu-ray player to be introduced with Final Standard Profile, a function which adds features like four Picture-in-Picture modes including Enhanced Commentary (from directors and actors), Backstage Pass, Peek Behind the Animation and Audio Mixing. And with the included SD Memory card slot, you can view JPEG images (the DMP-BD30 even converts the images to 1920x1080 resolution - perfect for viewing on a 1080p Plasma TV) and playback HD content recorded in the AVCHD format.

Technology advances include Deep Color Compatibility and HDMI 1.3B that bumps the step gradation from 8-bit 256 all the way up to 12-bit, 4,096 step gradation. To further enhance viewing, the DMP-BD30 also provides 1080/24p playback, so the consumer can enjoy the same 24-fps (frames per second) reproduction as the original movie. This eliminates the need to utilize 3.2 pull down, a process to convert 24-fps images to 60-fps, resulting in a smoother picture. Read more

Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic just announced the introduction of the DMP-BD30, the next generation High Definition 1080p Blu-ray Disc player. The DMP-BD30 is the first Blu-ray player to be introduced with Final Standard Profile, which adds a variety of new and enhanced features to the Blu-ray arena and one that separates the Panasonic Blu-ray player from the rest of the field. Also unique to the DMP-BD30 is the inclusion of an SD Memory Card slot for playback of High Definition content recorded in the AVCHD format. The SD slot also allows for viewing of digital still images recorded to an SD Memory Card.

Final Standard Profile is an advanced function added to the Blu-ray standard, which opens the door to new functions such as Picture-in-Picture (which displays a second image in a sub window) and Audio Mixing (allows the consumer to switch the sound between the main and sub windows). Read more

Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics today announced its second generation internal Blu-ray Disc (BD) writer drive for the computer aftermarket, which boasts 4X BD-R and 16X DVD+R recording speeds.

The new BWU-200S model cuts BD-R burning time by half compared to the first generation model, allowing for a full 50GB BD-R disc to be recorded in about 45 minutes. It also features improved DVD burning speeds, making it a multi-format combo burner that eliminates the need for more than one drive in a system. Read more

September 2007 - Maxell Corporation of America, the technology and marketing leader in advanced data storage media, recently announced that it will begin shipping a new 8cm Blu-ray BD-R write-once and BD-RE rewritable discs for the HD camcorder market.

The Maxell 8cm single layer Blu-ray BD-R and BD-RE are compatible with the latest Blu-ray camcorders providing a recording capacity of 7.5 GB allowing the disc to store one hour of full high-definition picture quality at 1920 x 1080 pixels. Read more

September 6, 2007--Sharp introduces the new slim-profile AQUOS® BD player, model BD-HP20U, the company’s first offering in the U.S. market and first U.S. product outside of the Sharp LCD suite to carry the AQUOS name. Combining full digital 1080p video output with an AQUOS HDTV Liquid Crystal Television, the BD-HP20U allows consumers to view the latest high-definition films as well as enhanced definition titles in stunning high-definition quality.

“Consumers have become comfortable watching high-definition programming, and now they want to transform their entire home theater experience into high-definition,” said Bob Scaglione, senior vice president and group manager, Product and Marketing Group, Sharp Electronics Corporation. “Our new Blu-ray disc player produces a breathtaking and vivid picture with enhanced audio quality that closely mimics a true cinematic experience.” Read more

August 2007 – In yet another coup de grace for the fading HD-DVD camp, Blu-ray Disc has succeeded in wooing Xperinet, Inc., the leader in development of performance IP media networks. Xperinet announced today it will outfit its 2008 line of media servers and clients with Blu-ray drives, further solidifying the format's dominance over HD-DVD in the marketplace. Scheduled to ship in October, the MIRV (Multiple Independent Replay Video) HD line of media servers will include a Blu-ray ROM drive for loading high-resolution 1080p MPEG-2 and H.264 files.

Xperinet is the first media server appliance to adopt Blu-ray for the custom installation market. Governed by the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), this industry represents over 10,000 custom installation companies worldwide and over $12 Billion in electronics installation sales. Read more

August 17, 2007 -- Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) announced today more innovations in the Blu-ray format with the Studio’s first ever Platinum Blu-ray release, the Studio’s first BD-Live title, and full motion picture-in-picture Blu-ray bonus features.

The Studio announced the first animated Platinum coming to Blu-ray will be the timeless treasure Sleeping Beauty. Releasing Sleeping Beauty on Blu-ray marks a milestone for the format as these titles are not released until a format has been proven both technologically and in terms of consumer acceptance – and Disney’s animated releases in the past have been a major catalyst for any format’s growth. Pinocchio’s release on VHS and Snow White’s release on DVD marked major growth milestones for both of those formats. The Sleeping Beauty Blu-ray Disc release will also include a virtual castle and multi-player activities – both utilizing the BD-Live technology. Read more

July 11, 2007– Corel Corporation today announced that Pioneer Electronics Inc. is bundling its next-generation Blu-ray Disc (BD) combo drive, the BDC-2202, with selected titles from Corel’s digital media software lineup. The software bundle includes special editions of Corel’s WinDVD 8, Ulead VideoStudio 11 and Ulead Burn.Now1.5.

Affordably priced at $299.99, Pioneer’s BDC-2202 drive offers a compelling solution for consumers who want to use their PC to view the growing number of high-definition Hollywood movies that are being released on BD. Read more

May 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic, one of the industry leaders behind the development of Blu-ray Disc technology and the market leader in Plasma television, today announced the availability of the DMP- BD10A, Panasonic's next generation Blu-ray Disc player, at a SRP of $599.95. The DMP-BD10A features an audio upgrade package that brings high end surround audio to the viewing experience via the inclusion of 7.1 channel surround, Dolby True HD and 'dts-HD ' High Resolution Audio decoding technology. The DMP-BD10A also incorporates Panasonic's proprietary EZ-Sync system for integrated one-touch operation of Panasonic home-theater components. Panasonic's DMP-BD10A further distinguishes itself with the bundling of five mega hit Blu-ray discs. Included with each DMP-BD10A are - "Pirates of the Caribbean, Curse of the Black Pearl" and "Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest" from Disney, "Transporter" and "Fantastic 4" from Fox and "Crash" from Lionsgate. Read more

May 9, 2007 -- Sony today unveiled a portable multimedia PC with Blu-ray Disc® technology that packs power and entertainment into a compact package.

Part of a series, the new VAIO FZ notebook comes in multiple configurations, including a premium and standard model. The premium version plays Blu-ray Disc high-definition content so you can enjoy movies in full 1080 HD resolution, as well as record, store and play back personal content on high-capacity BD media. Read more