Sony Electronics has announced two new Blu-ray recorders for the Japanese market: the BDZ-A70 and BDZ-T90. Both recorders will feature the ability to read and write both Blu-ray and DVD media, as well as read any CD media. Additionally, both will feature large hard drives - the A70 comes with a 320GB hard drive, the T90 with the larger 500GB hard drive - that the machine can easily record and playback material in the popular AVCHD format.
Unique to these recorders will be the ability to transfer content easily to a PSP or Sony Walkman portable video device. Using the one touch interface along with a standard USB cable, a user can quickly transfer pre-recorded content from the Blu-ray recorder to their PSP for viewing on the go.
Connections include HDMI with 1080p/24 support, as well as other standard video and audio connections. Both will feature three types of tuners (two digital and one analog) for easy connection to any broadcast system.
Both are expected to be available this month for the price of ¥170,000.
I love how sony is trying to integrate as much of their product line-ups together as possible. Pretty soon you will be able to upload high def movies to your refrigerator wirelessly!
Hopefully in 2009 someone will release a BLU-RAY standalone recorder for the US market then I can stop using my JVC D-VHS machine for 1080I recordings.