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Panasonic bringing Blu-ray recorders to the US next year

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Oct 2008 6:38 User comments (8)

Panasonic bringing Blu-ray recorders to the US next year According to an HDGuru report, Panasonic is set to bring a Blu-ray recorder and player combo stateside next year, marking the first time a company has chosen to release one outside of Japan.
There was no other details available about the recorder itself but in Japan Blu-ray recorders have been slowly dropping in price, beginning at $2000 in 2006 and dropping to just over $800 now.

Sony announced last month that it was launching six Blu-ray recorders in 2009 each of which will cost between $1,000 and $2,600 USD.

Panasonic also showed off a prototype 3D Plasma TV at the CEATEC event. The company remains committed to developing a 3D consumer HDTV system industry standard in conjunction with the Blu-ray Disc Association.

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8 user comments

114.10.2008 19:41

If this allows me to record HD programming from sat or cable like a DVHS deck then count me in.

Before people start complaining ablut the price: I remember my dad's first DVD recorder (late 90's) was a Panasonic which cost him about $2000. The blank DVD's were also quite expensive then = around $10 each if memory serves.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 14 Oct 2008 @ 7:42

215.10.2008 04:40
13thHouR
Inactive

Originally posted by Toshibot:
If this allows me to record HD programming from sat or cable like a DVHS deck then count me in.

Before people start complaining ablut the price: I remember my dad's first DVD recorder (late 90's) was a Panasonic which cost him about $2000. The blank DVD's were also quite expensive then = around $10 each if memory serves.
Because of the Broadcast Flag and the Image Constraint Token if you are actually allowed to record the content (Very unlikely) it will be severely down sampled and not Hi-Def.

What is Tivo?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_Constraint_Token

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadcast_flag
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 15 Oct 2008 @ 4:41

315.10.2008 10:18

Actually you're mistaken 13thHour.

The Panasonic BluRay recorders have the ability to record OTA and satellite HDTV programming. You can record 4.5 hours of HDTV satellite programming on a 50 GB BD-R DL disc. There was an upsurge in sales of these recorders and BD-R discs in Japan prior to the Beijing Olympics. My girlfriend (who's Japanese) has had her cousin send over BD-R recordings of the gymnastics all in 1080 resolution.

The Japanese models all have digital HDTV tuners and I'm sure the US models should have the capability to record OTA and sat/cable broadcasts as well.

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/panasonic/pan...-hdd-306214.php

415.10.2008 10:57

You may not be able to record premium channels like HBO and Showtime but OTA HD and the non-5c flagged channels should be OK.

Plus those with AVCHD videocameras should find these recorders useful.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 15 Oct 2008 @ 10:59

515.10.2008 11:47
13thHouR
Inactive

Originally posted by Toshibot:
You may not be able to record premium channels like HBO and Showtime but OTA HD and the non-5c flagged channels should be OK.

Plus those with AVCHD videocameras should find these recorders useful.
that's the thing, you can only record the channels that are "not flagged". Didn't the MPAA members recently go to congress with the hope of being allowed to block any signals they wanted but was over ruled by the fcc?

this shows just what they want to do, how long before they pay off the right guy?
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 15 Oct 2008 @ 11:49

615.10.2008 12:24

Right now the only flagged channels I have on my HD cable box are the 5c premium channels. Everything else I can record to my PC thru Firewire without loss of resolution. If the Panasonic recorders are designated 5c devices (like all DVHS decks) then I'll be able to record everything thru Firewire.

715.10.2008 12:30

Originally posted by Toshibot:
Right now the only flagged channels I have on my HD cable box are the 5c premium channels. Everything else I can record to my PC thru Firewire without loss of resolution. If the Panasonic recorders are designated 5c devices (like all DVHS decks) then I'll be able to record everything thru Firewire.
I know a couple of people who have hundreds of high-def recordings on DVHS tapes that they would love to transfer to BluRay for archiving. These recorders would be a blessing to them.

821.10.2008 01:59
uruz7
Inactive

spam removed

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 21 Oct 2008 @ 6:20

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