Sony is to bring Blu-ray the high capacity optical disc system to the UK as early as March, but only as part of a desktop PC package. The VGC-RC204, which also breaks with Sony PC tradition in that it is the first desktop from the company to run using Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system, features a Blu-ray recorder that can archive up to 25GB of data on one disc.
Sony is expecting that the £1800 PC will appeal specifically to video editors. The PC also sports a 600GB hard drive and is accompanied by Sony's MR100 wireless media receiver, which streams audio video and images to other screens and devices. Recordable Blu-ray discs will go on sale next month, with Sony estimating that they will retail for around £10. The recorder isn't compatible with the 50GB double-sided discs. A laptop with integrated Blu-ray drive will be available later in 2006.
As for a Blu-ray video player: at its annual dealer conference in Lisbon this week Sony confirmed that it hopes to launch the BDP-S1 in the UK before Christmas 2006.
Sony also made some big announcements about its TV on the move system Location Free TV. It confirmed a UK launch for the service for PSPs and laptops PCs which the company says will be before the summer.
A Sony rep also said that Sony Ericsson is about to deliver a phone that will be compatible with the Location Free TV system. Presumably the phone will include Wi-Fi which makes it most likely to be the next generation of the SE smartphone the P990 which goes on sale next month. However, given that the data speeds of 3G are fast enough to support TV streaming it may be a different handset completely.
Launched in the US in December, Location Free TV enables PSP owners to watch remotely via Wi-Fi whatever is showing on their home TV. The system consists of a decoder box, which sells in the US for $350 that plugs into any video device and a broadband connection.
The box then takes the video output and then streams it over the web to the PSP/laptop/mobile. So you can hook it up to your Sky box and wirelessly stream a live football game across continents if you wish. The system also enables the users to remote control the TV or its decoder box. The Sony rep showed how the system could pause and fast forward the footage on a Sony hard disk video system remotely as well as programme it to make timed recordings. Sony expects Location Free TV to be a hit with the millions of Brits who now own holiday homes.
The PSP version could also prove to be the must-have gadget for footy fans during the 2006 World Cup. Sony has also confirmed an April UK launch for its debut hard disk based camcorder the £900 DCR-90 and promised a pair of GPS satellite systems for later this month.
Story source:
theregister.co.uk.
