:rock: not too shabby i must admit. Can we expect cheaper 2.0 players from LG, Samsung or Funai? but then $400 is still waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more expensive than $149

Spec highlights:

7.1 analogue out
TrueHD
DTS HD Master decoding (SP550) - (SP350 via bits stream)
BD-JO
BD-Live ready

sounds promising - now we need full feature BD-J and BD-Live titles to test the players



http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/6831...ay_Players.html

Sony has just announced their first line of Profile 2 Blu-Ray players, the BDP-S350 and BDP-S550. The Profile 2 players will be the first stand alone Blu-Ray players by Sony to feature web coonectivity and compatibility with external storage devices.

These features are already present in Sony's Playstation 3 models, but were until now unavailable in a stand alone Blu-Ray player. The S350 is scheduled for release in the summer while the S550 will not be out until this fall. IGN notes an interesting tidbit: The features recently adopted by Sony for their stand alone Blu-Ray players were present in most HD-DVD players at launch. We're not trying to make a statement. Just sayin'.

The S350 is expected to retail for around $400 while the S550 will come in around $500.

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SONY ADDS NEW BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS WITH ADVANCED INTERACTIVITY
New Models Feature Ethernet Port for Interactive Functionality and Easy Firmware Updates

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 26, 2008 - Sony updated its Blu-ray Disc player line today with two new models that will be capable of accessing advanced interactive features such as BonusView and BD-Live.

The BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 models both support BonusView (Picture-in-Picture) featured on some of the new Blu-ray Disc theatrical releases. The BDP-S350 model is BD-Live ready featuring an Ethernet port for an easy firmware update and access to Internet-based interactive content features. The BSP-S550 is BonusView and BD-Live capable when it ships.

Both models also feature an external port for local storage, so users can add optional storage device. The BDP-S550 ships with a 1GB storage device.

"Building on the exceptional picture and sound quality of previous players, Sony's next-generation Blu-ray Disc models bring exciting interactive features to life and offer consumers a ground-breaking experience," said Chris Fawcett, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics' Home Product Division. "These new devices bring home movie experience beyond the cinema and into a whole new realm of entertainment."

The players feature 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output. They are compatible with most standard DVDs and feature 1080p upscaling through an HDMI connection to capable HDTV sets, improving the picture performance of existing DVD libraries.

The models offer 7.1 channel Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby® Digital Plus decoding and bit-stream output, as well as dts®-HD High Resolution Audio and Master Audio bit-stream output. The BDP-S550 adds dts-HD High Resolution Audio and dts-HD Master Audio decoding as well as 7.1 channel analog audio output.

The players support AVCHD discs encoded with x.v.Color™ (xvYCC) technology, an international standard for wide color space reproduction. The standard expands the current data range of video by about 1.8 times, allowing the players to output more natural and vivid colors similar to what the human eye can actually see. The players also feature compatibility with an array of video formats, including BD-R/RE (BDMV and BDAV modes), DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW (CD-DA format), and JPEG on DVD//CD recordable media.

The new models feature a slim design with reduced depth and height compared to previous models matching Sony's new home-theater-in-a-box systems, the HT-SS2300 and HT-CT100 T-SS2300, also announced today. Optimized for Blu-ray Disc™, the new component systems feature three 1080p compatible HDMI™ inputs making them the perfect match for a Full high-definition home theater when connected to a new Sony BRAVIA® 1080p HDTV.

The new BDP-S350 ships this summer for about $400 and BDP-S550 will be available this fall for about $500. They will be offered at Sony Style stores, online at sonystyle.com, at military base exchanges, and at authorized retailers nationwide.

http://gizmodo.com/360642/bdp+s350-and-s55...blu+ray-players

++++++++++++++ updated July 20 2008 +++++++++++++++++++++++


http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/sony...ay-disc-player/


July 19, 2008: Although Sony has announced its next generation Blu-ray player, the BDP-S350 as early as February, it is only now that the player has started arriving in US retail stores. For those who have been waiting for the BDP-S350, the wait may well be worth it after all since like we reported before this player is fully compatible with various disc formats including BD-R/RE, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW and JPEG on DVD or CD recordable media.

In addition, the BDP-S350 also features BonusView (Profile v1.1), BD-Live (Profile v2.0) and Sony’s Precision Cinema HD Upscale feature which is a technology that converts standard-definition signals (4801) to 1080p. These signals are then outputted in full HD equivalent resolution signal to 1080p TVs through HDMI port. The player also has an Ethernet port and can handle up to 70.1 channels decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DD+ along with 7.1 channels bitstream output that includes DTS-Ma.

Finally, Sony has added an environmental footprint on the BDP-S350 to make the product a little more environmentally friendly. Sony has reduced the overall unit size of the player by 55 percent, reduced the packing material by 52 percent and reduced its total weight by 38 percent. With this, Sony was able to reduce the CO2 emissions when shipping the BDP-S350. Likewise, Sony has also made the player’s energy consumption a little less than the usual.

The BDP-S350 is available now in Sony retail and various online stores for around $399.99.

lol bhphotos excepting orders : http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5506...isc_Player.html

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Updated October 2, 2008:

http://gear.ign.com/articles/914/914553p1.html

Sony Cuts Price of S350 Blu-ray Player

The first Sony player priced cheaper than the PS3.
by Scott Lowe

September 29, 2008 - Sony's BD-live enabled Blu-ray player models, the BDP-S350 and BDP-S550, are a relatively pricey commodity. At launch, the Sony BDP-S550 was priced at $499.99 and the BDP-S350 at $399.99, but now Sony has dropped the price of the latter model by $100, making it the first standalone Blu-ray player to have a lower price point than the PlayStation 3. The S350 is now available on Sony's online store and at retailers nationwide for a new low price of $299.99. For that price, consumers get a BD-Live ready player with full 1080p resolution, and 24p True Cinema video output. The player also decodes Dolby TrueHD signals and upscales DVDs to 1080p resolution.

Unfortunately, the S350 requires a wired Ethernet connection in order to utilize its BD-Live features, so wireless users are out of luck without additional hardware. The player outputs via one rear mounted component video connection, as well as HDMI.

This post has been edited by g5sim: Oct 14 2008, 02:54 PM

you mean the BD1400 which is a 1.0 profile model that got sued with a class action lawsuit in the USA? RM800 oso fikir 12 kali wor

no lah - just hihglighting that they will be selling a player with specs already have on HD DVD two years ago the only problem is, Sony will be selling them at a similar price Toshiba sold their players two years ago

Best Denki Mines still demoing HD DVD - but standard dvd source on HD DVD player lol

actually just requested my brother to buy one xbox Add On $49.99 from USA. See if he manages to do so or not.

you ah! keep pushing to buy TV! i dont like watching TV. told you so. One of the reasons why i requested my bro to get me the add on for my computer

BD is not on its production infancy. 10th of millions BD drives have been produced! This is way more than DVD when it was first introduced

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Added on March 9, 2008, 5:49 pmand use my balcony sliding panels as my screen?

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Added on March 9, 2008, 5:50 pmyes - dun wanna do so at first - but u keep pushing so i ordered the add on

This post has been edited by g5sim: Mar 9 2008, 05:50 PM

http://www.gadgetell.com/tech/comment/sony...ay-disc-player/


Although Sony has announced its next generation Blu-ray player, the BDP-S350 as early as February, it is only now that the player has started arriving in US retail stores. For those who have been waiting for the BDP-S350, the wait may well be worth it after all since like we reported before this player is fully compatible with various disc formats including BD-R/RE, DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW and JPEG on DVD or CD recordable media.

In addition, the BDP-S350 also features BonusView (Profile v1.1), BD-Live (Profile v2.0) and Sony’s Precision Cinema HD Upscale feature which is a technology that converts standard-definition signals (4801) to 1080p. These signals are then outputted in full HD equivalent resolution signal to 1080p TVs through HDMI port. The player also has an Ethernet port and can handle up to 70.1 channels decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DD+ along with 7.1 channels bitstream output that includes DTS-Ma.

Finally, Sony has added an environmental footprint on the BDP-S350 to make the product a little more environmentally friendly. Sony has reduced the overall unit size of the player by 55 percent, reduced the packing material by 52 percent and reduced its total weight by 38 percent. With this, Sony was able to reduce the CO2 emissions when shipping the BDP-S350. Likewise, Sony has also made the player’s energy consumption a little less than the usual.

The BDP-S350 is available now in Sony retail and various online stores for around $399.99.

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Added on July 20, 2008, 2:00 ampls take note that this baby does not support DTS HD Master that all universal BD titles seem to have.

it does LCPM and TrueHD via bitstream. Both tracks are not available in Universal titles.

This post has been edited by g5sim: Jul 20 2008, 02:00 AM

they say it does 'bitstream dts-hd and dts-hd ma because their receiver's hd-ma light is on. i am arguing that the light is on because the hd-ma's Core track was bitstreamed to the receiver not the lossless hd-ma track entirely.

if the S350 can do 100% hd-ma lossless why doesnt it just include the hd-ma logo, instead it has the dts-hd (advanced audio out) logo?

furthermore, S350 manual says ' its hd-ma Core only

if you have an dts-hd ma receiver, its advisable to get a player that has the dts-hd : Advance Audio Out logo (players with this logo will do bitstreaming (check my previous posts for types of dts-hd logo). BUT BE EXTREMELY careful to confirm and reconfirm the player does not state CORE only. I think the only two players that actually do CORE only is the Sony S350 and the XBox 360 (talking about irony) - check the online manual too.

Anyhow the S550 is only RM330 more than the S350 and it does dts-hd ma decoding and has analogue 5.1 out too (according to initial specs)

it is not worth it to get a localized S350 at RM399 when you can order from bhphotos.com for much less and since 100% of your Amazon BD orders will be region 1 anyway

using Maybank's American Express - global e-shop service, you can order from major US online retailers (think amazon's cheaper BD player prices), get the player sent to Global e-shop's USA partners and they will ship the player to your door step at fraction of the shipping price. Add 25% as tax, I bet you can get the S550 sent to malaysia NETT less than RM3999

Panasonic is supposed to come out with a Profile 2.0 player too. Forgot the model - maybe D50. You might also want to wait for that one too. The more competition for standalone 2.0 bd players, the cheaper the price would be. I guess prices is not a problem to you but then, you can use the extra $$$ to buy more movies

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Added on July 22, 2008, 12:16 pmveli expensive liau RM3999 PS3 also 399USD - here not more than RM2999 typo izit ?

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Added on July 22, 2008, 12:17 pmhow do we know that when the receiver is showing dts-hd-ma - it dts-hd-ma that is pumped out of the receiver? I have a theory that its the player that tell what the receiver should display

why? i can built a BD player that can decode dts-hd-ma, but without DTS' logo, can I actually tell my bd player to instruct the receiver to display the dts-hd ma light?

or lets say that I pump a track that as the maximum sampling frequency and data rate of dts-hd-ma - that would be considered as lossless quality but without DTS' IP, i will not be able to get the receiver to display the dts-hd-ma light



This post has been edited by g5sim: Jul 22 2008, 12:21 PM

yes mah . RM330 = $100. the SRP for S350 = $399. SRP for S550 = $499 so its the different of RM330 (1USD = RM3.3<>)

veli clever - gud luck to them

ordering from USA - region 1 player (amazon BD movies region 1)

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/734159/+100

nett to your door step from USA via courier = RM2020 only wawasan 2020

guess who is xboxboi ?

i understand what they rest are saying, i also know the fact that several people with dts hd ma receiver can see the dts hd ma light on, on their receiver. that is why they are saying that it is capable of doing full h-res hd-ma bitstreaming.

I was arguing the fact that Sony included 'Core' in the S350 manual. If the Core term is not included in the manual then, yes the player is capable of doing h-res hd-ma bitstreaming.

I also challenge the fact that if indeed this S350 player is capable of doing h-res hd-ma, there wouldnt be a need for the $200 more expensive S550 because full hi-res bitstreaming or internal decoding, its still the same thing.

rx is correct. RM1 to reach your budget is the power supply issue is that bigger deal

and again i would like to remind you that - localized S350 might play REGION 3 movies only - so your US Amazon titles how ?

what if BDA all of the sudden says - region coding takes affect tonight at midnight EST ? now that there is no competition for hires optical?

okie okie - dun think = i go take shower and go to sleep

But then, according to the post by Thalium at hideftdigest - the S350 can bitstream dts-hd-ma FULLY. if your receiver is capable of doing PCM via HDMI 1.30 then there S350 will do just fine. So basically, the additional $200 for S550 is for the 5.1 analogue out. I hope the connectors are made of platinum

page 62 of S350's manual, point *5

http://www.docs.sony.com/release/BDPS350_US.pdf

no one is bragging about the video processing chip sooo - nothing impressive i guess - not even an Anchor Bay video processor

if you ignore 'DTS CORE' at the audio codec part, then, yes