Sony working on low-cost Blu-Ray player
updated 03:15 pm EST, Mon February 26, 2007
Sony BDP-S300 Player
Sony today revealed a new, budget Blu-Ray movie player targeted at the mainstream. Called the BDP-S300, the device will be a smaller version of the company's BDP-S1 (pictured) at roughly the size of a modern-day DVD player. Despite the size reduction, however, the company promises features not present in Toshiba's own $499 HD-A2 and even Sony's own introductory player. Video will output at a full 1080p for TVs that can support the resolution, unlike the Toshiba; the S300 will also have support for audio CDs, a feature missing from the inaugural S1.
The new model should be available by summer at a price of $599, far below the $999 of the existing model. Prices should also dip below the all-important $500 mark by the end of the year, Sony said. The price may affect Sony's sales of the PlayStation 3, which plays Blu-Ray at $499 but is sold at a loss to encourage sales.
