Panasonic to bring Blu-ray recorder to the US in 2009
updated 05:10 pm EDT, Tue October 14, 2008
Panasonic BD burner in '09
Panasonic will bring a Blu-ray recorder and player combo to the US market in the first half of 2009, according to a Tuesday report from HD Guru based on a trip to the CEATEC convention in Japan. While no other details are known about the recorder itself, prices in Japan for the recorders that use Blu-ray laser technology have dropped significantly, with the report having a Sharp Blu-ray burner priced at the equivalent of about $800.
Backing up the dropping prices of Blu-ray recorders is Sony's announcement early last month, when the electronics giant launched six Blu-ray recorders, though they cost the equivalent of between $1,000 and $2,600.
In related Panasonic news, the company showed a prototype of its 3D Plasma TV at CEATEC. As previously reported, the company is working in conjunction with the Blu-ray Disc Association to develop a 3D consumer HDTV system industry standard.
