SONY UNVEILS FIRST BLU-RAY DISC DRIVE BURNER
Burns up to 50 GB of Data and Keeps Video in Native HDV 1080i
NEW YORK, July 18, 2006 –Sony Electronics today unveiled its first internal Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) rewritable drive for the computer aftermarket.
The new drive(model BWU-100A) supports up to 50 GB of data on BD-R (write once) or BD-RE (rewritable) discs or up to four hours of high-definition video using HDV 1080i on a BD-RE 50GB disc. The new drive is capable of burning a full 25GB disc in about 50 minutes.
For personal content captured on a HDV camcorder, the BD drive is optimized for keeping the video in the native HDV 1080i for playback on home players compatible with BD-AV format and PCs with BD drives installed.
Sony’s BD drive also supports recording of standard single layer 4.7GB DVD+R/+RW/RAM discs, 8.5GB DVD+R Double/Dual Layer Discs, and CDs, making it a multi-format burner.
“Now consumers, professional videographers and filmmakers can store, record and experience the highest capacity of high-definition video available – from capture to playback,” said Bob DeMoulin, marketing manager for branded storage products in Sony Electronics’ IT Products Division. “Our Blu-ray Disc drive represents a significant leap in storage technology.”
The BWU-100A drive comes bundled with the CyberLink BD Solution® from Cyberlink Corporation, which provides a complete software application for capturing, authoring, editing and burning high-definition personal content captured by a HDV 1080i format camcorder onto BD discs. Video can also be “down-converted” to standard-definition resolution for burning onto DVDs.
The internal drive features an IDE (ATA/ATAPI) interface and standard 5.25-inch form factor for easy installation inside a PC.
Availability and Pricing
The recordable/rewritable drive will be available in August for about $750. Pre-orders are now being accepted at sonystyle.com.
Sony BD/DVD/CD rewritable drives are sold direct through sonystyle.com, at Sony Style retail stores nationwide (
www.sonystyle.com/retail), at authorized resellers and retailers across the country, through mail order catalogs, and by select online shopping sites.
