SlashGear Japan
Hong Kong, August 18, 2006 – AMEX DIGITAL Corporation. Announced today that the world’s first Blu-ray disc recorder has been shipped to Euro market for availability on August 28th. and will be demo on IFA Berlin Show. The AMEX DIGITAL Blu-ray disc recorder (M505-BDR) has been eagerly awaited by consumers anticipating the opportunity to view High Definition discs on their existing HDTVs. Blu-ray is the next generation disc format which offers close to five times the resolution of conventional DVDs making it the highest picture quality available on the market. The format is supported by many of the leading movie studios, including Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) and LionsGate Pictures which will release Blu-ray content June 2006. The innovation marks the latest technology breakthrough brought to market by AMEX DIGITAL and further underscores the brand commitment to offering consumers the ultimate home theater experience.
Blu-ray is the premier next generation optical disc format and is supported by more than 170 of the world’s leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers. While current optical disc technologies such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM rely on a red laser to read and write data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser which better utilizes the space on the disc allowing more than five times the amount of information.
The AMEX DIGITAL plays Blu-ray software titles at the highest resolution available via a native 1080p HDMI output for films digitally mastered in 1920 x 1080p. The M505-BDR also up-converts conventional DVDs to 1080p through the HDMI digital interface so the picture quality of any traditional DVD will look noticeably more detailed when used with the disc player. The M505-BDR is backwards compatible and plays both standard DVDs and CDs in addition to supporting all DVD formats including, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD+R.
Additionally, AMEX DIGITAL has included a dual Hybrid digital TV turner with PIP (Picture in Picture) Function and wireless WiFi b/g, 100/1000Mb network, Fire Wire IEEE1394, S/P DIF in/out interface that supports all the major formats source from internet and HD-DV Cam, the native high definition resolution contained in 2-megapixel and larger digital still pictures can be fully rendered on a high definition television via slide show functionality built into the M505-BDR.
Connectivity includes HDMI Supported audio formats include: Dolby, DTS, MP3 and 192KHz LPCM. The M505-BDR will be available in stores on AUGUST 28, 2006 at a Price from $2,000 come with free Blu-ray movie title.
The launch of the AMEX DIGITAL M505-BDR coincides with a major influx of Blu-ray content. Seven of the eight major movie studios have already announced titles for Blu-ray, with the initial line-up of recent hits as well as classics, expected to grow to more than 200 titles by year end.
6 Responses to “AMEX DIGITAL Blu-ray disc recorder”
Vincent Nguyen August 19, 2006
Home entertainment is becoming very expensive and unaffordable – even by the upper middle class citizens. $2,000 for a Blu-ray device? The price must significantly drop before this new technology becomes mainstream.
Neutralblu-ray fan August 19, 2006
Christ that is a little unsubtle pricepoint seeing as the us only get charged $1000.
At least this makes the PS3 look like a bargain and shut all the its too expensive talk up even though it ‘only’ plays them.
NeutralEwdison Then August 19, 2006
yeah compare to this PS3 sounds decent now :)
Neutralmaemotaku August 19, 2006
This is now the cheapest blu-ray recorder to hit the market. $2000 is understandable considering that players cost $1000. I expect the price to drop considerably by early 2007. You’ll be able to get this for less than a $1000.
NeutralFutureProof August 19, 2006
Tell me how much would a computer with a Intel Duo Core processor, 1.5TB HDD, WiFi, 100/1000MB LAN, 2 digital TV tuners, a good graphics card, and a DVD drive cost? Then add the cost of a standalone Blu-ray player to it. That’s how much it could have cost! Of course, the price will come down like all electronics do. It will not come down by half the price by early 2007. That’s just crazy talk!
NeutralMrNutmeg September 21, 2006
It was a bluff…
I was interested in buying Amex Digital M505-BDR and sent three e-mails to Amex Digital asking where I can buy it, but still no reply…
Finally I found out that Highend Studio in Finland sells it.
Their answer:
Yes it is possible to ship to Sweden from Finland.
The system costs depend on the combination. How much hard disk space,
memory size, which processor.
I think that a reasonable combination will cost about 3000€.
3000€ is about $3700 not $2000…
I sent a new e-mail to Highend Studio:
In the press release I read, “Price from $2,000 come with free Blu-ray
movie title”.
Now I wonder what specification would an Amex Digital M505-BDR for
1600€ have?
Their reply:
Thank you for your mail.
To be honest, it was a misleading information about $2000 high-end
combination containing Blu-ray. Actually the Panasonic Blu-ray itself
costs $1300 in a American Internet shop.
Best regards,
Tapani Isoranta
Highend Studio
Respect to Highend Studio for finally giving me some answers.
It was to good to be true.
NeutralAmex Digital did not tell the truth when they said it would cost $2000.