LaCie LaCinema Classic Bridge HDD media player

Can we have too many glossy, glowing boxes?  LaCie don't seem to think so, hence their latest toppled-obelisk design, this time housing a hard-drive media player.  The LaCie LaCinema Classic Bridge can be used with any existing 3.5-inch hard-drive, outputting upscaled 1080p video via HDMI, but it also has a USB port for external, removable drives.

 

That means you can leave a load of frequently-accessed content on the LaCinema, or regularly swap in new video via an external drive.  There's no network support, only local playback, with the HDMI port accompanied by composite video and stereo audio outputs.  There's also an S/PDIF port for digital audio and a USB slave port for hooking the drive up to a computer.

MPEG-4, AVI, DivX and Xvid video is supported, together with MP3 and WMA audio and both JPEG and HD-JPEG still images.  It comes with a remote control though no internal hard-drive, hence the price: $99.99.

 

Press Release:

LaCinema Classic Bridge: Create Your Own Media Player
  •  
  • Play movies, music, and photos on any TV
  • Connect via HDMI and experience 1080p upscaling
  • Browse media easily with remote control and graphic interface
  • Add multimedia player capability to existing storage solutions
  • Today LaCie announced an economic way to add media player functionality to existing storage devices. LaCinema Classic Bridge enables users to leverage the investments already made on internal and external storage solutions, and turn them into dynamic multimedia devices. Simply connect the Classic Bridge to a desired TV, add a storage device, and play libraries of movies, music, and photos in flawless 1080p HD resolution.

    The attractive and compact LaCinema Classic Bridge fits seamlessly into entertainment centers, and enables two options for adding storage. Option one allows users to connect an external USB drive to the front of the device for easy access to their multimedia content. Option two allows users to easily insert an internal hard disk directly into the device for a clean, fully integrated set-up, just like the LaCinema Classic. Users may also choose to implement both options for expanded capacity.

    "There is no question the need for digital storage has become essential in the home. However, most storage solutions do not offer users an easy way to interface with their valued content," said Patrick Salin, Multimedia Business Unit Manager, LaCie. "Now, with the LaCinema Classic Bridge, users can take their storage solutions and transform them into fully-functional multimedia players, allowing them to conveniently browse and play content from within their entertainment set-up, without thinking twice."

    With the help of an easy-to-use remote control and intuitive navigation menu, users can easily browse a centralized media library to select and play their favorite media. Content can be viewed by file category through a simple graphic selection, or users may view all multimedia by clicking the folder icon.

    Built with the same features and functionality as the LaCinema Classic, the LaCinema Bridge works with numerous video, music, and photo formats, including MPEG4, MP3 and JPEG as well as HD-JPEG for superior viewing of images over HDMI output. An HDMI cable is included.

    LaCinema Classic Bridge is DivX-certified so customers can watch DivX transcoded videos with high quality and resolution. For users seeking optimal performance, LaCie has posted a complete listing of recommended HDD's, www.lacie.com.

    Availability

    LaCinema Classic Bridge is available now starting at $99.99 through the LaCie Online Store or LaCie Resellers. For more information, visit www.lacie.com.

    About Neil Poulton

    Neil Poulton was born in Thurso, Scotland. A graduate in Industrial Design from Edinburgh University and Milan's Domus Academy, Poulton first came into public view in 1989 as the creator of "the ageing pens," pens made from a "living," wearing plastic that changes color and form with use. Today, Neil Poulton designs and develops best-selling, award-winning products for a variety of international clients including LaCie & Artemide. Since 1991, Poulton has lived and worked in Paris, France. www.neilpoulton.com

    About LaCie

    Located in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, LaCie is the leading manufacturer of computer peripherals for Windows, Apple and Linux users. LaCie creates external storage solutions and color monitors that help professionals and everyday people easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated its products through original designs and leading-edge technology. Established in France in 1989, LaCie is listed on Euronext under FR0000054314 (LAC). For more information, visit www.lacie.com