[CES] Funai Announces Sub-$300 Profile 1.1 Blu-ray Player (1 Viewer)

[Adam Barratt]

Original press release

FUNAI NEWS Press Releases

On January 3rd, 2008, Funai Corporation, Inc., the North American sales and marketing subsidiary of Funai Electric Co., Ltd., today announced the introduction of its first Blu-ray Disc player (NB500 series) for the North American market.

The Company will begin production in the first quarter of 2008, and plans to begin selling the player at retail stores in North America during the second quarter. The retail price is projected to be under $300. Demand for players that supports High Definition contents is increasing swiftly in the U.S. market thanks to the rapid spread of Full HD flat-panel televisions in addition to FCC mandate to switch from analog to digital formats. In the consumer products market in particular, movie and music contents are becoming more common in the Blu-ray Disc format, and shipments of specialized disc players and game machines compatible with Blu-ray Disc products are increasing. Within the healthy competitive environment in this next-generation DVD market, the Blu-ray Disc format is steadily enhancing its market position. The player supports Profile 1.1 (Final Standard Profile), the latest Blu-ray Disc format standard, and will allow consumers to fully enjoy the Blu-ray Disc HD experience. The product is expected to further stimulate the Blu-ray Disc market, and enable customers to appreciate movies and music with even higher resolutions and higher quality sound. To see the exhibition of the product, please visit the BDA (Blu-ray Disc Association) booth at the CES Hall in 2008.

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Looks like there will be some more competition for the Playstation 3 and the DMP-BD30K Profile 1.1 machines already on the market!

Adam

 

[Eric F]

The 40GB $399 PS3 still seems like a better bargain, (excluding the fact it plays some fun games) just because of its DNLA functionality and superb upscaling functions. Prices on these dedicated BD machines need to be lower.

 

[JeremyR]

That looks like a Sylvania badge on the player. Didn't know they were one and the same. My dad tells me at one time, Sylvania was an incredibly respected name in television.

 

[PaulDA]

It was. Just as Pan-Am and Eastern Airlines were giants of the airline industry.

 

[Grant H]

I believe Funai has long built players for Wal-Mart, K-Mart and the like, badging them with Sylvania, Magavox, what have you, the big names of yesteryear.