Freesat HDD Blu-Ray Recorder

[Rat]

Finally, after much rumour and denial, Panasonic are to release a Freesat PVR HDD Blu-Ray recorder from May, model number DMR-BS850. The announcement was made at the company’s European press launch in Amsterdam this afternoon

Little information is known of the new Freesat+ digital box, but what we can confirm is that it will be a twin tuner, with storage capacity of 500GB, plus Blu-Ray recorder. The receiver will also have a SD card reader and USB port for viewing images and video etc, plus Ethernet connection for future Freesat services such as iPlayer, as well as Panasonic’s own Internet content delivery system, Viera Cast.

A smaller capacity 250GB HDD version will allow be launched, model number DMR-BS750. Prices of either are yet to be confirmed, but the 500GB model is expected to retail for around £500.

Strictly speaking the combination of Freesat HDD and Blu-Ray should allow the recording of HD content onto Blu-Ray disc, although Panasonic do not wish to comment for obvious copyright issues.

If you feel either of these receivers might be a little rich for you, then Panasonic are also launching a non-BluRay version with DVD recover instead, model DMR-XS350. This will feature a 250GB hard drive.

Additional connections (certainly of the DMR-BS850) include HDMI, USB, Ethernet, Component Video Out, S-Video Out, SCART (TV and Video), Coaxial Digital Audio Out and Optical Digital Audio Out.

 

[wozzo]

sounds Very cool.

I assume it can playback Blueray films ect.

 

[DessertDog]

This is great Rat cheers for the info m8

 

[MH]

I dread to think how much that puppy will cost!

 

[Rat]

Prices of either are yet to be confirmed, but the 500GB model is expected to retail for around £500.

loadsa money

 

[MH]

My eyes must of ignored that intentionally! You could buy 2 hdr's for that!

 

[Rat]

a little more

The DMR-BS850 and DMR-BS750 combine Blu-ray recording/playback with respective 500GB and 250GB hard discs. A third model, the DMR-XS350 is a DVD/HDD recorder only with DVD-RAM support and a 250GB hard disc.



All have twin Freesat HD/SD (but not Freeview) tuners with dual recording and can be to used record non-copy protected programmes from channels including BBC HD and ITV HD.



At a product launch in Amsterdam this week, Wotsat was told that users will be given an onscreen option to record the HD versions of ITV shows where available. However, enthusiasts may be disappointed to learn that the recorders are apparently not suitable for scanning other satellites.



The players boast DivX, MP3 and AVC HD playback and have HDMI outputs as well as USB and SD card slots.



Additional Ethernet ports mean all three will be compatible with iPlayer streaming when it arrives on Freesat later this year and can be used to receive selected web content including YouTube and Picasa as part of Panasonic’s Viera cast service as well as BD Live features for Blu-ray discs. Pricing has yet to be announced.

 

[velvitjester69]

No chance it will let you burn HD content to blu ray,that basically makes HDCP redundant.

Why would anyone want a clu ray burner,the discs are like 50 quid.

 

[jamesyboyjim]

what an awesome machine i want one!!

as for blank blu rays, they will, like everything else, become cheap and worth using

 

[Jackel]

Looks like a lovely bit of kit, much too rich for me though.