Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/09/panasonic_blu-ray_autumn/
CeBIT Panasonic will ship its first Blu-ray Disc player in Europe in the Autumn, the consumer electronics giant said today, providing a timeframe for the next-generation optical disc format's roll-out in the Old World. It also announced single- and dual-layer recordable and rewriteable blank BD media, all designed to work with 2x speed drives.
The single- and dual-layer discs provide 25GB and 50GB of raw storage capacity, respectively.
Worryingly, Panasonic's press statement warned: "Specifications are subject to changes without notice!" We hope the exclamation mark indicates this a humorous reference to the recent shenanigans with the AACS copy-protection specification not being finalised (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/20/sony_admits_possible_ps3_delay/) in the timeframe anticipated by both the Blu-ray and HD DVD camps. If not, BD may take even longer to come to market than anticipated...
Whatever, Panasonic's media announcement comes a few days after Sony made a similar announcement (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/07/sony_blank_blu-ray_media/), though while Sony put a date on its single-layer BD-RE and BD-R disc debuts - March and April 2006, respectively - Panasonic preferred not to. Presumably, it's waiting to get dual-layer product ready, something even Sony couldn't say when it would offer in Europe. ®
Sony debuts DVD Walkman (18 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/18/sony_preps_dvd_walkman/
Toshiba unveils world's first HD-DVD player (3 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/03/toshiba_unveils_hddvd/
Panasonic Blu-ray player to cost 'under $1,500' (29 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/29/panasonic_dmp-bd10_pricing/
Ulead yanks Blu-ray support from week-old app (29 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/29/ulead_yanks_blu-ray_support/
Warner HD DVD debut delayed (17 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/17/warner_hd_dvd_roll-out_delay/
Sony names Blu-ray disc kit ship dates (17 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/17/sony_blu-ray_hardware/
Blu-ray body confirms format to use 'interim' copy protection code (10 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/10/blu-ray_interim_aacs/
Not CeBIT (9 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/09/not_cebit/
Region-free HD DVD to debut in Europe 'next month' (8 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/08/euro_hd-dvd_roll-out/
Sony to ship blank Blu-ray Discs this month (7 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/07/sony_blank_blu-ray_media/
LG Blu-ray Disc player to support HD DVD too? (6 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/06/lg_blu-ray_hd-dvd_plans/
Blu-ray to hit US in May (28 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/28/blu-ray_us_launch_date/
Sony, NEC to merge optical drive teams (27 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/27/sony_nec_merge_optical_drive_teams/
Sony admits PS3 could be delayed (20 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/20/sony_admits_possible_ps3_delay/
Blu-ray Disc developers complete specification (6 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/06/blu-ray_spec_done/