Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/13/sony_msvr-a10_video_recorder/
Sony is gearing up to help Japanese PlayStation Portable owners get more video content onto their handheld gadgets. The consumer electronics giant has announced a digital video recorder that stores programmes on MemoryStick in a PSP-friendly format.
If all this sounds familiar, it's because US-based Neuros Audio has been offering just such a unit since late 2005 - we reviewed it here (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/01/review_neuros_mpeg_recorder_2/) - an upgrade from an earlier version of its MPEG Video Recorder tweaked to provide MemoryStick support and better video quality.
Sony's alternative, the MSVR-A10, appears to have fewer recording options: according to an Akihabara News story (http://www.akihabaranews.com/en/news-11345-MS+recorder+for+PSP+by+Sony.html), it does 320 x 240 video using the MPEG 4 AVC - ie. H.264 - codec. Neuros' product encodes for the PSP's widescreen and can do 640 x 480 for better playback on a TV.
Sony's machine, by contrast, provides a wealth of video and audio I/O ports, allowing users to connect an array of devices as source systems. Interestingly, the MSVR-A10 isn't specifically branded to favour the PSP, suggesting the company is offering the unit as a VCR alternative rather than a PSP source or a PVR - store you favourite shows on memory card rather than tape or disc. There's no hard drive on board, and no support for HD, apparently.
The MSVR-A10 costs around ¥25,500 ($215/£124). ®
Neuros MPEG 4 Recorder (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/01/review_neuros_mpeg_recorder_2/)
Neuros brings SD card support back to MPEG 4 Recorder (10 August 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/10/neuros_mpeg_recorder_plus/
Neuros solves MPEG Recorder PSP playback problem (18 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/18/neuros_mpeg_recorder_psp_bug_fix/
Neuros tells PSP users 'don't run firmware 2.7' (4 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/04/neuros_psp_firmware_warning/
Sony to bring net-based TV-to-PSP streaming to Europe (28 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/28/sony_psp_update_locationfree/
Sony schedules DVD/HDD recorder re-vamp (7 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/07/sony_dvd_hdd_recorder_revamp/
Wireless stereo coming to PSP (23 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/23/bluetake_wireless_psp_audio/
PSP 'base pack' to ship Wednesday for £149.99 (20 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/20/psp_base_pack_launch_price/
Archos readies twin-tuner handheld PVR (16 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/16/archos_unveils_700_tv_pvr/
Sony to bring PSP Base Pack to Europe, US (15 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/15/sony_psp_base_pack/
World LCD TV sales overtake CRT revenues (14 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/14/world_tv_sales_q4/
Sony 'running jump' ad derailed (10 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/10/sony_psp_ad_pulled/
Multimedia arms race (20 February 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/20/ds_and_psp_go_multimedia/
20,000 videos available for PSP, iPod (2 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/02/veoh_ipod_psp_downloads/
No Sony PS3 in UK until 2007, says analyst (24 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/24/no_sony_ps3_uk_2007/
Neuros preps DVD-quality, HDD-enabled video recorders (11 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/11/neuros_product_roadmap/
TV to iPod, PSP conversion tools spill onto the market (9 January 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/09/faultline_ipod_psp_content/