Although the headlines are currently being grabbed by high-definition disc players, Toshiba will be augmenting its HD DVD line-up with nine standard-def DVD models - some with HDMI and upscaling capabilities.
These models range from a £30 basic player with DivX capability up to a pair of HDMI-equipped hard-disk-recorders able to upscale standard-definition discs to 720p, 1080i and 1080p high-def - and there are other up-scaling products in between.
Also promised is a big expansion of the company's REGZA-family HD ready LCD TV sets. These sets are black-finished and all but one of the DVD models are designed to match them. See, Toshiba promising 14 more HD ready LCD set this year.
Although selling for £30 - or less if you shop around carefully - the ultra-slim SD-270E entry-level DVD player isn't short of features. It carries component outputs (though doesn't upscale or offer any HDMI sockets) and, like the rest of the new range, plays DivX videos, MP3 music and JPEG still images - as well as SVCD and VCD and all but one of the expected standard-def DVD formats.
It doesn't handle DVD-RAM, though, and nor does any of the other newcomers. RAM is a format pushed heavily by Panasonic and supported by a number of companies who are in the opposing Blu-ray Disc camp from Toshiba and its HD DVD allies.
Paying £20 more gets you the SD-370E - a similar-spec'd player that adds an HDMI port through which it can feed audio, along with video or stills that it upscales to 720p or 1080i high-def.
SD-370E
Take the features of the entry-level player and add VHS-recording functionality and you've got the SD-38VB - a combi model pitched around £80. This let's you tape from DVD or off-air - analogue and Freeview digital tuners are built in. It should also be possible to record off-air while watching a DVD.
On the DVD-recorder front, four models are promised, two of them offering Freeview digital tuners, HDMI output and the ability to upscale to 720p, 1080i and 1080p. One of the pair, the DR-17DT, likely price around £155, records to DVD.
Its companion, the RD-97DT (price unknown), adds a 250GB built in hard disk and can record to opticals or HDD. The hard disk is reckoned to hold up to 424 hours of recordings and to let you pause and rewind live TV. Other extras include digital optical and coaxial outputs.
The remaining two recorders - DV-R17 and RD-XV47 (prices also unknown) - are VHS/DVD combis, each with a single analogue tuner. The RD-XV47, though, has the distinction of also having a 160GB built-in hard disk.
A pair of portables completes the line-up. The SD-P1707, available for £110 or less, has a 7in LCD screen, while the SD-P1900 (£155-£160) has a 9-incher. As with the rest of the range, they offer component outputs, DivX and JPEG viewing and MP3 music playback - but with the addition of WM3 music capability.
Each is said to have 480 x 234 screen resolution and a 150:1 contrast ratio and comes with a DC adaptor and carrying case.
The extra for the black-finished SD-P1900 is reckoned to buy a five-hour battery life and 110 degree viewing angle. Tosh doesn't relate the viewing angle for the smaller, silver-finished model but says its battery life is three hours.
Check out Toshiba's DVD press release and take a spin over to this thread in the HEXUS.lifestyle forum to comment.
HEXUS.links
HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about this articleHEXUS.lifestyle - press.releases :: TOSHIBA'S 2007 DVD RANGE SETS STANDARDS IN DESIGN & FUNCTIONALITY
HEXUS.lifestyle - news :: Toshiba promising 14 more HD ready LCD set this year.
HEXUS.lifestyle - press.releases :: TOSHIBA PUSHES HD BOUNDRIES WITH THE LAUNCH OF 2007 REGZA LINE-UP
HEXUS.lifestyle - news :: Tosh HD-EP10 'budget' 1080p HD DVD player due May
HEXUS.lifestyle - news :: Toshiba's HD-XE1 1080p HD DVD player arrives at last
HEXUS.lifestyle - news :: UK launch of Toshiba HD DVD players delayed six weeks
HEXUS.lifestyle - news :: March US launch for Toshiba HD DVD set-top players
HEXUS.net - news :: Toshiba shows world's first HD DVD writer for desktop PCs
External.links
Toshiba UK - DVD hardware home pageToshiba UK - HD DVD home page
Wikipedia - HDMI
