Digit Online’s Hottest Gadgets - Sharp Blu-Ray Player Without TV Tuner
Considering the relatively high-cost of Blu-ray Disc recorders, anything that reduces the price is welcome but Sharp’s latest recorder does away with something that’s previously been essential: the TV tuner. Instead, the BD-HP1 can use the tuner in Sharp Aquos LCD TV sets. It hooks up via iLink (IEEE1394) and can power just their tuner, so the entire set doesn’t have to be switched on to make recording possible. But it does mean you can’t record one channel while watching another. It costs about ¥150,000 (US$1,260) in Japan. A similar model is due to go on sale overseas later this year. Sharp hasn’t yet determined the exact timing, markets or pricing.
We still ask: Will Blu-Ray be the next Betamax?