Ready or not, 3D Blu-ray movies are coming and the new Sony BDP-S470 is ready to handle all of them — once Sony outs the necessary firmware. The same goes for the previously-announced BDP-S570 player and BDV-E770W and BDV-E570 HTIB systems. All these systems will be rocking 3D movies soon. The new S470, however, is just curiously $20 more than the S370 and a few dollars less than the flagship S570 besides the fact that all three models are nearly identical.
For a few dollars more the S570 features Wi-Fi and a 1GB of built-in memory. But then for $50 less you can forgo the wireless nonsense and still get the 3D goodies. The S370 retails for only $180 and seems to be the same exact model as the new S470 minus the 3D stuff — although Sony could probably add it via a firmware upgrade anyway.
Spec stepping like this is nothing new and Sony has been doing it for ages. Offering multiple products that feature only slight technical differences but huge profit margins between them is the formula for success. In a perfect world Sony would have a high-end model that actually has compelling features over the low-end model.
SAN DIEGO, CA, Feb. 10, 2010 – Continuing to drive innovation, Sony® today launched the new BDP-S470 stand-alone Blu-ray 3D™-ready player. The model can be upgraded to play Blu-ray 3D content with a firmware update available this summer.
The company also announced that the previously introduced BDP-S570 Blu-ray Disc™ model and the BDV-E770W and BDV-E570 Blu-ray Disc home theater systems will be Blu-ray 3D capable with firmware updates available this summer.
The new models, along with the previously announced BDP-S370, are now shipping and will be available at national retailers, Sony Style®, and www.sonystyle.com next month.
“Consumer excitement for 3D is unbelievably high and Sony is poised to deliver the best possible in-home experience,” said Chris Fawcett, vice president of Sony’s Home Division. “Involved in every facet of the 3D chain from professional equipment to content production and hardware, Sony is the one company that can lean on its broad expertise to deliver 3D to the home that truly captures consumer imagination.”
In addition to Blu-ray 3D playback, when connected to a broadband Internet network, all of the new models instantly stream movies, videos, music, and more from Netflix®, Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube™, Slacker® Internet Radio, Pandora® (Coming Spring 2010), NPR, Sony Pictures, Sony Music, and over 25 total providers through the Sony BRAVIA® Internet Video platform.
The new models also feature Sony’s Entertainment Database Browser using Gracenote™ technologies that allows users to browse details like actor and production information from a Blu-ray Disc and access related content found on BRAVIA Internet Video content.
Unique to the new models, users with an iPhone® or iPod® touch device can control the players using a free app called “BD Remote” that can be downloaded from the Apple App store. The app allows an iPhone or iPod touch device to function as a remote control that includes the ability to access a Blu-ray Disc’s details such as jacket artwork, actor, and production information as well as search for additional video clips online.
The models also offer improved start up and disc loading performance. When the quick start feature is turned on, the start-up time is quicker and disc loading is faster than previous models. The stand-alone Blu-ray Disc players can start-up from power off in about three seconds.
Specifications:
BDP-S570 Blu-ray Disc Player
Available in February for about $250
Full HD 1080p single-disc Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD, SA-CD player
Blu-ray 3D ready (with firmware update available this summer)
BRAVIA Monolithic Design
BRAVIA Internet Video and BD-LIVE™
IP Content Noise Reduction
Built-in Wi-Fi® Wireless (802.11) with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)
Entertainment Database Browser with Gracenote technology
BD Remote (iPhone/iPod touch remote control – free app.)
Photo/music/video playback via USB and DLNA® (with firmware update)
DVD upscaling to 1080p with Precision Cinema HD Upscaling
Dolby® TrueHD and dts®-HD Master Audio™ decoding
Built-in 1GB MemoryBDP-S470 Blu-ray Disc Player
Available in February for about $200
Full HD 1080p single-disc Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD, SA-CD player
Blu-ray 3D ready (with firmware update available this summer)
BRAVIA Monolithic Design
BRAVIA Internet Video and BD-LIVE
Wireless LAN Ready (USB wireless LAN adapter sold separately)
Entertainment Database Browser with Gracenote technology
BD Remote (iPhone/iPod touch remote control – free app.)
Photo/music/video playback via USB and DLNA (with firmware update)
DVD upscaling to 1080p with Precision Cinema HD Upscaling
Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio decodingBDP-S370 Blu-ray Disc Player
Available in February for about $180
Full HD 1080p single-disc Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD, SA-CD player
BRAVIA Monolithic Design
BRAVIA Internet Video and BD-LIVE
Entertainment Database Browser with Gracenote technology
Wireless LAN Ready (USB wireless LAN adapter sold separately)
BD Remote (iPhone/iPod touch remote control – free app.)
Photo/music/video playback via USB and DLNA (with firmware update)
DVD upscaling to 1080p with Precision Cinema HD Upscaling
Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio decodingBDV-E770W Blu-ray Disc™ Home Theater System
Available in March for about $650
1000W Full HD 1080p Blu-ray Disc, DVD, CD, SA-CD 5.1 channel home theater system
Blu-ray 3D ready (with firmware update available this summer)
BRAVIA Monolithic Design
BRAVIA Internet Video and BD-LIVE
IP Content Noise Reduction
Integrated S-AIR™ Wireless Rear Speaker
Wireless LAN Ready with included USB Wireless LAN adapter (802.11)
Entertainment Database Browser with Gracenote technology
BD Remote (iPhone/iPod touch remote control – free app.)
Photo/Music/Video Playback via USB and DLNA(with firmware update)
iPod audio playback via USB
DVD upscaling to 1080p with Precision Cinema HD Upscaling
Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio decoding
Built-in 1GB MemoryBDV-E570 Blu-ray Disc Home Theater System
Available in March for about $550
1000W Full HD 1080p Blu-ray Disc™, DVD, CD, SA-CD 5.1 channel home theater system
Blu-ray 3D ready (with firmware update available this summer)
Monolithic Design
BRAVIA Internet Video and BD-LIVE
S-AIR ready for wireless rear and wireless multi-room speakers (sold separately)
Wireless LAN Ready with included USB Wireless LAN adapter (802.11)
Entertainment Database Browser with Gracenote technology
BD Remote (iPhone/iPod touch remote control – free app.)
Photo/Music/Video Playback via USB and DLNA(with firmware update)
iPod audio playback via USB
DVD upscaling to 1080p with Precision Cinema HD Upscaling
Dolby TrueHD and dts-HD Master Audio decoding
Built-in 1GB Memory