Sony Japan announced [JP] the VBD-MA1 today, the company’s first Blu-ray/DVD burner that doesn’t necessarily require a computer to work. Users can plug in their video camera, for example, directly into the device to store their material on discs (via USB) or use its Memory Stick Duo or SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.
All material can be viewed on the burner’s 2.7-inch LCD screen before recording (AVCHD is supported), with Sony saying users can copy video or pictures with the push of a button. Needless to say, the VBD-MA1 can be connected to a PC and used as a conventional external burner, too (see above).
Sony plans to start selling the 550g-device in Japan on August 5 (price: $380) – no word yet on a possible international release.