Sony unveils new players to match Blu-Ray success

Blu-Ray's accession to the position of dominant high-definition format provider has been partnered with the launch of new players of the medium from Sony.

The company which won out in the competition between Blu-Ray and Toshiba's HD-DVD has announced today that it has updated its standalone Blu-Ray devices, in news that may interest those in the DVD duplication industry.

A pair of new models, known as the BDP-S350 and BDP-S550, are both capable of providing picture-in-picture or "Bonus View" playback options, Pocket Lint reports.

In terms of the players' impact on the DVD duplication industry - given the technology likely to follow from other player manufacturers - it should be noted that the devices will also support "most" standard DVDs, while featuring upscaling to 1080p for HDTV sets.

Meanwhile, Computerworld has suggested that Blu-Ray discs may not be welcomed in the same way that DVDs were because the alteration in viewing quality is not as marked as that achieved in the transition from VHS to discs.