Pioneer, Philips revamp Blu-ray players

IFA 07 Pioneer and Philips both followed their fellow Blu-ray Disc supporters and last week announced new players based on the next-gen optical disc format.

Pioneer's BD-LX70: tweaked to become the BD-LX70A

Pioneer's BDP-LX70A updates its original BDP-LX70 player, bringing cinema-style 24 frames per second playback - aka 24p - at 1080p HD. It also ads bitstream audio support for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio sound processing technologies, Pioneer said.

The consumer electronics company also noted that like the LX70A's predecessor, the new player can grab and display content stored on a computer, provided both are networked - the LX70A has an Ethernet port - and the computer is loaded with server software that's compatible with the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) specification.

Philips' BDP7100: now with 24p support

Separately, Philips unveiled its BDP7100, which again supports 24p frame rates at 1080p resolution, provided you have a compatible TV, and you connect player and display by HDMI.

Like Pioneer's BDP-LX70A and almost all the other Blu-ray and HD DVD players announced at IFA this year, the BDP7100 supports HDMI's Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) system to allow its remote control to operate the connected TV and other HDMI-linked devices.

Philips' BDP7100: can control your telly too

Philips said the BDP1000 is availble immediately, though it didn't say what the price will be. Ditto, Pioneer, though it added its player will go on sale in October.