The "Death Watch" starts soon for DVD Recorders in the U.S. Market. What will the future hold. :eek:

Here's the first announcement: To talk to a Philips rep., you'll have to go to the Funai booth! (http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9971000-7.html)

A couple of previewed DVD-related items for CES2009:

AVerMedia's Wi-Fi Digital Video Recorder (http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml;jsessionid=EXYOBTYOMTG5QQSNDLPCKH0CJUNN2JVN? galleryID=276&imageID=39&articleID=212002337)

Sling Media's new SlingCatcher, which wirelessly routes video from your PC to your television (http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showImage.jhtml;jsessionid=VZE12ZYPOJJXGQSNDLPCKHSCJUNN2JVN? galleryID=276&articleID=212002337)

PLUS an amazing number of "ear-buds" for iPods and lots of Home Media Center PCs.

A good article on who's scaling back at CES2009 (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10104399-1.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0), and the incentives offered by CES and the discounted prices for hotel rooms.

Some scaling back so far are:
Seagate
Belkin
Yahoo
Philips
Logitech
Westinghouse

Microsoft, Sony and Samsung are among those "expected to be making big announcements at the 2009 event."

One description of CES 2009! (http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20081205/ces-2009-three-booths-and-a-clapping-toy-monkey/) :D

CES 2009 Innovations Honorees in Video Components Category

Click here (http://www.cesweb.org/awards/innovations/2009honorees.asp?category=905105) for page with LINKS TO VIEW PRODUCTS


DIRECTV Off-Air Tuner
Model: AM21
The DIRECTV Off-Air Tuner is the perfect solution for adding outstanding DVR functionality to terrestrial broadcast transmissions. Designed to work seamlessly with the DIRECTV Plus HD DVR.
Location(s): This honoree is not exhibiting at the 2009 International CES.

DIRECTV Pro Series High Definition DVR (HR21P)
Model: HR21P
The DIRECTV HD DVR Pro is the ultimate in high-end home-theater equipment for taking full advantage of DIRECTV's more than 130 HD channels.
Location(s): This honoree is not exhibiting at the 2009 International CES.

LG Electronics BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player
Model: BD300
LG's BD300 is the world's first Blu-ray disc player that instantly streams movies and TV episodes from Netflix, featuring unparalleled access to disc-based and networked home video entertainment.
Location(s): Central/8214, North Hall Meeting Rooms/N247

Lorex Edge
Model: L800 Blade Series
The Edge is a professional grade, multichannel digital surveillance recorder in a very small package (8.5x11x1.25"). This networkable recorder includes VESA mounts, DVI output, H.264 compression and 240fps recording capability.
Location(s): Central/12048

Panasonic DMP-BD55 Blu-ray Player
Model: DMP-BD55
Panasonic's DMP-BD55 Blu-ray player allows consumers to enjoy movies the way the film maker intended - in stunning High Definition video and audio by incorporating cutting edge technologies and features.
Location(s): Central/9405, Central/9458, Central/C201, Central/C202, North Hall Meeting Rooms/N243, Sands/Venetian/San Polo 3501B, Sands/Venetian/San Polo 3502

Philips Mini TV PVD986
For multi-source entertainment, rely on the sleek and light Philips Mini TV with 9" widescreen. Enjoy free-to-air TV programs, videos, music or photos in thumbnails or slideshow format.
Location(s): This honoree is not exhibiting at the 2009 International CES.

Sony BDV-IT1000ES Blu-ray Disc Player Home Theater System
Model: BDV-IT1000ES
A unique style and design makes the Sony BDV-IT1000ES home theatre system truly special. With speakers about the width of an index finger, cinematic surround sound is brought to life.
Location(s): Central/14200, South 1/21413, Central/C206, North Hall Meeting Rooms/N110

TiVo HD XL
Model: TCD658000
At 150 hours of HD recording, TiVo HD XL offers more recording capacity than any other DVR available today. With THX®-certification the TiVo HD XL assures optimum sound and video.
Location(s): North Hall Meeting Rooms/N201, North Hall Meeting Rooms/N202, North Hall Meeting Rooms/N203, North Hall Meeting Rooms/N204

Whipsaw Inc. Vudu Video On Demand
VUDU delivers movies from major motion picture studios directly to your TV via a broadband Internet connection, bypassing the computer, cable, or satellite TV service.
Location(s): This honoree is not exhibiting at the 2009 International CES.

Sharp to unveil at CES 2009 a HD LCD with built-in Bluray RECORDER that'll be unmountable "for repair"! Supposedly going on sale in USA right after CES 2009. (http://www.smarthouse.com.au/CES_2009/U5U2J6X3)
Deleted, turns out it'll have a Player, not a Recorder, so doesn't even belong in this forum. :(

This must be an odd definition of terms. After reading the short article, I think that they mean the BluRay recorder is detachable from the television, for repairs. Unmountable? DISmountable maybe.

This must be an odd definition of terms. After reading the short article, I think that they mean the BluRay recorder is detachable from the television, for repairs. Unmountable? DISmountable maybe.Maybe odd to us but this is an Australian website so it may be the common usage for them. But going along with it, I'll bet their odd definition of terms extends to the B-R drive itself. I'd be willing to be it is not a recorder but a built-in player.

Uh, yeah. I'll bet you are correct in that it is a player and not a recorder.

Nothin' but doom and gloom on the DVD front for CES 2009! :(

I've gone thru umpteen articles on "What to Expect at CES 2009" and NONE mention "DVD" except for an occasional memorial to HD-DVD.

I did learn that Schwinn is bringing a bike to CES, and Microsoft might release Windows 7 there... exciting stuff like that for avid HDD-DVD recordists. :rolleyes:

Also lots of stats on declining DVD sales, lack of predicted Bluray sales (10% of DVD sales), and the rise of streaming video content, etc.

The Shitzu Shwami predicts ZERO new DVD recorders for the U.S. market (w/digital tuners) unveiled at CES 2009! :eek:

Go ahead. Depress me further. I can't say I'm surprised. I wonder how far away Blu-ray recorders are from the US market? Hey, maybe they'll appear in the Canadian market, and a few will drift across the border.

On a related note, a friend passed me an incredibly depressing New York Times Magazine article from a couple weeks ago. It basically said stragglers and luddites (like us DVD recordists) need to give it up already and face the fact that no one gives a sh*t about creating and maintaining their own libraries of anything anymore. Its passe, its dead, its not "hip" to own your own hard copy of anything. We are now expected to use the internet for absolutely everything, with the next victims being broadcast networks and cable TV programming. Apparently we should all be satisfied with "hi def" postcard sized streaming video to which access can be rescinded at the whim of the content owner or service provider.

Blogs have taken over from "easily-digested" newspaper and magazine reading, all things audio are the province of the iPod and all video bows to youTube and its ilk. Forget context or enough time to form your own opinion before seeing 1000 others chime in with theirs. And Hollywood is now hell-bent on turning traditional movies into an amusement park ride, all emphasis being placed on forcing a new 3-D transition. Billions are being spent in a feverish effort to obsolete current HDTV with 3DTV technology, so home video can keep pace.

All this is bearing down on us while we debate the merits of various $60 ATSC conversion boxes.:eek: I see the future coming, and it sucks for anyone who doesn't live or die by their PS3/xBox. The next decade is going to make the impact of TV in the '50s look mild by comparison. I fear for the sanity of anyone over 50 when all our media touchstones evaporate in a haze of URLs.

As a new year opens her bosom to reveal the promise of things to come, I see CitiBear is his usual cheery, sanguine self.

But he's most assuredly absolutely correct.

A a new year opens her bosom to reveal the promise of things to come, I see CitiBear is his usual cheery, sanguine self.

But he's most assuredly absolutely correct.

Ha ha ha - ROTFLMAO! ;)

Yes, he is and I love his manner of expression. Being part of the 'over 50' set, I, too, bemoan the short-sightedness of society at large, sometimes. That said, I have a Roku and love it to death which streams SD and HD video to TV/HDTV sets from Netflix and soon other sources. Great PQ and huge library of material.

I detest and hate the cable companies so much now that I welcome their demise and it can't come soon enough for me. I'm dropping back to basic cable after the conversion. I can get more movies than I can watch via the Roku and Netflix DVDs. I still record, of course, now and then, mostly live shows, and have a fairly large library already. I'll be recording mostly from OTA from now on, I guess.

While I hate what's happened to us - I'm trying to make the best of it. (I highly recommend the Roku box, btw, only $99 and a Netflix account and you're set - tres cool!)

Greetings to my friends here - I'm not here as much as I used to be, but this is still the best forum on AVS, IMHO.

Happy New Year!

Bron

Hey, some action, finally... altho single-disc and combo... but at least it's not quite dead yet!

Toshiba announces four DVDRs (full story and other products here (http://sev.prnewswire.com/computer-electronics/20090107/NE5624507012009-1.html)):

"Toshiba's new line-up of two DVD recorders features 1080p upconversion capabilities, HDMI(TM) inputs [ed. should read "outputs"], Auto-Finalization and high-gloss black cosmetics. The line offers single-deck DVD recorders and DVD/VCR combination models, with select models featuring ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, and HDMI-CEC for simplified device control using only one remote. All models support recording and playback of all the popular DVD formats including DVD-R, -RW, +R and +RW.

DR420 (MSRP $119.99, February 2009)
DR570 (MSRP $179.99, April 2009)
DVR620 (MSRP $179.99, April 2009)
DVR670 (MSRP $249.99, March 2009)"

Kind of reads like last years Tofunaishiba lineup which paralleled the Panasonic EA/EZ lineup: 1 DVDR and 1 DVDR/VCR with or without tuner. But of course the good news is that at least somebody is still in the game.

And before people get all excited, that line about "HDMI(TM) inputs" is an obvious typo which should have read "HDMI(TM) outputs".

Now, what about that Panasonic Blu-ray + HDD recorder for the USA, that was mentioned somewhere last fall?

Apparently we should all be satisfied with "hi def" postcard sized streaming video to which access can be rescinded at the whim of the content owner or service provider.


So true. It's amazing to me how there has been such a transition to everyone flocking to buy these super-size LCD and plasma home theatre displays (spending forever tweaking them and still can't get it to look half-decent unless you're 20 feet away), then also drive the industry to thrive with small-screen computer streaming. Not to mention downconverting/compressing content to low-rent formats to use on hand-held devices.

This obsession with a "streaming" world won't look as rosy as ISP's develop ever-increasing price schemes for download-limited service tiers.

As a new year opens her bosom to reveal the promise of things to come, I see CitiBear is his usual cheery, sanguine self.

:eek:Yikes! I guess I am a bit of a Cassandra, huh? Oh, all right- more than a bit. Maybe the reincarnation?:rolleyes: I get carried away here sometimes (ok, frequently:o) because there aren't too many folks off-line who are interested in these topics. But believe it or not, I'm not really that bad- the old saying is true, "scratch a pessimist, you find an optimist". I'm usually hopeful about the potential of technology, but I get grumpy when the good stuff fails (DVD/HDD recorders) and I see a rudderless entertainment industry rushing headlong into ill-conceived strategies (really, Hollywood: 3D? Again?). And I'm scratching my head after holiday shopping and seeing audio CDs are *still* priced at a ludicrous $18.99 for catalog and even hot new discs on sale averaged $13.99. Are they freaking kidding? Still with the ripoff pricing? Four years after nearly every music retailer in the world crashed and burned BECAUSE these unrealistic prices don't cut it? You can buy a new DVD player for the price of two Pink Floyd CDs! Who is running these companies?

Oops. Sorry. There I go again.;) Happy New Year, everyone! :)

And I'm scratching my head after holiday shopping and seeing audio CDs are *still* priced at a ludicrous $18.99 for catalog and even hot new discs on sale averaged $13.99. Are they freaking kidding? Still with the ripoff pricing? Four years after nearly every music retailer in the world crashed and burned BECAUSE these unrealistic prices don't cut it?They need the revenue in order to continue funding the RIAA's crusade to sue all those downloaders, who probably would not have bought the CD's anyway.

:eek:Yikes! I guess I am a bit of a Cassandra, huh? Oh, all right- more than a bit. Maybe the reincarnation?:rolleyes:Don't feel bad. Someone here told me I would win hands down for "The Official Forum Curmudgeon" last week. :)

The business model nowadays . . . middle class American workers.Geeze guy, do you really feel the need to compete with citibear for the doom & gloom opinion title.

Hey, some action, finally... altho single-disc and combo... but at least it's not quite dead yet!

Toshiba announces four DVDRs (full story and other products here (http://sev.prnewswire.com/computer-electronics/20090107/NE5624507012009-1.html)):

"Toshiba's new line-up of two DVD recorders features ...

DR420 (MSRP $119.99, February 2009)
DR570 (MSRP $179.99, April 2009)
DVR620 (MSRP $179.99, April 2009)
DVR670 (MSRP $249.99, March 2009)"

Can these estimated msrp's be interpreted to mean that Tosh is charging abou $60 & $70 for a QAM/ATSC tuner (& circuitry) to be added to a tunerless box? Interesting that a complete tuner and circuitry - including jacks/power/case/cables/enclosure retails for less than that... Tho it is for SDTV only.
Wonder what that means, prognostication wise.
tom

Now, what about that Panasonic Blu-ray + HDD recorder for the USA, that was mentioned somewhere last fall?

I recall seeing one announced in Japan for about $1200, but no indication it would ever be sold in the USA.

Now, what about that Panasonic Blu-ray + HDD recorder for the USA, that was mentioned somewhere last fall?

I recall seeing one announced in Japan for about $1200, but no indication it would ever be sold in the USA.
The Aussie's were next after Japan, as reported here in May 2008. (http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/05/28/panasonic-launches-twin-tuner-blu-ray-dvd-recorders-in-austral/)

Not sure if that means they're creeping closer to the U.S. or getting farther away!? :confused:

I haven't seen a HD DVD recorder mentioned.
Tell me the MPAA still has a stranglehold on recording? :mad::mad:

That POS in the WH is out. Time for big business to crawl back into their hole where they came from. Their days are numbered. ;)

No QAM? Or, just not mentioned.

Probably just not mentioned. I think this is the usual for Funai-made recorders, based on what I've seen with some of the other's specs, probably to cover their rear-ends.

wajo-
That write-up is for the 2008 models. The 2009 models are described by Toshiba in your post #15. The current Engadget article on the 2009 Toshiba's is just a copy of Toshiba's press release.

Bob

wajo-
That write-up is for the 2008 models. The 2009 models are described by Toshiba in your post #15. The current Engadget article on the 2009 Toshiba's is just a copy of Toshiba's press release.
Man, I hate it when I do that! :eek:

I deleted my year-old post... thanks for catching the error! :confused:

... You can buy a new DVD player for the price of two Pink Floyd CDs! Who is running these companies?

Oops. Sorry. There I go again.;) Happy New Year, everyone! :)

Pink Floyd? That explains everything. ;)

Check out "Porcupine Tree" - a new band putting out some good tunes and following, a bit, in the wake of PF.

And, I get you...it's not overly pessimistic to bemoan the sad state of affairs we're seeing all around us as Hollywood, Sony, RIAA, cable companies and all the other idiots keep trying to screw things up for everyone. The greedy b*st*adrs. They could make plenty of money, but no, never enough.

Ah, well, there's still plenty of fun to be had and, I must say, figuring out ways to do everything they don't want me to do is somewhat amusing. Sure glad I snagged my machines while I could, though. So I merrily continue to churn out DVD's and enjoy the banter here. ;)

Keep 'em coming, Citibear, I love it!

Check out "Porcupine Tree" - a new band putting out some good tunes and following, a bit, in the wake of PF.Depends on your definition of "new". ;)

Two new VHS/DVD combo recorders from JVC coming: $200 DR-MV80B w/o tuner and $250 DR-MV150B with ATSC tuner.

ZDNet article here but nothing more in it than above. (http://content.zdnet.com/2346-9595_22-261478.html)

Hey, some action, finally... altho single-disc and combo... but at least it's not quite dead yet!

Toshiba announces four DVDRs (full story and other products here (http://sev.prnewswire.com/computer-electronics/20090107/NE5624507012009-1.html)):

"Toshiba's new line-up of two DVD recorders features 1080p upconversion capabilities, HDMI(TM) inputs [ed. should read "outputs"], Auto-Finalization and high-gloss black cosmetics. The line offers single-deck DVD recorders and DVD/VCR combination models, with select models featuring ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, and HDMI-CEC for simplified device control using only one remote. All models support recording and playback of all the popular DVD formats including DVD-R, -RW, +R and +RW.

DR420 (MSRP $119.99, February 2009)
DR570 (MSRP $179.99, April 2009)
DVR620 (MSRP $179.99, April 2009)
DVR670 (MSRP $249.99, March 2009)"


So does anyone know what the new Toshiba lineup offers over their existing lineup? I'm looking to get a basic tunerless model to offload stuff from my dvr and camcorder so I'm just wondering if I should wait for the new DR420 or just get this year's DR410.

I like the ability to set the widescreen flag which is the reason I'm looking at Toshiba. I've heard the Panasonic is a little better, but it doesn't have this option. I want to be able to watch widescreen dvd's on either 16:9 or 3:4 tv's with the correct aspect ratio which I would not be able to do without setting the flag.

Thanks.

And just how many of these have component & HDMI outputs that will pass the full HD signal off the tuner so as to use the box as a tuner for a TV that doesn't have one?

How many will pass the full HD signal? I don't think ANY will. The content is all turned to SD in the machine.

So... the final count?

6 new DVDRs, 4 from Toshiba and 2 from JVC, all single-disc or combos, some with digital tuners some tunerless.

I'm gonna stop checking for any gooder news, but for my last search, I decided to look for ANY news from CNET... latest news article on CNET "tagged with DVD Recorder" was in November, 2006! :eek:

Their earliest "active" article was "Survey: DVD-recorder sales set to soar - May 5, 2004", so only 4-1/2+ years since SOSS (start of soaring sales)!? :eek: :eek:

So... the final count?

6 new DVDRs, 4 from Toshiba and 2 from JVC, all single-disc or combos, some with digital tuners some tunerless.

I'm gonna stop checking for any gooder news, but for my last search, I decided to look for ANY news from CNET... latest news article on CNET "tagged with DVD Recorder" was in November, 2006! :eek:

Their earliest "active" article was "Survey: DVD-recorder sales set to soar - May 5, 2004", so only 4-1/2+ years since SOSS (start of soaring sales)!? :eek: :eek:
Are you sure you don't mean S as in sorry? :mad: The "start of sorry sales" would be more aligned with reality.:eek:

Are you sure you don't mean S as in sorry? :mad: The "start or sorry sales" would be more aligned with reality.:eek:
Could also be Sorrowful, Sagging, or even Shitzu! :D

Depends on your definition of "new". ;)

Ha ha...yes, you're right...well, relatively new. Within the last decade or so. ;)

I only started listening to them about 4-5 years ago. I guess I'm not as hip to the scene as I used to be. ;) Have only seen them live once, but it was great. Not that many groups catch my ear like they did these days. Usually it's more like, 'been there, done that' or yikes! Same way my old man used to feel when I was upstairs trying to play Hendrix at 110 decibels. <ha ha>

Best live show I've seen recently was Alison Krauss and Union Station - I got front row seats (tickets off ebay) -- pricey, but it was awesome. Incredibly good. I don't go to too many concerts anymore, so I treasure each one. One of the joys of life.

Just like DVD Recorders...to wander back on topic. ;)

I just bought the Toshiba DR570 Dvd Recorder. I have the cable line directly into the recorder and from there to the tv. I have Cox Cable I can get the major channels such as Fox, ABC, NBC and CBS but after that I can't get anymore like ESPN. Does anyone have this recorder and can help me solve this problem.

I think that Toshiba is built by Funai and, if so, it might have the same Manual Channel Preset (or other name) for adding and deleting channels.

If that's true, you could try the "All-or-Nothing" manual channel preset procedure described here. (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12298432&postcount=12#Scan9)

This is a "sure-fire" method for finding "hidden" channels that an auto-scan can pass by, esp. in Comcrap or other evil cableco systems where they start their good channels in slots other than XX.1, which makes the auto-scan skip those channel groups entirely.