Pioneer Plunges Into Multimedia
DigitaLibrary provides media center for home, and two DVD recorders debut.Anush Yegyazarian, PCWorld.com
LAS VEGAS-- Pioneer Electronics last week added two new products to its growing catalogue of DVD recorders, and is also introducing at the Consumer Electronics Show here a central entertainment server for the home to tie all the new technology together.
The two new DVD recorders won't carry the Elite brand name like previous Pioneer DVD recorders, but will simply be branded with the Pioneer name. They are both scheduled for release this summer.
The $699 DVR-001 is an entry-level recorder for those interested in replacing their VCR with a simple, one-button-record DVD device. It offers progressive scan technology for better video quality and comes with the standard audio and video ports.
The higher-end unit, the $999 DVR-002, combines rewritable DVD functionality with an 80GB hard drive for greater capacity and for Tivo- and ReplayTV-like capability to watch one program while taping another. An electronic program guide to help you select TV shows to record may come with the unit, but no decision has been made on specifics, according Rolf Hawkins, a product specialist with Pioneer's Home Electronics Division.
Because you can also burn to DVD, preserving and sharing your recorded content is simple. With this model, the menus with thumbnail images that you create for your DVDs can be read on DVD players, making navigation easier, Hawkins says. The unit also has a FireWire port for easy transfer of video from your digital video camera.
Both units record to DVD-RW/R, offer one- to six-hour recording, and come with built-in TV tuners.
Share Your Content
Like others at CES, Pioneer is offering consumers a way to transfer and share the files they create or store on their PCs. Unlike products from Sony and Hewlett-Packard that transfer content, Pioneer's DigitaLibrary, the DL-1000-S, also stores it and helps you manage it.
The $999 DL-1000-S comes with an 80GB drive to store your video, pictures, or music. It provides an ethernet connection (which you can use to link wireless or HomePlug components) so you can network your PCs and get access to the content stored on them, as well. It also has a CD-ROM drive, so you can transfer content you've already burned, or rip music CDs directly onto the system.
Because you can store content directly on the device, your PC needn't be on for you to enjoy your digital media, according to David Bales, Pioneer marketing manager.
Accessories, Options
The unit organizes content into four main areas: Music Jukebox, Photo Albums, Video Clips, and Internet Content. And it can distribute up to three video streams or 21 audio streams simultaneously, according to the company. So if you want to watch your wedding video but the kids want to listen to their music collection, no problem--you can both enjoy what you want.
Pioneer couples its DigitaLibrary with a receiver "branch," the DL-500AV. This $699 unit can be used in any other room where you want to be able to stream content.
The units require a broadband connection to work. Pioneer expects to release them around late spring.
In partnership with Launch.com, the DigitaLibrary will let you access streaming audio and video from the Internet. The unit supports MPEG-1, MPEG-2, Windows Media, and MP3 formats.
Both the Digital Library and its branches offer composite video and audio input, S-video-out and analog left and right output. There is no digital-audio-out.