In the midst of the 3D revolution, Sharp has launched 2 new ultra-slim Blu-ray players with in-built Internet connections.
The BD-HP80U and the BD-HP90U both feature full high-definition 1080p/24 playback of both traditional 2D and 3D Blu-ray films, output via an HDMI 1.4a connector to a compatible TV – an obvious attempt by Sharp to compliment its Aquos 3D HDTVs and hopefuly increase their sales.
Of course these players are packed with the usual features that you would expect of a Blu-ray player, but in addition to this, they also include Internet connectivity for interactive content, which means they can play back content from site such as YouTube, Netflix, VUDU, and Pandora. At the moment however it looks like these are restricted to US viewers only. However if these machines are released in the UK, I would expect that restriction to be lifted.
The slim design of the BD-HP80U and BD-HP90U means that Sharp has been able to fit a VESA mounting pattern on the rear, so – should you so choose – either can be mounted to the back of a VESA-compatible TV to keep them hidden and out of the way.
The BD-HP90U is slightly different to it’s lower-cost brother with a PlayStation 3-style piano black gloss casing, and a stand which allows the player to be used horizontally or vertically.
Sharp hasn’t announced UK pricing and availability yet, but the BD-HP80U is expected to launch in the US in late September for $430 (around £275), and the BD-HP90U for $500 (around £319).
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