
Usually when we hear about mega-disc changers we're reminded of
One of our biggest knocks against Sony's older DVD changers was that disc information usually had to be added manually, which involved connected a PC keyboard to the changer and tediously entering the disc title, song names, etc. The HES-V1000 avoids this by coming equipped with an Ethernet port that pulls CD, DVD, and Blu-ray disc information off the Internet, so you don't have to enter the info yourself. The Ethernet port also allows the HES-V1000 to communicate with other DLNA-certified devices on your network, so you can, for instance, stream music off the HES-V1000 to your PlayStation 3.
Another good sign for the HES-V1000 is the inclusion of Sony's XrossMediaBar (XMB) menu system, as seen on the PlayStation 3 and
Taking a look at the back panel, you'll note the standard connections for a Blu-ray player, with the addition of A/V inputs, which opens up the possibility of the HES-V1000 offering DVR functionality. Sony hasn't said anything about this yet, but it would be a great addition to this do-it-all media center. In addition to the connectivity on the back panel, the HES-V1000 also has Memory Stick, Secure Digital, CompactFlash, and xD-Picture Card readers, so you can easily load up your digital images.
As you might guess, the HES-V1000 won't be cheap when it comes out in October, with a retail price of about $3,500.
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