Major films including The Da Vinci Code and Pirates of the Caribbean are among the titles to be released on the Blu-Ray next generation DVD format.

The recorder range will consist of a 160GB (RRP $769) and 250GB (RRP $879) model, both of which feature HDMI 1080i upscaling to improve DVD, video and TV sources to virtual HD picture quality.

We've known this Blu-ray-equipped media center PC was on the horizon, and now AMEX Digital is finally dropping the pimped-out M505-BDR in Europe with even crazier specs than we originally thought. Aside from sporting that swank single-layer Blu-ray burner -- which not only plays Blu-ray titles, but also upscales normal 'ole DVDs to "stunning 1080p" resolution -- the M505 apparently houses an unidentified Intel Core 2 Duo processor on the Intel 945P Express chipset, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, 1.5TB of SATA disk space, and a UK-friendly dual hybrid analog / digital DVB-T TV tuner.

After beating competitors out of the gate with a high-definition video disc player, Toshiba launched its first high-definition recorder in Japan in July.

LG has won three awards in the 2006 EISA Awards including 'European Digital Video Recorder 2006-2007' for the LG RH200MHS. The official award ceremony will be on September 1st at IFA Berlin.