Sony is giving its Blu-ray disc player lineup a boost with new models allowing Internet access to get bonus content and an option to see picture-in-picture commentary. Digital Journal TV brings you an exclusive sneak peek into the tech behind the BDP-S550.

DigitalJournal.tv When Blu-ray won the high-def DVD war, Sony rejoiced. But was the celebration premature? After all, Blu-ray player sales sank 40 per cent between January and March 2008. Its share of the video disc market is a mere 8 per cent, compared to ye ol' DVD's share of 92 per cent. Sony isn't taking this dismal news lying down. They want to keep Blu-ray on the minds of home theatre enthusiasts by releasing new players loaded with intriguing features.

In November, Sony will release a new player costing $400. The BDP-S550 is compatible with BD-Live, a recently developed feature allowing customers to download content from the Internet. That content could be exclusive interviews with the cast or live events and gaming add-ons. An included Ethernet port makes possible this online connectivity, while also making firmware updates a cinch.

The new model also sports better audio support: 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus decoding will give the listening experience a welcome enhancement.

What else does the new BDP-S550 offer the Blu-ray aficionado? Find out in DigitalJournal.tv's exclusive look into the bells n' whistles inside Sony's upcoming player.

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