World's first portable Blu-ray player launches

HD format gains wheels, sort of

CES The world’s first portable Blu-ray disc player will soon be with us, thanks to Panasonic.

Panasonic's DMP-B15: Blu-ray on the go

Its DMP-B15 machine has an 8.9in LCD screen with a battery that will last for up to three hours, the company claimed.

The machine runs on PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus – an imaging technology that processes each pixel of the Blu-ray disc video signal vertically. According to Panasonic, this results in colour data with twice the accuracy of conventional systems.

An SD memory card slot’s built into one side of the machine, which also features Panasonic’s VieraCast IPTV functionality.

Although it’s been designed with portability in mind, the player can connect into an HD TV through an HDMI cable and jacked into a stereo for better sound.

An optional headrest mounting can be bought for in-car use.

Panasonic’s DMP-B15 will be available in May, but its price hasn’t been given.