PLDS (Philips & Lite-On Digital Solutions) has announced the latest addition to their Blu-ray range - the DX-4O1S - an external BD-ROM drive set for launch in April 2008 with pricing yet to be confirmed.

The DX-4O1S, which will have Lite-On branding, is a read-only device that works with your computer via a USB connection, something the company says will make Blu-ray playback readily available to even novice computer users without any complicated hardware knowledge.

In addition to Blu-ray, this drive can read all DVD+/-R(W) and CD-R(W) media.

"Due to recent market developments we can expect an increasing volume of movies to be released in high definition on Blu-ray Discs", says Jelmer Veldman, European marketing manager at PLDS.

"The market adoption of Blu-ray as the optical disc standard for high definition content results in a growing demand for Blu-ray playback solutions. The portable external Lite-On BD-ROM drive allows users to playback their Blu-ray discs on any PC via a USB 2.0 cable".