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Samsung To Offer Dual-Format HD Disc Player

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

April 13, 2007, 12:38 PM

With the high-definition disc war still unresolved, yet another company plans to attempt to offer consumers in the United States a dual-format player by the end of this year.

Samsung, who has been one of Blu-ray's biggest proponents, announced its plans on Friday. It is the second company behind LG to develop an actual product. LG showed its drive off at CES, though it is said to lack some critical HD DVD features.

Plans for a dual-format player from Samsung are nothing new, either; it was actually the first to hint at plans for a player in September 2005. However, technical problems in developing the player have significantly delayed its debut.

The BD-UP5000 will be made available in Europe, feasibly by early 2008, but exact details of the device's release are yet unknown. Executives say that a price has not yet been set, although more details are likely as the release date nears.

Likely behind the recent push by electronics companies to offer dual-format players is market reality. Many thought that a winner would have been decided by this point, but the two formats have fought to a stalemate at best.

Worse yet, neither side appears willing to make the crucial concessions needed to settle the format war. Thus if no argument is struck, it could be months, even years, before the issue is finally decided.

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By foxfyre

posted Apr 16, 2007 - 2:25 PM

I can't help but laugh at so many trying to make this into a fanboy rant over which manufacturer is in what camp!

And they TOTALLY miss the point!

In the last 2 years, several OEMs have developed a single laser unit that can read BOTH formats, thus decreasing the cost of manufacture, inventory and distribution costs that would be otherwise incurred by maintaining separate platform centric components.

And with the increased cost savings afforded by economies of scale, this format is a very attractive proposition form just about every perspective.

The only glitch is in the licensing terms as Blu-Ray specifically forbids cross licensing.

I guess the big question is, do they want the formats to become increasingly attractive, or do they want the public to simply eschew both as regular DVD is just fine.

Until they reduce the actual cost of said equipment to a commodity level comparable to existing DVDs, the entire subject is simply allot of noise.

To the degree they are willing to toss out the baby with the bath water as opposed to encouraging the entire market, they have lost my and many others money.

I don't care if I can see Oprah's nose hairs on a ~$30 list HD-DVD of EITHER format.

Score: 0

By Hocuspokus

posted Apr 16, 2007 - 7:35 AM

Samsung the first and biggest selling Blu-ray hardware manufacturer (like LG) has just shifted from being an exclusively Blu-ray manufacturer to making dual format machines (and HD-DVD computers too btw).

Obviously a clear sign that not only is HD-DVD growing strongly enough to justify this move but that BD talk of them having all the 'momentum' is sheer fantasy.

Who next, eh?

There are at least 3 other manufacturers (2 of which are Japanese and are presently BD exclusive hardware producers) rumoured to be going dual format this year.

Score: 0

By zaznet

posted Apr 16, 2007 - 8:02 AM

Once Sony offers HD-DVD anywhere in their product line we will know they are throwing in the towel.

BD as a technology will never die however. At least as long as the PS3 remains a viable console.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

edited Apr 15, 2007 - 8:30 AM

And the price for that will be ... dual :)

http://img338.imageshack...8/8858/i2121magead4.jpg

Score: 0

By Neoprimal

posted Apr 14, 2007 - 10:21 PM

Dual format would be the smartest idea. Consumers win in this case scenerio. Go out and pick up a hd or bluray dvd and play it fine - everyone wins....otherwise you'd have to buy separate players, since neither party is backing down in this so-called 'format war'.

Score: 0

By zaznet

posted Apr 16, 2007 - 7:57 AM

Higher costs are the loss for consumers here. This is the main reason we see HD TV not taking off. The FCC in it's infinite wisdom decided that everyone TV had to support all of the formats that were trying to become the standard. Many HD Displays are now being sold as Cable providers start to provide an external tuner within their set top boxes.

Score: 0

By zaznet

posted Apr 14, 2007 - 12:47 AM

"Thus if no argument is struck"

I think the author meant "if no agreement is struck" since there seems to be no shortages of arguments.

And releasing it by 2008 leaves them plenty of time to cancel the system when one format starts to gain significant market share.

Score: 0

By zridling

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 10:35 PM

There's neither value nor benefit for me to move to HD anytime. The quality of DVD is fine for me. I don't care about seeing the hairs growing out of Laura Bush's ears or the spit trickling down W's chin. And I don't want to see Jennifer Lopez's big fat butt in HD widescreen. I might be killed if she broke wind.

Score: 0

By Kompressor

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 8:54 PM

Just forget about HD-DVD/Blu-Ray and stick with oldfashon DVD until the successor to HD-DVD/Blu-Ray is released, and hope there won't be a format war then too.

Score: 0

By zaznet

posted Apr 14, 2007 - 12:52 AM

If you really did wait for the next format each time there was a format war you would not be using DVD now. Lots of people point to the old "Betamax" format that came out to compete with VHS, but DVD had it's own format war.

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 11:12 PM

Finally, someone that makes sense. HD-DVD/Blueray is nothing but a mess. From what I've read so far, as far as movies go the cons of both formats far outweighs the pros.

Score: 0

By horsecharles

posted Apr 14, 2007 - 12:37 AM

Hologram here we come...........

Score: 0

By DaveGB

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 3:33 PM

Until we know the price, this is useless info.

The last dual format player costed more than a Toshiba HD-A2 and a PS3 combined..

Score: 0

By DaveBG

posted Apr 14, 2007 - 11:38 AM

True!

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Apr 15, 2007 - 5:51 AM

Are you talking to youself again?

Score: 0

By Paul Skinner

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 2:44 PM

I thought there was a clause in the BlueRay spec/licensing that there couldn't be made a BlueRay drive that is compatible with other High Definition formats. (i.e. no dual format stuff)

Maybe I'm going senile.

I hope that makes more sense than I think it does.

Score: 0

By Neoprimal

posted Apr 14, 2007 - 10:19 PM

I think that may come across as anti-competetive...ie: hardware makers can choose not to allow media to run through software, etc. But I don't think 'formats' can define to hardware makers, what media to use. For instance - sony can make a blu ray player with the ability to play hd but lock the ability out for consumers - but they can't tell toshiba/samsung/any hardware manufacturter that "if your unit plays blu ray, it's not allowed to play hd dvd" or vice versa.
I could be wrong.

Score: 0

By luna

posted Apr 15, 2007 - 12:34 PM

I'm sure that the EU will find a way to have their say and get their hands in the pockets of these companies somehow and end up killing the whole dual format concept.

Score: 0

By Grazer

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 7:10 PM

I was wondering that myself. The licensing restrictions that is, not you going senile...I think that is pretty obvious. ;)

Score: 0

By saintchuck

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 2:31 PM

And consumers still lose.

I would prefer a dual-format player not be made available. Eventually, 1 format will come out on top. This just delays it.

Score: 0

By foxfyre

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 1:44 PM

Bottom line: Cost will be everything here.

Score: 0

By Mystiqq

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 3:31 PM

Exactly.

Score: 0

By drumcat

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 1:35 PM

I don't even think these dual players will help. What movie format do you buy now?

Besides, I just watched The Departed last night in HD on my 360... Not sure I need to spend all that money on discs that may or may not work.

Score: 0

By dzjepp

posted Apr 13, 2007 - 1:31 PM

Flock of childish comments from representatives of both camps will arrive shortly.

Score: 0

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