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Samsung's next-gen DVD combo player ships

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

December 6, 2007, 2:31 PM

Despite rumors of delays, the Korean electronics maker says its dual-format player is still on track for a release this month. The BD-UP5000 will also ship with a lower price than originally announced. Samsung said that it will lower the price to $799, $200 cheaper than its original listing. According to a spokesperson, the player has begun shipping and will appear on retailers' shelves soon.

Even with Samsung's assurances, the Amazon.com list page for the product still says the player will be released on January 15, 2008.

The player, only the third yet on the market behind LG's two dual-format models, will support both formats in resolutions up to 1080p, as well as perform upconversion of standard DVDs. In addition, the BD-UP5000 will support 1080/24p playback, support for Dolby and dts-HD audio formats, and HDMI 1.3 outputs.

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By yountmj

posted Dec 9, 2007 - 1:13 PM

One of the only reasons I can think of right now to jump on the Blu-ray bandwagon is for the Lost collections... but as I already have them on SD-DVD, it's not that great of a deciding factor (but still considering it). Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, and Serenity are on HD DVD already, and that's what sealed the deal for me. Unfortunately, Fox owns the rights to Firefly... so if it is re-released in high-def, the franchise will most likely be split across HD DVD and Blu-ray.

Combo players are starting to look better and better all the time... now get the prices down! :)

Actually, what's sad to think of is the possibility of combo players not meeting Blu-ray Profile 1.1 or 2.0 compliance, even though all of the hardware requirements will be present due to the inclusion of HD DVD hardware.

Score: 0

By lonechicken

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 10:30 AM

I love Lost. It's probably my second favorite TV drama of all time (behind Firefly). But I have no desire to watch reruns of it. It's just not a rewatchable show to me. I think that happens with long story arcs.

Man, I may have bought my first DVD player back in 1998 for about that price ($700-$800), but there's just no desire to do that this time around.

Score: 0

By TSThomas

posted Dec 8, 2007 - 4:05 PM

Let's see;

HD DVD players required secondary audio & video decoders from day 1. Blu-Ray players only requires it for Profile 1.1.
HD DVD players required Internet connectivity from day 1. Blu-Ray players only requires it for Profile 2.0.

Isn't it ironic that the "superior", & far more expensive, format will effectively be selling incomplete players until late next year?

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Dec 9, 2007 - 2:32 AM

TSThomas,

The BD fanatics dont care about facts. They just all want to be constantly assured by each other that HD-DVD is going to fail.

As you can see, the sales numbers at Amazon show HD-DVD catching up with BD in a big hurry. It will be a stalemate, BD isn't going anywhere and neither is HD-DVD.

The only solution is a combo or buy both players if you want any movie that comes out in HD. So far, I have only bought 5 BD movies and anything else that comes out on both formats is always an HD-DVD purchase in my house.

I do rent BD movies from Netflix as a lot of them aren't worth buying. Also BD doesnt get a dime of my money and I get to see whatever I want. My PS3 is merely a cheap BD player but the PQ is really starting to chap my ass.

It truly sucks compared to a good set top BD player. Don't buy anything BD right now as they aren't even sure the PS3 can be updated to profile 1.1 or 2.0

It's all been BS rumors so far by the women at blu-ray.com. The cut off date for all BD players manufactured after Oct 31st has come and gone and not one company has one ready for the holidays. These people have thier heads p thier own asses at the BD group.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Dec 8, 2007 - 1:34 PM

Somebody at blu-ray.com made another "The 1.1 firmware is coming Soon ..... Only Not Yet" post over there and the girls are heavy petting each other to reassure themselves BD is the future.

The post actually reads "Web enabled movies coming soon". Except not a single player on the planet can play them when they do arrive.

ZeeMan84 ยป Dec 07, 2007 02:10


Junior Member

"Whew, what a relief that I went with a PS3 than a regular BD player."

I'm sure you are glad you are stuck with the worst PQ BD player money can buy. The stand alones walk all over the PS3 (I know because I have one) but all of them are incapable of updating to profile 1.1 if it ever comes out.

Isn't BD wonderful? I'm glad I was a launch day adopter back on November 17th of last year.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

edited Dec 8, 2007 - 12:52 AM

This post is for Steve:
"By Metfanant posted Dec 6, 2007 - 7:11 AM

"By bobthegoat2001 posted Dec 6, 2007 - 6:49 AM

Wow, two decent games after one long year. That's a bargin..... not! Haze and UT3 are multiplatform. The 360 is still cheaper than the PS3 and has more games with better online. Plus you don't need HD-DVD to enjoy HD movies (or TV shows). You can download them on Xbox Live Marketplace."

when was the first "AAA" title for the 360 released?

..."

"when was the first "AAA" title for the 360 released? Gears came out nearly a year after the 360's release..."

Who cares. The 360 still has more games, not to mention more AAA games (with better online).

"HD video/audio takes up LOTS of space"

That's what Sony wants you to believe, because you 'need' 50gbs. They have HD movies under 2gbs. Which is not that much for my 120gb HD.

Score: 0

By Hocuspokus

edited Dec 7, 2007 - 9:05 AM

Go Samsung (eventually).

Very funny, I would quite like to see dual format become as ingrained as - R DVD & + R DVD.

Cos with everyone effectively having an HD DVD player then no movie studio would have the slightest incentive to use the more expensive to produce format (Blu-ray).

Dual format is as big a threat to Blu-ray as anything.

Still, it's nothing more than that anti-consumer format pushing additional levels of DRM (over and above what HD DVD does - although HD DVD's DRM is now thoroughly cracked thankfully) deserves.

Very very funny btw to see profile 1.1 & profile 2.0 dropped (after the deadline) to be something a firmware update might provide at some point in the future (unknown).

F*cking hilarious.

What a shambles.

Score: 0

By Andreas2000

edited Dec 10, 2007 - 5:49 AM

"Cos with everyone effectively having an HD DVD player then no movie studio would have the slightest incentive to use the more expensive to produce format (Blu-ray)."

For those who already invested in production equipment thats a 1 time deal.. the BD discs does not cost more to make than a HD-DVD after you upgraded your production line.

Then there is the new standard for BD discs whatever its called, can be made on the same production lines as cd/dvd/hd-dvd.

Score: 0

By Hocuspokus

edited Dec 10, 2007 - 8:07 AM

"For those who already invested in production equipment thats a 1 time deal."

- That maybe be so but the fact is that there are only 2 plants currently in existance making DL Blu-ray discs with an acceptable fail rate.

" the BD discs does not cost more to make than a HD-DVD"

- I think you are merely trying to use retail pricing as the basis for saying this.
You can't, they subsidise those they sell to the public.

" after you upgraded your production line."

- Blu-ray cannot be made on existing lines.

"Then there is the new standard for BD discs whatever its called, can be made on the same production lines as cd/dvd/hd-dvd."

- Is that the Hitachi disc you're referring to?

You do realise that where it was said (claimed at this early prototype stage, that is all) to be great at that end of the chain it could not be played on existing hardware!?

That's the 2nd time someone has addressed one end of the line only to be completely out of step at the other
(usually it's that it needs new production facilities - again, not the exisiting 'new' Blu-ray facilities - but is compatible with existing players).

It's an over-priced & poorly spec'd shambles.

Score: 0

By yountmj

posted Dec 7, 2007 - 8:02 AM

It's funny to think that the only way manufacturers can build a Blu-ray player with secondary audio/video decoders and an Ethernet port is to piggyback on an HD DVD player.

Score: 0

By kashin

posted Dec 7, 2007 - 2:45 AM

Who are these combo players aimed at? Millionaires? The whole idea of getting a "combo" anything is to pay less for multiple things because they're combined. When you have a "combo" unit that costs more than the individual parts it's combining, it kind of defeats the purpose.

Score: 0

By 6SiX8

edited Dec 6, 2007 - 4:56 PM

Hmmm still too expensive. Especially when you can get an HD-DVD /BD combo drive for PC for only $299
and then get AnyDVD with HD support for about $89. You then have full HD withouth the need for HDCP and no region coding for Blu-Ray :)

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Dec 6, 2007 - 4:49 PM

Still too much for a combo, especially one with out a complete BD profile. I will ditch my PS3 and HD-A2 when they offer one at $299 that is complete.

I gave away my XA1 to my brother with an extra Transformers on HD. Has has a Loewe (pronounced lu-va) 50" HD DLP. HD-DVD now has another customer.

Score: 0

By Galway

posted Dec 6, 2007 - 3:53 PM

Perfect way to increase Blu-ray sales, include HD-DVD !!

I think its just a conspiracy to further muddle the debate on who's selling more disks per player.

Score: 0

By Steve Austin

edited Dec 6, 2007 - 3:31 PM

$799 can buy you a PS3 AND a $99 fire sales HD DVD player, and a veyr large bucket of Blu-ray movies and PS3 games..

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Dec 7, 2007 - 4:08 PM

"veyr"

You forgot to edit that too.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

edited Dec 6, 2007 - 4:55 PM

Still hoping your massive PS3 investment is the final solution to gaming and HD movies? I love broke fanboys.

The funny part is, you aren't a fan of HD movies. If you were, you wouldn't care what comes out on what format. Too bad you can't afford to be a true movie fan.

Score: 0

By Galway

posted Dec 6, 2007 - 3:55 PM

If only it had kickass games, you would have at least got my envy, but not my money ... sony wont get under my skin again.

Score: 0

By plague201

posted Dec 6, 2007 - 3:51 PM

Unfortunately neither this player or the PS3 are profile 1.1 ready.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Dec 6, 2007 - 2:45 PM

Where's profile 1.1 for BD? Still mythware I see?

Score: 0

By Galway

posted Dec 6, 2007 - 3:57 PM

while I see your angle, I dont think too many people know the ps3 has a Blu-ray inside never mind the profile.

Score: 0

By GeneralLeoFF

posted Dec 6, 2007 - 6:07 PM

Do you two shake for each other after taking a leak?

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Dec 6, 2007 - 10:05 PM

Sometimes.

Score: 0

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