Samsung expected to focus efforts on Blu-ray

Not like it's any surprise or anything, but the company known for its fairly continuous stream of Blu-ray / HD DVD combo players is reportedly expected to hone in on Blu in the very near future. If you'll recall, we heard Onkyo make a similar statement earlier this month, and according to an unspecified Samsung official, it's looking to "show more interest in Blu-ray products than rival HD DVD." Unfortunately, that's all the firm would utter on the record, but really, it pretty much says it all. 'Course, it remains to be seen what will happen to the forthcoming BD-UP5500, but don't be shocked to hear that Sammy's next high-definition movie player only understands one of the two formats.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2008 2:48PM]

Hey, maybe they can start making players that people don't sue over now.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 20th 2008 4:48PM]

Actually, those players were released before Samsung got into HD-DVD at all. They haven't been sued over a combo player... yet.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2008 2:53PM]

This goes without saying considering what';s happening tomorrow (Tuesday), but I surely hope that Samsung has learned its lesson about providing firmware should there be a problem, fixing things, or even building them better from the get-go.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2008 3:06PM]

So this means cheaper blu-ray players, especially since all studios will be looking to push Blu on the consumers.

I would expect the Bogos and free players with HDTV's to continue up until next holiday. This why I think so:

A)Everyone has a DVD player and there is no point on pushing that on anyone, or an upscaling DVD player which is pointless imo because it looks like shit.

B)HDTV's will be at there lowest this holiday season along with Blu ray players.

Sony also has the opportunity to set the next format for the next generation with the ps4 and so on. Whats different from last time is that instead of doing it on their own they got support from a shetload of other studios and developers.

Go Blu or Go home!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2008 3:17PM]

i disagree i think that the prices will stop coming down & the BOGO's will stop because now there is no reason for them to lose money on players or discs because HD-DVD is gone so they have no competition.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2008 4:01PM]

I think you're wrong because people will still buy DVD if they feel the HD version is too expensive or that Blu Ray in general is too expensive.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2008 4:05PM]

No competition? Where on earth did you get such an idea? Well over a dozen manufacturers make blu-ray players. They all want to sell as many players as possible which means they were very much in competition.

DVD was a single standard too. And DVD prices came down from their initial premiums it in spite of no �competitor�. An industry standard (Blu-ray, DVD, VHS, LP�s, etc) and a monopoly are two very different things.

[DrXym Posted Feb 18th 2008 3:41PM]

Toshiba and Samsung have a joint venture called TSST that produces OEM DVD, HD DVD and Blu Ray drives. With HD DVD history they can concentrate on selling Blu Ray OEM drives and parts to other CE firms. Wouldn't surprise me either if Toshiba produce a Blu Ray drive which is actually a rebadged Samsung model to get their foot in the door.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 18th 2008 3:51PM]

where are those samsung 1500s?

[JDM Posted Feb 18th 2008 4:09PM]

"where are those samsung 1500s?"

Given the quality of existing Sammy Blu-Ray players, why would you want one?