More details on Samsung's $999 BD-UP5000 combo player

Well, would you look at this. No sooner than LG gets official with its second HD DVD / Blu-ray hybrid player, along comes Samsung with more details on its forthcoming competitor. The device will indeed support HDi and BD-Java, tout HQV video processing, and play back imagery at 1080p24. Additionally, users can look forward to "selectable DVD upconversion (720p / 1080i / 1080p)," coaxial / optical digital audio connections, Dolby Digital / Digital Plus / TrueHD / DTS-HD support, HDMI 1.3, component / composite / S-Video outputs, MPEG2, VC-1, H.264 and HD JPEG decoding, and an Ethernet port for good measure. Unfortunately, the release date is still a bit vague, but we do know it'll run you $999 when it lands sometime during Q4. [Warning: PDF read link]

[electronicmaji @ Sep 5th 2007 3:18PM]

WHAT? No more iPod news? Engadget im dissapointed in you!

[hoop @ Sep 5th 2007 3:21PM]

Could someone please explain to me the purpose of the ethernet port? I don't know too much about standalone high-definition players. I've heard that a feature of these next-gen formats is that they will have features and extras within movies that can be populated by online information. Is this statement correct?

Thanks in advance for any information.

[David Susilo @ Sep 5th 2007 3:24PM]

ethernet port allows the player firmware update to be updated easily and also allows internet interactivity content to be downloaded (features currently available on HD DVD).

[zargon @ Sep 5th 2007 3:28PM]

Current HD-DVD specs require the ethernet port with I think Blu-ray requiring it in future specs.

It essentially is for web content for the movies. I don't have good specific examples off hand, but I know one HD-DVD had a web based voting. There are better ones than that, you may want to read up on it a little.

It also allows the downloading of firmware updates and with HD-DVD for sure, there are possibilities of downloading stuff (don't ask me what, not sure off hand) for the movies.

Basically, it is a nice feature that could or couldn't be super useful as far as extras for a movie goes.

[hoop @ Sep 5th 2007 3:32PM]

Thanks for the responses, guys. Much appreciated.

[JeffnLA @ Sep 5th 2007 3:31PM]

When this gets down to 200-300 - I'm in!

[The iPhone Unlock @ Sep 5th 2007 3:39PM]

nice

[JoshR @ Sep 5th 2007 3:46PM]

Cmon now, iPod!

[korelem @ Sep 5th 2007 3:49PM]

Dont know about this combo players, its good from a convenience standpoint, but it will just prolong the format war or make it irrelevant, but IMHO it is better for one format to win, and I have to say I wish Blu-Ray to win, because of the bigger storage size. I want the LOTR Trilogy in the best possible quality, and 50Gb Vs. 30Gb is a 20Gb quality difference in AV quality (If done right)...:)

[David Susilo @ Sep 5th 2007 5:49PM]

if done right, there should be no difference in quality, actually. I have both and BD vs HD DVD encode from the same master (but with different encodes) have no difference in quality.

A four hour movie can fit nicely without any overcompression when using VC-1 compression on a 30 Gb HD DVD.

[tim @ Sep 5th 2007 3:57PM]

word

[yataf @ Sep 5th 2007 5:34PM]

It's cheaper to buy an hd dvd player and a blu ray player than buy this combo drive.

[mike @ Sep 5th 2007 6:20PM]

eaxctly, which is why i dont understand the market for these players? I can pick up a ps3 and a brand new toshiba A3 for less then this player. This player is completely pointless. If it was coming in at like $599 or less, then I could see a great market for it.

[Bizarroterl @ Sep 5th 2007 6:30PM]

I'm going to buy a combo player. The price is too high now. I figure they'll become reasonably priced by Q2 of next year.

[jason @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:08PM]

The purpose of the combination players is to reduce the number of cords and clutter while having two players. I only have 2xhdmi ports and one is already taken. I wouldn't want to be switching cables in the back if I want to watch one or the other.

[Gabe @ Sep 5th 2007 8:03PM]

Gadget me

[Robin Bradley @ Sep 22nd 2007 3:59PM]

The space argument is now moot. HD DVD size is equivalent to Blu ray. Just bring the price down and add lossless audio codecs and I'm off the fence like a prom dress.

[michael @ Sep 27th 2007 10:22PM]

Well, and ethernet port is not the smartest idea... then it would require an ethernet cable.... if my player is in the living room and the router is in the bedroom...what...unhook the player to download upgrades?
Seems like PS3 got it right...wireless

But for me, I'd rather have one player that does it all, and make the format war as pointless as the format war between DTS and DD.... especially since my TV only has one HDMI connection.