Samsung delays fourth gen BD-P1500 Blu-ray player, adds BD-Live

We can't really see the logic in releasing a Blu-ray player without BD-Live in 2008 -- and neither can Samsung, which just announced its fourth generation BD-P1500 will be BD-Live Ready. The bad news is the May release date announced earlier has slipped to June, and the formerly comfortable $399 MSRP is now a less promising TBA. We're not sure if that "ready" tag means it will be BD-Live enabled out of the gate, however DTS-HD "High resolution" is confirmed on the way in a future firmware update. A slight delay for a significant upgrade in features? We'll allow it.

Update: Samsung let us know the press release was in error, the MSRP will remain at $399.

[OnlyShawn @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:24PM]

viva PS3.

[Andy @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:30PM]

True. Still the king of Bluray. But as the year progresses, I expect it to be slowly superseded.

[shawnmos @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:34PM]

How is $399 comfortable?

[OnlyShawn @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:36PM]

'specially when...well, see my previous comment. In all honesty: with the 'future proof' nature of the PS3 that I keep hearing about, how can anything in the same price range compete? Is it *truly* future proof, or could something come along that Sony wouldn't be able to push as a firmware upgrade? Seems likely that that could happen, just wondering if anyone knows for sure.

[Deputy Doffoos @ Apr 24th 2008 1:02PM]

€250? Sweet, the same they charge me for a Wii

[TostitoBandito @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:56PM]

The PS3 can't and won't ever be able to bitstream audio to be externally decoded. It also lacks a display, a remote, analog outputs, and is relatively loud. If you're cool with all that then more power to you.

[Raptor007 @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:16PM]

My main problem with the PS3 is the noise. They are LOUD! No thanks.

[Matthew @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:51PM]

make sure it's properly vented behind the PS3 at least the width and height of the unit itself. I had the same problem and after i cut a hole in the back of my entertainment unit the fan never kicks on anymore.

[Raptor007 @ Apr 23rd 2008 3:17PM]

Somehow I missed the "relatively loud" in your post, sorry.

[8bitwine @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:04PM]

Ive had a PS3 for 6 months now and I can honestly say Ive never heard the fan. Its silent. I really think you guys complaining about "loud" PS3's probably dont own one or have it buried in an entertainment center with ZERO ventilation. With the constant updates and the current price points your a fool to purchase anything else.

[TostitoBandito @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:13PM]

Why? There are currently players, or will be within the next couple months, that are much more capable than the PS3 (more robust feature-sets, bitstreaming, analog outs, better scaling, etc...) and at or below its price point. I agree that the PS3 is a great value if you are interested in it as a game console as well, but if you aren't then there are (or soon will be) better/cheaper options out there.

[Stephen Lang @ Apr 23rd 2008 4:44PM]

As a late adopter, I have to say things were a lot more interesting when there was still a format war going on.

I am still wondering when we will see a $199 BR player, that's probably when I will jump in. (I have a 40" tube HDTV and DVD's still look good on it.)

[Sean @ Apr 23rd 2008 5:15PM]

They're taking this "generation" thing too far. Four generations in a year? Each new model release does not herald a generation.

[Dave @ Apr 24th 2008 3:04AM]

Seems good player to me :)

[James Bowe @ Apr 24th 2008 2:29PM]

can samsung let you know why the BD-P1400 sucks so bad? besides the audio and video constantly going out of sync, I now have this weird video hiccup. It seems to last about 3 frames, and the picture skips up a few hundred pixels and to the left a few hundred. Even when the player is empty and transmitting only the blue 'Samsung Blu-ray' image. Do yourselves a favor and buy sony....

[sam Y @ Apr 30th 2008 12:48PM]

O.K. I will expect it's new features till then.