It feels like we just left our shutter glasses behind at CES, but already a few of Samsung's
new 2010 Blu-ray players (all featuring
Internet@TV and
Samsung Apps features) have popped up for preorders on Amazon, including the 3D playing
BD-C6900. The company just announced
240HZ 3D LCDs have begun mass production and isn't waiting for the competition before diving in, issuing the first price we've seen for one of the new players at a penny shy of $400. Moving down the line the super slim and woodgrain textured, but 2D only, BD-C7500 is also $399.99, while the speedy BD-C6500 and its promised 15 second bootup time is set for $299. The entry level and eco-focused BD-C5500 is still unpriced but instead of asking whether you can afford the price of a 3D Blu-ray player, ask yourself if you can afford not to own a Blu-ray player with a hole in the top. The answer should be obvious.
Update: Whoops, and now they're gone, disappearing from Amazon as quickly as they came. Will that pricing information stick? We'll wait for an official announcement, but they all seem probable from here.
posted January 28th 2010 3:11PM
Buy a ps3.
Save money.
@ipxnsv You beat me to it. I already have a 3D Blu-ray player. It also plays video games.
It also does everything.
@ipxnsv
Yeah. My PS3 is already a 3D Blu-ray player. It has length, height, AND width. Must have been that last firmware update.
@ipxnsv
I CONCUR!
@ipxnsv
1. Buy a PS3
2. Put the PS3 in a Samsung shell
3. Profit
@(Unverified)
Don't forget girth, ladies love girth. lolwut?
@Vanillacide
I seriously doubt the PS3 won't be a great blu-ray player.
Like Apple, Sony is one of those companies that some people just can't give a fair shake too. Every time some enhancement to blu-ray is mentioned, I read people saying the PS3's implementation will be halfassed. Every time, the PS3 is one of the best players.
It has a hard drive, lots of support for my movies, and it plays games and surfs the net, but it also handles movies very well. Sony basically is calling the shots with 3D, and I seriously doubt the warnings that the PS3 will not be able to play 3D well are true at all.
In fact, 3D gaming is a huge facet of this future. The PS3 is at the very center of the new TVs and movies planning to use this feature.
And think about the science for a sec. Your TV and #D glasses are going to be doing the hard work of polarizing the frame each hertz. The PS3 can already send 1080p video at high hertz, so what's the difference on the PS3 side? Not much unless you are talking about games.
And if the PS3 can play a game in 3D 1080p, I bet it will be able to play a movie.
There are lots of reasons to resent yet another reason to buy yet another set of movies and TVs. This isn't one.
@(Unverified) So does that mean the PS3 already supports 3D BD or will they releases an update soon?
@Fallen Ghost
Of course the PS3 doesn't support a standard that isn't released yet. Sony has already explained that PS3 will support 3D blu-rays and games from day one, though. It's a central aspect of the technology, and I wouldn't be surprised if they made sure the spec worked with the PS3 from day 1.
But no, the firmware update for 3D hasn't been launched yet, of course.
@nrb
The answer is not obvious! People do have money and they can buy it! Why do you say it for us? Let people say what they think
@ipxnsv
looks like i have a few emails to rifle out....
Dear sony,
Please provide us PS3 owners a firmware update to push 240hz and upscale all your 720p games to 1080p please.
Dear PS3Mediaserver,
Find out the codecs needed for ripped 3d blu-ray movies and implement in up coming release.
Dear Sony again,
Start programing for apps to be installed on the XMB... ie fix netflix...
@DeFlanko
Netflix being on disc is because Microsoft made a deal with netflix, and this is the loophole. Sony would love to have a Netflix icon, I am sure, but Netflix can't comply.
Most of the problems with the PS3 start with "because Microsoft made a deal with..."
Except the technical limitations. I don't mind a few 720p games if that's the best solution the dev found for what they were going for.
@ipxnsv 3D is pretty ambiguous and I am not convinced that the PS3 can provide the best presentation. For example HDMI 1.3 puts bandwidth limitations on the screen output and the PS3 has processor limitations that it is already hitting. It may well be that it can only do 3D in 720p, or has to use side by side 3D mode which affects the horizontal resolution.
Still, it's a nice freebie to have, assuming it is free and Sony doesn't bundle it with their rumoured 3D glasses kit they intend releasing so that existing 2D TVs can view 3D content.
This story is NOT about the iPad. It doesn't even *mention* Steve Jobs.
Please do more stories about the iPad. Maybe an interview with some random person off the street as long as they talk about the iPad.
@(Unverified)
-1 for elevating my annoyance level.
Oo its in 3D sweet =D
Why does 3D bluray need a new system to play, when my Xbox 360 / Sky box can do 3D out via HDMI as standard so long as the media supports it.
Does it run RealD 3D?
@CHESTERCITY Its not that type of 3d, this is the I NEED GLASSES 3d.
@CHESTERCITY
You're thinking of anaglyph 3D, where you need red/green or red/blue glasses. Not only does that type of 3D suffer major resolution loss, it typically causes colors to be completely washed out and doesn't look as realistic. The reason for all the new 3D hardware is because of the new 3D technology, equivalent to RealD 3D in effect but not in technology. RealD 3D uses light polarization for 3D with (usually) 2 projectors and glasses with polarization filters, whereas the home equipment being discussed will use alternating-frame 3D with active shutter glasses.
@CHESTERCITY
Your Sky Box can only play 1080i in 3D not 1080p.
This will fail hard. Guaranteed. Just like nokia n900 n Sony experia. Reason $299 ps3.
Samsung typical of u to try n price gouge people.
I have lost respect for u.
@logic thinker
Samsung makes really good stuff.
I agree that it's nuts not to go ahead and buy a PS3. It's so much fun these days. but I bet this is a great device anyway.
Wait, don't existing blu-ray players just need a firmware update to play 3D. All it is is a new codec, not even that it's a profile of AVC. It's ridiculous they're charging $400 for a player that's not actually better. But then if tech companies didn't make money off stupid people, then they'd have to make money off us, and nobody wants that :D I don't blame them, they'd be stupid not to exploit the 3D label
@Yankee
It's not completely clear whether all Blu-ray players will be upgradeable to play 3D content. So far the PS3 is the only confirmed player I've heard of. They'll almost certainly need an update to play the 2D version of 3D discs because of the new codec (which should be fairly trivial to implement, as long as the manufacturers bother to write the firmware for older players), but it's not clear whether you'll need new hardware to play 3D BD titles in 3D. It's certainly possible, considering you'll need to push twice the frame rate. The current BD spec only allows 24fps if the resolution stored on the disc is 1080p, though the player can output it at 60fps using 3:2 pull-down for TVs that don't support 24p. However, 3D players will need to output essentially 1080p48 (24p for each eye), and I'm not certain whether a new HDMI chip will be required to do that -- though somehow the PS3 claims it will be able to pull it off.
@John H
Oh I see. I have a BD-ROM drive on my PC and a 120Hz 3D monitor with nVidia 3D vision and I'm hoping PowerDVD will support 3D in its next version or so, so I'm set. That's why a computer is always the best way to do... well just about anything. But the PS3 is an excellent solution too.
@Yankee
A PC is a reasonable media center these days.
Ps3 hdmi 1.3= 3d 1080i
stand alone 3d player hdmi 1.4= 3d full 1080p
winner= stand alone
@Ss10zidane
Indeed, it's likely there are many bluray players that are better than the PS3. But probably still not nearly the awesome value.
I wouldn't be surprised if the PS3 eventually is hdmi 1.4 (a new product line). But if you're right, that the PS3 is 1080i 3D, and it does all the other crap it does, I am satisfied with that.
A lot of people won't be, and should buy the standalone.
@Ss10zidane
God, you act like 1080i 3D is a totally unacceptable solution. I'll take the resolution reduction over dropping an extra $400 any day of the week.
@Bandigolo I never said 1080i is acceptable just stating on what I've learned. Most ppl want the full experience of 3d and only a 1.4 3d player could do that, I'm pretty sure they will release a new ps3 model that carries 1.4 but as for now they don't.
@Ss10zidane
I would be shocked if Sony released yet another variation of the PS3 just for HDMI 1.4. If I had to bet, I'd say we won't see that until the next-gen consoles arrive. Maybe somebody will invent a workaround, but so long as it does 1080i, I doubt most people will care. Hell, people's jaws still drop at BD on my 720p 52" Sammy DLP in my main room if you can believe that.
@Ss10zidane The PS3 should be capable of 1080p 3D. If you have any information to the contrary, I'd love to see it.
@RichardLawler
http://dvice.com/archives/2009/12/no-new-blu-ray.php
HDMI 1.3 can't handle Full HD 3D. PS3 is not equipped with HDMI 1.4 yet/ever.
@Bandigolo That post is incorrect. You can do 1080p 3D over HDMI 1.3. It's not an official part of the spec, but it does not mean it can't be done. DVICE saying every BD-Live player will get a 3D upgrade simply isn't true.
@Bandigolo Compare that to our post on the exact same information, and a conversation I had with the head of the HDMI Licensing group.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/23/hdmi-1-4-spec-getting-freshened-up-in-preparation-for-broadcast/
It would appear they confused cable boxes with Blu-ray players.
@RichardLawler
Nice. I believe everything I read on the internets. Hooray for misinformation!
@RichardLawler
Sony should put out a press release claiming Full HD 3D support for existing PS3's. That alone would probably sell another few million of 'em in Q1.
@Ss10zidane Don't worry. There are so many uneducated people out there who "think" they know about 3D, but they don't understand. It's kinda ridiculous, but funny at the same time to see everyone above making fools of themselves.
@thewarface
You're wrong. People know the facts and recognize that the PS3 is still the best value. Especially for whatever advances come in a few years. I bought a blu ray player years before I heard about this tech, and I still will be pretty up to date.
What about samsung's standalone? Will it be up to date in a few years?
I think you need to analyze the full argument. PS3 will have 1080i, which is good enough for me, but it also is getting huge updates and free upgrades. this is hardly the first. It won't be the last. THAT'S what people are talking about. they didn't even pay for this capability, and still get it.
@(Unverified) I don't know why people are saying the PS3 is limited to 1080i. I'm not familiar with any announcement that states that, and I don't expect it to be true.
@RichardLawler
Indeed, I bet the PS3 has 1080p 3d.
It seems technically feasible. But either way, this is a major enhancement and I am getting it for free. I bought my PS3 in 2006 or something. I had no idea this would happen. And the next big bluray enhancement... I'll get that too.
Can this be hooked up to an iPad?
@sonicyoof
You're joking, but my phone does hook up to my blu-ray player via DLNA. I can listen to music, view photos, and watch movies seamlessly.
Apple is all about lockdown and itunes, so you will never have that kind of fun. Perhaps if you only buy apple stuff, but even then, probably not.
That's why there are so many great options for tablets and phones that people should consider over Apple's stuff. Not that Apple doesn't have its advantages, but this stuff needs to work with my other stuff, or it's a tremendous waste of potential.
@sonicyoof
Seriously Now...
Can ANYTHING be hooked up to the (no port having ) Apple iPad?
Lol!
The link has been removed from Amazon. Can't even find it with a search now.
Ok...
I'm In.. Where Do I Pay?
I assume this isn't compatible with my XBR. I also assume that it'll require the purchase of $100/pair glasses. If so, then Sony/Samsung/Panasonic better be offering some trade-up program for "regular" HDTVs.
@doboy
They better offer a trade in program for TVs?
Why do idiots on the internet demand this? You bought a 2D TV. You got what you paid for. They will always be working on newer shit. You made a deal, now stick to it. You want the latest new thing, you should pay for it. Just wait a while... it's not the end of the world.
There is never going to be a trade in program unless it's a marketing trick. For anything.
@(Unverified)
Yet, historically, Apple allowed customers who bought the iPhone before the release of the iPhone 3G to be upgraded at no cost. Google gave Nexus One customers a $100 rebate.
Your point comes from the business aspect which is obvious. Still, from the point of the customer, why is it at not least understandable to ask that the companies make some reparations? Hell, it might even make some business sense - trade in a 2D HDTV, get a 3D blu-ray player which will necessitate a 3D TV in addition to 3D media, glasses, and whatever else might be necessary.