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Samsung Dual Format Delays Profile 1.1 Firmware
January 25, 2008

But will it matter? Samsung's current dual format model, the BD-UP5000, was expected to get firmware in January that would finalize its Profile 1.1 capabilities, including picture-in-picture playback. But a rep for the company confirmed Profile 1.1 firmware would not become available until February, which is subject to change. Yet there are reports that overall problems with the UP5000 is leading Samsung to discontinue it. It seems that copyright technology BD + is tripping up playback of certain BD software titles. A Samsung product manager told me that the company promises the UP5000 will be available at least through May, but product lifecycles are subject to change.
Normally, manufacturers do gradually phase out earlier models to make room for their latest generation product. Samsung is releasing its second generation dual-format player, the pre-loaded Profile 1.1 BD-UP5500, later this May. But, following Warner announcing its Blu-exclu, and the format war continues in BD's favor, there is less and less of a need for a people to shell out for a dual format. They might as well pick up a straight BD player, and spend the cash they save on more software, right? Yet, it will be interesting to check out the latest weekly set-top sales from NPD, which should include what, if any, results Toshiba gets with chopping HD DVD player prices on Jan. 13. For the week prior, ending Jan. 12, Blu-ray represented about 90% of all high-def set-top sales, clearly dominating HD DVD (7%) and dual format (3%).  Nielsen VideoScan data, which covers a lot but not all retail DVD activity (it doesn't count Wal-Mart sales), is also indicating further surges for BD. For the week ending Jan. 20, BD software represented over 80% of unit sales, to HD DVD's 20%, according to Nielsen. For much of last year the BD/HD DVD split had been 60%-70% BD to 30%-40% HD DVD.

Posted by Susanne Ault on January 25, 2008 | Comments (2)