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Netflix, Samsung partner on video streaming

Samsung is adding the ability to stream Netflix videos and Pandora’s online music service to its latest Blu-ray players. Starting today, a free firmware update will add both services to the BD-P2550. (The nearly identical BD-P2500 will get Netflix support, but not Pandora.) The Samsung players join the LG BD300 Blu-ray player, the Roku Netflix Player, and (once a forthcoming firmware update goes live in November) the Xbox 360 as the only devices to date–outside of a PC–that can access Netflix’s online viewing service.

Both Samsung players have been available at retail for several weeks. In addition to Netflix and (for the 2550) Pandora support, a subsequent firmware update due on October 30 will add DTS-HD audio support (on-board decoding for DTS-HD High Resolution, bitstream output for Master Audio) for both players, and BD-Live support for 2550 (it’s already available on the 2500). Those features are in addition to the players’ already impressive feature set, which includes HQV video processing (which, in previous players, provides improved quality when playing standard DVDs); 7.1-channel analog audio outputs (good for interfacing with older AV receivers); and 1GB of on-board flash memory (no need for adding an SD card or USB flash drive to deliver compatibility with online BD-Live features).

The Netflix viewing experience should be nearly identical to that offered by the Roku player; it offers unlimited viewing of the growing (12,000-plus) library of on-demand movies and TV shows to any Netflix subscriber on the $9/month plan or above. The ad-supported Pandora personalized Internet radio service is free.

Both players carry a list price of $400, so anybody with even a passing interest in music should opt for the BD-P2550 (available at Best Buy). CNET will have a complete hands-on reviews of the players as soon as the full firmware updates become available.

Source: Cnet.com

Tags: Samsung, BD-P2500, BD-P2550, Blu-ray, Netflix, Pandora

Blu-ray Sale - Up to 55% Off on Amazon

Online retailer Amazon.com is gearing up for the holidays by launching a massive Blu-ray Disc sale including a number of recently released titles. The sale cuts prices up to 55% off list.

In total, 95 titles are included in the sale covering multiple studios like Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video, Anchor Bay Entertainment and others.

The marquee title in the sale is Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas re-priced at 43% off list at $22.99.

Other notable titles in the sale are 300 for $18.95, No Country For Old Men for $19.95, Short Circuit for $8.99 and National Treasure 2 for $19.95.

Click here to view and shop the complete list of all 95 Blu-ray titles on sale.

Amazon’s other Blu-ray promotions include the Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc player priced aggressively at $199.99 (more info or purchase from Amazon) and a buy three Blu-ray Disc movies and get a free Playstation 3 Blu-ray Disc remote control offer (view the list of eligible titles).

Thanks to TheHDRoom for the heads-up!

Tags: Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray sale, Amazon, Blu-ray Disc sale

Name-brand Blu-ray players break the $200 barrier

EngadgetHD has been keeping a close eye on the prices of Blu-ray players, and recently noticed that both the Samsung BD-P1500 and Sony BDP-S300 have fallen below the $200 mark at certain stores (RadioShack and Amazon, respectively.) This is right in line with previous reports of falling Blu-ray prices, and while the BDP-S300 is pretty old, the BD-P1500 is currently Samsung’s most recent Blu-ray player. In many ways, these cuts are more important that the budget players we’ve seen from Insignia and Memorex, since for many people it’s a lot easier to drop $200 on Blu-ray if they know they’re getting a “Sony”.

EngadgetHD’s link to RadioShack is no longer working and we couldn’t find the BD-P1500 on the site by searching–we’re guessing they’re sold out. But if you can find the BD-P1500 for $200, it’s a much better deal than the BDP-S300. When we tested the BDP-S300, we found it painfully slow and it only supports the older Profile 1.0 standard. The BD-P1500, on the other hand, is currently Profile 1.1 compatible and is upgradeable to Profile 2.0, and considerably faster to use than the BDP-S300. The BD-P1500 is also on deck to get DTS-HD Master Audio decoding in the future, which means you’ll be able to get high resolution soundtracks using most HDMI-equipped AV receivers.

Source: crave.cnet.com

Tags: Sony, BDP-S300, Samsung, BD-P1500, Blu-ray

Hollywood studios are changing their home-video strategy

Just read this information on the LA Times regarding Hollywood Studios adopting their current home-video strategies in order to catch-up with technology and customer’s demands.

It seems that Studio executives don’t expect any single technology — video on demand, digital downloads or Blu-ray — to replace the DVD cash cow. Because of this, they are planning new strategies that will benefit end users.

Here are some of the key things they are improving:

- Some studios are testing offering online and cable rentals on the same day as DVD releases to boost sales.
- Hollywood studios now want to open a new “window” — offering high-definition versions of movies for rental viewing in the home ahead of their DVD release — if the Federal Communications Commission grants cable and satellite companies permission to block in-home copying.
- Check more information here

Source: Dawn C. Chmielewski, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

Sub-$100 Blu-ray Drives by Winter

From blu-ray.com:

Representatives from SonyNEC Optiarc, the optical drive arm of the joint Sony and NEC collaboration, have revealed that they predict prices of Blu-ray combo drives - which can read Blu-ray discs and write DVD and CD - will reach sub-$100 prices by this upcoming holiday season. Additionally, it is expected that similar notebook drives would reach the $150 level by that same time.

They also predict that Blu-ray burners - those drives that can write to Blu-ray discs - will go for between $150-200. These lower prices will make the drives more accessible to computer manufacturers as consumer demand for Blu-ray drives steadily increases. Additionally, those looking to add some Blu to their existing systems will have a less expensive option to do so.

More information here…

blu-ray.com

Blu-Ray vs HD Downloads

Just read an article in the new Home Theater magazine about the upcoming War between Blu-Ray and High Definition Downloads (HD Video-On-Demand). Now that the format war is over with Blu-Ray the winner, it was quite interesting reading different scenarios threatening new champion. It is fair to mention that even those new HD Video-On-Demand (VOD) services are promising (with secret negotiations happening at this moment between Microsoft and NetFlix), they all depend of your broadband connection. It means that they will need to overcome bandwidth limitations when downloading these movies before becoming mainstream. In addition, one of the main issues that those companies are facing is pricing and availability. If you go to a Blockbuster or use an online rental service, you can rent any Blu-Ray without worrying about late return fees. This is great for people like us who loves to watch our movies even more than once In fact, some of us even have a personal collection of these Blu-Rays already in place. In the case of HD VOD, you will need to have a PC hook-up to your HDTV (not so easy for regular people), use one of the cable/satellite providers or buy a Xbox 360, Apple TV or Vudu Unit. The main disadvantage of these technologies is that you are entitled to watch your movie for a period of time. Once the time has expired, you are not longer able to watch the movie nor even to be download it or RIP it (I could get killed only for mentioning this here).

In conclusion, if you put all these things on a balance, I thing Blu-Ray has a clear advantage (and we didn’t mention picture quality and interactive features). The great majority can buy a Blu-Ray player, hook it up on their HDTVs and watch their favourite titles without internet, PC and time limitations. Perhaps in the near future, when broadband connections become world-wide available and affordable then we can think these type of services as a true competition for Sony’s baby.