Samsung heralds new era of entertainment; The world's first mass-market Blu-ray Disc Player BD-P1000

The new device let consumers take full advantage of high-definition displays, playing content at native 720p, 1080i or 1080p video resolutions. In addition, the BD-P1000 offers full 1080p output via HDMI for the best available resolution and up-conversion capabilities for improving the picture of standard DVDs. The player, showcased in the Middle East for the first time in Gitex 2006 in Dubai, generated remarkable interest.

The BD player includes a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) output, an industry-supported, uncompressed, all-digital audio/video interface on a single cable, allowing users to easily connect the Blu-ray player to their existing home televisions. It will also decode standard multi-channel audio.

"Samsung's Blu-ray player will be the first available to consumers, and we will continue to innovate it" said D.S. Jun, Senior Vice President & General Manager of AV Division at Samsung Electronics. "Samsung is demonstrating its leadership in driving the next generation optical format."

Samsung developed major key components of the BD-P1000 internally. Samsung's unique technology - one pickup with two lenses - allows it to also play standard DVDs and CDs in addition to Blu-ray discs while allowing for more cost-effective production. The supported DVD formats include DVD-RAM, DVD-RW and DVD-R. Additional features of the BD-P1000 include 10 in 2 memory card reader, Dolby digital, DTS and pop-up; a full colour high-definition animated button; and improved bitmap and text subtitles.

The increased storage capacity of Blu-ray discs allows the Samsung BD player to offer an astounding 25 GB of content on a single-sided disc (50 GB per dual layer) - nearly six times the capacity of traditional DVDs and enough space for two hours of high-definition movies or recorded content (see chart below).

The Blu-ray next-generation optical disc format was created by a group of the world's top consumer electronics companies, including Samsung. This format was intended to meet intense consumer demand for playing and recording high-definition content, which far surpasses the video quality DVD can handle. With remarkable high quality video and crisp audio clarity, Blu-ray is unsurpassed in high-definition entertainment. Other applications including gaming and interactive media will take even greater advantage of the format.

Connectivity includes CVBS Output, S-Video Output, component output, HDMI and both digital and analog audio outputs. Supported audio formats include 192KHz LPCM, Dolby digital, DTS and MP3. BD-P1000 also has a memory card reader supporting Compact Flash, Micro Drive, SD, Mini SD, MMC & RS-MMC, Memory stick, Memory stick pro, Memory stick pro duo and Memory stick duo (all TM).

The Blu-ray Disc Player will be launched to the Middle Eastern market in 2007.