SAMSUNG ADDS NETFLIX HD SUPPORT TO ITS FLAGSHIP BLU-RAY PLAYERS

Among First Blu-ray Players to Offer Consumers Instant Streaming from Netflix in Hi-Def

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J., November 26, 2008 – Samsung Electronics America, a market leader and award-winning manufacturer of consumer electronics, today announced that its two cutting-edge Blu-ray players, the BD-P2500 and BD-P2550, will now have direct access to the first several hundred movies and TV episodes made available by Netflix that can stream via the players in high definition. Available during the first week of December through a simple firmware update, both players are among the first Blu-ray stand-alone players to allow consumers the ability to instantly view hi-definition content from the popular movie rental service.

Currently, both the Samsung BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 offer access to the Netflix library of more than 12,000 standard definition videos, but the firmware update will provide consumers with additional access to Netflix HD premium content in sharp resolutions of 720p. Running the entire entertainment gamut from television shows, independent films, to Hollywood blockbusters, Netflix subscribers can choose from more than 300 HD titles that play in standard definition audio. Along with the new Netflix HD capabilities, the BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 are nimble performers equipped with the latest in robust HQV video processing and fully supporting advanced BD Live Blu-ray features.

“Our state-of-the-art Blu-ray players truly have become the ultimate HD digital entertainment delivery system with the latest support to allow HDstreaming from Netflix,” said Reid Sullivan, Vice President of Marketing, Audio/Video & Imaging at Samsung Electronics America. “By understanding changing consumer interests, we are making it easier for consumers to experience a vast world of captivating content, instantaneously, all at the touch of a button.”

Read on for full specs.

August 28, 2008 – Samsung Electronics, a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, introduces its most advanced Blu-ray player to date with the BD-P2500. Building upon key features and design elements from past Samsung Blu-ray players, the BD-P2500 is compatible out-of-the-box with the latest Blu-ray interactive features available including BD Live™. The BD-P2500 also offers breakthrough enhancements such as Hollywood Quality Video™ (HQV™) processing and 7.1-Channel analog audio outputs creating a powerful HD audio-visual experience.

- Price: $499.99

- Availability: October

Whether consumers are looking to enjoy the rich audio and video of the latest Blu-ray discs, or rejuvenate their favorite standard DVDs, the Samsung BD-P2500 is a powerful addition bringing truly impressive Full HD 1080p theater-like quality into the home.

Key Product Highlights

· Total BD Profile Compatibility

Samsung's BD-P2500 meets all of the current BD Profile requirements right out of the box, allowing consumers to instantly enjoy the latest interactive features available, including BD Live™ (Profile 2.0) and Bonus View (Profile 1.1), creating new ways to experience favorite movies. The BD-P2500 comes with a built-in, wired Ethernet connection, 1GB of internal flash memory, and a USB port for memory expansion.

· Superior Video Quality

The BD-P2500 offers Full HD 1080p playback, and features an award-winning HQV™ processing chip for the highest quality viewing of Blu-ray discs, upconversion of standard DVDs, and viewing of JPEG images. The BD-P2500 also features an HDMI 1.3 output with xvYCC Deep Color support, and a 24fps film mode, exhibiting smoother, more natural playback of film-based material.

· High Definition Soundtrack Support and Output

Providing a truly immersive HD home theater experience, Samsung's BD-P2500 is capable of decoding the latest high-resolution digital multichannel audio soundtracks available. Out of the box, the player can output Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus™, Dolby TrueHD™ and dts as an uncompressed PCM signal, as a bitstream, or via the 7.1 analog outputs for cinematic sound that is comparable with the latest movie theaters. Additionally, dts-HD HR® (High Resolution) decoding will become available with a firmware upgrade in the fall. The BD-P2500 will also pass these and dts-HD MA (Master Audio) as a bitstream output to a separate, external surround sound decoder.

· Easy Upgradeability

To keep consumers updated with the latest features and improvements, Samsung's BD-P2500 offers three convenient ways to receive new upgrades: via the embedded Ethernet connection, USB port, or on a CD/DVD/BD.

"The BD-P2500 Blu-ray player represents the very best technology the industry has to offer," said Reid Sullivan, Vice President of Marketing, Audio/Video & Imaging at Samsung Electronics America. "Consumers will enjoy a truly immersive, Full HD viewing experience that delivers the broad spectrum of high definition sights and sounds that can now be experienced with the combination of Blu-ray and the latest HDTVs."

Specifications

BD-P2500 Blu-ray Player

Design

· Piano black with chrome accents and touch pad controls

A/V Features

· Compatible with BD Profile 2.0 (BD Live), Profile 1.1 (Bonus View), and Profile 1.0 interactivity features

· 1GB internal flash memory for BD Live

· Award-winning Hollywood Quality Video™ (HQV™) processing

· 24fps film mode

· xvYCC Deep Color

· Selectable DVD upconversion (720p / 1080i / 1080p)

· Dolby Digital Plus™, Dolby TrueHD™decoding

· dts-HD HR® decoding via firmware update in the fall

· Dolby Digital Plus™, Dolby TrueHD™, dts-HD HR / MA® bitstream output

A/V Connections

· 1 HDMI version 1.3 output with CEC (Anynet+)

· 1 component output

· 1 composite output

· 7.1-Channel analog audio outputs

· 1 optical digital audio output

· 1 Ethernet connection (for interactivity features and firmware upgrades only)

· 1 USB connection (for memory expansion and firmware upgrades only)

Playable Media

· BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-R(V mode only), DVD-RW (V/VR mode), Audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, AVCHD disc

Estimated Selling Price

· $499.99

Availability

October 2008

FWIW, it's supposed to be coming in the fall with 7.1 analog outputs, and a Silicon Optix Reon processor. When I say FWIW, I mean not all that much for the rest of us: Panasonic's got a BD-Live player coming out within the month and there's always our favorite Blu-ray player, the PS3. Better late then never, though. [Annees Laser via Blu-ray, BTW, that is not a photo of the BD-P2500]