The blu-ray disc format offers close to five times the resolution of conventional DVDs and will enable consumers to view High Definition discs on their HDTVs.
The format is supported by movie studios including Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) and LionsGate Pictures, plus more than 170 consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers.
Current optical disc technologies such as DVD reply on a red laser to read and write data. Blu-ray uses a blue-violet laser which better uses the space on the disc allowing more than five times the amount of information.
The Samsung BD-P1000 plays Blu-ray software titles via a native 1080p HDMI output for films digitally mastered in 1920 x 1080p. The BD-P1000 also up-converts conventional DVDs to 1080p through the HDMI digital interface so the picture quality of any traditional DVD will look more detailed when used with the disc player. The BD-P1000 is backwards compatible and plays both standard DVDs and CDs in addition to supporting all DVD formats.
Connectivity includes HDMI, Component, S-video and composite outputs. Supported audio formats include: Dolby Digital & Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, MP3 and 192KHz LPCM.
Samsung says that the launch of the Samsung BD-P1000 coincides with a major influx of Blu-ray content. Seven of the eight major movie studios have already announced titles for Blu-ray, with the initial line-up of recent films as well as classics, expected to grow to more than 200 titles by year end.
