Samsung to discontinue UP5000 hybrid player
updated 03:50 pm EST, Wed January 23, 2008
Samsung UP5000 to die
Only months after its introduction, Samsung has already decided to discontinue the BD-UP5000, its hybrid Blu-Ray/HD DVD movie player. The unit was to have been one of the most powerful players Samsung had produced, with 1080p24, HDMI 1.3, and an Ethernet port for Internet content; users have reported substantial problems with it however, such the inability to run HD audio codecs, or properly view discs such as Sunshine or 3:10 to Yuma. Other problems have included troubles with with standard DVDs or the 4:3 aspect ratio.
Although Samsung notes that no timeframe for the 5000's demise has been set, some preliminary reports suggested that it could come in May. A replacement is due in the second half of the year; this schedule is shared with the sibling UP5500, which also shares many of the same features. [via Blu-ray.com]
