• Final Standard Profile Blu-ray Player (BD-ROM Profile1 version 1.1)
• 1080p output: 24p/60p via HDMI v1.3 with Deep Color
• Up-conversion of standard DVDs to 1080p Playback
• Dolby True HD Decoder, DTS/DTS-HD High Resolution/Master Audio Decoder
• Pixel Precision Progressive Progressing for HD

Product Description
Blu-ray means incredible full-HD images, breathtaking sound and 5x the data capacity of DVDs. Now Blu-ray means something else too: an entirely new movie-viewing experience, made possible by Final Standard Profile, which adds features never seen before, like four Picture-in-Picture modes including Enhanced Commentary (from directors and actors), Backstage Pass, Peek Behind the Animation and Audio Mixing. Combining a PHL Reference Chroma Processor with advanced P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing) imaging technology, UniPhier(R) — the Precise Digital Video processor — reproduces crisp, natural colors that are extremely faithful to the original movie. It does this by up-sampling the color information in decoded video signals, while the super high-speed P4HD up-converts content recorded in 480i/p, 720p or 1080i format to 1080p by correctly generating each pixel according to information drawn from up to 60 surrounding pixels. The image motion of each pixel is then categorized into one of 16 levels, from stationary to super fast. Image quality is further enhanced by Diagonal Processing, which creates smooth, sharp diagonal lines, and 3:2 Pull-Down, which optimizes the processing accordingly for film or video making the images look natural and lifelike. In addition, the DMP-BD30’s HDMI output is Deep Color compatible, with 4,096 steps of gradation for even smoother, finer-quality images that meet Hollywood’s stringent demands, so you can experience movies just the way they were meant to be experienced. With Precise Digital Audio, Blu-ray’s beautiful images are complemented by exceptionally pure, accurate sound thanks to Dolby(R) TrueHD and DTS-HD(TM). UniPhier(R)’s advanced processing capability decodes these audio signals with high precision and outputs them in bitstream form with no degradation. It also brings re-mastering to Blu-ray for the first time, which compensates for data lost during the compression process creating a fuller, richer sound.Amazon.com Product Description
Blu-ray means incredible full-HD images, breathtaking sound and 5x the data capacity of DVDs. Now Blu-ray means something else too: an entirely new movie-viewing experience, made possible by Final Standard Profile, which adds features never seen before, like four Picture-in-Picture modes including Enhanced Commentary (from directors and actors), Backstage Pass, Peek Behind the Animation and Audio Mixing.

Images So Real, You Feel Like You’re in the Picture
Combining a PHL Reference Chroma Processor with advanced P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing) imaging technology, UniPhier — the Precise Digital Video processor — reproduces crisp, natural colors that are extremely faithful to the original movie. It does this by up-sampling the color information in decoded video signals, while the super high-speed P4HD up-converts content recorded in 480i/p, 720p or 1080i format to 1080p by correctly generating each pixel according to information drawn from up to 60 surrounding pixels. The image motion of each pixel is then categorized into one of 16 levels, from stationary to super fast. Image quality is further enhanced by Diagonal Processing, which creates smooth, sharp diagonal lines, and 3:2 Pull-Down, which optimizes the processing accordingly for film or video making the images look natural and lifelike. In addition, the DMP-BD30’s HDMI output is Deep Color compatible, with 4,096 steps of gradation for even smoother, finer-quality images that meet Hollywood’s stringent demands, so you can experience movies just the way they were meant to be experienced.

Incredible Sound Completes the Hi-Def Experience
With Precise Digital Audio, Blu-ray’s beautiful images are complemented by exceptionally pure, accurate sound thanks to Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD. UniPhier’s advanced processing capability decodes these audio signals with high precision and outputs them in bitstream form with no degradation. It also brings re-mastering to Blu-ray for the first time, which compensates for data lost during the compression process creating a fuller, richer sound.

HD Networking with SD Card
The convenient SD card slot on the DMP-BD30 allows easy viewing of hi-def videos and photos on your HDTV. Videos shot with a Panasonic HD camcorder are output in their original 1920×1080 resolution, while still images taken with a Panasonic Lumix digital camera are up-converted and output in 1920×1080 resolution1.

One-Touch Control from Your TV’s Remote
With EZ Sync HDAVI Control, you can control your Blu-ray Disc player — and all your home theater components — with your TV’s remote2. Simply press the EZ Sync button and select “BD Player” on the menu screen; the BD player’s menu will be displayed and you can begin playback.

Panasonic DMP-BD30K 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

• Sharp BDHP50U Blu-ray Disc Player, with RS232 Control
• Full HD 1080p/24 fps video output
• HDMI digital Interface, and Remote IR Input
• 7.1 Ch digital audio output, and mororized front cover
• Quick Start Mode: enjoy content quickly without delay

Product Description
Now you can enjoy the best of 1080P video on your AQUOS LCD TV. Especially designed to work with AQUOS LCD TVs, the BD-HP50U AQUOS Blue-ray Disc Player provides seamless operability via the AQUOS LINK function through the HDMI connection. Performing as if it were all one system, the BD-HP50U’s Quick Start feature lets you enjoy gorgeous Blu-ray Disc¿ video with the touch of a button in less than 10 seconds (Quick Start time may vary depending on movie content, type of video connection and type of monitor being used, Blu-ray Disc must also be preloaded for Quick Start operation). With HDMI outputs and 1080P as well as DVD up-conversion to 1080P, you’ll enjoy full digital high-definition video and high-fidelity audio. JPEG Digital images viewing, RS232 Control, Remote IR Input and a high style motorized front cover.

Sharp Aquos BDHP50 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

• Plays Blu-ray high-definition discs (selectable output resolution: 1080p/1080i/720p signals available through HDMI output only)
• Built-in audio decoding to PCM for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential
• Netflix video and Pandora music streaming (subscriptions to these services required)
• Wi-Fi capable (includes wireless USB adapter)
• Wall-mountable (includes wall-mount hardware)

Product Description
Innovative Blu-ray Disc® technology meets sleek Touch of ColorTM style, with Samsung’s BD-P4600. In addition to the advanced Blu-ray picture quality on your HDTV, the subtle elegance of the Touch of Color accent contributes a perfectly modern look in any living room. For an even more sophisticated setup, the BD-P4600 is also wall-mountable. Superior sound complements the picture – advanced DTS-HD MA delivers crystal-clear, full-spectrum audio.

Samsung BD-P4600 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

• HDMI Deep Color – HDMI connection delivers progressive color in all modes plus exceptionak home-theater sound when connected.
• Full high-definition video playback – Watch movies in the highest picture quality available for your HDTV
• Upconvert DVD for enhanced picture quality – Your current DVD will look even better than before thanks to video upconversion
• Enjoy your content on different kinds of media – Full backwards compatibility with DVD, CD
• Listen to the rich multi-channel surround sound up to 7.1 channel compatibility with Dolby TrueHD

Product Description
Blu-ray DVD player with HDMI outputFull 1080p resolution output with 24/60 fps 1.1 Profile picture-in-picture optionHDMI component and S-video outputs with digital and analog audio outputsDTS WMA MP3 Dolby True HD and Linear PCM audio optionsCEC Deep Color Control with advanced user interfaceDolby Digital PlusIncludes remote

Sylvania NB501SL9 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player

• 1920 x 1080p, 24fps resolution for unrivaled picture quality, Kuro link
• BD-Live Compliant (Profile 2.0)
• Features internal decoding of all advanced audio formats including Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution, and DTS-HD Master Audio.

Product Description
Spectacular 1080p Picture Quality: The BDP-320 provides up to 1920 x 1080p resolution for unrivaled picture quality. And with True 24fps, Deep Color: The BDP-320 supports 48-bit* Deep Color, offering high definition images with superb color detail. x.v.Color: An advanced feature which greatly broadens the color space HDMI Precision Quartz Lock system (PQLS) Jitterless Transmission (2-ch): By HDMI connection with a compatible Pioneer A/V receiver, CD music is precisely reproduced with minimum jitter. KURO LINK: By connecting the BDP-320 to a Pioneer KURO flat panel TV or monitor and a compatible Pioneer A/V receiver, KURO LINK lets you operate the entire system’s basic functions such as power on/off and playback through KURO’s remote control. The new KURO LINK Video Adjustment System automatically switches to optimal video settings adjusted by unique parameters developed by Pioneer KURO and Blu-ray Disc player engineers. Picture Control Suite: 13 different video adjustments (Progressive Motion, PureCinema, YNR, CNR, BNR, MNR, Detail, White Level, Black Level, Black Setup, Gamma Correction, Hue, and Chroma Level) Triple High-Definition NR: BD-Live Compliant (Profile 2.0): USB Input for BD-LIVE Contents Storage 7.1 Channel Analog Audio Outputs: For compatibility with non HDMI equipped receivers and preamps. Internal Audio Decoders: The BDP-320 features internal decoding of all advanced audio formats including Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD High Resolution, and DTS-HD Master Audio. Easy Operation and Setup: New Advanced HD GUIs for easy navigation. Multi-Format Compatibility: You can play high definition DVD discs recorded by digital video cameras in AVCHD format. You can also play BD-R/RE, DVD-R/RW, etc. recorded using Blu-ray Disc recorders or DVD recorders as well as CD/CD-R.

Pioneer BDP-320 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

• Full HD 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema Video Output
• DVD Upscaling to 1080p via HDMI
• BRAVIA Theatre Sync (HDMI-CEC)
• BD/DVD/CD playback(4) and AVC-HD with x.v.Color output
• Multi-channel Linear PCM & Dolby Digital Plus Decoding

Product Description
See and hear a whole new world in high definition with Sony’s BDP-S300. The crystalline clarity of 1080p Blu-ray Disc� movies(1) and DVD upscaling(2) that can bring your DVDs to the highest possible quality, mean your favorite movies have never looked or sounded so good. Add to that Sony’s 24p True Cinema(2) and Cinema Tuned picture presets, which allow you to see any movie just the way its director intended, and all you’ll need is a little popcorn to lose yourself in an HD world. Better yet, now Sony’s Bravia Theatre Sync means that now you can control your compatible TV and AV systems(3) all from one remote.From the Manufacturer
From the Manufacturer See and hear a whole new world of high definition with the incredible BDP-S300 Blu-ray Disc Player. The crystalline clarity of 1080p Blu-ray Disc movies1 and DVD upscaling2 has to be seen to be believed. Amazing 24p True Cinema3 2 output and cinema-tuned picture presets allow you to see movies exactly how the director intended. And with BRAVIA Theatre Sync, you can now you can control your compatible BRAVIA TV and AV systems3 from just one remote.

x.v.Color
Thanks to the adoption of a newly approved international color standard called xvYCC (an option in the HDMI v1.3 spec and which Sony participated in helping to create), the color space has been greatly expanded. 1.8 times as many natural colors as existing HDTV signals will now be faithfully reproduced. (x.v.Color capability is available on select BRAVIA televisions, Blu-ray Disc players and the PlayStation3 computer entertainment system.)

24p True Cinema Video Output
Many movies are filmed at 24 frames per second (fps) and prime time TV programs are videotaped at 24p. Seizing an opportunity, some studios are taking a purist approach and encoding high definition video content such as Blu-ray Disc in 24p. The BDP-S300 wisely takes advantage of this by including 24p output capability. The benefits are smoother and more natural-looking images that make watching television an experience to remember. (24p video input capability is available on select BRAVIA televisions.)

BRAVIA Theater Sync
Go beyond simple audio and video transmission with the “one-touch play” remote control feature that allows you to easily manage select BRAVIA televisions and Sony HDMI audio and video components with a single remote. (Available on select BRAVIA theater home A/V systems and components.)

Blu-ray’sHD resolution offers a vastly better picture than SD resolution availabel from regular DVD

More About Blu-ray
The format provides five times larger capacity than today’s DVDs, with unprecedented storage capacity of 25 GB (single-layer) and 50 GB (dual-layer). Blu-ray Disc players will be fully backward compatible with current DVD formats, delivering entertainment content in full high-definition (HD) quality, under a secure environment made possible through the most advanced copyright protection technology.

Blu-ray Disc provides picture quality beyond anything available, with full capability 1080p/24 resolution in Blu-ray and Up to 40Mbps bit encoding – 5X current DVD. The theater quality “uncompressed” audio supports 8 channels of Liner PCM, Up to 32 streams of audio, interactive capability, seamless menus, integrated games, hi-def bonus and educational features. Java will allow for more dynamic, more sophisticated interactivity.

Expand your workd with Sony products using Blu-ray Disc technology. It;s the heart of an outstanding line of Sony products with Blu-ray Disc technology that extends beyond the boundaries of high-definition and opens the new vistas for creativity, enjoyment, and interaction.

Discover unsurpassed picture quality and uncompressed audio on supporting media that goes beyond any other format you’ve seen. Immerse yourself in the unrivaled detail that lets you experiencemore in every movie, every game.

Movies

Find a huge selection of great movies available now on Blu-ray Disc

The best names in entertainment suppor Blu-ray Disc technology. Seven of Hollywood’s major studios — with 90% of home entertainment sales — ensure the most extensive library of high definition titles, with hits from SOny pictures, Walt Disney, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Paramount, and Lions Gate. You’ll find more titles coming every month.

Blu-ray Disc was created to match the accelerating growth in digital consumer electronics and computer technology. The platform supports the convergence of film, music, gaming and other computer entertainment in a single standard. Sony Computer Entertainment’s adoption of Blu-ray Disc ROM technology in the next-generation PlayStation 3 system was announced at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Capacity Without Compromise
Everything that DVD can do, Blu-ray Disc does and more. Blue laser technology enables up to 50 GB of storage — five times the capacity of DVD. That’s room for nine hours of HD. Or 23 hours of SD. Or tens of thousands of songs. Unbelievable data storage.

Versatiltiy Beyond the Ordinary
From movies to music to games to PC software and file backup, Blu-ray Disc is your solution! The system embraces pre-recorded titles (BD-ROM), discs that you can record yourself (BD-R) and discs you can re-record over and over again (BD-RE). So we can anticipate not only BD players for your living room, but also BD recorders, BD-based game consoles, BD drives for your personal computer and even BD camcorders using compact 8 cm (3″) discs!

Sony BDP-S300 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

• Full HD 1080/60 p & 24p True Cinema Video Output
• Dolby TrueHD decoding built-in Dolby TrueHD /DTS-HD bitstream out over HDMI (V1.3)
• DVD upscale to 1080p
• Precision Cinema Progressive HD
• x.v.Color for AVC-HD

Product Description
The Blu-ray revolution continues with the Sony BDP-S350 Blu-ray Player. You can take full advantage of the Bonus View feature of select Blu-ray movies, and are ready to dive into BD-Live when the update is available. In true Sony fashion, the BDP-S350 will output a Full 1080/24p True Cinema picture, plus upscale your existing DVD collection to 1080p as well, when using the HDMI connection. On board decoding for Dolby TrueHD is here, also the ability to send out the bitstream for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD (Master Audio & High Resolution) as well. BRAVIA sync ensures that with the touch of a button, you can easily power on and synch the inputs of compatible Sony compatible BRAVIA flat-panel LCD HDTV sets and Sony audio/video devices connected to the players, via HDMI, for hassle-free enjoyment of high-definition Blu-ray Discs. Bringing it all together is the new Xcross Media Bar menu system, which is an icon based menu system for simple navigation of the BDP-S350’s menu system.

Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

• Full HD 1080p Output
• 1.1 Profile for PNP with Sound
• 24P/60P Output
• 1.3 Version HDMI with 1080p
• One (1) HDMI Cable included

Product Description
Enjoy a whole new world of Blu-ray technology. Upgrade your entertainment experience at your home. Enjoy a new phase of high definition pictures and Bonus View Features.

Sylvania NB500SL9 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player with HDMI Cable

• Blu-ray Disc playback for sharp images in Full HD 1080p
• Full HD 1080p for razor sharp images
• 1080p at 24fps for cinema like images
• Deep color for vivid images in over a billion colors
• DVD video upconversion to to 1080p vis HDMI for near-HD images

Product Description
With the Philips BDP5320/F7 Blu-ray Disc Player with 1080p HDMI Upconversion features DVD video upconversion to 1080p via HDMI for near-HD images. See sharper images in full HD 1080p at 24fps for cinema like images and deep color for vivid images in over a billion colors. The x.v. Color feature brings more natural colors to your HD camcorder videos. And you can play your Blue-ray discs and enjoy BD Live online bonus content. Enjoy all your movies and music from CD and DVD on this Energy Star compliant player.

Philips BDP5320/F7 Blu-Ray Disc Player with 1080p HDMI Upconversion

• Full HD 1080p
• BD Live 2.0 Ready
• Ethernet and USB for firmware upgrades
• Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital True-HD
• DTS-HD upgradable

Product Description
The ultimate interactive experience is here. The Samsung BD-P2500 is BD-Live 2.0 Ready so you can enjoy special interactive features, download extra content from the internet and more. You¿ll also enjoy bold color and crisp details with full 1080p resolution. Movie night just got even more exciting – with the highest-quality audio and an incredible picture.Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description Samsung’s BD-P2500 is BD-Live 2.0 Ready with an ethernet port so you can enjoy special interactive features, download extra content from the internet, and more. It has 1Gb of onboard memory and a USB port for memory expansion. You’ll enjoy bold color and crisp details with full 1080p resolution. 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. Plays Blu-ray discs, upscales standard DVDs, and is compatible with BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, DVD-R (V mode only), DVD-RW (V/VR mode), Audio CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and  AVCHD discs. Movie night just got even more exciting – with the highest-quality audio and an incredible picture.

Key Features

• Total BD Profile Compatibility right out of the box, lets you instantly enjoy the latest interactive features available, including BD Live (Profile 2.0) and Bonus View (Profile 1.1)
• Lots of Memory and Easy Upgradeability: The BD-P2500 comes with a built-in, wired Ethernet connection, 1GB of internal flash memory, and a USB port for memory expansion
• Full HD 1080p
• HQV processing chip for the highest quality viewing of Blu-ray discs, upconversion of standard DVDs, and viewing of JPEG images
• HDMI 1.3 output with xvYCC Deep Color support, and a 24fps film mode, exhibiting smoother, more natural playback of film-based material.
• 7.1-Channel Dolby TrueHD Sound and dts-HD Master Audio capable of decoding the latest high-resolution digital multichannel audio soundtracks

HQV Video Processor

In a perfect world, every disc’s image that passed through your Blu-ray disc player into your HDTV would offer immaculate 1080p video with flawless color, impeccable detail, and nary a bit of pesky video noise. In the real world, though, pristine source material isn’t available for every Blu-ray disc—due to age or neglect of the original elements—and there are plenty of movies and TV shows on DVD that you’ll still want to watch on your Blu-ray player. HQV video processing is a great way of elevating those less-than-perfect video sources to a new level, and ensuring that you’re getting the most out of your beautiful high-definition video display.

To do this, the HQV video processors built into better Blu-ray players employ sophisticated algorithms to alleviate the problems that often plague less-than-perfect video sources. HQV processors analyze multiple video fields at once to determine where frames match up and where they don’t, and even which objects are in motion within those frames. In analyzing the video signal over time, the processor also determines the proper frame rate or refresh rate of the original video signal—whether it’s a 24 fps film source or a 30 fps video source, for example—and makes sure that it is dealt with properly. HQV video processors are also great at minimizing video noise without scrubbing the image of all its fine detail, as well as restoring some of the detail that’s lost as a result of aggressive video filtering during the Blu-ray or DVD mastering process. And unlike some competing video processors, HQV processors boast enough processing power to keep up with the multiple video streams (picture-in-picture and split screen) found on many new Blu-ray discs.

Stream Netflix Movies Right Over Your Player

Netflix, the world’s largest online movie rental service, has a library of more than 12,000 movies and television episodes available for streaming. You must be a Netflix subscriber in order to receive streaming video service. For Netflix customers you simply need to activate your new BluRay player to your existing Netflix account. Non-Netflix customers must first sign up for Netflix in order to utilize this feature-there is a monthly cost.

BD-Live

BD-Live is a Blu-ray feature that enables you to access  special content via an internet-connected Blu-ray player. Because it’s not coded into the disc, BD-Live content is always updated, always fresh. With BD-Live, your Blu-ray disc is different every time you view it. Check out the latest previews,  download special scenes, exclusive features and ringtones, and participate in online communities or games. As BD-Live continues to grow and expand, even more features will become available, customizing features and content to your location or preferences. Now, your disc k

Bonus View

Blu-ray Disc has 5x more storage capacity than DVD, which allows more content to fit on the disc. The extra storage capacity also means more room for special features like inline navigation, Bonus View, interactive games, deleted scenes, director commentary and more
Navigate to special features, other scenes, or settings without leaving the content you are watching.	Bonus View lets you watch special features and commentary inline without leaving the movie.

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.

HDMI Features

x.v Color

RGB Color Range

xvYCC Color Range

Thanks to the adoption of a newly approved international color standard called xvYCC (an option in the HDMI v1.3 spec, the color space has been greatly expanded. All Sony XBR HDTVs support the xvYCC color profile (Extended YCC Colorimetry for Video Applications), or “x.v. color” for short. Standard RGB color space allows the display of a portion of the colors that are viewable to the human eye. The next generation “xvYCC” color space actually offers  an available range of colors that exceeds what human eyes can recognize. Next-generation “xvYCC” color space supports 1.8 times as many colors as existing HDTV signals Lets HDTVs display colors more accurately Enables displays with more natural and vivid colors

Deep Color

So, where x.v. color expands the available range of colors your HDTV can display, Deep Color increases the number of colors your HDTV can display within that range, for smoother transitions from color to color. Lets HDTVs and other displays go from millions of colors to billions of colors Eliminates on-screen color banding, for smooth tonal transitions and subtle gradations between colors Enables increased contrast ratio Can represent many times more shades of gray between black and white

Specifications

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

Answers to Basic Questions About Blu-ray

What is Blu-ray?
Blu-ray is a new optical disc format with over five and a half times the storage capacity of a standard DVD (25 GB versus 4.5 GB). A dual-layer Blu-ray disc can hold up to 50 GB of information. With that increased storage, movie studios can finally provide movies on disc in high definition, offering 6x the resolution or image detail of DVD and up to 8 channels of lossless (better than CD quality) digital sound. The new format can also provide interactive features that go well above anything ever offered before.

Is Blu-ray different than HDTV?
HDTV, or high definition television, is a new broadcasting format that offers widescreen, high resolution images offering 6x the resolution or image detail of DVD, with up to 5.1 channels of digital audio. Until now, the signals were only available through over the air transmissions (via an antenna), or through digital cable and satellite signals. You can not get HD signals from a standard video tape or DVD.  An HDTV is a high resolution video display that is capable of receiving and displaying these HDTV broadcasts or images.   Blu-ray is a complement to your HDTV. It’s a disc media format that has enough storage to include an entire movie, plus soundtracks and bonus materials, recorded in the high definition format. You can play Blu-ray discs back on your HDTV and see the same, if not better image and sound quality as you do from HDTV broadcasts.

What kind of TV do I need to enjoy Blu-ray?
You can play back Blu-ray movies on any TV with composite video or better inputs (not RF), but to get a worthwhile benefit from the format over DVD you’ll want to have a high-definition television, or HDTV, with a vertical resolution higher than 480p, and preferably higher than 720p. Most Blu-ray titles can deliver an image with a vertical resolution of 1080i or 1080p. The more horizontal resolution the TV can reproduce, up to 1920 lines or pixels, the better.

How are Blu-ray discs different than regular DVDs?
Blu-ray discs are the same size as DVD or CD, but use a blue* laser to store and read data as opposed to the red laser used in DVDs and CDs. The blue laser’s shorter wavelength, combined with a smaller aperture lens and a thinner cover layer on the disc makes it possible to create a smaller beam spot size capable of storing and reading much more, smaller information on the disc.  A single-layer Blu-ray disc can hold 25 GB worth of data, compared to 4.5 on a standard DVD. A dual layer BD disc holds up to 50 GB. This translates into the ability to store a full 1080p HD image. This has a resolution consisting of 1920 by 1080 progressively scanned pixels, compared to standard DVD’s 720 by 480 pixels.  In addition, Blu-ray has much wider bandwidth than DVD, delivering signals at speeds up to 48 Mbps, six times faster than DVD’s 8 Mbps, and nearly 2.5 times the data of an HDTV broadcast’s 19.2 Mbps.  *technically, it’s violet, but who’s keeping track?

Will Blu-ray discs play in my current DVD player?
No. You will need a Blu-ray player to be able to read the smaller, denser information found on a Blu-ray disc.

Will I be able to play standar DVDs on my Samsung Blu-ray player?
Yes. Blu-ray players are backwards compatible with your standard DVDs.  They can also play CDs.

Is Blu-ray the same as HD DVD?
No. HD DVD was a competing format with less storage capacity than Blu-ray. With Toshiba, its primary champion announcing on February 19, 2008 that they would end production of HD DVD products, the few companies that were supporting the format announced that they would instead create products for the Blu-ray format.

What does up-conversion mean?
Consumers have over 50 years worth of material in standard definition formats. Up-conversion is the process of taking that existing, standard definition material and converting it (lines and pixels are copied to some degree) to the higher resolution needed to display those signals on an HDTV. When done well, the process can often improve picture quality, though it can’t increase actual resolution. The quality of the up-converter, included in everything from up-converting standard DVD players to Blu-ray players and HDTVs, can often determine the quality of the picture.

What kind of cables, connections do I need to have to make Blu-ray work?
You will need either a 3-wire analog component (typically labeled Y, Pr and Pb) or an HDMI digital video connection between the BD player and the TV. The HDMI connection is preferable. Not only will it provide better image quality, but it will pass along higher resolution audio and control information, as well. You may get limited up-conversion options with standard DVDs when using the component connection.

What is firmware and do I need it?
Firmware is like computer software, or the instruction set in the player that tells the hardware what to do under various conditions. Insert a disc, and the firmware tells the player to read the disc. Press the Play button and the firmware tells the player to play the movie. Generally speaking, the firmware is invisible to the end user. But Blu-ray keeps evolving, and new features keep being created. With each new feature that a movie studio comes up with, hardware manufacturers have to release new instruction sets, or firmware, to deal with it. Samsung’s ability to easily update the firmware in their BD players makes them one of the best in the business.

 Who supports Blu-ray?
At this point, nearly everyone supports Blu-ray. All the major movie studios have announced that they would support Blu-ray with both new and catalog titles. Thousands of movies and music videos are already available. Most major electronics manufacturers have been supporting Blu-ray since the format’s beginning.

Can I rent movies on Blu-ray?
Yes. Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and Netflix, among other places, offer Blu-ray titles for rent. 

Are my regular DVDs obsolete?
Not by the definition Merriam Webster would use. You can still play your regular DVDs on your Blu-ray disc player, so they’re still useful, but you’ll want to replace them with Blu-ray versions as they become available in the new format so that you can enjoy the improved image and sound quality. 

Is the only benefit to Blu-ray the video quality? Why should I upgrade to Blu-ray?
You will probably upgrade because of the video quality, but you may also appreciate the improved sound quality available on some players as well as the advanced interactive features.  Blu-ray offers the latest generation audio codecs that can play back up to 8 channels of surround sound with improved audio quality over that of standard 5.1 digital soundtracks. This includes Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS High Resolution and DTS Master Audio.  Blu-ray also offers advanced bonus features that can include interactive game features or picture-in-picture commentary tracks, not to mention additional features that could be downloaded after the disc has been produced. 

Do I need to buy a new home theater system?
You don’t need a new audio system, but you should at least have a surround system (five speakers and ideally a subwoofer) with Dolby Digital or DTS audio decoding to hear the theater-like audio experience that is available on Blu-ray. Some BD players offer more advanced audio codecs that provide even better quality sound through up to 8 channels of surround. 

What do all these audio formats mean?
You can hear better-than theater-like audio at home. As George Lucas has said, sound is 50% of the movie experience. With the right audio equipment, you can hear up to 7.1 channels of sound that is no different than what the recording engineers heard in the mixing room. 

What’s the benefit of 24p?
Movies are recorded on film at 24 frames per second (fps). Video is recorded and played back at 60 frames per second. Movies must be converted to 60 frames before being played back on your TV.  Blu-ray discs record movie content in the original 24 frame format, and convert the signal within the player to output at 60 fps for standard HDTVs. Some current HDTVs, like Samsung’s Auto Motion Plus 120Hz models, and undoubtedly more future ones, can accept and play back the 24 frame signal without the intermediary conversion to 60 fps, which can offer a smoother, more natural-looking image. 

What does Profile 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 mean?
Blu-ray’s specifications for video are broken into three profiles, each with its own set of hardware and software requirements. Profile 1.0 gave hardware manufacturers a grace period to create players that were capable of Blu-ray video playback, but didn’t need to meet the final standard profile requirements. This grace period ended October 31, 2007. These players, while not able to take advantage of all of Blu-ray’s promised extra content, will provide full 1080p video playback.

Profile 1.1, also known as BonusView, makes certain requirements mandatory: picture-in-picture, secondary audio mixing, a minimum of 256MB of memory (built-in or removable), and the incorporation of a virtual file system. Players created and sold after October 31, 2007 are required to meet the Profile 1.1 specification, and therefore will take advantage of 1.1-enabled bonus materials on certain BD discs.

BD-Live (Profile 2.0) makes mandatory all parts of Profile 1.1, but increases the memory requirement to 1GB and adds the hardware requirement of a network connection. This specification enables the even-more interactive web-based bonus material found on discs that provide such content.

Samsung BD-P2500 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player