Samsung Blu-ray Players Will Stream Netflix Videos
Date : 23 Oct 2008 Category : Technology
NewsFactor Network"Samsung has been at the forefront of innovation in consumer electronics and has established a market leadership position in Blu-ray and digital television," said Netflix cofounder and CEO Reed Hastings. "We're excited about the upgraded Blu-ray Disc players. Moreover, we look forward to working with Samsung in the years to come to deliver a variety of outstanding products on which consumers can watch movies delivered over the Internet from Netflix."
The software to access the Netflix library will be preinstalled on Samsung models BD-P2550 and BD-P2500, which are currently available for $399 each. Consumers who have already purchased the machines can download new software from Samsung to gain access to the Netflix library.
Hybrid Devices
Consumers who purchase the Netflix-ready Samsung players will probably not be able to stream movies at the same resolution as a Blu-ray disk. Most streamed high-definition movies meet the minimum resolution of 780p, while Blu-ray movies are 1080p. However, Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy at Jupitermedia, said that won't be a sticking point for most consumers.
"It's not the question of quality," Gartenberg said, "it's the question of 'good enough,' and that's a standard they should have no problem meeting."
The real point of the deal, Gartenberg suggested, is that the consumer media market is in transition from the DVD format to online downloads, and manufacturers are experimenting with hybrid products.
"We're not there yet, but it's clear that's where this market is headed in the future," he said. "Products like this are...