Samsung Will Still Make DUO HD DVD/Blu-Ray Players

It seems that not everyone is jumping off the HD DVD ship.

Samsung announced at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that it still plans to manufacture its DUO player, which is compatible with both the HD DVD and Blu-Ray formats. The story goes on to say that a Samsung representative said, at Samsung's press conference at the CES, that they were "surprised" by Warner Bros.' decision to go Blu-Ray exclusive, but that they will continue to support the HD DVD format.

"I don't think we can preface that the format war is over," said Kevin Morrow, marketing director of Samsung's HD players. "There are still a number of companies involved and will continue to support HD DVD."

Morrow went on to say that there will still be that HD DVD "market segment that is not going to go away immediately, and I don't know if it ever will."

After the Warner Bros. announcement that it is going Blu-Ray exclusive, there are currently only three major studios supporting the HD DVD format: Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios and Dreamworks.


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Comments (6)

  1. Kaya Savas

    Well, considering Steve Jobs is planning to have Blu-ray Drives for Macs I'm guessing Apple supports Sony even if the iPod is the clear MP3 player of choice.

    Sony will always have to share the market, craignicole. The Sony brand name will never be a monopoly over consumer electronics. The debate is over two formats which it just so happens Sony created one of them. iPods will still compete against Walkmans and PS3's will still compete against Wii's and 360's, but we're talking a universal format for distribution of media, not competition in the consumer market.

    If a Samsung Blu-ray player is sold that is still a win for the Blu-ray format even if Samsung is seeing the direct profit and not Sony. There won't be a shared market for HD-Home Video in the future just like DVD was a standard and VHS before that.

    4 years agoby @kayaFlag

  2. Solid_Paul

    Look at it this way:

    It's a short term solution to give the illusion that the companies care enough about the consumer to still give them the ability to not completely lose their entire investment. It's a business strategy really. Samsung was smart to produce both Duel players, and stand alone Blu-ray players. It will ease the transition for HD-DVD supporters over to Blu-ray, and not lose out completely. Meanwhile, Blu-ray will continue to grow, and be adopted as the HDM sourse.

    Potentially it can replace SD-DVD as well, once the general public has the knowledge to see that Blu-ray can infact be used for their existing DVD catalogue, and does a fantastic job up-converting DVD's as well.

    Let's just hope the format was is over soon as many are predicting. It appears as though retailers are starting to pressure companies for a single format now too, and with that, an outcome should be quick.

    Go Blu!

    4 years agoby @solid-paulFlag

  3. craignicole

    Didn't sony get its but kicked when its betamax went against the vcr? Isn't apple kicking sonys but with ipod even though sony cornered the market with walkman? Isn't nintendo kicking the ps3 in the but? At best sony will have to share the market

    4 years agoby @craignicoleFlag

  4. Superdynamite

    The people have already picked their format! Why do some companies have such a thick head?

    Duel Player = Dumb!!!

    Sorry, but true!

    4 years agoby @superdynamiteFlag

  5. shadyln

    Huh. If HD DVD is dead then why do you suppose someone as big as Sumsung still desires to produce a both formats device?

    4 years agoby @shadylnFlag

  6. Solid_Paul

    It's over, everyone is finally starting to realize it now. It's a smart move for companies like Samsung to still produce the duo format player since many people don't want to lose their current HD-DVD catalogue.

    That being said, it's just a matter of time now before official announcements are made, and the format war is over with Blu-ray being the obvious winner.

    Some studios will still likely have contracts to honor, and therefore HD-DVD titles will still be on the shelves until contracts have expired. So, going Duo still gives choice to consumers for the time being.

    Fortunately once the Blu-ray standard has been fully adopted, the consumer will get 100% studio support, and the confusion over content will fall, as will the prices once Blu-ray has been fully accepted as the physical medium for HDM.

    So even early adopters don't have a lot to lose with the Duo player. It's a nice compromise, but don't let this article fool you, the war is over, and Blu-ray has won.

    Go Blu!

    4 years agoby @solid-paulFlag

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