Samsung Pushes Out Dual-Format Player

You can't run down to the department store and snare a BD-UP5000 just yet, but pre-ordering pages have finally cropped up at at many retailers.

It’s a little late for any company to be releasing new products intended to end up under Christmas trees this year, but Samsung is apparently scrambling to get its long-awaited dual-format Blu-ray/HD-DVD player out the door. The BD-UP5000, officially announced last April, is finally showing up in retailers for pre-ordering.

As expected, the unit runs for around $999 at most retailers but has also been spotted for more and less at different online shops. While the exact date of delivery for players ordered now remains an unknown, Samsung’s original announcement suggested mid-December, cutting it dangerously close to the holidays.

When the player hits shelves, Samsung will be the second company to combine rival technologies in one unit. LG made it there first with its Super Blu BH100 player.