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BDP-S500 posts

First multi-region Blu-ray players appearing

by Darren Murph posted Dec 31st 2007 at 12:23AM

We're not quite ready to believe these things function as advertised just yet, but it seems that multi-region Blu-ray players are beginning to pop up on a few overseas websites. We're seeing a region hacked Samsung BD-P1400 and Sony BDP-S300 / BDP-S500, each of which are reportedly modified to play nice with BD regions A / B as well as DVD regions 1 / 2. Aside from that, each player looks to be unchanged, but you better believe the convenience won't run you cheap. Over at Stegen Electronics, a multi-region BDP-S300 will demand €599 ($878), while the modded BDP-S500 rings up at €899 ($1,318), and until someone bites the bullet and confirms that these things actually do what they claim to, we'd recommend holding off.

[Via TheImportForums, thanks Frode A.]
Read - Stegen Electronics
Read - DVD Direct

Sony sneaks BDP-S500 in before 1.1 goes mandatory

by Ben Drawbaugh posted Oct 16th 2007 at 12:44PM

BDP-S500
With October 31st barreling down on us, Sony's BDP-S500 hits SonyStyle.com just before the deadline. We have to say we're really confused why Sony -- or anyone really -- would release a higher end Blu-ray player at this point in the game and not be profile 1.1 compliant. While most think Sony should be releasing less expensive players, not more, many videophiles will appreciate the upgrades -- DTS HD, better build quality. Regardless of the feature set, why would anyone pick this up rather than wait a little while longer for a player that isn't already "obsolete".

Sony launches BDP-S500 Blu-ray player

by Ryan Block posted Aug 30th 2007 at 11:23AM Breaking News


In addition to announcing its "low-end" BDP-S300 will be pond-skipping to Europe, at IFA today Sony also announced its latest Blu-ray player, the BDP-S500. Before we start in, and it's neither here or there, but didn't Sony notice that "S500" is the most common consumer electronics model name around? It's the John Smith of tech, if you will. (See: Sony's other S500 and S500, Nikon's S500, Samsung's S500, Canon's S500, Casio's S500, etc.). That aside, we can find little about this new player that differs from the BDP-S300: both feature HDMI (duh), 24p, and x.v.Color, and Dolby Digital Plus -- only the S500 has Dolby True HD and DTS-HD1, and HDMI 1.3. Is that worth £200 (about $400) more to you? If so, both will be out overseas by the end of October and run you £400 and £600 ($800 and $1200 US), and even come bundled with the Spider-man trilogy in the UK.




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