SAMSUNG Blu-ray Players Require Constant Firmware Updates?

[CAPT. CANUCK]

I was fortunate enough to receive a Samsung BD-P1400 Blu-ray player free when I purchased a Sony Bravia TV this past January. That was a great bonus, but what a pain having to do those constant firmware updates.

My son has a Sony PS3 and has never had to do even one firmware update in order to play any new Blu-ray movie release. I got so fed up that I sold the Samsung and bought myself a Sony PS3 simply so that I can play my movies in peace without having to do the firmware updates.

Obviously, since Sony in the creator of the Blu-ray format they have the inside best run on quality and less hassles for their customers.

There are alot of folks out there that have no idea about having to do firmware updates because of course with their DVD players there is no such thing. If you're tech-savy there's no huge problem, but a huge percentage of the folks out there who are thinking of moving onto Blu-ray are not aware of the required firmware updates. I want to warn them on this and if you do not want the hassle simply purchase a SONY Blu-ray player or a Sony PS3 player.

Cheers. Capt. Canuck

[Edh63]

Surly you jest.

[JasonR]

You're f***ing with me right????

BDP=Firmware Updates

[BD Live]

The problem isn't with Samsung; it's with Sony (and the Blu-ray disc association). HD-DVD was years ahead in development; Sony released an incomplete product (Blu-ray) to market early to try and compete/catch-up, which is why we have profile 1, 1.1 & 2. Load times are also slow because of the buggy, rushed-to-market BD-J technology.

BD discs are created differently and firmware fixes are usually created AFTER the movies are released. Virtually all manufactures of dedicated BD players have released multiple firmware updates.

Firmware also brings upgrades, like advanced audio decoding. Generally people look at firmware updates as a positive thing; that the manufacturer is supporting a product (after release) and is even making steps to improve it.

Personally I highly encourage firmware updates... as long as they're not like Microsoft Windows (weekly and REMOVING functionality!).

[ryoohki]

I'am sorry but HD DVD needed FW update too. I mean the A1 is at 3.0 now shipped with 1.0. I know they added a few feature like TrueHD decoding and Web Mode. But still there's quite a lot of Disc Skipping using those even with the latest model

Not even to talk avec 24fps issues etc etc...

[Tonedeaf]

How can folks not know about firmware updates? An insert is included in just about every Blu Ray movie you purchase mentioning having to possibly update.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by CAPT. CANUCK

Obviously, since Sony in the creator of the Blu-ray format they have the inside best run on quality and less hassles for their customers.

You should search the Sony BDP-300 threads and see the history behind this problamatic player.
That player is riddled with many issues that required many FW updates to resolve.
Even with the FW updates, it's probably the slowest loading Blu-ray player available and Sony is still charging $350-400 for that model at most CE stores.

btw:
You know the PS3 has issues with some 7.1 titles outputing correct 7.1 audio due to an LPCM issue with the PS3 and those titles. I guess a FW update will be required to hear the correct 7.1 soundtrack on those discs.

[ItsGettingHotInEER]

I own a PS3 and a Samsung BDP-1000. I have had some minor issues, but, they all been corrected with recent updates. It has been however, about 5 months since their last update, and Samsung needs to make sure they are keeping up with their updates. Would be nice if you could sign up for email updates, and they would actually email you the update or at the very least, inform you when a new update is available, or will be available.

[Edh63]

Or, you could go to the website and check for an update like everyone else.

[GORT]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

You should search the Sony BDP-300 threads and see the history behind this problamatic player.
That player is riddled with many issues that required many FW updates to resolve.
Even with the FW updates, it's probably the slowest loading Blu-ray player available and Sony is still charging $350-400 for that model at most CE stores.

btw:
You know the PS3 has issues with some 7.1 titles outputing correct 7.1 audio due to an LPCM issue with the PS3 and those titles. I guess a FW update will be required to hear the correct 7.1 soundtrack on those discs.

Since you don't own one how do you know how fast it loads

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by FEP3108

Since you don't own one how do you know how fast it loads

The S300 was my very first Blu-ray player I bought.
Had it for 4 weeks and took it back due to the VERY SLOW load time especially on BD java discs and mediocre SD upconversion. It was also glitchy(freezing/lock up, studder video) on extra feature access on BD java discs.
For $500(the price back in Aug/2007), I would of expected better from Sony.

[ozzman]

I read alote of threads on blu-ray(Like i think most of us do)The two most complaints ,"I hate always downloading firmware"and"the loading time took 2 minutes,It's to slow"Those things don't bother me .I feel iam one of the lucky ones that really hav'nt had any problems.When a new movie comes out i don't go out and buy it, I wait.(i don't rent i buy)I don't want to set myself up for being pissed off if it does't work.Is this fair for me as a consumer,probley not.But when samsung puts out another firmware then i'll go buy the movies that i wanted .there's some movies that have been out for a for a couple months i feel confortable buying right now.My goal (for me)is to always try to have a good experience with the equipment i have ,( including the latest firmware).Iam not saying it's fiar, iam saying it's a lot easier then being pissed off all the time.I have a bd-p1400 and ia'm very happy. I have no experience with the 1000 or 1200 from what i read there in a different boat.(that's my two cents)

[moviefan]

ALL Blu-ray playere, including the PS3, need occasional firmware updates. The most recent PS3 update was released on April 24th of this year.
The difference is that Sony keeps ahead of the curve, and Samsuck is woefully behind.
Also, the PS3 has Wi-Fi capability for updating, the only Blu-ray player so equipped.
In my opinion, connecting an ethernet cable to your player is the easiest way to update. If you are always connected to the internet, some players will even display a message when a firmware update is available.

[Octavio]

Originally Posted by HDPlasma

The S300 was my very first Blu-ray player I bought.
Had it for 4 weeks and took it back due to the VERY SLOW load time especially on BD java discs and mediocre SD upconversion. It was also glitchy(freezing/lock up, studder video) on extra feature access on BD java discs.
For $500(the price back in Aug/2007), I would of expected better from Sony.

When on earth did you sell your Sony S300. With the latest update (3.90) the loading times have reduced to the half or even less.

Just recently I bought "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Ratatouille" and when the disc start to play it says something like "it could last up to 3 min loading", for my surprise it didn't even took a minute to load!

POTC BD's now loads twice as faster as let's say 5 months ago. Of course more firmware updates will reduce even more loading times.

I am expecting to buy a Sony S550 but not because the loading times, but because I want a player that could decode internally DTS MA and sent Dolby TrueHD bitstreamed.

BTW none of my BD's have had "freezing" problems. None any other problem besides the "slow" loading times.

[emondragon]

I subscribe to Netflix and I have noticed that the BDs from Sony Pictures are having problems playing on the SAMSUNG BD-P1400. They exhibit the same problem: After about 20 minutes the player starts to display a slightly jumping picture and then after a few minutes the jumping radically progresses until the picture freezes and the display on the TV is totally scrambled. This past weekend the two movies that did this were Sleuth and First Sunday. When I played the third movie There Will Be Blood by Paramount it played without a problem. Has anyone else experienced the same problem or may know of a simple fix to allow the Sony BDs to play correctly. I have already installed the firmware version 1.7 but that doesn't help. Any feedback would be most appreciated.

[Edh63]

Check to see if you have 24fp enabled. If so, you'll need to disable it.

[ozzman]

There's alote of us that put a lote of time and money into are players,sometimes i feel people just hold on to there "samsuck" players just to complain or just to call it samsuck.If it sucks so bad, sell it and move on.There's alote of us that enjoy our samsung players and maybe could take offence to a comment like that(because that was a grown up comment).i just tried to turned the table around, to show someone how it could feel to someone that enjoys there equipment(just making a point).. mine does't suck.Maybe you can educate me ,Sunshine.It's like iam not on a special forum , trying to tell others to sell there blu-rays for a 1500(you know what i mean)But i guess you know better, teacher.I put out that statement to make a point but maybe you just didn't get it, maybe you were out to lunch.

[moviefan]

Originally Posted by ozzman

There's alote of us that put alote of time and money into are players,sometimes i feel people just hold on to there "samsuck" players just to complain or just to call it samsuck.If it sucks so bad, sell it and move on.There's alote of us that enjoy our samsung players and maybe could take offence of a comment like that(because that was a grown up comment).i just turned the table around. mine does't suck.Maybe you can educate me ,Sunshine.It's like iam not on a speacial forum , trying to tell others to sell there blu-rays for a 1500(you know what i mean)But i guess you know better, teacher.I put out that statement to make a point but maybe you just didn't get it, maybe you were out to lunch.

Lighten up OZZMAN!
Those of us who have a 1200 enjoyed them originally. Pretty soon, however, more and more new releases refused to play correctly.
Other manufacturers were quick to issue FW updates, while Samsung/Samsuck sat on their collective butts.
Phone calls, faxes, e-mails, letters and a threatened lawsuit failed to get them to even acknowledge the problems, let alone communicate with those of us who paid as much as $700 for these players. After 3 MONTHS, they issued a series of FW updates that corrected most of the problems, but have not issued an update since Feb 5th.
Yes, I will gladly dump my 1200 when the Panasonic DMP-BD50 debuts later this month. Meanwhile my son's PS# has filled in admirably when the 1200 let me down.
I will never buy another player fron Samsung/Samsuck!

[ozzman]

You know moviefan,i wasn't attack you personally(even though it might have looked that way.)I've just have seen that"samsuck"comment so much i just wanted to make a point brother.I do feel for most of the owners of the 1000 and 1200 that have been having serious issues with there players, and lost faith in samsung.i wish you the best.I think it was edh63 that got me goingI hate being called skippy

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by moviefan

Lighten up OZZMAN!
Those of us who have a 1200 enjoyed them originally. Pretty soon, however, more and more new releases refused to play correctly.
Other manufacturers were quick to issue FW updates, while Samsung/Samsuck sat on their collective butts.
Phone calls, faxes, e-mails, letters and a threatened lawsuit failed to get them to even acknowledge the problems, let alone communicate with those of us who paid as much as $700 for these players. After 3 MONTHS, they issued a series of FW updates that corrected most of the problems, but have not issued an update since Feb 5th.
Yes, I will gladly dump my 1200 when the Panasonic DMP-BD50 debuts later this month. Meanwhile my son's PS# has filled in admirably when the 1200 let me down.
I will never buy another player fron Samsung/Samsuck!

I concur.

btw:
FW v2.5 has just been released for the 1200.