SAMSUNG Blu-ray Players Require Constant Firmware Updates?

[CAPT. CANUCK]

Thanks to everyone who posted their replies to my post.

'Tonedeaf' wondered about how could there be people out there who don't know about firmware updates. Well, I've got news for you; that is pretty well everyone that I've talked to who uses a DVD player right now. They don't realize that the Blu-ray players require these firmware updates. I only knew about this requirement after I received the Samsung player in January. 'Tonedeaf' also advises that all new Blu-ray discs have an insert stating that a firmware may be required. Those inserts were not included with all Blu-ray disc's until fairly recently. Of course the reason why the inserts appeared was because customers had been returning their Blu-ray movies to retailers advising them that the disc would not play. This confusion occurred because people were completely unaware of the requirement for firmware updates. DVD's and VHS tapes never had this hassle.

My kids bought themselves a Sony PS3 in January and they have never had to do a Sony firmware in order to play any Blu-ray disc. On the other hand, I had to do many firmware updates with my Samsung in order to play almost all the new Blu-ray discs. When the Samsung would not play a movie I would test it in the Sony PS3 and they always played perfectly in that player. Actually, the visual and audio quality is better through the Sony players.

The problem may well be with Sony, in that Sony has not supplied ALL the Blu-ray technology to other Blu-ray player manufacturers like Samsung and others. If they had, Samsung players would also be able to play all the new Blu-ray discs without the necessity of firmware updates.

'BD Live' mentioned that he regards firmware updates to be a positive thing in that some firmwares provide audio upgrades / audio decoding upgrades, etc. I agree with him on the reasoning behind those updates. However, there is still a huge DVD / VHS viewing majority out there that are not aware of the firmware requirement on all the Blu-ray players that are on the market presently other than Sony Blu-ray players and PS3 units.

Cheers. Capt. Canuck