Updating its recently-released BD-UP5000, Samsung says it will introduce the new BD-UP5500 Duo HD player in the second half of 2008.

After months of buzz (and a couple of launch delays), LG has announced that its BH200 second-gen dual-format player is finally on store shelves.

Despite reports to the contrary, Samsung says its BD-UP5000 dual-format high-def disc player is shipping "as we speak," and will hit stores at a price lower than previously announced.

Samsung has sent out a media alert confirming that its upcoming BD-UP5000 player will be Profile 1.1 compliant, but Gizmodo is reporting that the player will require an upcoming firmware update to actually play back Profile 1.1 discs.

Due before the end of October, LG's new dual-format player may end up being the first Blu-ray player to hit the market with secondary BD-Java support.

Although they were among the most eagerly anticipated of the season, it seems two of Samsung's previously-announced next-gen players will not hit store shelves later this month as originally planned.

It only seemed like a matter of time before Samsung would lower the MSRP of its upcoming BD-UP5000 Duo HD player to match LG's recently-announced price-cut for their dual format player.

Nine months after it debuted its first dual format HD DVD/Blu-ray player at CES, LG has officially announced its new updated player, due in October.

With the arrival of Samsung's $1,049 dual-format player on the horizon for this fall, LG has lowered the price of its existing BH100 HD DVD/Blu-ray player by $200.

Samsung has released more information about its upcoming BDP-UP5000 hybrid player, including a targeted release date.

As announced late last week, LG Electronics officially debuted its Super Multi-Blue dual-format Blu-ray/HD DVD combo player, the BH-100, at the Consumer Electronics Show on Sunday.