My Two Cents
Thursday, 03 September 2015 16:17

Blu-ray News – And the world’s first UHD Blu-ray player is... Samsung’s UBD-K8500

by
  • Print
  • Email

[Editor’s Note: Be sure to like TheDigitalBits.com page on Facebook for breaking news, site updates on the go, discussion with our staff and other readers, giveaways and more!]

The big news today is that Samsung has just announced the very first 4K UHD Blu-ray player at the IFA 2015 conference in Berlin: the UBD-K8500. It’s expected to be available in Europe early in 2016, but a U.S. version will be available as well. No pricing information has yet been given, but we think it’s reasonable to look for prices in the $500 - 1000 USD range to start.  [Read on here…]

According to Samsung, the player will not only play 4K UHD BD discs, but will also stream 4K content, and will be able to upscale regular HD content to 4K resolution. Here’s what it looks like (and yes, it is curved)...

The Samsung UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player

In conjunction with this announcement, 20th Century Fox president Mike Dunn announced that, going forward, all new release films will be issued on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (with High Dynamic Range) alongside regular Blu-ray and other existing formats. We expect more UHD BD announcements in the weeks ahead.

In regular Blu-ray news today, Universal is releasing Jurassic World on Blu-ray in Limited Edition packaging (SRP $34.98) on 10/20 in addition to the regular version. They also have a Jurassic World 3D: Limited Edition Gift Set (SRP $119.98) that includes a pair of dinosaur maquettes in addition to Blu-ray 3D. You can see both below (and click on the images to pre-order them on Amazon at reduced prices)...

Jurassic World (Blu-ray Disc - limited edition packaging)

Jurassic World 3D Limited Edition Gift Set (Blu-ray 3D)

In other release news today, Well Go USA has set Kim Hak-Soon’s Northern Limit Line for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/20.

BBC Home Entertainment has announced that John Boorman’s final film, Queen & Country, will be released on DVD and digital HD on 9/8.

Magnolia Home Entertainment has set Results for Blu-ray and DVD release on 9/22, followed by A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence on digital and The Last Shift on Blu-ray and DVD on 10/6.

Alchemy has set Nocturna for BD and DVD release on 10/6 as well.

Etiquette Pictures has The American Dreamer set for restored 2-disc release on Blu-ray/DVD combo on 9/22. This is a documentary portrait of actor Dennis Hopper – an arthouse classic billed as “one of the great lost films of the 1970s.”

And The Film Detective and Allied Vaughn have just signed a worldwide Blu-ray and DVD distribution agreement for releasing classic films on both formats. The first titles are expected to be available on 9/8 and include Hollow Triumph (1948), Beat the Devil (1953), and Salt of the Earth (1954).

Finally, PBS Distribution has set the science documentaries Particle Fever and Uranium: Twisting the Dragon’s Tail for DVD release on 10/6. Particle Fever is a terrific look at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and the search for the Higgs Boson – you can watch it on Netflix now.

Here’s a little more new and recent Blu-ray cover artwork (click on the links to pre-order on Amazon)...

Bram Stoker's Dracula: Regular Edition (Blu-ray Disc)    Northern Limit Line (Blu-ray Disc)    The Pippi Longstocking Collection (Blu-ray Disc)

Phase IV (Blu-ray Disc)    Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (Blu-ray Disc)    Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs (Blu-ray Disc)

Stay tuned...

Bill Hunt

 

Contact Bill Hunt

Please type your full name.
Invalid email address.
Please send us a message.
Invalid Input