Samsung adds YouTube, MKV to Blu-ray players

The main menu of the YouTube client on Samsung's Blu-ray players.

(Credit: CNET)

Add YouTube the growing list of streaming media services supported by Samsung Blu-ray players. Effective immediately, Google's megapopular online video site will be added to the Samsung's current 2009 (and future) Blu-ray players via a free firmware update. The update also adds support for playback of MKV files. (A placeholder button has been added for the previously announced Blockbuster video-on-demand service streaming service as well; it's still on track to be added later this year.)

We were able to run the automatic firmware update on our Samsung BD-P3600 review sample quickly and painlessly. The YouTube main menu (shown above) looks different from the Yahoo Widget-ized version you'll find on Samsung TVs, but it's otherwise pretty similar to the YouTube experience on other electronics products. Our only beef was--just like other non-PC YouTube players--it doesn't stream YouTube's HD content.

Its MKV support was also good. We played back an MKV-wrapped AVC file (1.37GB, 1,024x550-pixel resolution) from a USB thumbdrive. Aside from a slight stutter at the very beginning, playback was smooth and problem-free, and we had no problems using fast-forward and rewind. (For the uninformed: MKV support is a favorite of digital media geeks who get their HD movies from more unconventional sources, such as BitTorrent.)

The YouTube upgrade was first mentioned just yesterday at Samsung's IFA news conference in Berlin. It's available on all three current 2009 Blu-ray players: the BD-P1600, BD-P3600, and BD-P4600. Those services join Netflix and Pandora that are already available on the players. For those keeping score at home, this upgrade makes the Samsung Blu-ray players more competitive with the excellent LG BD390.

Separately, a Samsung representative has confirmed to CNET that YouTube and Blockbuster support will also be rolled out to the company's 2009 Blu-ray home theater systems (HT-BD1250, HT-BD7200, HT-BD8200, HT-BD3252) later this year, but no date has yet been specified.

This post has been updated from its original version to include hands-on testing of the software upgrade and additional information. Also, the state of the Blockbuster service has been clarified. CNET's David Katzmaier and Matthew Moskovciak contributed to this report.

[54mikedean]

I just tried activating my Samsung Blu-Ray player with Blockbuster and it won't accept the 5 digit PIN activation code. It works just fine with Netflix. Any ideas?

[54mikedean]

Okay, I guess Blockbuster finally figured out that their activation process isn't working for Samsung Blu-Ray players because now, when you go to www.blockbuster.com/activatesamsungbd it routes you to a screen that says the service is not available. Way to go Samsung and Blockbuster! You just pissed off 10 million customers.

[FullerCE]

I'm having the same exact problem with my Samsung BD-P3600. It's not accepting the activation code for Blockbuster. Hmm.

[Noelani_Kai]

I have the BD-P1600 and just downloaded the firmware upgrade yesterday for YouTube. I've never used YouTube streaming and have a question if anyone can answer. Is it normal to only see 20 of your favorites from YouTube available to view via streaming? I have 304 videos on my YouTube favorities section and only the first 20-25 are showing up via my Samsung blu ray player. What am I doing wrong?

[lpswaggerty]

Even better news (***sarcastic tone***)... so now that the firmware update has come through on my wireless network, I'm having trouble playing Blu-ray discs from Netflix but not regular DVDs and any streaming content. And I've tried re-installing this firmware update via a USB flash drive, but the problem still remains. Looks like this firmware is hiccupping on the Java programming that allows for interactive content on Blu-ray discs, so if you have not updated yet, hold off until this has been confirmed to have been resolved. I will be submitting a ticket asap. I get a menu on these Blu-ray discs that has no selections (so you cannot play the movie or select scenes or view bonus content). You can only view the previews prior to the launching of the disc menu.

[jmserrano84]

The booth at the IFA is amazing, the best part was an "augmented reality" demo I saw. You can check it out yourself at samsung.com/ifa

[Ra1der5s]

While accessing YouTube may be great for some, we who are parents do not appreciate the fact that the Samsung firmware update has provided our children access to inappropriate content. Without doing anything but downloading the firmware update, our kids now have access to such titles as "Lesbian Hippie Socialists", "Snoop's a Real N***a", and "A$$Hole punches trash talker".

We do not allow our children to access YouTube on the computer. Samsung did not forewarn us that the firmware update would include a link to YouTube. We cannot delete the link and the bluray player does not provide parental controls over the link.

This is a very serious issue and Samsung should be ashamed for including the YouTube link without thinking through the consequences.

Yes, the option to block it would have made sense. You have other options though:

1) Disconnect it from the network (and just plug it back in if you want to stream Netflix or Pandora).

2) Use a decent router to block the device's access to YouTube

3) Tell you kids to stay away from YouTube. If it works with your PC why not the TV?

[rmblanco]

I dowwnloaded the new firmware update last night (Sept. 4) and I'm having the same exact problem with my Samsung BD-P3600. It's not accepting the activation code for Blockbuster even though I have tried it three separate times.

[blacknotice]

i have the BD-P1590 (Costco version) and up until Sept 4th (firmware update) I was up and running fine. I cannot stream Pandora for more then 2-3 songs and Netflix will connect but says there are no movies in my queue. Been on the phone with Samsung and Netflix and all weekend long. I say they did not completely test the firmware before they sent it out. Although the YouTube works just fine. I opened a ticket with Samsung and have to call back on Tuesday to see what the resolution is.

PS If you are having problems with Netflix I do believe you can do a hard reset to bring the player back to the factory settings, once this is done Netflix will provide you another key. For my player it was hold FF down for 5 seconds and then hit 1 on the remote. maybe that will help

[glodack]

I have a Samsung Series 7 7000 and 7100. I can get to the youtube videos, but I can't play any one of the videos. Where can I get the DIVX-VOD REGISTRATION CODE. IT'S given to me, but where and what do I do with it. I just want to view the videos.

[slash30]

I can't get any MKV play from the USB drive. What did you guys use to get it to work??

It does not show any video files when I try and play a video although I can play music from the same USB drive.

Thanks!

P.S. I also have the activation problem. I don't think the service is quite ready yet.

[seapony]

My Samsung player let me log into YouTube with the username and pw that I usually use on my PC. What step am I missing? Otherwise, the player has been great. I love streaming HD movies on Netflix, although I wish the selection was better. Also, looking forward to YouTube HD on the Samsung.

[newbery54]

I have a samsung BD-P3600, it was working well until I agreed to install the latest firmware update (v2.02). After that, the wireless connection hangs after 20-30 min of netflix viewing time. I also noticed that the netflix rewind skips back very quickly, so it is next to impossible to just go back a couple of minutes.

I contacted samsung web support looking for previous firmware archives to downgrade (e.g. v1.03) , but was told there are no archives. They suggested a full reset (stop, hold down FF for > 5sec) - tried the full reset, had to redo setup from scratch (wireless WPA code, etc.) As I had suspected, this did not fix the problem. Still waiting for a new firmware release to fix what 2.02 broke.

[newbery54]

Update to my last posting, samsung has quietly reverted the firmware in their downloads site, to version 1.04 - I am going to try that one to see if it fixes the problems I noted...I bet it will.

see:

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/search/supportSearchModelResult.do

[broncosfanatic]

We are currently having problems with our samsuns BD-P3600 after the latest firmware update. We have called 5 times asking for technical support to help us resolve our issues. What a joke. We were told different things each time we called. They keep trying to blame our router or our security settings which worked perfectly before the firmware update. Netflix and youtube keep kicking us off constantly and at times won't let us on at all. we can watch up to 20 to 30 minutes sometimes. We are convinced that after adding the Youtube and Blockbuster features the upgrade affected our ability to get online and stay online at times and has in some way caused major problems with our wireless network access. The last tech I spoke to today told me we could turn off our firewall and that should take care of the problem. (where do they get these people?) We are really tired of getting nowhere. Samsung is trying to ignore that there is a problem at all and in fact insulted me and all the other Samsung customers by saying a few hundred people having trouble are not important enough when they have sold over a million of these same units and not everyone is having problems. Maybe some people have not done the firmward update that is causing the problems or maybe they have a wired internet connection or maybe they don't have their unit hooked up to internet at all, maybe it's particular routers and the blu ray are not compatible now with the update. Maybe those are some reasons why not everyone is having problems. I am seriously thinking about returning the unit and NEVER buying samsung products ever again. ANYONE ELSE OUT THERE HAVING PROBLEMS??? FLOOD THEIR PHONELINES UNTIL WE GET RESULTS. I WILL CONTINUE TO CALL TWICE A DAY UNLESS I DECIDE TO RETURN IT!!!

[tinky2jed]

The YouTube option is cool but they made some mistakes:
1. They added blockbuster (ok, so business-wise not a mistake) and I am being told that I cannot remove the option.
2. They added blockbuster on the Red icon. NetFlix has always been red and red is their trademark color, blockbuster is blue. ARghghhh, how do you get rid of the blockbuster icon?!
3. Be careful, when you upgrade to the new firmware it wipes out your wireless config and the update takes a long time (i'm on a 54G wireless router and cable broadband - all very fast)