Firmware fixes on deck for Samsung Blu-ray players

On the way to the victory lap, let's do a firmware fix

(Credit: CNET)

Blu-ray may be coasting to a format war victory over archrival HD DVD, but it's still got some mopping up to do in the meantime--namely, improving player compatibility with some of the more popular movies already available. Samsung has begun rolling out firmware upgrades for all of its players to address issues that have plagued some users when watching Blu-ray versions of such favorites as Ratatouille, Spider-Man 3, Live Free or Die Hard, Blade Runner, and Pirates of the Caribbean 3. According to Samsung, the updates will be available as follows:

Samsung BD-P1000: new firmware (v1.4 available now) | CNET review

Samsung BD-P1200: new firmware (v2.1 available now) | CNET review

Samsung BD-P1400: new firmware (v1.5 available now) | CNET review

Samsung BD-UP5000: new firmware (v1.0 available now) | CNET preview

The latter three models can be upgraded directly over the Internet via their Ethernet connection once their respective update goes live. For the BD-P1000 (or if you don't have your player near a network connection), you'll need to go to the support page on Samsung's Web site, download a disc image to your PC, burn it to a CD or DVD, and then pop it in the player. Direct links are provided above.

One word of advice for Samsung: it would be nice to get a changelog on those support pages (or even an "info.txt" in the Zip file) that lists the date of the update, and exactly what issues it's addressing.

Update (1/25/2008): Despite some confusion on the part of Samsung's customer service (see comment thread below), it appears that three of the four firmware updates are now available as scheduled. I have added the new version numbers to the links above.

Update (2/05/2008): The fourth and final update--the BD-P1200 v2.1 upgrade--is now available, three days after the originally scheduled date.

[DasUpstart]

C'mon Samsung...

This update had better solve all the issues, playback, lipsync, 24fps stuttering,etc, otherwise it's another poor joke by Samsung, right up there with the the phantom update on Dec 11th. Alot of us have paid a fair bit of money for these units, don't fail us completely.

[computerlegalexperts.com]

Burned once- I'd never buy another Samsung product

Last year, I bought a new Samsung flat-screen TV from a "Big-Box" store. Two weeks later, it died. I spent more time on the phone, trying to obtain service (TWO weeks) or trying to get my set back to me (it took SIX months). The "Executive Offices" were a sham. Every time they said that if the repair shop did not return my set, Samsung would ship a new unit. As the saying goes, fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me!

In my business, either you meet your commitments or you're out of business.

[shake and bake/mdabb]

Confirm BD-P1200 FW release?

How's come no one from Samsung can confirm Feb.2 release date?

I just called SS.Asked level 2 and no good.
What's the deal CNET? SS said there is no ETA for any FW release.What am I suppose to believe? We (BD_P1200) owners need more info. Who's Right SS or CNET.To me credibility is on the line.I am tired of getting my panties in a bunch over this player.

[DasUpstart]

Samsung Canada in the dark?

Well CNET, maybe they are just (continuing) to play dumb, but The CSRs at Samsung Canada don't know anything about these updates.

I guess we have no choice but to continue to wait and see.

One thing you are dead on for, is the need for a change/fix list with every release.

[PTRio]

Samsung 1200 update

I am done with Samsung. Their customer service is deplorable. This FW update has been promised for two months now. And then what? Another two month wait each time a new release comes out? Not worth the time and effort. Wait another 6 months before considering buying Blu-ray and do not buy Samsung.

[samsuck]

Check your sources CNET

Who told you feb 2nd for the bd-1200? Another reason people should not take any information on the internet seriously. Most the time it is just made up.

John P. Falcone is irresponsible.

[hahndo]

Update Live Yet?

Hey folks,

Just tried to see if the BD-P1200 firmware update for Feb. 2 was up yet--no dice. It IS Friday night, Feb. 1, but I heard that the others went up a couple of days early.

Does anyone know if this is still (or actually) the next firmware update date?

Cheers!

[draiken78]

Surprise, Surprise

Well my fellow 1200 owners. I'm sure you're about as surprised as I am (which is not at all surprised). It's now Feb 2nd and still no firmware update. Just another promise of the all elusive vaporware they've been supplying us with.

What's that you say, it's not the end of the 2nd yet? If that's what you were thinking, then I have a feeling you will be upset when the dealine comes and goes. Their next step should be to post a new download on the update site dated Feb 2, 2008 while leaving the same October update download like they did on Dec. 11th.

They should issue a recall on these lemons. Almost all 1200 owners now knew in their gut that even though all the other players would recieve their updates, the 1200 simply would not. It's the ever repeating cycle.

1. Eventually admit certain movies won't play.
2. Tell customers an update is coming.
3. Issue vaporware or leak an update date.
4. Fail to deliver as incompatable title list grows.
5. Repeat step 1.

What a waste of the one of the potentially best players out there.

[samsuck]

Told you so

Like I said before, don't publish nonsense.

Not sticking up for them, but Samsuck has never said anything about the 2nd. They have no clue.

[hahndo]

Okay, What's the Real Deal?

Like others, I'm wondering if today really WILL see the release of the firmware
update for the PD-P1200. Heck, I don't know, call me crazy, but I'd actually
like to use the thing for, wait for it, playing Blu Ray discs!

Or not... and move on.

What I'm trying to get at here is this: is there anyone here--the author of this
blog, perhaps--that actually knows what the story with this is? Hell, I'd even
be happy with definitive bad news as long as it's accurate; then we'd all know
what the news was and could make our decisions from there. But this waiting
around for a possible fix that might actually make our purchases work... well,
it just keeps us in a limbo; I don't want to go out and buy another player only
to find that a firmware pops up that fixes my BD-P1200 and renders my new
purchase redundant and unnecessary.

[javierruis]

Just as I thought

I always knew deep down that there would be no firmware update for the 1200 on Feb. 2nd. I have never experienced this kind of service from a company before. Needless to say that I will never purchase nor reccommend Samsung to anyone. I am so sick of this veil of secrecy from their end. They do not care about their customers!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[samslapnface]

No firmware update?

This is ridiculous! We as 1200 owners have spent our hard earned money on this player and movies we cannot even watch. There should be a recall. I have called their customer support reps and it is the same answer everytime "Sir we are working on the new firmware and it will be posted on the samsung support website". Something needs to happen fast!

[DasUpstart]

Crave, time to ask your source what the hold up is

You gave us hope, Samsung teased us with updates to the other players, but of course, the 1200 gets the shaft. Again.

Time for Crave to find out what the real delay is.

G.

[PDXfilmfan]

Why no help from Cnet?

It is disappointing that Cnet won't help do some actual investigation to discover why Samsung has let thousands of Blu-Ray early adopters in a lurch with non-functioning players. Cnet still rates the 1200 as one of the top performing high-def players. Surely they must be aware of the issues with this player. If Blu-Ray is truly going to win the war, why isn't Cnet pressuring one of the leading manufacturers of Blu-Ray players for answers about their mismanagement of this player? Why would the general public adopt this technology when Samsung has proven that they won't support early adopters who spent upwards of $700 on this player when it was released? How does that help Blu-Ray? Why isn't Cnet pushing for answers? Is it really an independent site to help consumers make educated technology purchases and decisions? Or is Cnet merely a shill for corporations such as Samsung? Until Cnet does some true journalistic investigation, I consider it nothing more than paid advertisement from manufacturers. Disappointing.

[draiken78]

1200 Update Released! 3:10 To Yuma Still No Go

I guess that month worth of time to throw in some programming to make 3:10 to Yuma work wasn't quite enough. I have a feeling the Blu-Ray incompatability list will start growing rather quickly again since they obviously haven't figured this machine out yet. We'll probably see an update for that movie in about another 2 months (and maybe whatever others between now and then).

What is Samsungs problem? How can an update that is this far overdue not even address all the Blu-Ray playability issues?

[javierruis]

3:10 TO YUMA DOES NOT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!

Within the last 2 months, every time I called Samsung to complain about yet
another film that would not play on the 1200, the customer reps. assured me
that Samsung technicians would release a firmware update that would make all
the problematic films compatible with the machine. Yet another lie! The only
film I wanted to see, 3:10 to Yuma DOES NOT WORK! How long do I have to wait
for another update that will fix this?

[dvansowhat]

bd-up5000 update

I have updated my 5000 on 2-10 08 by using my dsl and router which was very simple compared to downloading a zip file then trying to burn ac-d that would work. The end product is the 3:10 To Yuma works perfect. Thanks to dsl and a hard-wired conection through my router. It was simple to do so all you have to do is follow the manual. It is a large download even at 1.5mbs. The end result is I am very happy compared to the Pany30 I had to return due to handshake problems with my LT-N5271.