Samsung's dual format BD-UP5000 much cheaper than expected

Samsung has announced that it will introduce the BD-UP5000, its dual format high-definition disc player, next October.

A German tech website is reporting that Samsung officials announced the details at a press event in Hamburg yesterday.

Samsung's dual HD player will play both HD DVD and Blu-ray disks formats and their repestive interactive technologies, HDi and BD-Java.

Samsung's new device is expected to go on sale in Europe in October 2008, for only €550, which is about £375.

This is considerably cheaper than expected, less than rival dual format players (LG's similar offering is £1000) and less than Samsung's stand alone Blu-ray player.