The next logical evolution in home entertainment would be having 3D playback in the comfort of your home. Samsung is quick off the blocks with the new Samsung BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray player. But to enjoy 3D in all its glory you would need have a 3D HDTV, a pair of 3D glasses and last but not least 3D content. Sony Pictures said it will release 3D movies on Blu-ray Disc worldwide beginning in the summer with the animated release “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.” Sony may also start selling Blu-ray discs showing 3D versions of its archive of movies and videos within a year.
Design
Samsung has been turning heads with its innovative styling of its players and they seem to have up the ante with this one. The C6900 is shiny and slim (measuring only 1.6″ tall) with a transparent top allowing you can see the disc spinning inside! The controls are also on the top panel and are touch-sensitive. The whole package looks sleek, stylish and high tech.
Connectivity wise there’s a full set of 7.1 channel analogue outputs, HDMI and Ethernet ports at the back and a USB socket at the front. The HDMI is version 1.4, which is the new standard that supports 3D playback.
The new GUI is a marked improvement on the previous Samsung players with a more pictorial approach. You can even select the appearance from a choice of four skins. Samsung has also designed their new players with improved energy efficiency by using new technologies such as loader duty control, low voltage spindle motor, and analog video detect, which contribute to a reduced power consumption of 13W during disc playback, and just 0.1W in stand-by mode. The player is compliant to the more stringent EnergyStar® 4.0 guidelines.
Features
The BD-C6900 comes with built-in Wi-Fi support and Samsung’s latest incarnation of Internet@TV, which puts more widgets on your screen and opens up each app much faster. New for Internet@TV is Samsung Apps which provides you with an expanded, easy to navigate selection of content and applications from leading services such as Accedo Broadband, AccuWeather.com, The Associated Press, Blockbuster, Fashion TV, Netflix, Picasa, Pandora, Rovi, Travel Channel, Twitter, USA TODAY, and Vudu.
The BD-C6900 features improved disc load and boot up times, while the 1080p playback reproduces movie images at 24 fps without need for up-conversion. On the audio front you get enhanced multi-channel HD surround sound that complements the 3D visuals.
Bottom Line
Internet@TV and Samsung Apps are Samsung’s new proprietary content portal for home entertainment systems. Not much details are available now as to how it will exactly work with other devices like TVs, laptops and smartphones. According to Samsung, the first free apps will launch in the spring, with premium apps following in the summer. There’s no word yet as to whether services like Netflix and Vudu will be free or premium apps.
As for 3D playback, the initial cost may be prohibitive for most people as you will need a compatible 3D TV, a few pairs of active shutter 3D glasses for the whole family (estimated to cost $100 a pair), and last but not least an ample supply of 3D blu-ray discs.
Source: Bluray-Players
