Samsung has released a firmware update for the BD-P1500 which enables BD-Live support. I think this may be the least expensive full Profile 2.0 player available now, it is only $228.22 at Amazon. That’s a pretty good price for a loaded player. If you’ve considering a Blu-ray deck, this is is definitely worth checking out given the price and features.

Spotted via EngadgetHD.

Amazon is running a few Blu-ray sales currently.

The Get Three for the Price of Two sale has been extended, with 36 titles to choose from.

Then you can save up to 55% off a selection of 95 titles.

If you have a PS3 but you don’t yet have the DVD/Blu-ray remote to go with it (using the SixAxis to control movies is fairly crappy), buy three Warner Blu-ray movies and get the PS3 remote free.

And last but not least, buy a Blu-ray player and three Warner Blu-ray movies and save $50. It looks like the players on offer include the Sony BDP-S300 Profile 1.0 for $199.98, the Sony BDP-S350 Profile 1.1 for $295.00, the Samsung BD-P1500 Profile 2.0 for $279.99, and the Panasonic DMP-BD30K Profile 1.1 for $274.81. (Personally I’d pick the Samsung.) On the movie side there are 122 titles to select from.

This week’s “sale events” at BestBuy.com have a few deals worth mentioning. (When did a ’sale’ become a ’sale event’? Isn’t a sale by definitely an event? Anyway…) If you buy one of three Insignia 1080p HDTVs (42″ LCD $899.99, 47″ LCD $1,199.99, or 50″ plasma $1,399.99) you’ll get the Insignia NS-BRDVD Blu-ray player for just $149.99. That’s $130 off their standard $279.99 price. The NS-BRDVD is one of the many rebadged variants of the Funai NB500 unit, and it is a BonusView / Profile 1.1 player, not BD-Live / Profile 2.0.

You can also save 5% to 15% on four other Blu-ray decks. The LG BH200, which handles Blu-ray and HD DVD discs (for those of you who made the mistake of investing in HD DVD media), normally $599.99 is now $509.99. The Panasonic DMP-DB30K Blu-ray deck, normally $399.99, is $359.99. The Samsung BD-P1500 Blu-ray deck, also normally $399.99, is $339.99. And finally the Sharp AQUOS BD-HP20U, yet again normally $399.99, is $379.99.

Personally I can’t recommend the LH BH200 to anyone who doesn’t have a number of HD DVD discs they still need to play. It just isn’t a good value as a Blu-ray player, and it is BonusView / Profile 1.1 only, despite having an Ethernet port and supporting Internet connectivity for HD DVD. While the Ethernet port means it is possible it could be upgraded to BD-Live someday, it doesn’t seem likely as LG has really stopped work on this family with the death of HD DVD.

The Sharp unit is not only the most expensive of the remaining three, but also the least capable, being just Basic Profile / Profile 1.0, and not even BonusView. Give it a pass. The Panasonic DMP-BD30K is a nice player, but it is also only BonusView and as it lacks an Ethernet port it will never be updated to support it. The one recommendation for the Panasonic is that it has 5.1 analog audio output.

The real pick here is the Samsung. Not only is it the least expensive, but it is the most advanced of the lot. It is ‘BD-Live Ready’, which means that while it is BonusView-only today, Samsung plans to add BD-Live support via a firmware update.

After Sony and six major cable MSOs recently came to an agreement on tru2way, other consumer electronics companies were invited to sign the same agreement. And now it seems others have, the signatories now include ADB, Digeo, Intel, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony. As more vendors sign on to the agreement we’ll start seeing more options in two-way cable devices.

Their press release:
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The Amazon promotion of a free TiVo HD with the purchase of a Samsung HDTV, originally scheduled to end June 6th, has been extended through June 9th. As previously posted, the deal also includes three months of free TiVo service and free ‘white glove’ delivery.

Wal*Mart has decided to push high-definition systems in general, and Blu-ray in particular, in their stores. They’ve revamped their consumer electronics departments nationwide, and have added a “high-def Blu-ray experience area” in 1,200 stores. They’ve increased their selection of full HD (1080p) HDTVs by over 58%, and they’ve increased their selection of Blu-ray players by adding players from Magnavox, Samsung, and Panasonic to their existing Sony player offerings. Along with the additional players they’ve also expanded their selection of Blu-ray movies.

As a promotion, between June 8 and June 14, they’re offering a $100 Wal*Mart gift card with the purchase of any Blu-ray player. And, also beginning June 8th, they’ll be pricing selecting Blu-ray movies at only $15, including 3:10 to Yuma, WAR, Shooter, 300, and The Fifth Element.

Their press release announcing the changes:
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The offer of a free TiVo HD with the purchase of eligible Samsung HDTV models that I posted last week is even better than it at first seemed. I received an email from Amazon today promoting the deal, and in addition to getting the TiVo HD free, you’ll also get three months of free TiVo service, and free ‘white glove’ delivery on the TV. The bundle deal is only good through June 6th.