Blu-Ray DVD News – Blu-Ray launches next week

Blu-ray, one of two much-hyped high-definition DVD formats, debuts next week, but the launch is expected to be muted amid device delays and consumer confusion, industry analysts said on Thursday.

Sony Pictures this week said it will deliver various titles in the Blu-ray format to retail on June 20 to coincide with the first available Blu-ray DVD player from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. and Sony's own Blu-ray compatible VAIO PC.

But Sony has delayed shipping its set-top Blu-ray player from July until August and Pioneer Corp. has also postponed the North American launch of its Blu-ray player to this fall from June, cutting its price to $1,500 from $1,800.

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