Samsung rolls out super-slim, wall-mountable Blu-ray player

Yeah, it's a bit of a head-scratcher, but if a super-slim, wall-mountable Blu-ray player is what you've always wanted, Samsung's got your number.

Set for release in the first half of the year, the BD-P4600 is certainly a looker—just 1.5 inches thick at its thickest point, the piano-black Blu-ray deck has "ruby" highlights and a "clear, prism-like edging." You'll find a series of touch controls along the bottom, along with a slot for Blu-ray discs along the side. And if you're a true A/V show-off, you can mount the P4600 on your wall; there's also an integrated stand that'll prop the player up at a 25-degree angle on a flat surface, for a slightly more subtle approach.

Spec-wise, the P4600 doesn't disappoint. You get both Netflix video and Pandora music streaming via Ethernet or the included Wi-Fi USB dongle, along with full-on BD-Live support, on-board decoding of Dolby Digital TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks, and 1080p upscaling for standard DVD playback.

Of course, the key issue here is price, and unfortunately, Samsung isn't releasing and pricing details (or even estimates, for that matter). I'm guessing that you'll pay a premium for the P4600's svelte good looks—as in the $400+ range.

For those who'd rather skip the style and save some cash, there's always the upcoming BD-P3600, a two inch-thick player that boasts the same features as the P4600 but without the slim casing. Again, no pricing details just yet, but I'm guessing it'll be at least a C-note cheaper than the P4600.