Samsung to launch thin Blu-ray Disc player at CES

It's not just televisions that are slimming down for this week's International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Samsung, which has already said it plans to unveil a 7-millimeter thick TV at the show, will also be taking the wraps off a new Blu-ray Disc player that's 39mm thick.

Few details of the player, including perhaps most importantly the price and launch dates, were immediately available. They are expected to come on Wednesday when Samsung is scheduled to hold a news conference at CES.

But photos issued by the consumer electronics maker on Monday showed the Blu-ray Disc player to have a gently curved top and the piano black finish that is currently so popular with consumer electronics products.

It will be shown along with new home theater systems and big-screen TVs that can be hung on the wall. Samsung, like other TV makers, is developing thinner flat-panel TVs and at CES will also show new wall mounts that enable the panels to be placed closer to the wall for an overall lower profile.

CES begins in Las Vegas on Thursday.