Samsung Planning Dual HD-DVD/Blu-Ray Player?

They are the leading consumer electronics manufacturer backing the Blu-Ray format, but is Samsung planning a hybrid Blu-Ray/HD-DVD player for release by the end of the year?

That's according to HDTV UK, who reports that recent comments by a Samsung exec to an German newspaper indicate the electronics giant may be prepping what could possibly be the first hybrid high-def DVD player that would allow onsumers to play both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs.

"It won't be simple but you'll see our solution in the coming year," said Choi Gee-Sung, head of Samsung Consumer Electronics about the company's plans to Financial Times Deutschland. "Consumers will be too confused otherwise," he added.

No further details were given by Gee-Sung about possible player specs, models or pricing. Samsung has yet to make any official comment on the statements.