I saw a new version just released today? I read the prior version had issues with quality. Any comment of the quality of this new version?

Same exact disc.

While I'm not familiar with a new release, my first instinct would be to guess that Warner just rereleased it without the digibook.

Yup that's it. Just released in the standard blu-ray case instead of the digibook.

But there are issues with the quality?

none that i'm aware of

Shawshank is fabulous on BD.

I have heard some say that the UK BD looks a bit better but I haven't seen it so I can't say.

I disagree. Once again, it's another WB release where the skin colors are too red/orange. Like "The Departed". Other than that, it looks pretty good.

I'm still hoping they'll release it with the deleted scenes. I remember when they showed Shawshank on Showtime back in the day, they did a "special" on it and showed a few deleted scenes. I always wondered why they didn't put them onto the DVD.