LG Electronics to Launch First Dual-Format High-Definition Disc Player

[Darksaber]

Seoul, Korea, January 4, 2007 --- LG Electronics (LG), a leader in consumer electronics and mobile communications, announced that it will launch the world's first dual-format high-definition disc player, capable of playing both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD content. The unit will be released in the United States in early 2007. Details will be provided at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held January 8-11 in Las Vegas.

LG expects this technological breakthrough to end the confusion and inconvenience of competing high-definition disc formats for both content producers and consumers.

About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 06657.KS) is the global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, employing more than 72,000 people working in over 120 operations including 80 subsidiaries around the world. Comprised of four business units: Mobile Communications, Digital Appliance, Digital Display and Digital Media with global sales at USD 34.7 billion (consolidated USD 43.4 billion) as of 2005, LG Electronics is the world's leading provider of CDMA handsets, residential air conditioners, plasma panels, optical storage products, DVD players and home theatre system. For more information, please visit www.lge.com.

LG Electronics Digital Media Company provides digitally integrated products such as Audio Video systems, Car Infotainment, Optical storage products, Notebook PCs, PDA and focusing on next-generation businesses.

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[WarEagleAU]

Good, I like this. You can go with whatever makes you happy. Honestly, I wish the two format reps would have worked out some agreement. Use the BD capacity with the HDDVD laser and codecs.

 

[xylomn]

its good to see a player that is capable of playing both formats...

But I bet this thing will cost a hell of a lot

 

[jocksteeluk]

Good, I like this. You can go with whatever makes you happy. Honestly, I wish the two format reps would have worked out some agreement. Use the BD capacity with the HDDVD laser and codecs.

the reason that wont work is because sony is greedy and want to be the key holder of its format.

 

[Easy Rhino]

yay!

 

[evil bill]

do you think it will have another laser to allow DVD and CD playback too so you only need 1 optical drive?

 

[newtekie1]

I would like to see an end to the format war, personally. It would be nice if all the manufactures just put the ability to play both formats in their drives, the same with Optical drives for computers. I am sure if both formats survive, and it looks like they will thanks to both having some very large backing, we will get drives similar to current DVD drives. Capable of burning and playing both DVD+R and DVD-R. Granted the difference between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is a little bit more complex, but I am sure eventually it will happen.

 

[evil bill]

Granted the difference between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray is a little bit more complex, but I am sure eventually it will happen.

Is it not just the angle of the same type of Blue laser. Im guessing that the LG player is able to adjust this angle to make this player?

Oh, and apparently both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD manufacturers have pledged to make players backwards compatible with DVD by including a red laser too (answers own question from above )

 

[Track]

You can put HD-DVD and Blue-Ray in the same drive??? Then whats the point of this stupid war?
These are going to sell like hot cakes. Who is going to buy a single one of these, when u can have two?

 

[mout12]

HD DVD lasers and Blu-Ray lasers read exactly the same wavelength, and are both blue. Look it up on wikipedia. Anyway, I'd like to have one of these if you cant get certain movies on Blu-Ray, but because Sony is really pissing me off now, I'm only spending money on HD DVDs.

 

[evil bill]

I guess when you make a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD player, you have to pay a royalty to the technology owners, therefore a multiformat player will have higher licensing costs and therefore a higher ticket price than a single format machine. But it cant make it double the price and Im sure most people would pay a premium to have both formats