LG's Makes World's First Blu-ray/HD DVD Dual-Format Player

[Lazybones]

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/dreams-do-come-true-lgs-makes-worlds-first-blurayhd-dvd-dualformat-player-225924.php

LG Electronics (LG), a leader in consumer electronics and mobile communicati ons, 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.

[Shayne]

Im very eager to hear the details and perhaps a price.

[Mags]

Wonder though if they will be forced to back down like Samsung apparently did according to some rumors.

[Shayne]

I'm predicting duel drives in this thing with a cost in the $1200 area.

[Shayne]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=9350679&&#post9350679

Between 800-1500, so about the same cost as the standard BR player here in Canada now.  Perhaps a little more, stilll FAR FAR FAR more then I want to pay.  $200 for an HD DVD player is about right.  So I want to spend no more then $200 on the BR player too

[Shayne]

"The Super Multi Blue Player can play both formats with one tray."

The BH100 model will be available this quarter, at a suggested retail price of $1,199.

True HD, VC-1 / H.264, DD+/ DTS HD

HDMI Out, Optical / 5.1 channel out -- no mention of HDMI 1.3, but maybe that's just a given.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/07/live-coverage-of-lgs-press-event/

During LG's press event they let the world know about the super player thing.  Single tray, $1200.

[Shayne]

or not...

As we reported from CES, LG's BH100 fully supports Blu-ray discs, but since it lacks support for HD DVD's iHD, HD DVD's interactive menus, you can only see the movie straight through.

So as a result, the DVD Forum might sue LG for falsely using the HD DVD logo and for falsely saying that their hybrid player plays HD DVDs when in fact it doesn't play them the way they were intended to be played.
Microsoft was also a bit miffed at LG for... not giving them a heads up before announcing the BH100.

Source: http://ces.betanews.com/entry/LG_Hybrid_BlurayHD_DVD_Player_Cannot_Be_Sold_As_Is/1168407626