Register Hardware

Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/06/lg_blu-ray_hd-dvd_plans/

LG Blu-ray Disc player to support HD DVD too?

By Tony Smith
Published Monday 6th March 2006 12:25 GMT

LG has apparently abandoned plans to ship a Blu-ray DIsc player this Spring, and appears instead to be preparing a dual-mode system that incorporates HD DVD support too. So, at any rate, claims a memo allegedly sent by the company's US sales chief to staff last week.

The memo, cited (http://blog.ce-pro.com/news/industry/6708.html) by consumer electronics industry-watching website CE Pro, says the BD199 Blu-ray Disc player will not ship when originally intended because of "uncertainty in this early stage of the market for pre-recorded high-definition optical discs".

LG launched (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/06/blu-ray_spec_done/) the BD199 in January at the Consumer Electronics Show. At the time, it said the player would ship in Q2. However, the company was notable by its absence from a statement (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/28/blu-ray_us_launch_date/) put out last week by Blu-ray backers preparing to release hardware and content on or after 23 May.

LG - which signed an optical disc drive pact (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/10/toshiba_lg_patent_licence/) with HD DVD leader Toshiba in February - now seems to believe a dual-format player would be a better product to ship than one supporting just one of the two rival next-generation formats.

Curiously, Samsung indicated last Autumn that it had a dual-format device in the pipeline, but has since distanced itself from the scheme. It looks set to be the first company to ship a Blu-ray player into the US market.

The LG memo says the company's dual-format player is planned for late Summer or early Autumn, according to CE Pro. ®