Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/18/lg_blu-ray_hd_dvd_player/
LG launches first foray into dual-format HD arena
UK release of Blu-ray/HD DVD high-definition player
18th April 2007 14:49 GMT
Yesterday in London LG announced the UK launch of its dual-format, high-definition player. As we reported in January (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/07/lg_unveils_multi-blue/), the Blu-ray / HD DVD device, known as the BH100, was first shown at CES in Las Vegas, earlier this year.
It supports various A/V formats, including playback of existing DVDs with 1080i up-scaling resolution, MPEG-2, VC-1, H.264 video, MPEG1/2 audio, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, DTS and DTS-HD audio. It also includes multiple outputs such as HDMI, component/composite video outputs and optical/coaxial/discrete 5.1 channel audio outputs, among others.
Formats supported include DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW - it does not support BD-R and BD-RE. In addition, this device will not support HDi, so some of the interactive features on HD-DVD will not work - unlike the Samsung Duo HD player.
Also known as the BD-UP5000, this proudly boasts full support for the two formats' interactivity technologies, HDi and BD Java, as we reported only a few days ago (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/04/13/samsung_readies_dual-format_hd_player/). However, the LG device is available in the next few weeks and the Samsung player is not expected for another six months or so. The RRP of the LG BH100 is £1000 and it's available from May.
In addition to this, LG also showed off its first dual Blu-ray rewriter and HD DVD-ROM, optical storage drive - the GGW-H10N, also known as the Super Multi Blue. Supporting 4x BD-R and BD-RE, this device features full DVD/CD write/playback options. However the PC-oriented dual-format drive is read-only as far as HD DVD goes. Pricing details were sketchy, but it's expected to cost between £700-£800.