LG Electronics To Sell First HD-DVD/Blu-Ray Player!

[Tee]

<div><span class=artsectiontitle xmlns:lxslt="http://xml.apache.org/xslt">Associated Press</span><br><span class=mainarttitle><b>New DVD Player to Play Rival Formats</b></span><br>Associated Press <span class=mainartdate>01.03.07, 11:40 PM ET</span><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div><BR><p>LG Electronics said Wednesday it plans to sell a DVD player that will play both warring high-definition DVD formats.</p><BR><p>The first dual-format high-def player will play discs in the HD DVD format, which is backed by a consortium headed by <b>Toshiba Corp.</b> (other-otc: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=TOSBF.PK">TOSBF.PK</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=TOSBF.PK">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=TOSBF.PK">people </a>), as well as the rival Blu-ray format, backed by a group led by <b>Sony Corp.</b> (nyse: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=SNE">SNE</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=SNE">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=SNE">people </a>)</p><BR><p>The LG unit will be unveiled at next week''s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, LG said. Details, including pricing and availability, will become available then, the company said.</p><BR><p>The two DVD formats have been battling for market share since being introduced last year. Both are expected to get a boost this year as more studios release films in the formats and more players become available.</p><BR><p>But the formats are incompatible, forcing consumers to choose. Studios and electronics makers have said the resulting format war would delay widespread adoption of high-def DVDs, which contain sharper images and extra features not possible with standard definition disc.</p><BR><p>LG, based in South Korea, said it expects its dual-format player to "end the confusion and inconvenience of competing high-definition disc formats."</p><BR><p> </p><BR><p><i>Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed</i> </p><BR><br></div><BR></div><BR>

[Tee]

Ok so i''m guessing the price will be in the 2K range, what do you guys think?<BR>

[Tee]

I see Denon coming in right behind LG with their version, and yes it is about time someone made one.<BR>

[IrritateGuy]

Well, someone had to do it first. Talk about being an early, early adopter? This is it. <BR>

[OGPooh]

<div>I always figured the first one would come from one of the bigger manufacturers&nbsp;who&nbsp;produce universal&nbsp;DVD/SACD/DVD-A players, like Yamaha, Pioneer or Denon. I'm just gald someone broke the ice.<br></div><BR><br><BR><div>I'll bet LG finds a way to sell them for right around&nbsp;the same price as a blu-ray player.<br></div><BR><br><BR>

[Barney]

<BLOCKQUOTE><TABLE BORDER=1><TR><TD><b>Date:</b> 1/4/2007 12:52:25 PM <b>Author:</b> Blue Man<BR><div>I always figured the first one would come from one of the bigger manufacturers who produce universal DVD/SACD/DVD-A players, like Yamaha, Pioneer or Denon. I''m just gald someone broke the ice.<br></div><BR><br><BR><div>I''ll bet LG finds a way to sell them for right around the same price as a blu-ray player.<br></div><BR><div><br></TD></TR></TABLE></BLOCKQUOTE></div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div>LG is a big company...my Sony DirecTV STB (was top of the line) was made by LG. You mention Denon (Funai from Japan makes most of Denon DVD players).....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funai</div><BR><div>This year is going to be very exciting.......</div><BR>

[Yesfan70]

Wow, a universal player already?? I might need to start pulling some OT so I can hurry up and get my HDTV.<br>

[OGPooh]

<BLOCKQUOTE><TABLE BORDER=1><TR><TD><b>Date:</b> 1/4/2007 7:54:59 PM <b>Author:</b> Barney <b>Date:</b> 1/4/2007 12:52:25 PM <b>Author:</b> Blue Man<BR><div>I always figured the first one would come from one of the bigger manufacturers who produce universal DVD/SACD/DVD-A players, like Yamaha, Pioneer or Denon. I''m just gald someone broke the ice.<br></div><BR><br><BR><div>I''ll bet LG finds a way to sell them for right around the same price as a blu-ray player.<br></div><BR><div><br></TD></TR></TABLE></BLOCKQUOTE></div><BR><div></div><BR><div>LG is a big company...my Sony DirecTV STB (was top of the line) was made by LG. You mention Denon (Funai from Japan makes most of Denon DVD players).....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funai</div><BR><div>This year is going to be very exciting.......</div><BR><div></div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div>Yeah, I know LG is big. They''re a part of Zenith.. Or they own Zenith. One or the other. Maybe I meant to say more established. I know LG is that too, but face it, in the A/V world, they don''t have the standing or respect of a Denon, Yamaha or Pioneer... At least not in name. I''m not saying they''re not a great company, I''m saying the name LG is just too new. I brought up Denon, Yamaha &amp; Pioneer because they made "universal" DVD/DVD-A/SACD players early on.</div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div>Between this and the possibility of laser (la<u>z</u>er?) displays, the year is going to be great!!!</div><BR>

[doghart]

I read somewhere that Warner Bro''s is working on a disc format that will play in either player, so maybe we do have a choice.<br><br>D<br><br>

[IrritateGuy]

<div>The new Warner disc format is called Total HD and we posted several threads about it several months ago with they applied for the patents and got a bunch of press. </div><BR><div>They are announcing the Total HD discs at CES next week and plan on releasing titles on the disc sometime this year, probably starting in the Summer. </div><BR><div>Basically, since BluRay puts the metal "data" layer right on the surface of the disc (or really close to it) and HD-DVD puts the data layer in the middle of the disc, they just make both discs thinner and glue them together. One side is BluRay and the other is HD-DVD. </div><BR><div>I think that is a pretty elegant solution. </div><BR><div>So far the other studios have shown no interest in the Total HD disc format and prefer to release only one format or the other. I imagine part of the reason the other studios are taking this stand is they will have to pay Warner a licensing fee to create Total HD discs, and initially use Warner''s manufacturing facilities. I don''t think they want to support their competitor with a risky new technology that might become mainstream and standard. That would provide a very rich revenue stream to Warner which would give them more freedom in competing with the other studios, and the other studios don''t really want to give them such a huge business advantage if they can avoid it at all. </div><BR>

[timfrommass]

LG is one of the biggest players in the mass market a/v business, bigger than Denon I would say.&nbsp; Denon is bigger amongst enthusiasts, but LG plays on a much larger scale.&nbsp; I always figured it would be either them or Samsung that did the universal thing first.&nbsp; My guess is that it won''t sell for more than $1300 and probably closer to $1000<br><br>-tim<br><br>

[IrritateGuy]

<div>LG is a ODM/OEM manufacturer first, which means their factories churn out products that were entirely or partially designed by other companies'' engineers. They also make some products which they designed entirely on their own, based on their own market research, marketed with their name on them and supported by their people. The electronics industry is full of companies like LG. </div><BR><div>Don''t ever confuse a product with an LG brand on the front with a product with another company''s brand on it which was manufactured by LG. There some cases where the same product will have several brands, but Denon, Yamaha, Sony, Onkyo and other tier one brands don''t generally just take an ODM product and slap their name on it. They ask companies like LG to make their product for them to the Tier One company''s design and using that tier one company''s specified parts, Q/A requirements, and so on. </div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR>

[Tee]

<div><BLOCKQUOTE><TABLE BORDER=1><TR><TD><b>Date:</b> 1/4/2007 8:47:26 PM <b>Author:</b> doghart I read somewhere that Warner Bro''s is working on a disc format that will play in either player, so maybe we do have a choice.<br><br>D<br><br></TD></TR></TABLE></BLOCKQUOTE></div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div>Yep they sure are!</div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div><span class=artsectiontitle xmlns:lxslt="http://xml.apache.org/xslt">Associated Press</span><br><span class=mainarttitle><b>Warner Bros. DVD Will Play Rival Formats</b></span><br>By GARY GENTILE <span class=mainartdate>01.04.07, 5:13 PM ET</span></div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><p>Warner Bros. is set to introduce a high definition DVD disc that can hold films and TV shows in rival and incompatible formats, the latest sign that the yearlong format war is long from over.</p><BR><p>Warner Bros., a unit of <b>Time Warner</b> (nyse: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=TWX">TWX</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=TWX">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=TWX">people </a>) Inc., said it developed the "Total HD Disc" to help break the stalemate between HD DVD, developed by a consortium led by <b>Toshiba Corp.</b> (other-otc: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=TOSBF.PK">TOSBF.PK</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=TOSBF.PK">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=TOSBF.PK">people </a>), and rival Blu-ray, backed by <b>Sony Corp.</b> (nyse: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=SNE">SNE</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=SNE">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=SNE">people </a>) Both deliver sharper pictures and increased space for special features.</p><BR><p>All but the most adventurous consumers have stayed away from choosing sides in the battle for fear of being stuck with the losing technology, much the same as happened when VHS and Betamax battled it out for videotape dominance in the 1980s.</p><BR><p>Initially, Hollywood studios lined up behind one or the other formats. Warner Bros. first backed HD DVD, but then decided to release films and TV shows on both formats.</p><BR><p>Some studios, such as Paramount Pictures, a unit of <b>Viacom Inc.</b> (nyse: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=VIA">VIA</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=VIA">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=VIA">people </a>), have followed Warner Bros. in backing both formats. Only Universal Studios, a division of <b>General Electric Co.</b> (nyse: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=GE">GE</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=GE">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=GE">people </a>), is releasing films exclusively in HD DVD.</p><BR><p>Sony Pictures, a unit of Sony Corp., 20th Century Fox, which is owned by <b>News Corp.</b> (nyse: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=NWS">NWS</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=NWS">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=NWS">people </a>), and The <b>Walt Disney Co.</b> (nyse: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=DIS">DIS</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=DIS">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=DIS">people </a>) have remained staunch defenders of Blu-ray.</p><BR><p>Retailers and others had hoped the rival camps would compromise on one format, or that one would prove dominant.</p><BR><p>But the decision by Warner Bros. to accommodate confused consumers by placing both formats of films on a single disc shows that the battle continues.</p><BR><p>"The Total High-Definition Disc allows consumers to fully embrace high-definition viewing," Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video said in a statement Thursday. "Warner Bros. was a force in creating the current market dominance of the standard DVD, and we hope that THD will make it easier for the average consumer to enjoy this next level of technology."</p><BR><p>Details of the disc, such as whether Warner Bros. would license the technology to rival studios, are set to be released next week at the International Consumer Electronics show in Las Vegas.</p><BR><p>Other compromise solutions are in the works.</p><BR><p>LG Electronics said this week they plan on marketing a dual format DVD player. Other electronics makers are expected to follow suit.</p><BR><p>Warner Bros. has also patented a disc that can contain three versions of a film - one in each of the rival high-def formats and a third that can be viewed on standard definition players.</p><BR><p> </p><BR><div><i>Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed</i> </div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div>This move by WB&nbsp;will change the game for real now!</div><BR>

[Tee]

<div>One more article.</div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div><font face=Arial size=2><b>Time Warner�s Total HD Disc Adds Confusion To HD Disc Format War</b></font></div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div><font face=Arial size=2><b>January 4, 2007</b></font><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div><b><font face=Arial size=2>Jerry Del Colliano</font><br></b></div><BR><div>And now there are three? According to reports today from The New York Times, Time Warner will be showing a new disc called Total HD at the upcoming CES trade show in Las Vegas that will host both Blu-ray and HD DVD content on a single disc. The move comes as Blu-ray and HD DVD are fighting a bitter format war the likes we haven�t seen since VHS versus Beta. The new disc is slated to be more expensive than a traditional DVD release of a movie and can play on HD DVD players including the external drive of a Microsoft Xbox 360 game system or Blu-ray players including the hard-to-find Sony Playstation 3. The question is will consumers care?<br><br>Both current formats have shown their weaknesses in the first few months on the market. Early HD DVD players took as long as two minutes to load and early Blu-ray players from the likes of Samsung have clunky, 1998-looking hourglass icons as you wait for your movie to load. Nobody that has seen a movie on either format has complained about the picture (other than on a few discs with grainy/poor transfers) yet installers and dealers are furious about the ineffectiveness of the HDCP copy protection that comes on the HD video output of both players. Unlike your computer where one cable connects from point A to point B � the one cable on these new players called an HDMI cable, suffers from serious reliability problems thanks to the disc�s content protection scheme. One day the player is making its �handshake� with your receiver and or your HDTV and the next day it�s not. Dealers who are selling the new players are using analog component video outputs which are far more reliable however they do not pass the highest resolution 1080p video signal. <br><br>There are a number of ways that any one side be it the Blu-ray, HD DVD or now the Time Warner camp can do to win the format war thus becoming the default HD disc format. These include:<br><br><b>1. </b>Find a way to price players at $299 or less.<br><br><b>2.</b> Make HDCP copy protection not cause handshake issues. Literally any player needs to hook up with any receiver, switcher or HDTV and work 100 percent of the time.<br><br><b>3.</b> Price all HD discs at $19.99 to $24.99. Release new movies on an HD format weeks before the DVD version.<br><br><b>4.</b> Improve the functionality of HD players so that their basic functions work as well as a $50 DVD player at Costco meaning no slow load times, lame menus and icons and add RS232 control.<br><br><b>5.</b> When promoting home video releases on DVD also mention the Blu-ray, HD DVD or Total HD product in the ads.<br><br><b>6.</b> Release only the best, newest films most conducive to looking good in HD. Grainy films tend to still look grainy in HD. Dark films tend to still look dark in HD. Newer films tend to look a little better which should be factored into what movies get released sooner rather than later.<br><br>Time will tell if Time Warner has the answer with their Total HD discs. Critics question if the disc replication costs make the product realistic. Retailers will surely resist the idea of a dual format disc as it causes stocking problems and will confuse their retail staff as well as their consumers. Having both Blu-ray and HD DVD is confusing enough. Ultimately, the battle for mainstream consumers will come down to value proposition. Right now for all but the early adopters who need the best picture on their HDTV today, people are in a holding pattern waiting to buy players. The studios and electronics companies alike need to look at the problems that are directly in front of them in terms of copy protection, player price points, quality of disc offering and overall branding before worrying about marketing another disc format to consumers who are just learning why they need an HD disc format for their HDTVs.<br></div><BR></div><BR>

[brykos]

<div><BLOCKQUOTE><TABLE BORDER=1><TR><TD><b>Date:</b> 1/4/2007 9:29:44 PM <b>Author:</b> timfrommass LG is one of the biggest players in the mass market a/v business, bigger than Denon I would say.&amp;nbsp; Denon is bigger amongst enthusiasts, but LG plays on a much larger scale.&amp;nbsp; I always figured it would be either them or Samsung that did the universal thing first.&amp;nbsp; My guess is that it won''t sell for more than $1300 and probably closer to $1000<br><br>-tim<br><br></TD></TR></TABLE></BLOCKQUOTE></div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div>I read on AVS`that it''s going to be MSRP''d at $1199.00.&nbsp;&nbsp; Worth it???&nbsp; Depends on a lot of things.&nbsp; We''ll see.</div><BR>

[jaminmacny]

<br><BR><div><br><br></div><BR><div> </div><BR><div>I read on AVS`that it''s going to be MSRP''d at $1199.00.&amp;nbsp; Worth it???&amp;nbsp; Depends on a lot of things.&amp;nbsp; We''ll see.</div><BR><br><br><br>if that''s accurate it makes it cheaper than some Blu-Ray players on the market.&nbsp; go LG!!<br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jim<br><br>

[IrritateGuy]

Is price always the most important thing? <BR>

[Tee]

<div><BLOCKQUOTE><TABLE BORDER=1><TR><TD><b>Date:</b> 1/5/2007 3:02:47 PM <b>Author:</b> Howard Roark Is price always the most important thing? </TD></TR></TABLE></BLOCKQUOTE></div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div>Not always but it sure does help prepare ones budget, so it dose play a part in the buying process.</div><BR>

[Kai]

<div>aargh lol</div><BR>

[Kai]

<div>Price will determine when it becomes "mainstream" and purchased by the public in great numbers.</div><BR><div>At $1200 or so it will not be mainstream and relegated to those considered "...philes" of some sort hehehe.</div><BR><div>$500 is my high point for some sort of HD dvd player. While wanting to buy one of the HD-A1's or new 2's I am still a bit leary of them and with this recent news I am glad I did.</div><BR><div>Mainstream pricing will be $300 US imo.</div><BR><br><br><br><BR>

[IrritateGuy]

I totally agree that price is important, but it seems everyone is angry that these brand new, cutting edge technologies are not yet mainstream. That just isn''t possible with brand new, expensive technologies. <BR>

[Tee]

<div>*******UPDATE*********UPDATE**********UPDATE</div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div><span class=artsectiontitle xmlns:lxslt="http://xml.apache.org/xslt">Associated Press</span><br><span class=mainarttitle><b>LG Will Offer Dual Format HD DVD Player</b></span><br>Associated Press <span class=mainartdate>01.07.07, 2:13 PM ET</span><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div><BR><p>LG Electronics will begin selling a dual-format high definition player designed to call a truce in the continuing war between rival DVD formats.</p><BR><p>The model BH100, dubbed "Super Multi Blue," will play discs in the Blu-ray format, backed by a group led by <b>Sony Corp.</b> (nyse: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=SNE">SNE</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=SNE">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=SNE">people </a>) LG is a member of the Blu-ray consortium.</p><BR><p>It will also play discs in the rival HD DVD format, which is backed by a consortium headed by <b>Toshiba Corp.</b> (other-otc: <a class=maintkrlink href="http://finapps.forbes.com/finapps/jsp/finance/compinfo/CIAtAGlance.jsp?tkr=TOSBF.PK">TOSBF.PK</a> - <a href="http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=TOSBF.PK">news </a>- <a href="http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&amp;name=&amp;ticker=TOSBF.PK">people </a>)</p><BR><p>But while it will display the full range of interactive features contained on Blu-ray discs, such as menus that appear while the film is playing, it will not play similar interactive elements contained on HD DVD discs.</p><BR><p>The player, unveiled at the International Consumer Electronics Show Sunday, is designed to end confusion caused by the two incompatible formats as well as boost the sale of high definition TV sets and displays.</p><BR><p>"Customers are no longer forced to choose between the two formats," Dr. Hee Gook Lee, president and chief technology officer of LG Electronics, said in a statement.</p><BR><p>LG also said it will make a multi-format disc drive for computers that also displays DVDs in both rival formats.</p><BR><p>The player is not cheap. It will sell for $1,199 when it becomes available sometime in early February, the company said.</p><BR><p>It also does triple duty, playing standard definition DVDs as well and upgrading the picture quality to 1081i high definition resolution. The unit does this with a single tray for holding the DVDs, but two different lasers for reading the content stored on them.</p><BR><p>The two DVD formats have been battling for market share since being introduced last year. Both are expected to get a boost this year as more studios release films in the formats and more players become available.</p><BR><p>Later this week, Warner Bros. will introduce a high definition DVD disc that can hold films and TV shows in both Blu-ray and HD DVD.</p><BR><p> </p><BR><p><i>Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed</i> </p><BR><br></div><BR></div><BR>

[MDRiggs]

See S&amp;V's online CES coverage (<a title="CES 2007 Special Report" href="http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/2023/ces-2007-special-report.html" target=_blank>CES 2007 Special Report</a>) for more details.<BR>

[Barney]

<div>Thanks MD...I''m checking it out now !</div><BR><div>&nbsp;</div><BR><div>&nbsp; http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/assets/image/2007/Q1/182007112437.jpg</div><BR>

[Barney]

Bump..........They are displaying the LG...........anyone at CES ? How come we aren''t getting any info from the CES ? No members are there ? Wasn''t someone lucky to be them &amp; in Vegas ?<BR>

[Rickster]

Nice to LG is on top of this nonsensical nightmare of competing formats, now I''ll wait a year for the price of this combo player to drop in half. <br>

[IrritateGuy]

<div>Despite LG''s best efforts, this new "universal" player doesn''t currently provide full support for the HD-DVD format:<br><a href="http://techreport.com/onearticle.x/11608">http://techreport.com/onearticle.x/11608</a></div><BR><div>Also of note - Microsoft says LG could face a lawsuit if it actually attempts to sell this product - from the DVD Forum - that''s right, the guys behind the HD-DVD format. </div><BR><div>I''ve said all along that the Blu-Ray consortium has been trying to play nice with the HD-DVD guys, but they refused to participate. But everyone hates Sony (just one player in the BluRay Founders Group), so they blamed Sony for the deadlock on a shared standard. </div><BR>