LG preps first dual-format HD player for the UK

LG Electronics is to launch the first dual-format Blu-ray and HD-DVD player for the UK market next month. 

Although Samsung recently announced plans for a hybrid HD player for sale in the UK, the unit will not be available until later in the year, giving LG a slight advantage.  

"Everyone agrees that Blu-ray and HD-DVD will revolutionise home entertainment and that consumer demand for high-definition content is higher than ever before," said Daniel Aziz, marketing manager for digital media at LG.

"However, there has been much uncertainty and confusion around which format consumers should invest in because of the ongoing format dispute. The launch of the Super Multi Blue BH100 will remove this difficult choice."

In addition to offering full high definition at a resolution of 1080p, the player incorporates interactive functions based on BD-Java, which allows advanced menus and functions on screen while the content is playing in the background.

The BH100 supports most common audio/visual 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 and composite video as well as optical, coaxial and discrete 5.1 channel audio, among others.

The player will be available in May at an RRP of £999 which is more expensive than buying two of the cheaper individual high-definition players.

LG also revealed the world's first dual Blu-ray rewriter and HD DVD-Rom drive for PCs, the GGW-H10NRRP, which will be available by the end of this month at between £700 and £800.