LG has
officially unveiled its Super Multi Blue Player supporting the rival HD-DVD and
Blu-ray formats for next-generation high-definition DVD players.
The two standards have caused a slowdown in the adoption of next-generation
DVD standards, LG said during a press conference at the
Consumer
Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Consumers are concerned that they may pick the wrong standard, and are
putting off the purchase of new equipment altogether.
A player that supports both standards saves consumers from having to choose
between the two.
The first LG devices are expected to go on sale by February in the US for
$1,200. A model for computers is expected to be similarly priced.
Players that play Blu-ray disks typically cost around $1,000 and HD-DVD
models start at around $500.
But while LG's player is expected to appeal to consumers seeking support for
both standards, they will not get all the features that a single-standard player
offers.
The player will display menus on HD-DVD disks, but will not unlock all the
interactive features. On Blu-ray disks the menu and interactive features
function normally.
The HD-DVD consortium is led by
Toshiba,
while Sony
heads up Blu-ray. The pair have tried unsuccessfully to merge the two
standards.
Warner
Bros, meanwhile, is scheduled to unveil a
hybrid disk
that will work on players supporting both standards.
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