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LG's dual-format disc player hits stores

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

December 10, 2007, 2:13 PM

LG said Monday that its second try at a dual-format next generation disc player is now available at retailers.

Unlike the company's previous player, this unit has been certified by both HD DVD and Blu-ray, and will be upgradeable to the new BD Profile 1.1 when those discs become available next year. Like its predecessor, the BH200 will retail for $999 and support up to 1080p resolution. LG's announcement follows that of Samsung, whose player will sell for $200 less when it becomes available later this month.

The electronics maker first showed off a prototype of the new model at the CEDIA show in Denver back in September, which fixed several issues of the first player. The first model did not support HD DVD's iHD -- this one does. HDMI 1.2 was included in the first player, however version 1.3 can be found in the BH200. While it was originally supposed to debut the following month, unspecified production delays pushed the BH200 release to now.

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By PSXp-ONE

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 11:09 PM

"I've been saying it!, I've been saying it for 10 gdamn years Miguel, haven't I been saying it?"

Score: 0

By yountmj

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 7:48 PM

http://www.prnewswire.co...07/0004719845&EDATE=

I'm curious as to whether this unit would even be Profile 1.1 compliant if it didn't share HD DVD components. As of right now (and the foreseeable future) not a single standalone BD-only player can claim that capability.

Hmm... makes sense actually. The only way to make Blu-ray better is to incorporate HD DVD. :)

Score: 0

By NULLedge

posted Dec 11, 2007 - 6:49 PM

or.... OR... who can see it coming?

that's right, upgrade it to Profile 2.0! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAH... or, wait, what? i just made you look stupid. my bad.

Score: 0

By yountmj

edited Dec 11, 2007 - 10:04 PM

No, sorry to disappoint you. My point still stands.

The PS3 is currently the most capable and probable Blu-ray device to be upgradeable to Profile 2.0... yet, for over a year, Sony has not even been able to offer suitable promised Profile 1.1 features. If they cannot even manage that on the most capable BD player in well over a year, no other manufacturer stands a chance.

Until everyone gets on the same page as far as Blu-ray specs are concerned, BD Live is a pipe dream... and by the looks of things, so is so-called "Bonus View".

Score: 0

By pridewalker

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 10:00 PM

"Hmm... makes sense actually. The only way to make Blu-ray better is to incorporate HD DVD. :)"

LMAO

Score: 0

By Hocuspokus

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 7:17 PM

LMFAO

Warner have now begun postponing indefinitely/ canning big Blu-ray releases.

Try getting the new Led Zep high def disc on Blu-ray, you can't.
(You can on HD DVD tho & very good it is too)

That's what a studio about to go Blu-ray exclusive would do, right Sony/PS3/Blu-ray shill-troll-fanboys?

Maybe LG & Samsung acted too soon with this dual stuff, no need guys!

LMFAO.

Score: 0

By Steve Austin

posted Dec 11, 2007 - 6:29 PM

LOL, does anyone actually believe the BS this idiot spouts..

The Zeppelin release is delayed on BOTH formats..

http://bluray.highdefdig...,_HD_DVD_(UPDATED)/1252

All the signs are actually pointing to Sony and Warner teaming up, in particular the Amazon 2 for 1 offer on Warner and Sony titles.

Bye Bye HD DVD....

Score: 0

By yountmj

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 7:31 PM

Yep... and Fox releases have slowed to a crawl. Also, with Disney being such a huge studio and major backer, I sure don't see many releases coming from them. They have a huge catalog to draw from, too. The last I read regarding future Disney titles were 4 'seasonal' releases scheduled for the entire year of 2008.

Oh well. :)

Score: 0

By Steve Austin

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 5:20 PM

Is it faulty, like the Toshiba HD DVD players??

http://img363.imageshack....php?image=hddudbc2.jpg

Still have no fear, Blu-ray is now within $50 of HD DVD players...

http://www.highdefdigest..._Blu-ray_(UPDATED)/1247

Score: 0

By NULLedge

posted Dec 11, 2007 - 6:44 PM

you're seriously pointing to a disclaimer as a source of failure?

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Dec 11, 2007 - 10:19 AM

I see you and your friends over at bluray in panic mode again. You guys are really a pathetic bunch. A bunch of trolls buying everything under the sun even movies that they don't even like just to support their religion of choice, blo ray. All I can say is very sad.

I have been swamped with work and have had very little time to read online forums. However, it appears that earlier today the red camp added a massive BOGO sale of red titles to ensure that Bourne's week is red.

Contrary to what I have seen written here and elsewhere...that Rush Hour 3 and residuals would be enough to secure a win for us this combined effort from Toshiba and Co. to show WB that their format is on the rise is in my opinion very capable of producing a win for them.

I just want to make sure that people realize how much is at stake here, especially with recent rumors from prominent studio officials, and what could be won or lost. This is clearly a much more crucial battle than Transformers' week and one that would also be very telling as to Warner's future market decisions.

THIS WEEK...SUPPORT OUR FORMAT! Now...it counts more than ever!

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Dec 11, 2007 - 12:40 AM

Pathetic. LMAO

Score: 0

By SGD

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 10:37 PM

Faulty you are such a liar it is sickening. Yes they are now 50 dollars away with a machine that is obsolete since it can not be made 1.1 compliant. What a piece of work you are troll.

Score: 0

By pridewalker

edited Dec 10, 2007 - 10:27 PM

"Is it faulty, like the Toshiba HD DVD players??"

The little blurb that's highlighted doesn't say anything about the player being faulty...only that, just like all new tech, there may be some bugs in the system. It's similar to the 'make sure you have the latest firmware' slip found in most Blu-ray discs. BTW...the PS3 has a similar warning on its box. Try again...

"Still have no fear, Blu-ray is now within $50 of HD DVD players..."

I'd fear owning that beast. CNET's users rated it a 5.4, due to load times and poor compatibility with newer discs. Other user reviews (even the positive one's) complain about the load time of movies (2+ minutes). Given your impatience with the 30 sec. load times of the HD-A2, this should be completely unacceptable.

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Dec 11, 2007 - 12:41 AM

Dave rated a bunch of players he doesn't even own at cnet if you remember. Now that is sad.

Just Google DaveBG cnet, the first page that comes up is his profile with components he "owns" and has rated.

Score: 0

By bobthegoat2001

posted Dec 11, 2007 - 8:08 AM

Dave is so f'n funny, if it weren't for him, Betanews wouldn't be around.

Score: 0

By pridewalker

posted Dec 11, 2007 - 5:01 AM

I took a look at that awhile ago. It's just kinda fun to continue proving him wrong, and crap in his fruit loops.

Score: 0

By yountmj

edited Dec 10, 2007 - 8:05 PM

Well, as long as they're not as bad as this, I don't think anyone will mind...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gQG4OFgrpA

Try again, Stevamin Deacaid BG.

Score: 0

By forgie

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 4:43 PM

As soon as these dual format players come down in price I can finally jump aboard and start enjoying this new technology. Took long enough.

Score: 0

By NULLedge

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 4:19 PM

but i can buy a bd player and an hddvd player for 500 total.

Score: 0

By lonechicken

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 3:17 PM

Here's the thing. If your collection is mixed with both formats, you'll have to keep buying dual-format players indefinitely if yours breaks down.

Score: 0

By MikeTechno

edited Dec 10, 2007 - 2:50 PM

This is absolutely great to see. With dual-format players like this the whole question of who wins the stupid "format war" really becomes a moot point. Who cares that there even is a format war when you have dual format players that will play both formats?

Now, I will grant you that these players are still WAY too expensive for anyone but the very well off to afford, but if the concept really catches on and competition drives prices down on these then I think we might finally be able to say "problem solved" here on the foolish "format war" that never should have been allowed to even happen in the first place.

In my book, products like this make an excellent solution. This is what happens when smart people put their heads together to fix problems that dumb people create. Well done! Oh, and by the way, I have seen the BH200 first hand and let me tell you, it is a VERY impressive piece of equipment! Once you see one, you are going to want one.

Score: 0

By NULLedge

posted Dec 10, 2007 - 4:21 PM

i also want a lambo, but that doesn't mean it's gonna happen. if this thing were 100-300 bucks it'd sell well. what mid-income level person in their right mind is going to buy this.

Score: 0

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