LG Electronics develops world's first dual-mode DVD player

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engn...4110044E0.html

 

nice, looking forward to details

 

I think that it is ironic (at least according to this) that it lists Toshiba as one of the companies that supports Blu-ray, but not HD-DVD.

 

The thing is though, unless dual players become the standard, one of the formats is still destined to die. Which doesn't change the main irritant - possibly having to rebuy movies.

I guess it's easier to hook up than two players though, or a player and a console.

 

Can't wait to find out how much it costs.

 

Why would you have to rebuy movies if you have a player that will play either. Once you buy the movie, you will be able to play it on your player.

 

Still have to rebuy all the DVD's people have now if they want to get the HD versions.

 

If dual-players become the norm, Blu-ray will die.

This is why Sony is putting up so much resistence to dual format players.

Blu-ray costs alot more to manufacture than HD-DVD. Not only is each individual disc more expensive, but the tooling facilities cost millions more to build. HD-DVD facilities can be upgraded easily from existing DVD facilities for well under a million in up front costs.

This is also why TimeWarners just announced "dual-format disc" will be a failure: http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/04...-discs-at-ces/

 

I also thought that a dual format player was announced fairly early last year. Is this the same one and it's just finally coming into production now... or did that one get squashed and this is a different one?

 

I guess what he means is that ultimately, if dual-format players mark the death of one format, future players would be single format only.

Nobody would invest the additional cost/complexity into dual-format players if the bulk majority of people used only 1 format.

 

The death of Blu-Ray is near.

 

Perhaps, but that is not how I read it. Also, people would not have to rebuy discs for hd-dvd or blu-ray if they have regular dvd's. These players will also support the current dvd's. You may not get the incredible picture quality, but it won't be so bad either. I am not sure what you (not soopa, the guy who said you would have to rebuy everything) expect to happen. Do you think the current dvd format will stay around forever? That is the only way you will not have to upgrade to something else.

 

Only in your dream.

The format war is far from over...

 

It's closer than you think...cost will drive one format out of the market when you introduce a dual format player into the market. HD-DVD is cheaper...studios will go with the cheaper version.

Not to mention there is yet another format entering the market...Time Warner's Total HD disc.....ouch!

 

Here is a simplified version of what I think will happen.
Right now there are HD-DVD players and Blu-ray players.
I believe, in three years or less, one of those formats will be toast, and you will no longer be able to buy new movies, or new players for that format.


Therefore, I consider buying movies of either formats to be a risk, as as it is unknown how long the loser will be around. If one of them drops the ball hard, they may be toast in less than two years.

The winner of the format wars, however, I expect to stick around for another 15-20 years or however long VHS lasted. DVD ain't going anywhere.
In fact, I expect DVD to last longer than Blu-ray.

A dual player doesn't make me any more inclined to buy either format - the risk is still there. It would be, as stated, a big win for HD-DVD actually, but you still never know.

No technology lasts forever - but when an industry agrees on a standard, those standards stick around for a long freakin' time.

 

Well I agree that once a standard is adopted, that format will really take off. However, I still have to disagree on the point of not buying a certain format if you have a dual format player. If you already own a player that will play either, then go ahead and buy either format disc. You will be able to play either. If they stop manufacturing player in the future, and you wish to purchase one for some reason, just hit up eBay and you'll be able to find them. I too would rather wait for a single format, but if you buy a dual format I think just go for either.

 

And Universal is doing this alone, I wonder how much longer can they hang on with zero major titles. You know, Microsoft doesn't make movies.

The BD camp is gaining momentum, they have a very stong 2007 line-up...and if the strong sales keep going up, manufacturing cost will go down eventually.

 

I'm not sure what (if any) sense the first part of your statement makes? Universal is not the only studio putting out movies in HD-DVD.

So far as the last part of your statement. Sales aren't strong. Sales for both Blu-ray and HD-DVD are extremely poor, even given that current figures are fueled by early adopters and the holiday season, they're still poor. Comparatively, HD-DVD is outselling Blu-ray on this continent. This might not mean a whole lot for you since you're Asian, but as history shows, the Asian media market hasn't ever had a whole lot of influence on what companies bring to North American consumers.

As far as a "very strong 2007 line-up" goes, negative. Both HD-DVD & Blu-ray have weak offerings slated for the new year. Ignoring what may come on either format, actual upcoming releases are lackluster.

Here's a list of scheduled releases for both..
HD-DVD http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/releasedates.html
Blu-ray http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/releasedates.html

At first glance, it looks like Blu-ray has a whole lot of content coming out. However, if you take a look at what's going on you'll see that a good 90% of the upcoming Blu-ray movies are outdated B-movies. HD-DVD already had a whole bunch of B-movie's released, which is why you don't see so much noise coming from the HD-DVD side. This is why HD-DVD already has a library of 200-300 movies.

On top of it all, most of the current Blu-ray library is composed of sub-par transfers. The entire first lot of Blu-ray movies is being reviewed as hardly more impressive then upscaled 480p DVD content.

Blu-ray is playing catch up. This should not be considered a "strong 2007 line-up".

 

For record, since I sound very HD-DVD biased so far as available/upcoming content goes. I have to certify that I'm not impressed with EITHER library as a whole. It's pretty much a 50/50 split between Blu-ray & HD-DVD right now so far as titles I want to see goes.

The only reason I'd lean more towards the HD-DVD library at the moment is in consideration of Blu-rays crappy first gen transfers.

All things equal though, both libraries are less than impressive and only by having the ability to watch both formats could I possibly be satisfied with the content available. This is why a dual-format player is so enticing.

 

Universal is the only studio supports HD-DVD exclusively. And widely considered as the worst hollywood studio in recent years.

And about the upcoming releases...Casino Royale is now a B-rated movie? Playing catch-up or not, IMHO Blu-Ray will be just fine in 07.

 

Both sides have a some great movies, but I agree, the average quality of movies on both sides is pretty meh. Oh boy, Scooby Doo on Blu-ray! Hulk on HD-DVD!

It would be nice to buy a Dual format player and just rent for a while and see what comes out. Depends on how much it is, of course.

 

You do realize I said 90% right? Did I mention Casino Royale? Is it difficult to assume that it'd be included in the 10% of decent content coming to Blu-ray?

Read. Don't be a jackass.

 

What does M$ have to do with movies?!?!
They will have little to say about who wins the format war.
It's going to be a couple of years until real good content hits the new discs...but by then there may be only one disc.....and with now a third disc format "Total HD"....now the market is saturated with 3 formats.....too many formats...only one will make the final cut....and the smart money is on the one that is the cheapest to produce that gives higher profit margins for the movie studios.

 

i dont really consider Total HD a 3rd format.

Total HD will likely only be made by Warner Bros, I doubt other studios will adopt.

If anything, only the few other format neutral studios will. I don't consider it a 3rd format because playback hardware won't be specific to the format.

In the end, I think if Blu-ray ever begins to gain on HD-DVD, the HD-DVD hardware manufacturers should just embrace Blu-ray and produce dual-format players.

Ultimately I think that will give an upper hand to HD-DVD.

HD-DVD is still better understood by consumers, and it's still a whole hell of alot cheaper to manufacturer. If the HD-DVD camp put out dual format players it would speed the adoption of hardware which would ultimately benefit HD-DVD, I think. Especially if the Blu-ray camp continues to put out poor quality transfers. If people have a device which can play both discs and people see better results with HD-DVD discs, they're going to have no problem buying the less expensive HD-DVD media.

On top of that, the easier-to-use HD-DVD discs (in-movie menus, faster load times, etc) will also sway consumers towards the HD-DVD aisle.

Yea, if the HD-DVD mfgr's were smart, they'd put out dual-format devices. It's against all instinct to acknowledge and support the competition, but I think it'd really bolster HD-DVD adoption.

 

I honestly think that making DVDs look better would be the best bet right now. DVDs should be the final bridge to take us to pure digital distribution, but that's waaaaay into the future.

Personally, I will keep buying DVDs until movie studios stop releasing them. This Dual Format player looks promising, but I am afraid that if the cost maybe something the studios will not take on, considering that each studio has dropped some major coin in picking which "next-gen" format to support.

 

huh? how are you going to make DVD's look better?

that's the whole point of these new formats, DVD's can't hold enough data.

you can't bring full length DVD's beyond Standard Definition. even SuperBit 480p DVD's can't hold a candle to HD-DVD/BR offerings.

the dual-format player has NOTHING to do with the studios. the dual-format player and the dual-format disc are not one in the same.

the studios will continue to produce Blu-ray OR HD-DVD, as consumers, we'll be able to play either on one device. it's a win-win really.

 

I agree. This is exactly the point I was trying to make. With a dual-format player, it doesn't matter what the studios do. You don't have to choose one over the other. As long as you can play either format, you can just buy whatever movie you like, and not have to worry about the format. As soopa said, its a win-win situation.

 

$1199
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/07...-player-1-199/

Not bad. Looks decent too.

Will be interesting to see other features.

 

more details...

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-...199-226710.php

pretty straightforward. a bit of a downer that it uses HDMI 1.2 instead of 1.3, but none of us have HDMI 1.3 TV's anyway, so not the end of the world.

i would definately buy this over, say, Toshiba's new XA2. especially when both will probably sell for the same price in stores.

 

and here it is on Best Buy's site:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1165610378688

 

Dual-format players are I believe basically a workaround because of the format wars. No (sensible) person now a days is going to spend $500-$1000 for a player whose format may die shortly. If you remove that via dual-format, then at least people know whatever discs they have will be playable.

However, if one format eventually does die (say Blue-Ray), I think you'll eventually see dual-format players phased out. I really think all parties involved only want ONE format to succeed. The problem just is that different sides want it to be THEIR format. Once there seems to be a winner, I doubt there will be much support of the 'loser' format.

Jeff

 

no question that you're correct. in fact that's what i said above.

nonetheless, it's not likely we'll see progress in leaps and bounds in the world of HD-format disc players. so those adopting today's technology won't be missing out when a format dies and 4th or 5th gen players are single format only. which is why i don't understand the fear.