What You Need To Know About The LG BH100 Super Multi Blue Player

The unit supports various A/V formats, including MPEG-2, VC-1, H.264 video, MPEG1/2 audio, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital+, DTS and DTS-HD audio, and includes multiple inputs/outputs such as HDMI out, component/composite video outputs, and optical/coaxial/discrete 5.1 channel audio outputs, among others.

"We've developed the Super Multi Blue Player to end the confusion caused by the current competition between Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD. Customers are no longer forced to choose between the two formats," said Dr. Hee Gook Lee, president and chief technology officer of LG Electronics.

The LG BH100 Super Multi Blue Player of course supports full HD 1080p picture quality from high-definition discs, the player also incorporates interactive functions based on BD-Java, which allows advanced menus and functions to be displayed over the video of Blu-ray discs.

The LG BH100 has Optical Pick-up technology (two laser diodes) that can read both HD DVD and Blu-ray and both Red (DVD) and optional RED (CD). The Blue diode has two components. One to read BD one for HD.

It's true that the LG BH100 is not a DVD recorder. It's just a fancy combo DVD player. What's really interesting here is what direction the LG Super Multi Blue Player pushes the format war. A group called the Strategy Analytics at the CES 2007 feel that LG's launch of the first dual-standard Blu-Ray Disc/HD-DVD player shifts the balance toward Blu-Ray Disc (BD) in the battle of the two formats, according to Strategy Analytics.

"Dual-standard players will help expand the market for next generation DVD players," says David Mercer, VP and Principal Analyst at Strategy Analytics. "But owners of the LG device will likely choose Blu-Ray over HD-DVD for the same title because the player does not support the full range of interactive features available on HD-DVD discs."

Conclusion: Blending the latest technologies, the LG Super Multi Blue Player offers flexibility to consumers looking for the convenience of playing both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD high-definition content.

Strategy Analytics remains cautious on these Blu-ray, HD-DVD combo players, "Sales of standalone BD, HD-DVD and dual-standard players will be dwarfed by the millions of PS3s that will be sold worldwide during 2007."

For me I'll buy one of these after they turn them into a DVD recorder.