http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/ Engadget HD Comments for LG not ditching HD DVD just yet, hopes to accommodate early adopters http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
From a business point of view, I think LG would be better served by abandoning HD DVD altogether like the rest of the industry.]]>Feb 19th 2008 5:45PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/How cunning.]]>Feb 19th 2008 5:50PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/How cunning.]]>Feb 19th 2008 8:40PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/Feb 19th 2008 5:48PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/Feb 19th 2008 5:52PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
I think it's more likely that LG is too far along with whatever combo they are releasing to just drop it. These will sit on Best Buy shelves and collect dust.]]>Feb 19th 2008 6:11PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
I actually think it's not a bad thing. This would allow HD DVD to live on at least for a while. What a hilarious thing would that be, Samsung and LG sticking with HD DVD after even Toshiba dropped it. ]]>Feb 19th 2008 6:22PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has officially announced that it will release its titles on Blu-ray.

Though details of the studio's transition away from HD DVD were still sketchy at press time, Universal Studios Home Entertainment President Craig Kornblau officially confirmed the move in a just issued statement:

"The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def’s unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate. While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray."


http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=12118

]]>Feb 19th 2008 6:51PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
As far as who would pay that extra $50 - $100, I can think of about 300,000 that would be interested in paying the extra for a dual format player. Considering that these people are also early adopters, even $100 extra isn't going to dissuade them.]]>Feb 19th 2008 7:25PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
Here are the specs:
Samsung BDP-1200 Blu-ray Disc Player
High definition just got higher with the SAMSUNG BDP-1200 Blu-ray Disc Player
High-Definition disc Player features HQV video processing
Blu-ray discs produce unprecedented visual detail and sound
Full 1080p HDMI output
Next generation sound in DTS and Dolby Digital Plus,
HDMI 1.3 port
Plays your regular DVDs too!
Multiple format playback





keys: lcd television 1080p 1080i hd dvd high definition dvd player garage sale blu ray blu-ray bluray hddvd


]]>Feb 19th 2008 9:40PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
Here are the specs:
Samsung BDP-1200 Blu-ray Disc Player
High definition just got higher with the SAMSUNG BDP-1200 Blu-ray Disc Player
High-Definition disc Player features HQV video processing
Blu-ray discs produce unprecedented visual detail and sound
Full 1080p HDMI output
Next generation sound in DTS and Dolby Digital Plus,
HDMI 1.3 port
Plays your regular DVDs too!
Multiple format playback


$250...USD

keys: lcd television 1080p 1080i hd dvd high definition dvd player garage sale blu ray blu-ray bluray hddvd


]]>Feb 19th 2008 9:42PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/Feb 19th 2008 6:28PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
"Toshiba left out to dry this morning."

What? It was a format war. What do you expect? They did what they believed was a smart business decision. I for one, as an HD DVD (and Blu-ray) owner don't see any harm in what Toshiba did. Everyone knew that this was going to be a 1/3 chance of happening. It was either HD DVD wins, Blu-ray Wins or Both Tie. It just so happened to be Blu-ray winning in the end.

@cheese head

"Format war aside,..."

Let me get this straight this has nothing do with the format war? Yet you make it sound like LG is the anti-christ and you wish gloom on them, because they are still sticking with a HD DVD combo. It's their business plan. Let them do what they feel is right. There is nothing wrong with what LG is doing. At least one company is kind enough to know that there is now a market to help.
]]>Feb 19th 2008 6:37PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
Stop being butt hurt over HD DVD.]]>Feb 19th 2008 6:56PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/Feb 19th 2008 6:44PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
Why do Blu-ray people (that include EngadgetHD) the need to insult the HD DVD base all the time. This was actually something very positive for the early adopters, and yet, the blu-ray fanboys - you have won your war, red did lose - talk trash.

I am anyway looking forward to buy the LG combo player when it drops a bit in price, as long as it supports HDi. In addition, I will keep on buying HD DVDs, both from sales, and the new titles that I really want (American Gangster, Beuwolf, and more)...]]>Feb 19th 2008 6:55PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
On another note, I wanted to throw out another solution that I haven't been seeing mentioned anywhere to get some feedback from you guys.
Why don't you guys buy cheap HD-DVD or Combo disc readers for the PC and rip all your movies to H264/Mpeg4 or VC1. Then, assuming the authoring software is available, you can author the video file to standard Blu-ray format and burn the result to a standard double layer DVD. Just like HD-DVD, Blu-ray players have the ability to read standard double layer DVDs as native movie discs as long as they are authored in the proper file structure/contents/etc for Blu-ray.
The only problem with this is that you are going to need to leave out extra scenes/multiple audio format/multiple languages/etc to get the file size down to 9.4GB. Even worse case scenario, all you have to do is re-encode the movie at a lower bitrate.

This all in theory should work, and other than a PC disc drive, it only requires some time and (hopefully) readily available software. Anybody care to comment?]]>Feb 20th 2008 6:33AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
"I am saying people who own A35's, etc are not going to run out and pay a premium for a combo player that does the same thing when BD is already expensive."

Yes, but you have to realize that Toshiba isn't supporting the format anymore. So if something was to happen to someone's HD DVD player or someone needed another player and there are no more on the market and that person hasn't switched to Blu-ray yet, You're just going to throw away all those movies? It's an option, LG isn't going to mass produce these players. Still there are 700,000 players with 300,000 being HD DVD add-on for the 360 that have HD DVD movie collections that might want a player that doesn't need to be attached to the 360 and also play the Blu-ray format.

LG doesn't intend and doesnt think NEW customers are going to buy it, that's obvivious. Also I'm not "butt hurt over HD DVD", (whatever that means), I'm glad this format war is over, but to say that this is a dumb move, is just ignorant because there is a small market, that would be willing to buy these combo players. Like Truth Teller, when he finally gives up...or never, you never know. ]]>Feb 19th 2008 8:17PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
Until they get a next product, they will push DVD forward at the expense of HDM. I can't see Toshiba slitting it's own throat by pushing HDM over it's own DVD standard, well not yet at least.

It had to be either LG or Samsung that offered this bridge to HD-DVD owners. This is a needed product for those who want to transition. ]]>Feb 19th 2008 8:30PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/Feb 20th 2008 12:06AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/Feb 20th 2008 12:47AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/19/lg-not-ditching-hd-dvd-just-yet-hopes-to-accommodate-early-adop/
Profits can occur only at full price less the traditional discount. After LG sells 2 combo drives at full price to Nfinity and Truth Teller who else is going to buy? And are we even sure those troubled souls will buy, after all it is not even up to the 2.0 spec? I'm sure LG does not see a profitable future in selling combo units for the price of cheap Bluray players ($300). As it is resourceful individuals will be making their own combo units marrying the $50 (maybe $25) Toshiba HD-DVD player with a Sony or Pany unit. Don't be surprised for LG to watch out for its own best interests.]]>Feb 20th 2008 6:33AM