LG BH100 HD DVD and Blu-ray combo player now available

LG Electronics today confirmed that U.S. consumers can now purchase the industry's first dual- format high-definition (HD) disc player at U.S. retailers. Unveiled less than a month ago at the 2007 International CES, the LG "Super Multi Blue" Player (model BH100) is now available at national retail stores, such as Best Buy, Circuit City and CompUSA, as well as regional retailers and local dealers.

With LG Electronics' Super Multi Blue Player, consumers now have the convenience and flexibility of playing both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD high- definition content. The unit blends both technologies for a consumer-focused solution to address the challenges and consumer confusion of the current HD disc format war.

The LG BH100 is the first and only player on the market with the capability to play both next-generation disc formats, meaning that consumers no longer have to choose between the two formats. The new player is ideally suited to LG's expanded lineup of Full HD 1080p plasma and LCD HDTVs -- 14 new models delivering the best video possible in the highest display resolution format. The BH100 received multiple honors during the 2007 CES, including CNN's Best of CES, CNET's Best in Show and Home Video categories and the Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice Award.

In addition to offering Full HD 1080p picture quality from high-definition discs, the player incorporates interactive functions based on BD-Java, which allows advanced menus and functions to be displayed over the video of Blu-ray discs. And, while the same level of advanced menu interactivity is not available while playing HD DVD discs, the powerful combination of Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD audio-video playback technologies is like no other on the market. For consumers' existing DVD libraries, the player upconverts standard DVDs to 1080i resolution, providing compatibility with consumers' existing movie libraries while improving the picture quality of those discs.

The BH100, which outputs 24- and 30-frame-per-second 1080p signals, 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. The unit also includes multiple inputs/outputs such as HDMI out, component/composite video outputs, and optical/coaxial/discrete 5.1 channel audio outputs, among others.

The strikingly designed unit incorporates elegant and easy-to-use backlit touch sensor buttons along with an ergonomic remote control that delivers an effortless command of the next-generation home entertainment experience.