CES 2007 - The Best of CE from the Show
by Manveer Wasson on January 18, 2007 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Displays
LG's Hybrid Blu-ray/HD-DVD Player
One of the most anticipated products at this years CES was LG's hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD player. Touted as the player that would end the HD home video format war, we were also quite excited to take a peak at this player.
LG calls the set-top player the Super Multi Blue BH100. The box does play both HD-DVD and Blu-ray titles as advertised, however there is one glaring omission from it; the BH100 does not support the iHD Interactive Format for interactive features on HD-DVD disks. Representatives from LG did say users will be able to navigate basic menus for playing HD-DVDs but not the full feature set. The player does fully support BDJ for interactive features on Blu-ray disks.
Physically, the player looks like a regular DVD player but does feature touch sensitive power and playback buttons on the top of the unit. This unit should be available in Q1 2007 for a price of around $1200.
LG also showed off the PC version of their dual-format player/writer - the Super Multi Blue GGW-H10N. The drive both plays and writes BDs, DVDs, CDs and only plays back HD-DVDs.
LG gave us a glimpse as to how the drive is able to play both next-gen formats by showing off the drive's pickup sensor. The sensor utilizes a 1-laser/2-lens solution. One lens is used for HD-DVD, DVD and CD playback and the second lens is dedicated for BD.
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SignalPST - Thursday, January 18, 2007 - link
I'm very interested in the Samsung 30" LED LCD. Awesome resolution, great response and contrast, and most imporantly, it'll have very good color reproduction.sprockkets - Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - link
Those micro projectors are sweet, and being LED powered, and priced right, will be something I'm lookin to buy.semo - Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - link
about the quad hd displaythat got me thinking so i phoned westinghouse and here is the conversation word for word:
1st phone call:
me:we need those 4 in 1 plasmas.
westinghouse: do you mean our quad full hd displays
me: yeah, yeah those jobies. we need 10. 5 minutes ago. move it move it.
wh: who are you?
me: military.
wh: that will be $250,000 per display sir.
2nd phone call:
me: [in poorly imitated feminin voice] we are interested in buying a qhd display from you.
wh: and you are?
me: nuns.
wh: we can give you one for $10,000 but let me speak to my manager.
me: ok dear.
---muzak---
wh: yeah ok great news, we can get you one $5,500.
me: [voice almost back to normal] thank you child.
kirbalo - Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - link
I was at the show and the LG Rep. told me that both the Consumer player, and the PC Drive would both retail for about $1100 next month...not $2000.ManveerW - Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - link
kirbalo,The cost of the drive will actually be around $1200. I corrected it in the article. Thanks for pointing it out!
Manveer Wasson
somegeek - Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - link
After the first CES 2007 article "Convergence Happened" I was expecting something new. None of the products at the show have made convergence a reality. It's still an ambiguous, convoluted idea, like converging movies and games.- Set top boxes, like AppleTV, have been around for years and have failed to catch on.
- Xbox 360 is not an option for people who don't play games, so it won't be mainstream.
- IPTV on the Xbox 360 will have a smaller audience than the Xbox 360.
- Small HTPCs haven't caught on, DTX won't change that.
- The iPhone is a Jack of All Trades, Master of None.
Convergence hasn't happened and it won't ever happen. Specialized, divergent technology is:
- Cheaper to buy
- Cheaper to build
- Easier to use
- Easier to make
- Easier to sell
- More efficient
- More reliable
- More profitable
- Smaller
- Simpler
mesyn191 - Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - link
Sure, there were a few cool things, but so hideously expensive even if I sold my right kidney it'd only be enough for the down payment on the loan to pay for em'. All the HD stuff is so DRM'd no freakin' way am I gonna be paying money for it, don't see how many other people will either.randomlinh - Thursday, January 18, 2007 - link
I doubt people will care about DRM for now. Not many people seem to bother trying to back up their movies they buy. I don't see that changing. Therefore those who complain are in the minority.srue - Wednesday, January 17, 2007 - link
I like the "No Cameras" sign below the Samsung Wireless Plasma.