The LG BH100 Review Thread - Blu-ray Forum

Dave · 01-10-2007, 06:14 AM

Quote:

LGs combo HD DVD/Blu-ray player could very well be the killer blow for HD DVD. What's that you say? Well, the combo player fully supports Blu-ray's interactivity, BD-J, but the BH100 seems to have forgotten all about HD DVD's interactive features, iHD. That's right, none of it - no PIP, next-gen menus, user bookmarks, HD DVD downloads/updates - nothing that will "WOW" the average Joe. However, when our friend Joe pops in a Blu-ray disc, the menu pops with excitement and is accompanied with, well, PIP, downloads/updates for instance. Why would Joe buy an HD DVD the next time out when the Blu-ray discs offer so much more? (He won't) Is this player the saving grace for both formats, nope, but it may well turn out to be the saving grace for Blu-ray. Plus, with the $1200 MSRP, you could make your own combo player by getting a PS3 ($600) along with a Toshiba HD-A2, ($410 at Amazon) duct taping 'em together. Then you can sit back and enjoy the best of both worlds with enough money left over to buy some titles on both formats. We just hope Warner's Total Hi Def hybrid disc doesn't have any skeletons in the closet.

http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/01/09...lu-ray-player/

Knight-Errant · 01-10-2007, 06:47 AM

haha good old LG

Blackraven · 01-10-2007, 10:16 AM

Of course the HD-DVD zealots should know that if LG DOES NOT release a firmware update to add more interactivity features, then this won't even suffice as a complete HD-DVD player.

blitz6speed · 01-10-2007, 10:23 AM

Microsoft announced that they will not allow the player to be released due to it not being able to play HDi. I was so disapointed with the news when i first heard about it being a real dual format player. Amir was flying high, so happy. Then the news broke that the hd-dvd portion is crippled and now LG is public enemy #1 to the microsoft guys. CES, you have provided endless hours of entertainment to me! I LOVE IT!

I am sure that the press is going to love that microsoft is in charge of denying a dual format player into the market. As if people dont hate microsoft enough as it is lol.

JTK · 01-10-2007, 01:19 PM

I hope it's a killer blow but I have a concern, in general, that dual format anything simply and needlessly prolongs and delays the inevitable.

ProvenFlipper · 01-10-2007, 03:07 PM

I'm thinking LG knew this would happen, so they made a prototype, provided pricing and availability dates to retailers (BB has an in date of the 3rd week of Feb.) to make it look legit. All this does it make people hold off on buying HD-DVD players. LG will probably strip the HD-DVD playback out of the player and ship it as the BD player they planned on releasing. Hopefully they can get a player out at less than the $800 that the Sammy costs, if all this happens.

Zinn · 01-10-2007, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blitz6speed

Microsoft announced that they will not allow the player to be released due to it not being able to play HDi. I was so disapointed with the news when i first heard about it being a real dual format player. Amir was flying high, so happy. Then the news broke that the hd-dvd portion is crippled and now LG is public enemy #1 to the microsoft guys. CES, you have provided endless hours of entertainment to me! I LOVE IT!

I am sure that the press is going to love that microsoft is in charge of denying a dual format player into the market. As if people dont hate microsoft enough as it is lol.

Can you please post a link to that, need it to fight here in sweden.

Thanks

Zvi · 01-10-2007, 04:36 PM

With the triple layer HD DVDs in development and pending approval for Q3 2007, which will apparently obsolete all current HD DVD players how or why would anyone buy HD DVD player now I don't understand. So much for HD DVD being cheaper HD solution...

JToddler · 01-11-2007, 11:03 PM

The format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray has prevented any manufacturer from releasing a player that will handle both formats...until the LG BH100. At CES 2007, LG introduced the first player capable of playing both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. We were skeptical that any company could deliver a combination player at the show, but the LG BH100 is the real deal. LG demonstrated how you can seamlessly switch between HD DVD and Blu-ray, changing discs, skipping chapters, and watching true HD (1080p) movies in either format without a hitch. Perhaps the most surprising part is that the LG BH100 is ready to roll: the $1,200 player will be in stores, including Best Buy and Circuit City, in February 2007. The LG BH100 finally allows consumers to purchase high-definition discs according to which movie they like--not which player they own. Read more about the LG BH100 click below:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12760_7...5.html?tag=txt

Any comments?

Maximus · 01-11-2007, 11:08 PM

Hmm, I think this player is a real Trojan Horse for BD, anyone who buys it will get a HD DVD when both are available as they are generally cheaper, but when the BD is only available they will notice the difference in the quality of the menus, extras, etc. I think it could work out well for the BDA.

JToddler · 01-12-2007, 02:51 AM

As for me I don't think that this so called "Best in Show" CES 2007 product will be part of my purchases anytime soon. I don't like the idea and I won't be buying HD-DVD's either so what's the point?

goodstuff · 01-12-2007, 03:49 AM

Plus it won't work with the iHD HD-DVD's anyway.

phloyd · 01-12-2007, 04:03 PM

They were certainly making a lot of noise about it.

Also, due to the lack of HDi, this is definitely a BD player with HD DVD 'for free'

From what I hear, HDi is the worst aspect of HD DVD.

It is expensive in hardware and software space. It adds little of real value and appears to be the reason that 'resume after stop' and 'frame forward' do not work.

Congratulations Microsoft on a job poorly done.

(hey with no HDi, perhaps the LG player will resume on HD DVD discs!)

GTP · 01-13-2007, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Hmm, I think this player is a real Trojan Horse for BD, anyone who buys it will get a HD DVD when both are available as they are generally cheaper, but when the BD is only available they will notice the difference in the quality of the menus, extras, etc. I think it could work out well for the BDA.

In the U.S.....the BD versions are usually cheaper than the hd dvd versions of dual format discs.

thunderhawk · 01-14-2007, 09:08 AM

LG Hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD Player Cannot Be Sold As Is

LG may have a difficult time bringing its newly announced BH100 hybrid Blu-ray and HD DVD player to the market, BetaNews has learned, because it will not receive certification from the DVD Forum. Without such certification, LG cannot publicly claim the player supports HD DVD as it is doing now.

The problem stems from the lack of support for HDi, the advanced interactivity technology used by HD DVD. LG has only included support for BD-J, Blu-ray's interactive menu system, in the BH100. Without HDi, only the video content from HD DVD discs will play back; menu systems and other interactive features will simply not be usable.

Kevin Collins, Microsoft's representative for the HD DVD group who sits on all the steering committees, says LG will not be able to sell the product and claim it supports the format if it leaves out HDi. Collins said LG provided no advance notice before announcing the BH100 player at CES, and noted he was surprised by the move.

In fact, Collins explained to BetaNews that the DVD Forum could pursue legal action against LG for claiming the hybrid player supports the HD DVD and using the HD DVD logo, just like it does against pirate hardware manufacturers in Asia that build DVD players without paying licensing fees.

LG plans to begin selling the BH100 in the first quarter of this year for $1,199 USD. But objections from Microsoft's Collins and other companies involved in HD DVD could force LG to make changes, or scrap the player altogether. Collins noted that studios would be "very upset" if consumers could not playback HD DVD movies as they were intended, with interactive menus and special features.

BetaNews was awaiting a response from LG on the matter by press time.

Update:
Scott Fulton, BetaNews: If you're wondering, "Isn't Nate referring to the iHD interactive layer?" your glasses are not on backwards. Microsoft, which is its co-creator, has been referring to it publicly as "HDi" since last August, perhaps because putting the little "i" in front of things makes people believe Apple created them; although industry insiders outside of Microsoft still tend to refer to the interactive layer as "iHD."

Source: http://ces.betanews.com/entry/LG_Hyb..._Is/1168407626

Blue · 01-14-2007, 10:18 AM

The DVD Forum may turn out to be HD-DVD's biggest problem out of the 220+ members 44 are involved with both HD-DVD and Blu-ray, 16 HD-DVD only, 75 Blu-ray only and the rest neither (based on published lists of all groups). I don't know if some members of the DVD Forum have more voting rights than others, but if the Blu-ray group decide not boycott the votes and work as a group, they can create chaos.

Don't tell the fanboy's, they are still including Meridian as making a HD-DVD player. Now to loose LG (even if it is the DVD Forum's fault), to loose one maybe considered an accident, but two, that's just careless. Hopefully Warner will be in trouble next with their dual disc's.

Is this history about to repeat itself
http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/31/l...ay-only-plans/
for those that don't look closely this from the end of July 2006

Urian · 01-14-2007, 11:06 AM

Everyday is more clear than HD-DVD is the Microsoft standard instead of industry standard, all these movements against LG are nothing more than attack of ego.

If I am not wrong HD-DVD is nothing more than a normal DVD player with a blue-violet 400nm laser for 15 and 30GB disks but it was raped technologically by BluRay, now BluRay is the industry standard and I cannot see the logic in HD-DVD support outside the fact that Microsoft is making FUD because in Toshiba players they have installed Windows CE+iHD.

hyperdine · 01-14-2007, 02:47 PM

I'm torn on this news. On one hand I think it's good news, because a combo player could just prolong the inevitable. On the other hand, it would've been good for the combo player to hit the market as is, because this was first and formost a Blu-Ray player and a lot of consumers would've have preferred Blu-Ray discs to play in this player once they saw the non-functioning HD-DVD portion.

Stef Nighthawk · 01-15-2007, 08:33 AM

I am wondering how a combo player would handle a TotalHD disc.
1. Would it prefer to play the HD-DVD content
2. Would it prefer to play the BD content
3. Would it just lock up

4. Would it be user-selectable (as selected in a preference menu)

Blubaru · 01-17-2007, 04:43 AM

"Dual format HD-DVD, Blu-ray player may not get DVD Forum approval.
by Gerry Block

January 16, 2007 - IGN, and pretty much everyone following the HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray battle of next-gen DVD supremacy, was pretty stoked when we got a look at the LG BH100 "Super Multi Blue Player" at CES last week. (story). LG had long discussed plans for a dual-format player but repeatedly scrapped the plan citing the cost of using two blue-diode lasers to access the differing focal depths of the competing formats. We inquired at CES if the situation had been remedied and learned that LG is indeed using only one blue-diode laser and two lenses (story). The way seemed clear for LG to deliver the player on schedule in Q1 2007 at $1,199, but post CES developments may once again send the LG's combo player to an early grave.

Betanews reports that the DVD Forum (governing body of the HD-DVD standard) has stated that it will not approve the LG player as the hardware currently stands. The issue boils down to the hardware's lack of support for HDi, the technology responsible for driving the interactive content and menu systems on HD-DVD. Without HDi support, the BH100 will only be able to play the HD-DVD movie features without menus, extra content, or the ability to fast forward and rewind.

More troubling for the player's future, without the DVD Forum's approval the machine cannot bear the HD-DVD logo or claim support, and LG may already be in legal trouble as a result of showing the player at CES. LG apparently provided no advance notice to the DVD Forum of its intentions for the BH100 prior to it's unveiling at CES, which apparently has the consortium rather miffed.

We'll follow the developments as they progress. "

Link: http://gear.ign.com/articles/755/755809p1.html

I wonder what the fanboys are saying now.

01-11-2007, 11:03 PM	#9
JToddler Active Member Member since:Oct 2006 Blu-ray reviews:1	CES 2007: LG BH100 - Best in Show? The format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray has prevented any manufacturer from releasing a player that will handle both formats...until the LG BH100. At CES 2007, LG introduced the first player capable of playing both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. We were skeptical that any company could deliver a combination player at the show, but the LG BH100 is the real deal. LG demonstrated how you can seamlessly switch between HD DVD and Blu-ray, changing discs, skipping chapters, and watching true HD (1080p) movies in either format without a hitch. Perhaps the most surprising part is that the LG BH100 is ready to roll: the $1,200 player will be in stores, including Best Buy and Circuit City, in February 2007. The LG BH100 finally allows consumers to purchase high-definition discs according to which movie they like--not which player they own. Read more about the LG BH100 click below: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12760_7...5.html?tag=txt Any comments? Last edited by JToddler; 01-11-2007 at 11:16 PM.

01-14-2007, 09:08 AM	#15
thunderhawk Moderator Member since:Jul 2004 Location:Belgium	The LG combo is on shelves! LG Hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD Player Cannot Be Sold As Is LG may have a difficult time bringing its newly announced BH100 hybrid Blu-ray and HD DVD player to the market, BetaNews has learned, because it will not receive certification from the DVD Forum. Without such certification, LG cannot publicly claim the player supports HD DVD as it is doing now. The problem stems from the lack of support for HDi, the advanced interactivity technology used by HD DVD. LG has only included support for BD-J, Blu-ray's interactive menu system, in the BH100. Without HDi, only the video content from HD DVD discs will play back; menu systems and other interactive features will simply not be usable. Kevin Collins, Microsoft's representative for the HD DVD group who sits on all the steering committees, says LG will not be able to sell the product and claim it supports the format if it leaves out HDi. Collins said LG provided no advance notice before announcing the BH100 player at CES, and noted he was surprised by the move. In fact, Collins explained to BetaNews that the DVD Forum could pursue legal action against LG for claiming the hybrid player supports the HD DVD and using the HD DVD logo, just like it does against pirate hardware manufacturers in Asia that build DVD players without paying licensing fees. LG plans to begin selling the BH100 in the first quarter of this year for $1,199 USD. But objections from Microsoft's Collins and other companies involved in HD DVD could force LG to make changes, or scrap the player altogether. Collins noted that studios would be "very upset" if consumers could not playback HD DVD movies as they were intended, with interactive menus and special features. BetaNews was awaiting a response from LG on the matter by press time. Update: Scott Fulton, BetaNews: If you're wondering, "Isn't Nate referring to the iHD interactive layer?" your glasses are not on backwards. Microsoft, which is its co-creator, has been referring to it publicly as "HDi" since last August, perhaps because putting the little "i" in front of things makes people believe Apple created them; although industry insiders outside of Microsoft still tend to refer to the interactive layer as "iHD." Source: http://ces.betanews.com/entry/LG_Hyb..._Is/1168407626

01-14-2007, 10:18 AM	#16
Blue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2005 Location:Melbourne Australia Blu-ray collection:206	The DVD Forum may turn out to be HD-DVD's biggest problem out of the 220+ members 44 are involved with both HD-DVD and Blu-ray, 16 HD-DVD only, 75 Blu-ray only and the rest neither (based on published lists of all groups). I don't know if some members of the DVD Forum have more voting rights than others, but if the Blu-ray group decide not boycott the votes and work as a group, they can create chaos. Don't tell the fanboy's, they are still including Meridian as making a HD-DVD player. Now to loose LG (even if it is the DVD Forum's fault), to loose one maybe considered an accident, but two, that's just careless. Hopefully Warner will be in trouble next with their dual disc's. Is this history about to repeat itself http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/31/l...ay-only-plans/ for those that don't look closely this from the end of July 2006 Last edited by Blue; 01-14-2007 at 12:01 PM.

01-17-2007, 04:43 AM	#20
Blubaru Expert Member Member since:Oct 2006 Location:Tonight! you!	The LG combo is on shelves! "Dual format HD-DVD, Blu-ray player may not get DVD Forum approval. by Gerry Block January 16, 2007 - IGN, and pretty much everyone following the HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray battle of next-gen DVD supremacy, was pretty stoked when we got a look at the LG BH100 "Super Multi Blue Player" at CES last week. (story). LG had long discussed plans for a dual-format player but repeatedly scrapped the plan citing the cost of using two blue-diode lasers to access the differing focal depths of the competing formats. We inquired at CES if the situation had been remedied and learned that LG is indeed using only one blue-diode laser and two lenses (story). The way seemed clear for LG to deliver the player on schedule in Q1 2007 at $1,199, but post CES developments may once again send the LG's combo player to an early grave. Betanews reports that the DVD Forum (governing body of the HD-DVD standard) has stated that it will not approve the LG player as the hardware currently stands. The issue boils down to the hardware's lack of support for HDi, the technology responsible for driving the interactive content and menu systems on HD-DVD. Without HDi support, the BH100 will only be able to play the HD-DVD movie features without menus, extra content, or the ability to fast forward and rewind. More troubling for the player's future, without the DVD Forum's approval the machine cannot bear the HD-DVD logo or claim support, and LG may already be in legal trouble as a result of showing the player at CES. LG apparently provided no advance notice to the DVD Forum of its intentions for the BH100 prior to it's unveiling at CES, which apparently has the consortium rather miffed. We'll follow the developments as they progress. " Link: http://gear.ign.com/articles/755/755809p1.html I wonder what the fanboys are saying now. Last edited by Blubaru; 01-17-2007 at 04:51 AM.

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01-10-2007, 06:47 AM	#2
Knight-Errant Power Member Member since:Aug 2005 Location:Sheffield, UK	haha good old LG

01-10-2007, 10:16 AM	#3
Blackraven Expert Member Member since:Jan 2005 Location:Makati, Philippines	Of course the HD-DVD zealots should know that if LG DOES NOT release a firmware update to add more interactivity features, then this won't even suffice as a complete HD-DVD player.

01-10-2007, 10:23 AM	#4
blitz6speed Blu-ray Guru Member since:Oct 2006 Location:Anaheim Hills, CA Trading Score:8	Microsoft announced that they will not allow the player to be released due to it not being able to play HDi. I was so disapointed with the news when i first heard about it being a real dual format player. Amir was flying high, so happy. Then the news broke that the hd-dvd portion is crippled and now LG is public enemy #1 to the microsoft guys. CES, you have provided endless hours of entertainment to me! I LOVE IT! I am sure that the press is going to love that microsoft is in charge of denying a dual format player into the market. As if people dont hate microsoft enough as it is lol.

01-10-2007, 01:19 PM	#5
JTK Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2006 Location:www.blurayoasis.com	I hope it's a killer blow but I have a concern, in general, that dual format anything simply and needlessly prolongs and delays the inevitable.

01-10-2007, 03:07 PM	#6
ProvenFlipper Special Member Member since:Jun 2006 Home Theater Gallery:4 4K collection:335 Blu-ray collection:901 Trading Score:1	I'm thinking LG knew this would happen, so they made a prototype, provided pricing and availability dates to retailers (BB has an in date of the 3rd week of Feb.) to make it look legit. All this does it make people hold off on buying HD-DVD players. LG will probably strip the HD-DVD playback out of the player and ship it as the BD player they planned on releasing. Hopefully they can get a player out at less than the $800 that the Sammy costs, if all this happens.

01-10-2007, 04:36 PM	#8
Zvi Blu-ray Guru Member since:Jul 2006 Blu-ray collection:121	With the triple layer HD DVDs in development and pending approval for Q3 2007, which will apparently obsolete all current HD DVD players how or why would anyone buy HD DVD player now I don't understand. So much for HD DVD being cheaper HD solution...

01-11-2007, 11:08 PM	#10
Maximus Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Nov 2006	Hmm, I think this player is a real Trojan Horse for BD, anyone who buys it will get a HD DVD when both are available as they are generally cheaper, but when the BD is only available they will notice the difference in the quality of the menus, extras, etc. I think it could work out well for the BDA.

01-12-2007, 02:51 AM	#11
JToddler Active Member Member since:Oct 2006 Blu-ray reviews:1	As for me I don't think that this so called "Best in Show" CES 2007 product will be part of my purchases anytime soon. I don't like the idea and I won't be buying HD-DVD's either so what's the point?

01-12-2007, 03:49 AM	#12
goodstuff Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Oct 2006 4K collection:509 Blu-ray collection:6535 Blu-ray reviews: 85 Trading Score:6	Plus it won't work with the iHD HD-DVD's anyway.

01-12-2007, 04:03 PM	#13
phloyd Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2003 Location:California Trading Score:5	They were certainly making a lot of noise about it. Also, due to the lack of HDi, this is definitely a BD player with HD DVD 'for free' From what I hear, HDi is the worst aspect of HD DVD. It is expensive in hardware and software space. It adds little of real value and appears to be the reason that 'resume after stop' and 'frame forward' do not work. Congratulations Microsoft on a job poorly done. (hey with no HDi, perhaps the LG player will resume on HD DVD discs!)

01-14-2007, 11:06 AM	#17
Urian Member Member since:Aug 2006	Everyday is more clear than HD-DVD is the Microsoft standard instead of industry standard, all these movements against LG are nothing more than attack of ego. If I am not wrong HD-DVD is nothing more than a normal DVD player with a blue-violet 400nm laser for 15 and 30GB disks but it was raped technologically by BluRay, now BluRay is the industry standard and I cannot see the logic in HD-DVD support outside the fact that Microsoft is making FUD because in Toshiba players they have installed Windows CE+iHD.

01-14-2007, 02:47 PM	#18
hyperdine Senior Member Member since:Sep 2006	I'm torn on this news. On one hand I think it's good news, because a combo player could just prolong the inevitable. On the other hand, it would've been good for the combo player to hit the market as is, because this was first and formost a Blu-Ray player and a lot of consumers would've have preferred Blu-Ray discs to play in this player once they saw the non-functioning HD-DVD portion.

01-15-2007, 08:33 AM	#19
Stef Nighthawk Member Member since:Mar 2006	I am wondering how a combo player would handle a TotalHD disc. 1. Would it prefer to play the HD-DVD content 2. Would it prefer to play the BD content 3. Would it just lock up 4. Would it be user-selectable (as selected in a preference menu)

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