New Blu-ray DVD players—one for under $300

While the latest Blu-ray players from several major brands aren't doing anything to lower the price barrier for Blu-ray ownership, Magnavox has introduced the first sub-$300 model, which is selling at Wal-Mart.

However, many models, including the Magnavox, are Profile 1.1 players that offer BonusView (picture-in-picture) capability, but not the Internet-access capability (called BDLive) of Profile 2.0 players. Even at lower prices, we still believe that holding off a bit longer—when fully featured players are both more plentiful and cheaper—makes the most sense for the majority of us. (Find other helpful buying advice in our "How to choose a high-def DVD player.")

But these all-inclusive players are now on the way. For example, Panasonic's newest standalone player is a Profile 2.0 model, and Samsung's new standalone model, a Profile 1.1 player, can be upgraded later this year to meet the Profile 2.0 specifications.

The down side, however, is that these players are still relatively expensive: $400 for the Samsung model, and $700 for the Panasonic. With the exception of the new Maganavox, the least expensive new Blu-ray players, even those from secondary brands, are $350. It's possible, though, that the introduction of the Magnavox model will put pressure on those second-tier brands manufacturers to get their player prices below $300.

Magnavox: Under $300 at Wal-Mart

The new Magnavox model, made by increasingly busy contract manufacturer Funai, has been sighted at Wal-Mart at a retail price of $298. The player, model NB500MG9, is a BonusView model that features 1080p/24 output (which sends film-base video at its native 24 frames-per-second rate to a TV or projector that can accept it; therefore, no conversion—3:2 pulldown—is needed to match the video to a TV’s 60 fps display). The Funai website has the owner's manual for the NB500MG9 (You'll need Adobe Acrobat, however.) if you'd like to see all of its features.

Low-cost Blu-ray players: Still not so low

With prices for entry-level Blu-ray players still hovering near the $350 mark, we've been anticipating the arrival of the first Blu-ray players from second-tier brands, presumably at lower prices than the major brands.

Based on first models slated to arrive, however, that's not going to happen, at least immediately. For example, Funai, a low-cost Japanese manufacturer that controls the Emerson, Sylvania and Symphonic brands in the U.S., is readying the debut of a Sylvania-brand Blu-ray player, which should arrive in a few weeks. Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders for the player, and it's priced at $350—not the bargain we imagined. And Best Buy will begin selling an Insignia-brand Blu-ray player—presumably manufactured by Funai, which makes standard-def DVD players for the retailer—on June 9th, at the same $350 price.

These prices are higher than we anticipated, particularly since Funai said at CES in January that a Sylvania model would be available this spring for less than $300. (This link takes you directly to an Adobe Acrobat version of the company's official press release.)

So we still think you should wait just a bit longer before buying a Blu-ray player. But getting a lower price is only one of the reasons. The other is that the Blu-ray technology is still evolving. For example, the Sylvania player is a so-called "Profile 1.1 model," with Bonus View (picture-in-picture) capability, but not Internet connectivity (BD-Live), a feature that will be included in upcoming Profile 2.0 players. We imagine that the Insignia model will also be a Profile 1.1 model. So far, the Sony PlayStation 3 game console is the only Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player available (and then via a firmware upgrade), although Panasonic is readying the release of the first Profile 2.0 stand-alone player, the DMP-BD50. (Click on the image above for a closer look.) That player doesn't yet have a price, and its launch is still four to six weeks away.

We fully expect Blu-ray prices to drop later this year, as the market becomes more competitive. By waiting just a few more months, you'll likely get not just a better price, but also a player containing all the features Blu-ray is capable of delivering.

—James K. Willcox

HD DVD buyers get some relief

If you're one of the unfortunate souls who succumbed to the lure of a low-priced HD DVD player instead of a more expensive Blu-ray model, take heart: Several major consumer electronics retailers are offering refunds and credits that could help mitigate your pain over the demise of the HD DVD format.

Now that Circuit City's offer—full store credit for the return of a player—has expired, the best remaining deal we've seen is from Wal-Mart, which similarly offers to refund the full sales price of an HD DVD player to customers who purchased a player on or after November 1st, 2007. You need to have the sales receipt and return the player to the store, but you don't need the original packaging. But act soon, as the offer expires April 30th. A company spokesperson told me Wal-Mart is considering some other promotional high-def offers, but they'll probably be later this spring due to the current short supply of Blu-ray players on the market.

At both Amazon and Best Buy, you can get a $50 store credit, and don't even have to return the HD DVD player (you're essentially getting $50 for the trauma of backing the wrong format). At Amazon, those who purchased an HD DVD player directly from the online retailer (and not one of its third-party affiliates) prior to February 23, 2008 are receiving emails with a promotional code for a $50 credit good toward future Amazon purchases. The code is valid through April 9, 2009.

Best Buy's deal—a $50 store gift card— applies to those who purchased an HD DVD player (or an HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360) before Feb. 23, 2008. The retailer said it's proactively identifying those customers through its Rewards Program, extended service plan documentation and BestBuy.com purchases, and will mail gift cards automatically by May 1st. Others can call Best Buy (1-888-BestBuy), as long as you have a Best Buy receipt or credit-card information to serve as proof of purchase. The offer appears to be good through the end of the year.

If you're a two-time high-def loser—you not only bought an HD DVD player, but got it from a retailer who isn't participating in a return program—Best Buy still feels your pain. The company is accepting HD-DVD player trade-ins, regardless of where it was purchased, via Best Buy's online trade-in center. Though the offer isn't as generous as a full refund, at least it's something you could use toward the purchase of a Blu-ray player. To find out what you'd get for your HD DVD player, visit the Best Buy online trade-in site at https://www.bestbuytradein.com/bb/. And Best Buy customers can essentially double-dip, accepting the $50 gift card, and then trading the player in for additional store credit.

—James K. Willcox

Is your Blu-ray player obsolete?

Even though the Blu-ray format has emerged as the de facto standard for high-definition DVD, you might want to hold off on buying a player. We think prices could drop later in the year, but that's not the only reason to wait. Technologically, the Blu-ray format is still maturing.

As a result, many early adopters are finding, to their dismay, that the players they purchased—likely at premium prices—lack features that will be included in newer, lower-priced models.

One thing that HD DVD got right was that it mandated a minimum set of features, including interactivity and online access, which had to be included in every player sold. Blu-ray, by contrast, has continually updated the features on its players. Currently, Blu-ray is on its third player "profile," which describes the specific features included in the player.

The first players—so-called Profile 1.0 models—will play Blu-ray movies (plus DVDs and, generally, CDs), period. An updated profile—dubbed Profile 1.1—added picture-in-picture capability that lets you view a Blu-ray movie while calling up additional content, such as a director's commentary, in a smaller window on the screen.

The latest profile—Profile 2.0, or BD Live—adds an Ethernet port for Internet access capability, enabling you to get the latest movie trailers or interactive games from the web. Unfortunately, earlier players can't be upgraded to the latest profile. The one exception we know of is the latest version of Sony's PlayStation 3 game console, which can be updated via a firmware upgrade to conform to the BD Live specifications. The first standalone Profile 2.0 players are expected to arrive shortly.

In our opinion, that's a compelling reason to continue waiting. While many of us may be happy simply playing movies, why settle for less than a fully featured model, especially since it will likely carry a cheaper price? But it's up to you to make sure that you're getting a player that has all the Blu-ray functionality currently being offered—something the Blu-ray format has unnecessarily complicated.

—James K. Willcox

High-Def DVDs: Is it time to get Blu-ray?

Ever since the high-def DVD format war began, we've advised would-be buyers to wait until a clear winner emerged. Now that Toshiba has pulled the plug on HD DVD, those of us who've been patiently waiting on the sidelines wonder whether it's now time to buy a Blu-ray player. Unfortunately, we still think the answer is no.

The biggest reason is cost. The cheapest Blu-ray players now sell for about $300, and most go for $350 to $500. By contrast, prices for HD DVD players sometimes slipped below $100. That means the cost for entering the high-def DVD world just tripled for consumers. Conventional wisdom suggests that with HD DVD out of the picture, Blu-ray manufacturers have less incentive to cut prices. That may not be true. Here's why we believe that Blu-ray prices could drop, maybe considerably, later this year.

For one thing, the day Toshiba pulled the plug on HD DVD, all the companies that had banded together to promote the Blu-ray format resumed their usual roles as fierce competitors vying for market share in a burgeoning business. Their message is no longer "Buy Blu-ray," but "Buy Panasonic," "Buy Samsung" and "Buy Sony." That type of competition fuels price cuts.

In addition, we expect to see the first wave of made-in-Taiwan models from new, lower-priced brands hit retail shelves in the U.S. this fall. To compete with established brands, these secondary and tertiary labels will have to price their models lower. That in turn could exert pricing pressure on major-brand models, particularly those targeting mass-market and discount retail channels.

Toshiba pulls plug on HD DVD

Following in the wake of rumors this past weekend that Toshiba was ready to throw in the towel in its almost single-handed campaign to promote HD DVD as the high-definition successor to the DVD, the company this morning confirmed it is pulling the plug on its HD DVD business.

As a result, Blu-ray will become the de facto high-definition DVD format, a move that will now end the high-def stalemate that many believe has delayed mainstream consumer acceptance of a DVD successor.

In a statement released early this morning, Toshiba says it expects to be completely out of the standalone HD DVD player business by the end of March 2008, and will stop volume production of PC drives and recorders while it assesses the market for computer-based products, such as notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives.

It's not yet clear what options early adopters of the HD DVD format will have. As of this morning, there were no announcements from the two major studios exclusively supporting the HD DVD format, Paramount and Universal, about their plans, but it's unlikely they will continue supporting a dying format for much longer. It's possible that one or more of the Blu-ray player manufacturers could offer HD DVD player owners an exchange program or some other kind of promotional offer to bring them into the Blu-ray camp.

In the statement, Toshiba said that after undertaking a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD, it "decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders." The move, the company says, is the result of "recent major changes in the market," most likely the decisions by Warner Bros., to stop issuing movies in the HD DVD format and Wal-Mart to stop carrying HD DVD products.

Toshiba says it will continue to provide "full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products." The company also reaffirmed its commitment to standard-definition DVD, and said it would continue to "maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation...  as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP."

—James K. Willcox

Toshiba Cuts Prices on All its HD DVD Players

Marketing ploy, or last-ditch effort to stem the tide toward Blu-ray?

Toshiba has cut prices on its three HD DVD players to $150 for its entry-level model to $300 for the top-of-the-line unit. The company says it reduced everyday prices because of success with promotional pricing over the holidays.

However, the timing of the cuts—just two weeks after Warner Bros. announced that it would support Blu-ray exclusively—could just as easily be taken as a last-ditch effort to keep HD DVD alive. Price cuts could boost the installed base of HD DVD players enough to keep the two studios still exclusively backing the format, Paramount/DreamWorks and Universal, in its camp.

The new HD DVD pricing is already in effect. The entry-level 1080i model, the HD-A3 (click on image above for a closer look.), is now $150, and the step-up 1080p model, the HD-A30, is now $200. The flagship HD-A35 player is now priced at $300. Toshiba is still running its free software promotion, which gives HD DVD buyers a choice of five free HD DVD titles from a list of 15 movies. To help bolster education and satisfaction with HD DVD players, Toshiba recently launched an "HD DVD Concierge" program, which provides a toll-free number where customers can receive answers to general questions or help using a player.

Given the uncertain future of the HD DVD format, it's hard to recommend purchasing an HD DVD player, even at the lower price. However, if you need to replace a standard-def DVD (and weren't really considering a high-def model), an HD DVD player could be an option if you can find one at close to the same price. These players will play—and upconvert—standard DVDs, and a decent library of high-def movies in this format is still available. And if HD DVD loses the format war, there may be some great deals on HD DVD movies as retailers clean out their inventories.

—James K. Willcox

CES 2008: A third high-def DVD format emerges

Just as the DVD format war seems to be ending, with Blu-ray claiming victory over HD DVD, here comes a new format using red lasers—the technology in audio CD players—instead of the blue lasers used by the other high-def DVD formats.

A company called New Media Enterprises (NME) has started shipping its red-laser high-def players in the U.S. The HD VMD players are currently available only from the NMEStore.com and PCRush.com, at a retail price of $199. The players will ship with the films Mother Ghost and Cutting Room. In addition to playing high-def discs, which they can output at 1080p, the VMD players can upconvert standard DVD content. The red-laser discs can hold up to 30GB of content on a single side, more than either Blu-ray or HD DVD discs.

[Jan. 11, 2007 UPDATE: Both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs hold substantially more digital data than red-laser based discs. We regret the error. —Ed.]

It's not clear what additional movies will be available or whether any of the major studios will back the format. Given the confusion resulting from the Blu-ray/HD DVD competition, it's hard to imagine widespread support for yet another format. But NME said it recently signed a deal with SFM Entertainment for rare and classic film and TV titles to be available in the HD VMD format.

Meanwhile, the Blu-ray Disc Association trumpeted its success in its first public statement since Warner announced it would no longer support HD DVD. Last year, Blu-ray players represented 85 percent of sales, compared to 15 percent for HD DVD models. Blu-ray's sales were largely propelled by the inclusion of Sony's PlayStation 3 game console, which accounted for 3 million of the 3.5 million units sold. Blu-ray has a three-to-one edge over HD DVD in the U.S., 10 to one in Europe, and 100 to 1 in Japan.

Danny Kaye, Executive Vice President, Research and Technology for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment said Blu-ray unit sales will rise to 6 million—4 million PS3 units and 2 million dedicated players—by the end of 2008. Based on historical sales of VCRs and DVD players, Kaye said, 2010-2011 will be the year when high-def player sales begin to overtake sales of standard DVD players.

Movie sales are similarly weighted toward Blu-ray discs. The association reported that its movie titles outsold HD DVD discs in 2007 by a margin of nearly two to one in the U.S. and by nearly three to one in Europe. Citing sales figures from Home Media Research, an independent marketing firm, the Blu-ray group said that Blu-ray titles outsold HD DVD titles every single week of the year.

—James K. Willcox

CES 2008: Life in the third dimension

Though it's a challenge to identify significant trends in the hardware at this year's CES, there's one that has been creeping up on us for a few years and could break through as the "next big thing"—if the industry gets it right. It's 3-D TV.

Digital TVs have gotten big, bright and sharp enough, by anyone's measure. But, though sales have been anything but flat, the picture on the screen still is. Movie and game producers would like to change that, and bring the enveloping visual experience you might have seen in a 3-D IMAX film into your living room.

Presented well, as in a few of the CES demonstrations we've watched, 3-D can be strikingly effective in drawing you closer to the action, adding realism and depth to scenes, especially ones portraying movement towards or away from the viewer. The degree of 3-D's enhancement to video is much like the move from monophonic sound to stereo was in the 1950's, at least in this viewer's experience.

The "magic" needed for 3-D is simply to have a slightly different view of the content presented to your left and right eyes, just as you see in real life. The technology is actually waiting, in some new TVs from big makers like Samsung and Mitsubishi, labeled "3D-Ready." These DLP or plasma TVs can show successive images fast enough to allow alternating right-eye and left-eye views while keeping the motion smooth. (LCD TVs are currently unable to switch images quickly enough for this kind of 3-D.)

Two more devices need to be added on to a 3D-Ready TV to complete the picture. First, you need special glasses that can rapidly switch each lens from clear to opaque in sync with the TV images. Second, you need a special DVD player—or game console, or PC adapter—that can feed the 3-D content to the TV. We expect to see the home-theater and gaming industries trickle out add-on systems—perhaps later this year—that will enable 3-D viewing.

Of course, you'll need to have the content itself. Some movies already "in the can," both animated ones like Polar Express and live-action ones like Beowulf, were produced in 3-D versions. These movies will probably be released on 3-D-enabled Blu-Ray discs.

And, most games produced today, for either computers or game consoles, are easily adapted for 3-D presentation. In fact, there are already several technologies being applied to computer displays that can present game graphics in 3-D. (Our upcoming tests of displays will include one of these.) Each of these technologies has its limitations, and it remains to be "seen" which ones prove to be practical and effective enough to catch on.

—Dean Gallea, Senior Program Leader

Is Paramount about to jump from HD DVD?

Here at CES, the show is buzzing with the news—based on an article in yesterday's Financial Times—that Paramount and DreamWorks Animation are about to drop their support of HD DVD and instead back Blu-ray.

However, in a later report in Bloomberg news, the company denied it's poised to make the move, which would likely end the stalemate between the two high-def formats and make Blu-ray the winner.

According to the Financial Times' piece, there is a clause in Paramount's deal with the HD DVD group that would allow it to jump ship should Warner Bros. decide to back Blu-ray exclusively. Of course, that's exactly what happened days before the show.

It's not yet clear whether the news is simply a rumor or a harbinger of things to come. We'll be tracking this story as it develops.

—James K. Willcox

Warner Bros. to back Blu-ray exclusively

In a move many industry watchers view as the beginning of the end of the high-def DVD format war, Warner Bros.—until now the Switzerland of the battle, backing both formats—has decided that going forward, it will only issue Blu-ray high-def titles.

In a statement released explaining its decision, the company said that by backing Blu-ray, it hopes to end the format war and help propel the next-generation DVD market into a viable buisness. So far, confusion over formats has led to many would-be high-def DVD purchasers to sit on the sidelines. Many industry insiders also believed the stalemate was also affecting sales of standard-def titles, since consumers knew that they'd soon be replacing standard-definition movies with high-def ones.

With Warner's move, the Blu-ray camp now has exclusive support from Warner, Disney, 20th Century Fox, New Line, HBO and Lionsgate; Universal and Paramount/DreamWorks are the only major studios still backing the HD DVD format. Warner's exclusivity to Blu-ray will actually start later this spring, as there are still HD DVD products in the production pipleine.

Given the timing of the move—just two days before the official start of the Consumer Electronics Show—the HD DVD Promotions Group decided to cancel its CES press conference, most likely to regroup and formulate an official opinion about the announcement. Stay tuned for more CES-related announcements over the next four or five days as Consumer Reports editors work the show.

—James K. Willcox

Portable DVD players as holiday gifts?

Bigger screens—without busting the budget

If you're planning to buy a portable DVD player for someone on your gift list, there's good news and bad news.

The good news: These laptop look-alikes now start at less than $100 for players with large 7- or 8-inch screens. That's nearly half the price of similar models found on store shelves last holiday season. Even more good news: Shopping for these inexpensive players doesn't mean braving the crowds at a big-box warehouse club or your mega-electronics store. Odds are you'll find one of these wide-screen portables in your local supermarket or drugstore, alongside the batteries and disposable cameras.

Most of the models we've recently tested perform well enough for certain mobile situations—entertainment during long flights on no-frills airlines or to keep kids occupied during the long drive home for the holidays.

But the bad news: Don’t expect the picture quality from any of these new portable DVD models to look nearly as good as from a regular DVD player and TV screen. We hope to have the complete test results and Ratings for six portable big-screen DVD players on ConsumerReport.org soon.

[UPDATE: Dec. 13, 2007: We've posted our latest report and buying advice for portable DVD players on ConsumerReports.org. Subscribers have access to our latest Ratings of portable DVDs and our list of recommended portable players. —Ed.]

But if you are shopping for one now to give as a holiday gift, we'd recommend keeping an eye out for the LG DP781 (about $160). We found its 8-inch LCD screen was capable of displaying excellent video quality.

Another shopping tip: Pick up a set of decent headphones. We've found the audio performance of most players' built-in speakers to be mediocre, at best.

ConsumerReports.org has other tips and buying advice on portable DVD players if you need more help. And check back on our Web site for the latest Ratings of portable DVD players (available to subscribers).

Wal-Mart Black Friday Ads Lack Last Year’s Fireworks

After weeks of speculation, Wal-Mart unveiled its Black Friday ad early this morning, and while it isn’t short on great buys—including, for example, a sub-$800 42-inch 1080p LCD and a sub-$1,400 50-inch 720p plasma—it seemed to lack the punch of last year’s promotion, which triggered severe price drops on a highly rated Panasonic 42-inch plasma HDTV.

This year, TV promotions are centered largely on models from Polaroid, a secondary brand whose models haven’t done particularly well in CR’s HDTV Ratings. For example, as part of a Friday-only, 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. doorbuster sale, Wal-Mart is offering a 42-inch 1080p Polaroid LCD TV for $798, while a 32-inch 720p Polaroid LCD TV is priced at $448. Other TV deals good only during that time include a $448 26-inch Polaroid LCD TV/DVD combo, and a $198 Emerson LCD TV.

For those looking a set from a major brand, Wal-Mart has a 50-inch Philips 720p plasma for $1,397, a $1,196 46-inch 720p LCD model from RCA, a 37-inch Sanyo LCD TV for $847, and a 32-inch Samsung LCD set for $796. While we don’t know the specific models, Samsung has consistently been one of the top-rated LCD brands, and Philips’ plasma models have typically been very good. LCD models from RCA and Sanyo haven’t done quite as well, although both have been solid performers that are often good values.

Other electronics sale items include:

• a $198 Panasonic DVD camcorder
• a $145 Magnavox DVD recorder
• a $30 Magnavox upconverting DVD player
• a $50 8-inch portable DVD player from an unspecified brand
• a $129 Garmin StreetPilot c330 portable GPS
• a $199 8.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S51 digital camera
• a $149 Polaroid 8-megapixel camera and 6-inch digital photo frame bundle
• a $50 8-inch digital photo frame from Venturer
• a $119 HP digital camera (5megapixel) and printer bundle
• a $398 Compaq Presario desktop PC with 1GB of memory and a 17-inch monitor
• and a choice of either a 15.4-inch AMD Turion-powered notebook PC or an Athlon-powered desktop PC with a 19-inch widescreen monitor—both from Dell—for $598.

In addition to these advertised specials, Wal-Mart says it will have “secret” in-store specials for both Friday and Saturday, which will be revealed on the walmart.com website on Thanksgiving day. The chain’s Black Friday specials are good only while supplies last, and a disclaimer mentions that brands could vary by store.

—James K. Willcox

Black Friday HDTV Deals from CompUSA, Staples

Black Friday ads leaked for computer chains CompUSA and Staples show that both stores will have a select number of TV deals available during special limited-hour in-store sales events.

CompUSA is running a two-day pre-Thanksgiving sale this Friday and Saturday (Nov. 16 and 17), during which you can get a 50-inch Zenith plasma HDTV (Z50PX2D) for $1,000 and a 19-inch Envision LCD monitor for $140.

The store will open on Thanksgiving for just three hours, from 9:00 p.m. until midnight, then reopen at 5 a.m. on Friday morning. Specials include the 37-inch Olevia 537H LCD TV for $600; this model did very well in our tests. Other electronics deals include a $500 Athlon-based HP notebook PC with 2GB of RAM, a 22-inch Envision widescreen LCD PC monitor for $150, a $45 7-inch digital photo frame, a $60 7-inch portable DVD player, and a $148 Magellan Maestro 3100 GPS.

On Black Friday, TV deals from CompUSA include a 47-inch 1080p LCD TV from LG Electronics for $1,500 after a $500 instant savings. While we haven’t tested this model, the LG 47LC7DF, another 47-inch LG 1080p TV did very well. A 26-inch LG LCD TV will cost $600 after $150 instant savings, and Sharp’s 46-inch 1080p LC-46D64U LCD set will cost $1,700 after $800 instant savings. Samsung TV deals include the 50-inch HP-T5044 plasma for $1,300—$100 less than at Best Buy's or Circuit City's Black Friday sales. We haven’t tested this particular model, but Samsung plasma TVs have consistently done very well in our tests. Samsung’s 46-inch LN-T4661F, CR’s top-rated 1080p LCD TV, will be $2,000.

You’ll have to be an early bird to get a deal at Staples’ sale, which runs from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on Friday. If supplies last, you could walk away with an unspecified 42-inch LCD TV for $800, while a 32-inch model is $450. Both sets appear to be Envision models.

Other Staples deals include a $350 Intel-powered Compaq notebook computer with 1GB of RAM and a 17-inch Acer LCD monitor for $90.

—James K. Willcox

Digital photo frames, portable GPS join TVs as Black Friday doorbusters

TV deals on Black Friday generally garner the most attention, but the latest Black Friday ads on sites such as www.gottadeal.com and www.theblackfriday.com show that digital photo frames and handheld GPS devices are also being singled out for star treatment.

The best deals we’ve seen—so-called “doorbuster specials”—generally occur in the early-morning hours (typically starting at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.) and last for several hours. The sale items are generally offered in limited quantities, which could be as few as 10 per store. Make sure you read the fine print in the ads to see if there’s a chance you can actually get one of these deals, especially if you’re not one of the apparently large number of people willing to camp out overnight to ensure a good place in line.

That said, here are some of the latest Black Friday leaks we’ve seen. It’s quite possible that these and other stores will add more late-breaking deals and web-only specials as we get closer to the Black Friday period.

Target
Target is closed on Thanksgiving, but it’s holding a two-day sale starting bright and early Friday morning and continuing on Saturday. Among the deals being offered: a 37-inch Olevia LCD TV (237T) for $549, a 22-inch Westinghouse flat-panel LCD computer monitor (LCM22W3) for $167, and a 19-inch TruTech widescreen LCD TV (PLV31199S1) with a built-in DVD player and PC inputs for $199.

Other deals include an Audiovox kitchen LCD TV with integrated DVD player for $199, an Audiovox portable DVD player with a 10-inch flip-down screen for $84, Magellan’s Maestro 3100 auto GPS system for $149, and a Magnavox 5-disc DVD home theater system with USB for $79. Also on sale is a TruTech 7-inch digital photo frame for $49, a Polaroid video camcorder for $69, and Kodak’s 8-megapixel MD853 digital camera for $89.

The store opens at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, and 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Kmart
Kmart’s Black Friday deals actually kick off on Thanksgiving Day. The store will be offering a 32-inch Olevia LCD TV (no model number specified) for $420, a 20-inch Sylvania LCD TV for $135, and a 20-inch Sylvania combination LCD TV/DVD/VCR for $250. Kmart is also advertising a 27-inch RCA TV model for $230, which appears to be a standard-def CRT model. Another blast from the past is a JVC VHS-C camcorder for $120.

Other items of note: Magellan’s Maestro 3100 GPS for $130 ($19 less than at Target), a $40 Nextar digital photo frame, an 8-megapixel Polaroid digital camera (A801) for $80, and Microsoft’s Zune MP3 players for $150 (4GB model and $200 (8GB model). The Zune players come with a $20 Kmart gift card.

The store’s hours on Thanksgiving are 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Some specials are available only on Thursday.

H.H. Gregg
Befitting its status as a consumer electronics dealer, H.H. Gregg’s Black Friday circular is chock-full of CE specials. We counted 14 TV deals, including some on major brands such as Hitachi, JVC, Mitsubishi, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. Most ads don’t specify model numbers. Among the Friday-only specials: a Hitachi 50-inch plasma for $1,000 and a $600 37-inch 720p LCD set from an unspecified brand. There will be a total of 500 company-wide of each sale item, and prices are good only while supplies last (no rain checks).

The chain is closed on Thanksgiving but kicks off Friday morning with a 5:00 a.m. opening. Advertised doorbuster specials include a 19-inch LCD TV for $189, a $45 7-inch digital photo frame, a Jensen portable GPS for $100, a $10 progressive-scan DVD player from GPX, and a $150 DVD camcorder from Samsung. There will be limited quantities of each per store.

Less dramatic savings will be offered on major-brand TVs. For example, a 37-inch Sony Bravia will be priced at $800, while different 46-inch Sony Bravia 1080p LCDs will carry price tags of $1,040 and $1,600. Toshiba is well represented in the circular, with a 52-inch 1080p Regza LCD priced at $2,200, a 42-inch 1080p Regza for $1,250, and a pair of 32-inch Regza models, with different features, for $700 and $800. A 50-inch 720p Toshiba DLP rear-projection HDTV will sell for $900.

Other notable TV deals include:
• 42-inch JVC 720p LCD for $900
• 47-inch 1080p JVC for $1,500
• 52-inch 1080p Mitsubishi LCD TV for $2,400
• 65-inch 1080p Mitsubishi rear-projection DLP for $1,700
• 73-inch 1080p Mitsubishi rear-projection DLP for $2,500
• 50-inch 720p Panasonic plasma for $1,400
• 50-inch 1080p Samsung plasma for $2,400
• 58-inch 1080p Samsung plasma for $3,360
• and a 52-inch Sharp Aquos with 120Hz technology for $2,800.

Several other retailers have announced Black Friday specials. Costco, for example, will have a 26-inch Magnavox LCD/DVD HDTV combo for $500 and a 42-inch Magnavox 1080p LCD HDTV for $1,000. The store is also lopping $300 off the price of Sharp’s 46-inch 1080p Aquos LCD HDTV. OfficeMax will have a dual-core Acer Aspire PC—with 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and a 20-inch widescreen LCD monitor—for $600. Also on tap are an $80 8.5-inch digital photo frame from Mustek, an $80 6.2-megapixel Kodak digital camera (C613), a $100 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-Shot digital camera with a free printer, and a $100 Mio DigiWalker C220 GPS. The chain will have a 24-inch Soyo widescreen LCD monitor for $250. Even auto supply chain Pep Boys is getting into the act, with a $40 7-inch digital photo frame, Mio’s DigiWalker portable GPS for $80, and the TomTom One GPS for $140.

We’ll keep you updated on more Black Friday deals as they’re announced.

—James K. Willcox

Best Buy matches Wal-Mart HD DVD player price

Though we're still a few weeks shy of the official Black Friday shopping period, things are already getting brutal—at least in terms of pricing for Toshiba's entry-level HD DVD player.

As we reported yesterday, Wal-Mart has special pricing today on several consumer electronics items, including Toshiba's HD-A2 HD DVD player, which it's selling for $99. Refusing to be outdone,  Best Buy today countered by offering the same model for $99. The chain quickly sold out of the model via online sales at BestBuy.com, but there's a chance it could still be available in select stores.

At that price, even those who are in the market for a standard-def player might want to consider one, since it can play—and upconvert—standard DVDs. Even better is that Toshiba continues to offer five free HD DVDs, via mail-in redemption, to those who buy a player.

Makes us wonder what's going to happen when Black Friday really kicks off.—James K. Willcox

Wal-Mart: Why wait for Black Friday?

While other retailers are gearing up for the three-day shopping extravaganza affectionately known as Black Friday, tomorrow (Friday) Wal-Mart kicks off its own holiday shopping season three weeks early with special deals on what it says are five of the most sought-after items.

Among the deals: a $99 Toshiba HD DVD player, a $998 50-inch Sanyo plasma HDTV, and a $348 Acer notebook computer (with 1GB of RAM). The official Wal-Mart “secret” deal website can be accessed by clicking this link.

Toshiba’s HD DVD players could be big sellers this holiday, as many retailers are already offering significant cuts on its entry-level HD-A2 model. Both Amazon.com and Circuit City last week cut the price of the player, which had been $299, to under $200. Wal-Mart’s $99 price—it's also selling select HD DVD tiles for $15 each—is the lowest we’ve seen. Wal-Mart’s in-store sale kicks off at 8:00 a.m. and lasts as long as supplies last. Prices in three states—Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Utah—could vary due to each state’s regulations. We'll keep tracking Black Friday specials as they're revealed.

—James K. Willcox

Halloween “Black Friday” Ad Leaks Portend Some Scary Holiday Electronics Deals

Although it’s not quite November, it already appears that this year’s Black Friday shopping holiday will once again hold some great deals for those willing to brave early-morning hours and the sharpened elbows of fellow bargain shoppers. Those that do should be rewarded with special holiday prices on HDTVs, high-def DVD players, and portable electronics including MP3 players and digital cameras.

A number of Black Friday websites, such as gottadeal.com, dealtaker.com and bfads.net, have already started posting Black Friday retail ads. But one circular that will be hard to find early this year will be Wal-Mart’s. That’s because the company--which last year set the Black Friday pace with a deep price cut on a popular 42-inch Panasonic plasma--has preemptively threatened legal action against any site that post its ads before November 19th. We’ll be keeping track of how well that threat works.

So far, in fact, Black Friday ad postings have been spotty. One exception is Sears, whose Black Friday specials are now widely available on Black Friday websites. Many of the deals are “opening specials” that are available only from 5:00 a.m. until noon, and which can require both instant and mail-in savings. Among the Sears highlights we found:

• a 42-inch LG plasma (42PC5D) for $900
• a Samsung 50-inch plasma (HPT5044) for $1,400, and a 46-inch 1080p LCD (LN-T4665F) for $2,000
• a 46-inch Sharp Aquos LCD (LC-46D43U)for $1,000
• a Sony W-series 40-inch 1080p LCD (KDL-40W3000) for $2,000, and a 46-inch Bravia LCD for $1,500(unspecified model number)
• a 42-inch Sylvania 1080p LCD (LC420SSR) for $900
• a 42-inch Toshiba 1080p LCD (42HL167) for $1,250
• and a V32-inch Vizo LCD (VXLHDTV32) for $599

Also noteworthy is Toshiba’s HD-A3 HD DVD player fort $170. Other Black Friday specials at Sears include a Philips upconverting DVD player for $30, a $10 DVD player from Coby, a Zenith DVD/VHS combi player for $40, $200 DVD camcorders from Panasonic and Samsung, and numerous deals on digital cameras.

ACE hardware also has a few CE doorbusters, including an unnamed 7-inch digital photo frame for $50, and a 7-inch portable DVD player for $60. Macy’s ad shows a $60 Haier-brand 7-inch portable DVD player, and a $20 Haier progressive-scan DVD player, plus three Pandigital-brand digital photo frames, with 6-, 8- and 9.2-inch displays, for $70, $150 and $180, respectively.

Stay tuned to our blogs for regular updates on Black Friday deals and specials--and feel free to chime in with some of your own!

—James K. Willcox

Blu-ray, HD DVD at CEDIA: We're Both Winning

It appears that the battle between the two high-definition DVD formats, Blu-ray and HD DVD, is no closer to resolution than it was last year, judging by events at the CEDIA trade show yesterday. The good news is that continued competition between the two camps, along with the arrival of high-def DVD players from more manufacturers (including some Chinese companies), could drive prices lower. At least 10 new players were announced here at the show, with prices as low as $300.

Both HD DVD and Blu-ray backers claim to have the lead at this point. Toshiba said it had the number-one market share (55 percent) among all high-def DVD player companies. That’s not surprising, given that Toshiba has been the only company selling HD DVD players up till now, while Blu-ray sales are split among several different manufacturers. However, Sony declared that Blu-ray was clearly winning the battle, with Blu-ray movies outselling HD DVD titles by a margin of two to one.

Market research by NPD Group, presented by Toshiba at their event, gives a mixed picture. The study showed that potential buyers favored HD DVD three to one over Blu-Ray (33 percent to 16 percent). More telling, in my opinion, was that the majority of survey respondents, 51 percent, were still on the fence about which format they preferred.

That isn’t stopping manufacturers from introducing new models. Toshiba said it will be adding three new HD DVD players to its line this fall: a 1080i model, the HD-A3, available in October for $300; a step-up $400 1080p model, the HD-A30, available this month; and the top-tier $500 HD-A35, a 1080p model due out in October with a few extra features, such as support for Deep Color, high-resolution audio and 5.1-channel audio outputs. All three players have Ethernet ports for connecting to the Internet and come with two free movies: Warner’s 300 and Universal’s The Bourne Identity. Buyers can choose an additional five titles from a list of 15 they’ll receive as a mail-in offer.

Sony announced two new BD players and a Blu-ray home entertainment server. The $700 BDP-S500, available next month, is a step-up companion model to the current $500 BDP-S300, with additional features such as support for the new xvYCC wider color gamut as well as for Dolby True HD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD high-resolution audio. It will upscale DVDs to 1080p via the HDMI output. The $1,300 BDP-S2000ES, the first BD player in Sony’s flagship “ES” series, has many of the same features but with a more rugged construction and a streamlined design. It will be available in November. The $3,500 HES-V1000 server, available now, is designed to store and manage music, video, and photo collections. It contains a 1080p 200-disc Blu-ray/DVD/CD changer, a 500GB hard disk drive, and it can connect to the Internet via its Ethernet port or wirelessly using an optional adapter. It can also burn content to recordable Blu-ray or DVD discs, making it the first Sony device other than a PC drive or notebook that can write to Blu-ray discs.

Among the other high-def DVD product introductions at the show:

• Sharp’s first Blu-ray player, the $550 Aquos BD-HP20
• Pioneer’s newest Elite-brand Blu-ray model, the $1,000 BDP-95FD
• LG Electronics’ second-generation hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD player, the $1,000 BH200 Super Blu Player, which now fully supports interactivity for both formats
• and Integra’s first HD DVD player, the $1,100 DHS-8.8

Other companies, such as Denon (Blu-ray) and Onkyo (HD DVD) have already announced their first high-def players. In addition, Samsung is showing its first home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) system with a built-in Blu-ray player.

--James K. Willcox

1080P Front Projectors - $3,000 is the New Entry Level Price

Based on early announcements from this week’s CEDIA consumer electronics trade show, there’s good news for anyone who’s been considering stepping up to a high-def front-projection video system: the entry-level price for a “Full HD” 1080p projector is now below $3,000.

On the eve of the show, Sanyo announced it will offer a 1080p LCD-based projector, the PLV-Z2000 this October for $2,996. This projector, which has two HDMI 1.3 inputs, a lens shift and a wide-range zoom, joins other previously announced sub-$3,000 models, including Optoma’s  DLP-based HD80 model and Epson’s LCD-based PowerLite Home Cinema 1080 projector. Both are now widely available.

For those looking to spend a bit less money, $1,000 is beginning to be a key price point for 720p high-def projectors. Earlier this year, for example, Optoma broke the $1,000 price barrier with its $999 HD70 model. Here at CEDIA, Epson unveiled its newest 720p projector, the MovieMate 72 ($1,200), the latest model in its all-in-one “instant theater” projector series. Design to transform almost any room into a theater, the LCD-based projector (See image above. Click to enlarge.) has an integrated DVD/CD player, an HDMI input, four built-in speakers and an amplifier, a swivel base for more flexible placement, and a wider lens shift and zoom. The projector can upconvert DVDs to a quasi 720p resolution.

For those with a bit less money, the company also introduced a 480p model, the MovieMate 50 ($800), a compact 8.4-pound LCD projector with a built-in handle, DVD/CD player and a pair of stereo speakers. Both models include a USB input for playing digital photos stored on a removable flash drive, as well as a VGA input for connecting a PC or Mac.

Targeting a higher-end customer who’s not willing to sacrifice a room’s space or aesthetics in order to have a home theater, Epson also showed off its new Ensemble HD system, which was developed jointly with speaker manufacturer Atlantic Technology.

The system (See image on the left. Click to enlarge.) consists of either a 720p or 1080p Epson LCD projector, a 100-inch motorized screen that drops down from a ceiling-mounted front speaker system, a projector mount with integrated rear-channel speakers, an A/V media console that includes all the system’s controls and an upscaling DVD player, a 150-watt powered subwoofer that contains the system’s 5.1-channel amps, and all the cables required to connect the system. A unique wire management track that mounts to the ceiling conceals all the cables from view.

The Ensemble HD Home Cinema System will be available from dealers in November. The price for the 720p system is $5,000, while the system with a 1080p projector is priced at $7,000.

Stay tuned for more announcements from CEDIA, which is being held in Denver this week.

-- James K. Willcox

Sony unveils new LCD and projection TVs

Sony will be emphasizing picture quality improvements, stylish design, and expanded capabilities as it rolls out nine new Bravia LCD TVs and five Bravia SXRD rear-projection sets this summer. All 14 sets have 1080p resolution, along with features intended to enhance color and other picture attributes. Design elements such as floating glass frames and swappable colored bezels will be featured on several of the LCD displays. Slimmed-down cabinets distinguish the new rear-projection TVs, along with changeable speaker grilles one some models. All the new TVs offer broadband Internet connectivity for viewing Internet-based video content (including HD) without a PC.

Sony's Bravia LCD models and SXRD rear-projector sets have frequently been top performers in Consumer Reports' tests and Ratings. In upcoming reviews, we'll be looking at several key features--such as 10-bit panels, 10-bit video processing (including upconversion to 1080p), Motionflow (Sony’s 120Hz refresh rate technology) and x.v.Color (Sony’s term for the xvYCC expanded color gamut)--to see how well these new sets compare to prior, well-regarded models. The Motionflow technology, which is adjustable to match different types of content, helps to address one of LCD's traditional weaknesses, slower refresh rates, which can cause images to blur during fast-action scenes. The new xvYCC color standard, which nearly doubles the range of available colors, will enable TVs to display more vivid, natural colors when used with similarly enabled programming, which isn't yet available.

All the new TVs use Sony’s Xross Media Bar graphical menu system, an easy-to-use interface for maneuvering through the TV's menu systems. Additionally, the new sets have two features designed to simplify the movie-watching experience: Bravia Theatre Sync, which uses the HDMI CEC protocol to allow other components connected via an HDMI input to be controlled by the TV’s remote, and Theater Mode, which automatically adjusts the TV’s settings for optimum movie playback. The TVs also have a separate preset mode for viewing photos.

Some Sony DVDs Won't Play on... Sony DVD Players?

Less than two years after the debacle -- and FTC settlement -- that resulted from Sony BMG’s ill-advised use of a controversial malware “rootkit” copy-protection scheme on some of its CD titles, Sony is once again under fire for using a digital rights management (DRM) technology that rendered about 20 of its DVD movie releases unplayable on certain brands of DVD players.

The snafu affects about 20 titles -- including "Casino Royale," "Stranger Than Fiction" and "Rocky Balboa" -- which Sony is replacing. Apparently an update to the ARccOS copy protection scheme it used on the discs, which Sony has employed previously without any issues, made the discs incompatible with a number of DVD players. To thwart copying, the software intentionally introduces errors when used with ripping software, but some players were unable to read instructions that allowed them to bypass the errors.

In a statement, Sony said the number of players affected by the glitch was “very small,” and said it has revised the software to avoid future problems. It is replacing the discs for purchasers who own affected machines, which include models from Harman Kardon, Toshiba and, ironically, Sony. If you have been affected by this problem, call Sony Picture’s customer service at (800) 860-2878.

The issue came to light after several comments were posted on Amazon.com’s discussion boards, and were picked up by other blogs. Complaints then were made to Sony directly, causing them to respond.

In 2005, Sony BMG came under fire for issuing audio CDs that contained a copy-protection scheme that automatically -- and surreptitiously -- installed a rootkit, or spyware, on a user’s PCs when the disc was played. The rootkit caused some computers to crash, and left others open to security breaches. As a result, numerous class-action lawsuits were filed, and Sony recalled the affected CDs. This past January, Sony reached a settlement with the FTC that provided for reimbursements to consumers affected by the software, and it agreed not to issue any CDs that installed copy-protection software without the user’s consent.

-- James K. WIllcox

Samsung Readies Dual-Format High-Def DVD Player

Samsung Electronics, which last year broached the idea of introducing a high-def DVD player that could play both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs, is now readying such a model for introduction later this year.

Unlike LG Electronics’ BH-100 hybrid player, which only fully supports Blu-ray’s Java-based interactivity, Samsung’s player—called the Duo HD BD-UP5000—will support both BD-Java and HD DVD’s iHD interactivity, which allows access to interactive features such as director’s commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, and more advanced interactive menus.

No pricing has been established. Although there are reports that the player will be available as early as this July, in a statement out of Seoul, Korea, Samsung only said that the player will be available “in time for the holidays.”

In the meantime, you can read our buying advice on how to choose a high-definition DVD player and, if you're a ConsumerReports.org subscriber, you can see how the latest models performed in our Ratings.

—James K. Willcox

Game On: Microsoft, Sony Ready Game Console Updates

In an effort to better accommodate the growing amount of high-definition content that's available, both Microsoft and Sony are readying updated game consoles that boast larger-capacity hard disc drives.

Last week, Microsoft confirmed rumors of a new, HD-friendly console with the announcement that the Xbox 360 “Elite” system will be introduced at the end of April. Price at $480, this black console will include an HDMI output (lacking on current Xbox models), HD cables, a removable 120GB hard drive, and a wireless controller. Like the rest of the Xbox line, the Elite doesn’t include an internal HD DVD drive. You’ll still have to buy the $200 external HD DVD drive Microsoft is selling if you want to play HD DVD movies.

The new system fits with Microsoft’s strategy to promote its Xbox Live online service, which enables users to download games, movies, and TV programs rather than buy them on DVD. Supporters for the service include A&E Network, National Geographic, ADV Films (anime), and TotalVid.com (extreme sports programming). Also, both Warner Bros. and Paramount recently announced they would begin selling downloadable high-def movies though Xbox Live. The sizable hard drive will be better able to accommodate the storage requirements of HD content. The Xbox Elite model also comes with an Xbox Live headset for online game play.

Sony’s plans for a PS3 update aren’t as clear. As part of an FCC filing related to Bluetooth changes in a planned new PS3 model, Sony said the new console would have an 80GB hard drive. Considering that the filing was made prior to Microsoft’s Elite announcement, it’s possible that Sony may increase the size of the hard drive in the new system by the time it ships. The current $500 base PS3 has a 20GB hard drive, while the $600 step-up system comes with a 60GB hard drive. It’s not yet known whether both those models will remain in the line when the new console is introduced. Sony hasn’t said when the new console will be available.

—James K. Willcox

CES: In high-dev DVD war, LG, Warner play Switzerland

Don’t believe the CES hype. Although both HD DVD and Blu-ray backers are claiming victory in the high-stakes, high-def DVD war, the battle’s only just begun.

At CES, both camps rolled out statistics showing their respective format was leading the move into the next generation of DVD players. But the two high-def DVD products that garnered the most press were the technological equivalents of Switzerland: an LG Electronics “hybrid” player that can play both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs; and a new “hybrid” disc, called Total HD, that is compatible with both types of players. 

LG’s dual-format player, the $1,199 Super Multi Blue BH100 Blu-Ray/HD DVD combo player, will be available this month. While the player can output 1080p video signals, compromises include lack of support for HD DVD's iHD interactivity (it uses Blu-ray’s Java-based interactivity to generate a menu for HD DVD tiles), and it lacks the latest HDMI 1.3 connector (it uses the HDMI 1.2 instead). The company also showed a PC drive/writer, called the Super Multi Blue drive, which can play Blu-Ray and HD DVD discs and record to Blu-ray discs. It's the same price as the player. However, because these players/writers don’t support the iHD standard for interactivity (for features ranging from interactive movies to games), they violate the terms of the DVD Forum's licensing agreement. As a result, neither of the drives will bear the HD DVD logo. According to a Blu-ray representative, a company making a player that only used iHD interactivity would have the same issue with the Blu-ray Disc Association’s licensing requirements, which mandate Java interactivity.

Warner Bros. surprise announcement at CES was the launch of Total HD, a "universal" disc that can be played in both HD DVD and Blu-ray players. The discs, which will be available in the second half of 2007, are the same 1.2 mm size as DVDs, HD DVD, and Blu-ray discs. They can be single-layer and dual-layer for both formats, resulting in 15GB/30GB on the HD DVD side, and 25GB/50GB on the Blu-ray side. Major retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City, and Amazon immediately announced they would stock the discs, though it's unclear whether other studios are willing to embrace detente rather than continue to battle it out as confused consumers sit on the sidelines.

CES: LG may face licensing issues over lack of iHD

Consumer Reports has learned there may be a licensing issue with LG Electronics' new $1,199 "hybrid" Super Multi Blue high-def player, which can play both HD DVD and Blu-ray discs: because it doesn't use the iHD standard for interactivity (for features ranging from interactive movies to games) it violates the terms of the DVD Forum's licensing agreement, meaning it would not be able to bear the official "HD DVD" logo. The HD DVD licensing requirements mandate the inclusion of iHD-based interactivity. The LG player can play HD DVD titles, but it uses the Blu-ray Disc Association's Java BD interactivity to create a menu system for HD DVD titles. As a result, LG can sell the player, but the HD DVD group could force the company to remove any HD DVD logos and refrain from calling the device an HD DVD player. According to a Blu-ray representative, a company that made a player that only used iHD interactivity would have the same issue with the Blu-ray Disc licensing requirements, which mandate Java interactivity. While it's possible that future iterations of the LG player could include both forms of interactivity, that may prove to be an engineering challenge.

— James K. Willcox

Technorati tags: lg, bd, blu-ray, hd dvd, high definition, ihd

CES: High-def DVDs may get universal solution

For those of us who have held off buying a high-def DVD player because having two competing, incompatible formats — Blu-ray and HD DVD — has led to purchasing paralysis, LG Electronics and Warner Bros. may have solutions: “universal” players capable of playing discs of both types, or "universal" discs that will play on either type of machine.

On the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show here in Las Vegas, LG said it will show a Blu-ray/HD DVD player, a move that company executives in Korea say will help “end the confusion and inconvenience” caused by two formats battling it out in the marketplace. In essence this is the same solution that was applied to the recordable DVD business, which was initially stymied by having four different recording formats. The medium took off once players could play any disc, regardless of how it was recorded.

Other than the basic announcement that a player was coming — something LG has hinted at in the past — there was little information available, such as the expected price, or whether the player would still be able to play back standard DVDs and CDs. Samsung has also discussed making a universal player, but so far has made no new announcements. We’re hoping to have additional information during the show.

LG’s news comes almost simultaneously with Warner Bros. announcement that it has developed a new dual-format disc, called Total HD, which would hold both Blu-ray and HD DVD movies on a single disc that could be played on either type of player. The company will have more to say about the new discs at CES, but both movie studios and retailers would likely embrace the idea, which would eliminate their having to issue or stock the same movie in multiple formats.

Now if they could just get hardware prices down to under $300...

— James K. Willcox

Technorati tags: hdtv, hd dvd, blu-ray, samsung, ces, lg, warner brothers