High Definition DVD, Will they compromise?The first DVD Players have been developed that play both high definition DVD formats - Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs. The multi-format player was developed by electronics company LG, in South Korea. 
Warner Bros Studios is also helping try and solve the problem, by developing dual-sided hybrid discs, one side that plays on HD-DVD and the other side Blu-ray. Both these new rivalry-beating developments went on show at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on the 8th January 2007 (click for more). 
The rivalry was always a bad situation to have got into, but if a player can be made that plays both formats - can they be that different? The answer is no, fundamentally the two discs are very similar, both a based on a blue laser to enable a higher density of data on the disc, and special dye on the discs.
It would be better for everyone if they could combine both formats into a standard, people are less keen to buy high definition DVD equipment because they don't know which format to get. For the lucky ones who have got a PlayStation 3, then Sony has made the decision for you, and having the Blu-ray player fitted as standard on the PS3, they have a lot going for them. Microsoft backs HD-DVD, which would further fuel the console wars, if they had decided to fit the Xbox 360 with a HD-DVD drive.. but they did release it over a year ago and HD-DVD would have delayed things a lot. Toshiba say that their HD-DVD discs are cheaper to produce, which might swing the balance in their favour. Links: HD DVD Promotion Site - www.hddvdprg.com Blu-ray Disc Association - www.blu-raydisc.com BBC - Hybrid answers to DVD format wars Email this story to a friend  Add this link to:            
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