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Competition for the leading technology in next-generation optical storage devices after DVD continues. In the sector, the HD DVD format is pitched against Blu-ray -- much like the VCR battle in the 1980s between Sony¡¯s Betamax versus Matsushita¡¯s VHS. But LG Electronics muddied waters by releasing a dual Blu-ray and HD DVD Player, which can play either type of device, and Samsung Electronics will introduce similar products soon.
¡ß The next generation
As more consumers want high-definition (HD) movies, devices with larger storage capacity than DVDs are needed. Blu-ray has 10 times the storage capacity of a DVD, and HD DVD, which is cheaper to make, five times. With increasing supply of HD TVs, the DVD market is expected to yield to Blu-ray or HD DVDs soon. Last year, 150 million DVD players were sold. Many Korean businesses, which have to pay royalties due to lack of their own technologies, are not actively participating in the market. Pinning their hopes on the next best thing instead, Samsung and LG have been developing Blu-ray products since 2002. They are joined in the Blu-ray camp by other major players Sony, Matsushita and Philips. Among major film studios, Disney, 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures support Blu-ray storage technology.
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A model poses with a Samsung Electronics HD DVD player.
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In the HD-DVD camp, there are Toshiba, Intel and Microsoft, joined by Warner Bros. and Paramount. It costs a lot for the movie industry to produce disks in both formats, so the industry is hoping the competition will be settled soon.
The strong point of Blu-ray is the large storage volume, between 25 GB and 50 GB. But Blu-rays are more expensive than HD DVDs because HD DVD makers can use existing DVD assembly lines.
¡ß Dual player
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The LG Electronics' Super Multi Blue player, the world's first dual-format DVD player for Blu-ray and HD DVD./Yonhap
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While the battle raged, LG released a dual format player in the U.S. market this February. The product is popular among consumers who cannot decide which one to plumb for. The players are now selling in 500 Best Buy and Circuit City shops and enjoy popularity despite the US$1,200 price tag. The product also won the Best in Show award this January at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
LG Electronics chief technology officer Lee Hee-gook said the dual player ¡°will boost sales in the next-generation DVD market by putting an end to standard competition.¡± Recently, Samsung announced it is releasing a similar product, the Duo HD Player. The moves have raised some eyebrows since the two companies are not only Blu-ray adopters but also global market players. Some forecast there simply will be no single dominant format in the next-generation market.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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