Dual-format devices may solve movie disc standoff

In an effort to head off an impending format war between rival high-definition disc standards, according to New Scientist Tech, electronics firms will unveil dual-format discs and players at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, US.

Discs and players compatible with both Blu-ray (backed by Philips, Sony and Panasonic) and HD-DVD (supported by Toshiba, NEC, Microsoft, Warner and Universal) will debut at the show, which opens on 8 January.

South Korean electronics firm LG will offer a player featuring a dual standard disc reader, which can read both types of disc. Although prices have yet to be finalised, the dual-format player will initially be more expensive than single-format DVD devices.

Meanwhile, Warner Brothers plans to support both formats with a disc that works in either type of player. The studios new Total Hi-Def discs will have a Blu-ray movie on one side and the same film in HD-DVD format on the other.